Zoe Lofgren

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was unavoidably detained from voting when my D.C. bound flight was diverted to Richmond, VA due to the severe weather in this region. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall #376: ``no.'' Rollcall #377: ``no.'' Rollcall #378: ``yes.''

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding in support of the Massie-Lofgren amendment. As mentioned, the declassified FISA court decision has indicated that substantially more warrantless communications are collected through 702 than 215. We had a bill up to recently, the USA FREEDOM Act, that alleged that we were stopping bulk collection, but we didn't. During the markup of that bill in the Judiciary Committee, we offered this amendment; and everyone on the committee, including the chairman of the committee, said they were for this provision, but it wasn't the right time. Well, this is the right time. That is why we have this broad support. It is the Massie-Lofgren- Sensenbrenner-Conyers-Poe-Gabbard-Jordan-O'Rourke. It is broad; it is bipartisan. It is supported by groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as the Campaign for Liberty, Demand Progress, as well as FreedomWorks. This has broad bipartisan support. The American people deserve this. When we have an interest in querying the 702 database for American citizens, get a warrant. That is what the Fourth Amendment requires. Finally, this closes the opportunity to require backdoors on technology. As has been mentioned earlier by technologists and scientists, to do that just opens a door wide open for the bad guys and the hackers to break in.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. The unclassified FISA court reported that the 702 search had, in fact, scooped up vast amounts of wholly domestic information. How does this work? The upstream communications are tapped into by the NSA. In the digital world, your digital information, your domestic information is stored throughout the world. It is scooped up, and it is used. The FBI has indicated it is used and the DNI has indicated it is used for wholly domestic purposes without a warrant routinely thousands, tens of thousands of times. It is in violation of the Fourth Amendment, and it must stop. I would just say, on the Judiciary Committee, every member of the committee who declined to support this amendment said they were for the amendment and said we should offer it to the DOD appropriations bill.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to honor those killed during the November 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms and massacre. November 2014 marked the 30 year anniversary of the horrific anti-Sikh pogroms, which claimed the lives of thousands of Sikhs throughout India in the first week of November 1984. I ask that this Congress remember those who were killed that tragic week. I also ask that this Congress honor the struggle of many political prisoners in India today, including Mr. Surat Singh Khalsa, who is currently under house arrest, on a hunger strike and in very poor health. Today, we should reflect on his advocacy for the rights of political prisoners, support his right to free speech and ask for his release.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. As Mr. Poe recognized, this is a very diverse group of authors who don't agree on everything, but this is very important for a reason. First, it is fundamental that our privacy be protected; that the Fourth Amendment be adhered to. Secondly, we all know--and if you ask any computer scientist, they will tell you--that once the vulnerability is introduced for a good reason, it is available for hacking for very bad reasons. Finally, for competitiveness. Think how competitive it is to sell an American product around the world when everyone knows that it is compromised. Not a really good marketing tool. Last year, as Mr. Poe mentioned, we had almost precisely this amendment on the floor as an amendment to the DOD appropriations. What was the vote on that amendment? It was 293-123; overwhelming. So I am hoping that Members will not flip-flop, that they will, in fact, vote the way they did last year. And I will just go a little trip down memory road. When I was first elected to the Congress, I took my oath of office January 4, 1995, and I met Bob Goodlatte for the very first time. And he and I went all over this Congress to try and work on decontrol of encryption. Although a lot of people we talked to in 1995 had no idea what we were talking about when we talked about encryption, ultimately that bipartisan effort was successful. We must not let that successful effort to protect privacy, to protect technology, be eroded at this point. So I look forward to a very strong vote on this. I think it is important that we have a vote, even though there is agreement, just to send the message to the other body how serious that we are.

Ms. LOFGREN. We might not agree on everything, but I think we agree on the Fourth Amendment. So this is a great day for this body to come together across the aisle for that purpose. And I thank the gentleman for yielding

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, I had also sought to seek the time in opposition, although I also do not oppose the amendment.

Ms. LOFGREN. I support the amendment, as does the gentleman.

Ms. LOFGREN. Will the gentleman yield?

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Chairman, further reserving, I was wondering if the Democratic side of the aisle might be able to split the time. That is why I was reserving the right to object.

Ms. LOFGREN. I withdraw my reservation.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I believe this bill makes meaningful reform to a few of the surveillance programs, but it in no way stops all of the bulk collection of U.S. person communications currently occurring. This bill won't stop the most egregious and widely reported privacy violations that occur under section 702 and Executive Order No. 12333. In a declassified decision, the FISA court said that the NSA had been collecting substantially more U.S. person communications through its upstream collection program than it had originally told the court. With upstream collection, the NSA directly taps into international Internet cables to search through all of the communications that flow through it, looking for communications that map certain criteria. Four years ago, the court found that the government was collecting tens of thousands of wholly domestic communications a year. Why? Because all of your data is everywhere. No accurate estimate can be given for the even larger number of communications collected in which a U.S. person was a party to the communication. The Director of National Intelligence confirmed the government searches this vast amount of data, including the content of email and of telephone calls, without individualized suspicion, probable cause, and without a warrant. The Director of the FBI says they use information to build criminal cases against U.S. persons. This is an end run around the Fourth Amendment, and it has to stop. This bill did not create those problems. However, this bill doesn't correct those problems. During the markup of the bill, Chairman Goodlatte stated that these issues would be next, but we can't afford to wait until the final hour of expiration to take action like we did with this bill. To do so would mean at least another 2 years of the mass surveillance of Americans, which is unconscionable. Last year, the House voted 293-123 to close these backdoor loopholes, but the Rules Committee would not allow the House to vote today to put these fixes into this bill. I voted in committee to advance this bill for a couple of reasons, and I do want to thank all of the members who worked on this but single out Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, who was the author of the bill and who has worked so hard to make sure that improvements are made. The bill is an improvement over a straight reauthorization of the bill. I also listened carefully to the verbal commitments that the 702 fix would be included, and I reserve the right to oppose this bill when it comes back from the Senate if we can't close these loopholes.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize the life of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hanh for his outstanding achievements as a soldier, photographer, and teacher. His contributions to documenting the Vietnam War over forty years ago continue to inform us about this conflict. Mr. Hanh was recognized among the Top Ten Photographers of the Photographic Society of America in 1968 for his coverage of the Tet Offensive. His stunning portraits of soldiers and Viet Cong detainees capture the emotion and humanity of the war. He began photographing the conflict in 1956, while serving in a paratrooper battalion. By 1961, at the age of thirty-four, the South Vietnam Armed Forces assigned Mr. Hanh as its official war photographer. Perhaps his most well known photograph is a portrait of a tearful young woman in Hue recently widowed and holding her husband's tags. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, Mr. Hanh declined to use his personal pass for a helicopter transport and instead chose to remain with his fellow soldiers. This led to Mr. Hanh's imprisonment by the North Vietnam Army. For the first year and four months of his confinement, Mr. Hanh's lived in a metal container too small for him to stand and too narrow for him to lie down. He remained detained until 1983, and on his fourth attempt was able to flee from Vietnam to Thailand in 1985. Four years later, at the age of sixty-two, Mr. Hanh immigrated to San Jose. He soon established the Vietnam Photographic Association while also working at a Fremont technology company delivering mail. Since 1989, Mr. Hanh has trained hundreds of photography students in San Jose. He also exhibited his photos at the annual Vietnamese New Year Tet Festival in San Jose, as well as at several nonprofit fund raising events to raise money for the disabled vets of the South Vietnam Armed Forces. His work has contributed immensely not only to San Jose, but also to our country. I thank him for his contributions, and I recognize him as an outstanding member of the Vietnamese-American community.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Will the gentleman yield?

Ms. LOFGREN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would just like to thank him for his amendment. It prevents this bill from becoming like the CFAA, which treats noncriminal activity as something wrong. This and the Katko-Lofgren amendment that preceded it narrow the bill, and both deserve support. I thank the gentleman for yielding and his amendment.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleagues the Honorable Anna Eshoo and the Honorable Michael Honda, to honor the life and achievements of a distinguished member of our community, Susanne (``Susie'') Wilson. She has been a longstanding leader in the Santa Clara Valley as both a public official and a community advocate. Susie served as a member of the San Jose City Council from 1973-1978. She also served as Vice-Mayor of San Jose from 1976-1978, she was a member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for District 1 from 1979-1991; serving as Chairperson in 1982, 1986, and 1990. Susie also served as Chair of the Valley Transit District Board, and was the first woman to become President of the Association of Bay Area Governments. She was a founding member in 1974 of California Elected Women for Education and Research (CEWEAR), as well as past President and life member. In 1990, she became a member of the Valley Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors, and has also served as its President. Susie has been a champion of social justice, and one of her important accomplishments was her success as Chair of the YWCA Villa Nueva Capital Campaign. Villa Nueva is a 63-family residential housing unit for low-income families, which houses transitional and affordable housing, mostly for single mothers and their kids. To honor Susie, the building was named in her honor when it opened in 1993. As a long-time distinguished volunteer of the YWCA, a scholarship has also been named in her honor, the ``Susanne B. Wilson Scholarship Award,'' which is given each year to a young woman from one of the YWCA programs. For almost 40 years, Susie Wilson has been the driving force behind the YWCA of Silicon Valley. Susie's belief in the YWCA's mission of empowering women and eliminating racism makes her a fearless and tireless advocate to raise support, both morally and financially, for the YWCA. Since 1999 she has been CEO of WKW Mechanical Contractors, Inc. and a sole proprietor of a governmental consulting firm called, Solutions by Wilson, which she started in 1991 after she retired from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Susie Wilson has a superb record of community service as well as service to San Jose State University. Susie served as a lecturer during the 1980's; and in 1994, she was the first visiting professor for the ``Leader in Residence'' program at San Jose State University, teaching a senior seminar in the ethical issues of politics. Susie also served as the Alumni Steering Committee for the Political Science Department, and has been a member of the Spartan Foundation since 1982, and was the Foundation's past President from 2004-2006. She has also lent regular support to the Don Edwards lecture series. Susie was one of the founders and participants of the ``Walk for Women of Sparta,'' the largest fundraiser by women for women athletes, which raised over $1 million for women athletic scholarships. She has also been active in the Spartan Foundation, a key fundraising organization of San Jose State University, and also served on the executive committee and board of directors. Susie also received the prestigious Tower Award from the university for the 1995-96 academic year. Susie has also done work for numerous organizations, such as: the United Way, the Boy Scouts of America, and Cambrian Park United Methodist Church, the church she has attended for more than 30 years. Susie was a founding member of the National Women's Political Caucus, a multipartisan, multicultural grassroots organization dedicated to increasing women's participation in the political field, designed to achieve equality for all women. Susie is also a member of the American Association of University Women, a leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls. It is evident by the many roles that Susie has taken on, that she is a vital member of the Silicon Valley community and an inspiration for women and men alike. Thus, it is our privilege to honor her as a significant person in the 19th Congressional District. We would like to take this occasion to thank Susie for her many gifts and contributions to the community of San Jose.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of a distinguished member of my community, and my friend, Pastor Kenny Foreman, upon his 85th birthday, as well as in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his church, Cathedral of Faith. I have had the privilege of knowing Pastor Foreman for many years, and I can personally attest to his lasting legacy of achievement through selfless ministry. His is the epitome of a life dedicated to serving others. Pastor Kenny Foreman and his beloved wife, Shirley, are leaders and founders of the Cathedral of Faith, one of the most prominent Churches in Santa Clara County. Pastor Foreman's life story is truly one of faith and commitment to his beliefs and his community. Pastor Foreman has been in ministry for over 60 years and has served as pastor of the Cathedral of Faith in San Jose, California for over 35 years. Born the youngest of three children to Hansel and Mabel Foreman in Crowley, Louisiana, he began traveling the United States full time as an evangelist minister by the age of seventeen. In 1953, Kenny met Shirley, the daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Lowry of Trinity Church in Oakland, California. Pastor Foreman and Shirley Lowry wed in 1957, and ever since have committed their lives to ministry. As newlyweds, Kenny and Shirley Foreman traveled to Kansas City, Missouri in response to their calling and vision to establish a church. Kenny and Shirley spent their honeymoon converting an old theater into a place of worship. Pastor Kenny preached and played the guitar while Shirley played the organ, accordion, and piano. Later, they would be joined by their two sons, Ken and Kurt, who would also become active members of the Cathedral of Faith. Their work with the Calvary Temple in Louisiana grew to serve a congregation of more than 2,000 persons, becoming one of the largest charismatic churches in the nation. In 1965, Kenny, Shirley and their two sons, Ken and Kurt, were invited to San Jose, California to conduct a crusade and eventually lead the Friendly Bible Church. Immediately after becoming Pastor of Friendly Bible Church, Pastor Kenny began producing a weekly, half-hour television program entitled, ``Kenny Foreman Presents Abundant Living.'' It was one of the first religious programs in the San Francisco Bay Area and was eventually nationally syndicated. Today, Kenny Foreman is the only local minister and programmer who has remained on the air for over 40 years. Throughout these years, Pastor Foreman has never received any income for his television ministry, and all financial support that his congregation had received was funneled back into the operations of the ministry. It soon became evident from the growth of the congregation that a church would have to be built. Thus, in 1976, fourteen acres of property were purchased in San Jose, California to house what is now the Cathedral of Faith. It would be a sanctuary that would seat nearly 3,000 people and was conceived in Pastor Foreman's spirit. Eventually, the grand opening of the Cathedral of Faith was celebrated on March 15, 1981. On January 1, 1982, the Cathedral of Faith became the home of The Religious Channel: 24 hours of Christian programming on Gill Cable, the largest cable company in the nation at that time. The Church has never stopped growing. Even after all these years, Outreach Magazine has named Cathedral of Faith as one of the fastest growing and largest churches in America. Pastor Foreman and Cathedral of Faith have had an amazing record of community involvement. The work of the church has exploded into over seventy active ministries, including, among many other community outreach programs, ``Reaching Out,'' a food assistance program that operates from a 16,000 foot distribution complex serving 50,000 families annually and providing food for over 200,000 people. The California Department of Agriculture has recognized Reaching Out as one of the most efficient food programs in the state. The church has also created a program called ``California Youth Outreach'' in order to meet the needs of young men and women that had fallen prey to gangs and drugs; it also serves on the Mayor's gang task force. I recall fondly working with Kenny in the early 1980s as their successful efforts were underway to grow these important services. The Cathedral of Faith also provides child care, early childhood education services, a family life center, a sponsorship program for children in Mozambique, an addiction recovery program, and even a university preparatory academy to prepare a diverse population of 7th-12th grade students in the central San Jose areas and surrounding neighborhoods to enter and excel in the best colleges and universities in the nation. Kenny has never forgotten his own humble roots, and his life has been filled with joyful, generous, forgiving, and loving service. It is an honor to call Pastor Kenny Foreman a friend, and it is my privilege to honor him and his wife, Shirley, as significant persons in the 19th Congressional District. I would like to take the occasion of Pastor Foreman's 85th birthday and the 50th anniversary of Cathedral of Faith to thank him and his family for their many gifts and contributions to the community of San Jose, and I wish him many more healthy, happy and blessed years.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer condolences to the family and friends of Officer Michael Johnson of the San Jose Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty on March 24, 2015, when he responded to a 911 call and was shot by a disturbed man armed with a rifle. Mike graduated from the San Jose Police Academy on June 15, 2001. Over his 14-year career, Mike served as a patrolman, court liaison, prescription drug fraud specialist, and, most recently, a field training officer in charge of mentoring young cadets. Like other officers, Mike recognized the inherent danger in wearing his badge and responding to calls, but he accepted these risks and ultimately gave his life serving his community. He is survived by his wife, Nikki; parents, Daniel Johnson and Katherine Decker; step-parents, Dann Decker and Penny Johnson; sister, Jamie Radack; a niece and nephew; his grandmother; and his in-laws. I hope they take solace in knowing that our entire community is in mourning with them. The San Jose PD is in mourning. The city of San Jose is in mourning. This Congress is in mourning. In Honor of Officer Michael Johnson Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Congressman Mike Honda, and Congressman Eric Swallwell, to offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Officer Michael Johnson, a courageous and dedicated officer of the San Jose Police Department who was killed in the line of duty on March 24, 2015, when he responded to a 911 call and was shot by a suicidal man armed with a rifle. Mike, a 14-year veteran of the department, was known in the community for his kindness and compassion. He grew up in San Jose, graduating from Gunderson High School in 1995. His siblings knew before he did that he was bound to follow in the footsteps of his father, Daniel Johnson, who was a military police officer for the United States Army and who later joined the Calaveras County Sheriff's Department. Mike graduated from the San Jose Police Academy on June 15, 2001. He saw himself as a protector. At Mike's memorial service, San Jose Police Department Chief Larry Esquivel said Mike was everything he looks for in an officer: a warrior and a guardian when needed, but also empathetic and eager to engage the community. His easy-going, mild- mannered demeanor and exemplary career made him an effective officer. Over his 14-year career, Mike served as a patrolman, court liaison, prescription drug fraud specialist, and, most recently, a field training officer in charge of mentoring young cadets. He was also assigned to the covert response unit because of his skill as an expert marksman and his reputation as a model officer. He was known as one of the most skilled marksmen on the force; he medaled often at the Police and Fire Games and was set to be inducted in the competition's hall of fame. He specifically volunteered to be a field-training officer for the department, which was his assignment when he responded to the fateful 911 call. Mike was active in San Jose, as is his family. He and his wife Nikki planned to raise a family there. His mother, Katherine Decker, became active in making their neighborhood a better place and now serves on the executive board of the VEP Community Association, a neighborhood group that represents more than 2,000 families in Blossom Valley. Outside of work, Mike enjoyed practicing and teaching jujitsu. He had earned his black belt in 2008, served as an instructor at his dojo, and particularly enjoyed teaching jujitsu to kids. At the memorial service, Mike's sister, Jamie Radack, said that Mike always lived life to the fullest, and took a ``go big or go home'' attitude to everything he did. He didn't just play chess in high school, she said; he captained the chess team. He didn't just scuba dive; he dove with great white sharks at the Farallon Islands. This passion extended to the love he showed to his family, and also to the dedication with which he served the police department. Like other officers, Mike recognized the inherent danger in wearing his badge and responding to calls. But he accepted these risks. At approximately 6:48 p.m. on March 24, Officer Michael Johnson was among the first on scene responding to an apartment complex on Senter Road. The police had received a 911 call regarding an unstable man who was armed and threatening to harm himself and his family. Mike and three other officers carefully approached the home, knowing that each step placed them closer to danger, but also closer to protecting a family and a community. The officers were met with gunfire by the man, and Mike was fatally wounded. Michael Johnson was 38 years old. He had married his wife Nikki in a civil ceremony on August 3, 2013, and was planning a formal wedding ceremony on August 29, 2015. Mike is survived by his wife Nikki, parents Daniel Johnson and Katherine Decker, step-parents Dann Decker and Penny Johnson, sister Jamie Radack, a niece and nephew, his grandmother and his in-laws. I hope they take solace in knowing that the entire community is mourning with them. We are heartbroken by Mike's passing, but inspired by the way he lived his life and protected others. We will remember his dedication, and strive to contribute as fully to our community as he did through his service.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a real life Rosie the Riveter, Mrs. Esther Tint, on her 100th birthday. Five years before women gained the right to vote, Mrs. Tint was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on April 23, 1915 to immigrants Rosa Misefera Gaetano and Frank Gaetano. The Gaetanos were a hardworking family, raising their children in modest circumstances amidst the coal mines in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Mrs. Tint recalls her father carrying home large sacks of flour, from which her mother would craft the bread that largely sustained the family. Following a brief early marriage that produced daughter Phyllis Aisenstein, Mrs. Tint began working at International Resistance in Philadelphia; soldering and riveting parts for electric boxes that were used by the Navy as part of the war effort. Mrs. Tint eventually became an inspector at the plant. While there, she met the man who would become her second husband, Irving Nydick. Married in 1942, Mrs. Tint and Mr. Nydick had three children, Andrea Lutz, Lynne Cohen and Jeffrey Nydick. Through her four children, Mrs. Tint is the beloved grandmother of Susan Waldman, Josh Aisenstein and Jill Karkella, as well as the adored great-grandmother of Emma Waldman, Daniel Waldman, AvaGrace Tuft, Arden Rose Tuft and Adrienne Elizabeth Tuft. After raising her children, Mrs. Tint began working at the Federation of Jewish Agencies Thrift Shop in Center City. She was a treasured and tireless worker there for 17 years. During her tenure at the thrift shop, following the death of Mr. Nydick, she met her final husband, widower Bernard Tint. The Tints married in 1977. Their marriage lasted until Bernie's death in 2004 at age 94. Through their marriage, Mrs. Tint is the cherished stepmother of Frankee Greenberg and step- grandmother of Sherry and Gayle Greenberg. Still sharp as a tack and always elegantly turned out, Mrs. Tint eagerly follows politics and current events. She hopes to live long enough to see a female President of the United States. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to an outstanding citizen and patriotic daughter of immigrants, Mrs. Esther Tint, as she celebrates her 100th birthday.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues in the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, Congressman Pete Aguilar, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congressman Ami Bera, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Congresswoman Lois Capps, Congressman Tony Cardenas, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Jim Costa, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Congressman Sam Farr, Congressman John Garamendi, Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Congressman Mike Honda, Congressman Jared Huffman, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Ted Lieu, Congressman Alan Lowenthal, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Congressman Jerry McNerney, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Scott Peters, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congressman Raul Ruiz, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Congressman Adam Schiff, Congressman Brad Sherman, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Congressman Eric Swalwell, Congressman Mark Takano, Congressman Mike Thompson, Congresswoman Norma Torres, Congressman Juan Vargas, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, to honor and remember the life of Mary Jane McSorley Garamendi. Mary Jane passed on March 19, 2015, amongst the prayers and support of her loving family and friends. The matriarch of the Garamendi family and a lifelong resident of Calaveras County, California, Mary Jane had a strength of spirit and benevolence of character that built a vigorous family, vibrant community, and lasting legacy. Mary Jane was born on March 21, 1921, the granddaughter of pioneering Irish-Italian immigrants. When she was only three years old, she and her sister, Anne, lost their mother and a newborn brother, but their devoted father succeeded in raising them to be strong and independent young ladies on the family cattle ranch in Chili Gulch. Mary Jane attended and graduated from Mokelumne Hill Elementary School and then from Calaveras High School in 1938. In 1942, she graduated from the University of Nevada Reno with a teaching credential for elementary and high school. At college, Mary Jane met Raymond V. Garamendi, a fellow student and the love of her life. Following their graduations, they spent the years of World War II stationed at posts in California, Florida, and Georgia, and then returned to Chili Gulch to build their family home on the cattle ranch and begin their life raising seven children. They grew up part of the ``Greatest Generation'' and were determined to teach their children the tradition of agriculture, the power of education, and the importance of good governance. Mary Jane's narrative is one of family, service, and community betterment. Always deeply engaged in civic affairs, she participated in the Mokelumne Hill Elementary School Parents Club, Mokelumne Hill Community Club, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Altar Society, Calaveras County Historical Society, Calaveras County Democratic Club and Central Committee, Calaveras County American Association of University Women, Mokelumne Hill Community Historical Trust, and the Mokelumne Hill History Society. She volunteered as a Cub Scout leader and Catechism teacher, served as a foreman on the Calaveras Grand Jury, and became a Board Member for the Mark Twain St. Joseph Foundation. She was a devout Catholic and lifelong parishioner of the St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Mokelumne Hill, which afforded other opportunities to engage and enrich the community. Whether she was serving at the Calaveras Women's Shelter, the Mokelumne Hill History Center, or the Calaveras County Museum, she readily and enthusiastically donated her time, heart, and energy to the people and places around her. A civic leader, Mary Jane was honored by the Phi Beta Phi Fraternity in recognition of 75 years of membership, earning the honor of induction into the Diamond Arrow Society. In 2009, she was named the State of California ``Woman of the Year'' by her son, John Garamendi, who was California Lieutenant Governor at the time. Her contributions to education, agriculture, and government also helped earn an honor for the Garamendi family by the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee. For Mary Jane, life itself was an act of joy and remembering. This shone through her commitment to the preservation of her rich Irish- Italian heritage and her careful studying of the Pitto and McSorley family histories. When Ray passed away in 1991, Mary Jane oversaw the family ranch alongside her son, Robert, allowing the working traditions to continue uninterrupted. The Ranch, which received a California Agriculture Heritage Award in 2005, is now in its 152nd year of operation, spanning six generations and lending a sense of tradition and timelessness to the family's weddings, reunions, and Christmas parties. Mary Jane was a friend, a global adventurer, and the best sports enthusiast her children and grandchildren could ever hope for. Mary Jane's love and legacy continue on in the spirit, vigor, and joy of her 21 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. She will be remembered for her unconditional love, her interminable commitment to service, and the popsicles she kept stocked in the freezer for the children to enjoy after summer swims. Reflecting back on her proud gold country heritage, her many years of good health, her large and ever-growing family, she would often say, ``I am a very lucky lady.'' We were lucky to have known her, and are filled with gratitude for the opportunity to honor such a full and profound life.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to celebrate the lfie of Sofia Mendoza, known to me and her other friends as Sophie, and to memorialize her as a passionate community leader whose advocacy will long be remembered in my hometown of San Jose. Throughout her life, Sophie was unwavering in her commitment to end the prejudicial treatment of underrepresented communities, and particularly of the Mexican-American community in East San Jose. Her leadership affected landmark changes across a diversity of city interests, from reform of education and criminal justice, to the manner in which city council members are elected today. Sophie Mendoza was born in the small agricultural town of Fillmore, California. Her father Tiburcio was a labor organizer, and was a lifelong inspiration to her. Tiburcio had temporarily moved the family to Fillmore where he was organizing citrus and avocado pickers to strike against unjust working conditions. Fillmore would be one of many destinations as Sophie's father moved from one labor battle to the next. Sophie's mother Margarita was also an active organizer alongside her husband. But Tiburcio initially looked to Sophie's younger brothers to carry the family torch of community activism. He would soon discover that it was his daughter, Sophie, who held the spark inside her. It was in high school that Sophie attempted her first organizing effort. By this time, her family had settled in Campbell. Her school had many clubs, but freshman Sophie was upset to discover it did not have a Spanish club. Her father taught her how to create support through the circulation of petitions and how to build coalitions of teachers and students. Her efforts were rewarded with a new club. When Sophie married and moved to East San Jose with her husband Gilbert, her new surroundings provided her opportunity to take on one entrenched injustice after another. And these changes have left a lasting imprint on San Jose to this day. It was because of her organizing efforts that the first student walkout in California occurred at Roosevelt Junior High School to protest unequal education funding and discrimination by administrators. It was because of her that 2,000 activists marched to City Hall to speak out against the excessive use of force by the San Jose Police Department, and that 1,000 residents formed the Community Alert Patrol to monitor police activity. And it it was because of her that the first major health clinic was established in East San Jose. I remember so well the forceful advocacy that made the East Valley Clinic a reality. It stands today as a tribute to Sophie's values. And an important part of her legacy was working for reform of the system by which the city of San Jose elected city council members. She demanded the city dismantle its at-large election system, which underrepresented minority communities, and replace it with district representation. The newly drawn districts ensured a council seat to East San Jose, and provide a voice today to Vietnamese-American and Latino communities across San Jose. Throughout her activism, Sophia Mendoza was a strong and proud mother. She pushed strollers as she marched to city hall. She brought crayons to city council meetings. In fact, her passion for justice was largely driven by her role as a mother. It was to protect her children's right to education that she first organized. In her words, ``community organizing starts at home.'' Her two daughters, Linda Ramirez and Saundra Panlasigui, and her son William Mendoza, currently reside in San Jose, in the community their mother fought to make a just home for them. Her passing was a sudden and immense loss for the San Jose community. She fought for issues that we continue to fight for across our nation: access to education and health care, equal treatment by the police, and workers rights. On behalf of my constituents, I thank her for her unwavering efforts to make San Jose a fair and just home for us all. I have lost a dear friend who made a tremendous difference.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my Colleagues, Congressman Pete Aguilar, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congressman Ami Bera, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Congresswoman Lois Capps, Congressman Tony Cardenas, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Jim Costa, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Congressman Sam Farr, Congressman John Garamendi, Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Congressman Mike Honda, Congressman Jared Huffman, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Ted Lieu, Congressman Alan Lowenthal, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Congressman Jerry McNerney, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Scott Peters, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congressman Raul Ruiz, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Congressman Adam Schiff, Congressman Brad Sherman, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Congressman Eric Swalwell, Congressman Mark Takano, Congressman Mike Thompson, Congresswoman Norma Torres, Congressman Juan Vargas, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, to honor the extraordinary life of Mrs. Mildred Parish Massey. Mrs. Massey was a beloved mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, sister, and friend. With her passing on February 16, we look to Mrs. Massey's personal legacy of leadership, service, and the outstanding quality of her life's work. Born on June 6, 1924 in El Paso, Texas, Mrs. Massey attended Douglass Elementary and High School in El Paso. She won a scholarship to Tillotson College in Austin, Texas and transferred to Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to study Business Administration. Mrs. Massey continued her education at Texas Western College (now the University of Texas at El Paso) and was one of seven students to integrate the University. Throughout her life, Mrs. Mildred Massey broke many racial barriers in the workplace. She began her career in the United Services Organization and was the first African-American clerical worker at Ft. Bliss in Texas. In 1960, she moved to San Fernando and served as the first African-American to work at the Raymond Lamp Company, Assistant Manager of Lerner Dress store in Panorama City, California, Manager of the Rembrandt Sign Co. in San Fernando, California and as Administrative Assistant at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Sylmar, California. In 1975, Mrs. Mildred Massey moved to Oakland, California and worked for the Social Security Administration until her retirement in 1986. Upon her retirement, she helped found and manage the WC Parish Co., DBA Lee Associates until her second retirement in 1998 when she moved to Sun City, Arizona until 2010. In addition to her prolific career, Mrs. Mildred Massey broke barriers and was a dedicated civil rights advocate. Among her efforts, she worked with Mary McLeod Bethune to come to Southern University in Baton Rouge to change her University's discriminatory policy surrounding sorority pledging. Mrs. Massey was also an active member of the Easter Star Lodge, Phyllis Wheatley Club, the NAACP, and Myrtle Avenue Methodist Church. Mrs. Massey enjoyed traveling and visited Greece, Italy, Spain, Hawaii, the Bahamas, Mexico, Grenada, St. Maarten, the Virgin Islands, Cuba and Martha's Vineyard, among her many trips. She was intrigued with the beauty of butterflies and had a wonderful collection of butterfly ornaments and personal items, which brought her a lot of joy. As Mildred's daughters Barbara Lee, Mildred Whitfield, and Beverly Hardy mourn her death, they celebrate her life well-lived. They remember their mother as a kind and gentle soul, yet a strong woman who taught them to be confident, to be kind and to live life to its fullest. At 90 years of age, Mildred stayed connected with her family and friends through texting and the use of technology. She played bridge, was very independent, and determined to ``do it her way'' even while struggling with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Today, The California Democratic Congressional Delegation salutes and honors an outstanding civil servant and individual, Mrs. Mildred Parish Massey. Her dedication and efforts have impacted so many lives. We join all of Mrs. Massey's loved ones in celebrating her incredible life. She will be deeply missed.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, a lot of discussion has been that, somehow, the President has acted unconstitutionally or unlawfully. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is ample legal authority for what the President has done. Prosecutorial discretion is a long-established practice in every area of the law, both civil and criminal. When a law enforcement agency has only enough resources to go after a fraction of the individuals who it suspects of violating the relevant law, it has to make choices. There is no alternative. In the case of immigration, not only do we recognize this, Congress has specifically directed the head of the Department to set priorities, enforcement priorities, for removal. Now, in addition to that, the Supreme Court has recognized in many cases the need--and really the authority of the executive--to make these decisions. In the Arizona case, it said Federal officials, as an initial matter, must decide whether it makes sense to pursue removal at all. Our own Congressional Research Service has found that no court appears to have invalidated a policy of nonenforcement founded upon prosecutorial discretion on the grounds that the policy violated the take care clause. Deferred action is nothing more than a tentative revocable signal to a noncitizen that the government does not intend to initiate removal proceedings at this time. Not only is that tentative, but the statute at U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(B)(ii) authorizes the period of stay by the Department in such cases. Congress has expressly recognized deferred action by name repeatedly. In addition to the statute, the formal regulations of the Justice Department and Homeland Security have also expressly recognized deferred action. In the Reno v. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination case, Justice Scalia said, ``At each stage, the Executive has discretion to abandon the endeavor''--referring to the removal process--``and at the time IIRIA was enacted, the INS had been engaging in a regular practice (which has come to be known as 'deferred action') of exercising that discretion for humanitarian reasons or simply for its own convenience.'' The arguments that somehow this is unlawful are so far wrong because nothing in the recent executive actions conflicts with either the letter or the spirit of the Immigration and Nationality Act or any other Federal statute. I would note that the court in Texas did not find the President's action unconstitutional. It suggested--and I think wrongly--that the Administrative Procedure Act applies to these actions. There is nothing in the history of the Administrative Procedure Act that suggests that is the case. I would just suggest that the Republicans fund Homeland Security and let the process work through the courts.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the Record that the House, instead of attacking women's access to health care, we should vote for bigger paychecks and better infrastructure.