Alan Lowenthal

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As I have mentioned before, Mr. Speaker, this rule will not just reduce waste and increase taxpayer revenues, it will also reduce air pollution and improve public health. In support of that, we received a letter this week from 13 medical and public health groups, including the American Lung Association, the American Public Health Association, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the Public Health Institute, and many more, pointing out the importance of the BLM methane waste prevention rule for cutting down on harmful methane emissions. They write: ``. . . we strongly urge you to oppose any Congressional Review Act resolution of disapprov- al . . .'' for the BLM rule. They point to the volatile organic compounds that also pollute the air when natural gas leaks, saying that these chemicals ``include benzene, a known carcinogen; ethylbenzene, a probable carcinogen; and toluene, a neurotoxin that may also cause miscarriages and birth defects.'' Also, these chemicals are ``precursors to the formation of ground- level ozone, a dangerous air pollutant that causes permanent lung damage. By limiting emissions of volatile organic chemicals, oil and natural gas limits will reduce the risk of ozone formation in the air and, thus, the risk of ozone-related health effects, including asthma attacks, hospital admissions, and, unfortunately, premature deaths.'' These health impacts are just one more set of reasons why repealing the BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule is the wrong way to go. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it may no longer be Groundhog Day, but it feels like we have been here doing the same thing over and over again. Once again, Republicans are doing the bidding of wealthy fossil fuel companies at the expense of ordinary Americans. On Wednesday, we were here so our majority could strip away clean water protections from coal mining. Later on that day, the majority gave our new Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, a gift by repealing the requirement for oil and gas companies to tell the public how much money they paid to foreign governments. Now, today we are here to shower more goodies onto the oil and gas industry by repealing a rule designed to keep them from wasting--and I urge you to hear that term, ``wasting''--natural gas and also polluting our air. Really, Mr. Speaker? Less than 2 weeks into the new all-Republican government and they are already handing out early Valentine's Day gifts to their wealthy donors. Instead of chocolates and flowers, they are giving their oil and coal executives the right to pollute our air, dump waste into our water, and do it all under the cover of darkness. Republicans are using the Congressional Review Act so fast that I doubt they even know what they are repealing from day to day. It's Friday, so I guess it must be air pollution day. Let me warn everyone that is watching this telecast that they are not going to stop at trying to destroy clean air, clean water, and transparency. Dozens of health, safety, transparency, and consumer protections are on the chopping block, and Republicans are more than happy to swing the ax. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to protect the BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule and defeat this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I include in the Record two letters opposing this resolution and supporting the BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule. The first is from 78 environmental, conservation, public interest, and sportsmen's groups urging a ``no'' vote on this resolution. The second is a letter from 13 public health and medical organizations strongly urging a ``no'' vote on this resolution because of the damage that it will do to public health. January 31, 2017. Dear Member of Congress: On behalf of our millions of members and supporters, we write to urge you to oppose any effort to use the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Bureau of Land Management's Methane and Natural Gas Waste Rule. We rely on laws and regulations to protect taxpayer resources and to keep our air and water clean and healthy. While we oppose the use of the CRA for any rule, the BLM rule is one of the anticipated targets to be considered under a Congressional Review Act Resolution. The BLM rule is a common sense policy that requires the oil and gas industry to reduce venting, flaring, and leaks at industry operations on public and tribal lands by deploying methane mitigation technology. Currently, more than $330 million worth of natural gas is wasted on public and tribal lands each year, meaning that taxpayers could lose out on $800 million in royalties over the next decade due to venting and flaring of this gas. Repealing this rule would harm public health and reduce revenue to the federal government and Western states. The BLM estimates the rule's net benefits range from $46 to $204 million per year. And economic studies have found the technologies and practices included in this rule to be very cost effective since the gas captured can be sold to the benefit of industry and taxpayers. Leaked natural gas contains volatile organic compounds, an asthma irritant; benzene; and other hazardous air pollutants that are known. carcinogens. After Colorado implemented a similar rule, natural gas production increased, and the standard has been popular. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) is a blunt instrument that seeks to undermine the federal rulemaking process. It allows Congress to overturn a recently finalized rule--major or otherwise--through an expedited process called a Resolution of Disapproval. In the Senate, a Resolution of Disapproval requires only a simple majority vote, may circumvent the committee process and cannot be filibustered. If the resolution passes and is signed by the President, the rule becomes void and the promulgating agency is prevented from issuing a rule that is ``substantially the same'' in the future without an act of Congress. By essentially voiding the rulemaking process and mandating that substantially similar rules not be pursued in the future, the CRA on the BLM's Methane Rule wastes taxpayer money and defies the public interest. We request that you vote in opposition to this attack on commonsense standards which limit wasted resources and protect the American taxpayer, public health, and the environment. Vote no on the BLM Methane CRA Resolution. Sincerely, Alaska Wilderness League, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environment--Colorado Chapter, American Family Voices, Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico, Bold Alliance, Californians for Western Wilderness, Center for Biological Diversity, Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility, Citizens for a Healthy Community, Clean Air Council, Clean Air Task Force, Clean Water Action, Coalition for Clean Air, Colorado Farm & Food Alliance, Conservation Colorado, Conservation Voters New Mexico, Dakota Resource Council, Demand Progress, Earth Action, Inc., Earthjustice, EarthRights International, Earthworks, Elders Climate Action, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Entrepreneurs, Environmental Integrity Project, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Environmental Working Groups. Friends of the Earth, Grand Canyon Trust, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy, Hair on Fire Oregon, Hixon Center for Sustainable Environmental Design at Harvey Mudd College, Idaho Organization of Resource Councils, Institute for Science and Human Values, Interfaith Power & Light, Iowa Environmental Council, League of Conservation Voters, League of Women Voters of the United States, Los Padres ForestWatch, Mayor of Lafayette, Colorado, Montana Conservation Voters, Montana Environmental Information Center--MEIC, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, National Parks Conservation Association, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Natural Resources Defense Council, New Mexico Sportsmen, NextGen Climate, Northern Plains Resource Council, NW Energy Coalition, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Physicians for Social Responsibility Maine Chapter. Pipeline Safety Coalition, Powder River Basin Resource Council, Public Citizen, Rachel Carson Council, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Sierra Club, SLO CLEAN WATER. ORG, Southern Environmental Law Center, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, The Ohio Environmental Council, The Wilderness Society, Union of Concerned Scientists, US Human Rights Network, Voices for Progress, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Western Colorado Congress, Western Environmental Law Center, Western Organization of Resource Councils, Wholly H2O, WildEarth Guardians, Wilderness Workshop, Wyoming Outdoor Council.

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to President Trump's ban on the entry of refugees from around the world as well as the ban on refugees and citizens from seven select countries. This ban, whether temporary or not, is shameful, and wholly un- American. There are better ways to protect our Nation, ways that are effective and stay true to our American values. For example, in the 1970s and 1980s, thousands of my constituents fled the horrors of war and genocide in Vietnam and in Cambodia as refugees. Today, these immigrants and their children are doctors, lawyers, teachers, parents, students, all integral to the success of our Nation. America has long endured as the shining beacon on the Hill. Sadly, that light was dimmed by the President's immigration executive order. Our Nation is great because it has been built by refugees and immigrants from every part of the world.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose H.J. Res. 38. The science is clear: mountaintop removal mining is harmful to the health of people who live near these mines. Anyone with a computer can go to Google Earth and see the tremendous scars on the landscape from mining companies that blast the tops off mountains and then dump the waste into the valleys below. But largely invisible to the naked eye is the suffering of people who live in the nearby communities because of these harmful practices. The stream protection rule will protect hundreds of vulnerable families and children who live near these sites from lung cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, birth defects, hypertension, and other health problems. If the majority has a problem with this final rule, as they say they do, they should hold a hearing in the Natural Resources Committee to discuss its merits. There we would have an opportunity to talk to the administration and hear from those who are most affected by mountaintop removal mining. Instead, they have decided to bypass regular order, go straight to the Congressional Review Act, which will take a chainsaw to this commonsense pollution rule. This is a reckless approach. I urge my colleagues to take time to listen to the voices of the American people. Please put the health and safety of American families first and vote ``no'' on this reckless resolution.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Amendment XVII: ``The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for 6 years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures. ``When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: . . .''

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from California, who has been such a great leader on veterans' issues. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Holocaust survivor and Medal of Honor recipient and a person that I knew personally before he passed away, Mr. Tibor ``Ted'' Rubin. With the support of all 53 members of the California delegation, both California Senators, and many of my State's leading veterans' groups, I recently introduced H.R. 6323, legislation to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Long Beach as the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center. As was already noted, Tibor Rubin was born in Hungary on June 18, 1929. During World War II, he survived 14 months in a Nazi concentration camp in Austria, where both his parents and both of his sisters would eventually die. Liberated by the United States Army, he was inspired by the American soldiers who rescued him, immigrating to the United States and enlisting in the United States Army. He was deployed to Korea as a member of the United States Army's 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during the Korean war. Despite facing religious discrimination from his sergeant who sent him on the most dangerous patrols and missions and withheld his Medal of Honor commendation, Tibor fought valiantly in several notable engagements. In one such engagement, Tibor enabled the complete withdrawal of his compatriots to the Pusan Perimeter by solely defending a hill under an overwhelming assault by North Korean troops. During this engagement, he inflicted a staggering number of casualties on the attacking force during his personal 24-hour battle, single- handedly slowing the enemy's advance and allowing the 8th Cavalry to withdraw successfully. Following the successful U.S. Army breakout from the Pusan Perimeter and advance into North Korea, Tibor was personally responsible for the capture of several hundred North Korean soldiers. In an additional engagement near Usan, Chinese forces attacked his unit during a massive nighttime assault. For nearly 24 hours, he remained at his post with a .30-caliber machine gun at the south end of the unit's line until his ammunition was exhausted. His determined stand slowed the pace of the enemy advance into his sector, permitting the remnants of his unit to retreat southward. However, as the battle raged, Tibor was severely wounded and captured by the Chinese. While in Chinese custody, he refused to be repatriated to Hungary, instead choosing to remain in the prison camp. He would refuse the offer on numerous occasions. Tibor disregarded his own personal safety and immediately began sneaking out of the camp at night in search of food for his fellow prisoners. Breaking into enemy food storehouses and gardens, he risked certain torture or death if caught. Tibor provided not only food for the starving soldiers, but also desperately needed medical care and moral support for the sick and wounded of the POW camp. As one of his fellow prisoners recounted about the camp: ``Tibor did many good deeds, which he told us were mitzvahs in the Jewish tradition. He was a very religious Jew, and helping his fellow men was the most important thing to him.'' Tibor's brave, selfless efforts were directly attributed to saving the lives of as many as 40 of his fellow prisoners. As his Medal of Honor citation reads: ``Corporal Rubin's gallant actions in close contact with the enemy and unyielding courage and bravery while a prisoner of war are in the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.'' It is worth noting that Tibor was nominated in the field on four occasions for the Medal of Honor. When he was finally presented his Medal of Honor in 2005, it was not presented by President George W. Bush for a single act of heroism. It was instead presented for nearly his entire 3 years of service in the Korean war. Tibor was fiercely proud of the country he adopted. When he was later asked about his decision to immigrate to the United States, he said: ``I always wanted to become a citizen of the United States, and when I became a citizen, it was one of the happiest days in my life. ``I think about the United States, and I am a lucky person to live here. ``When I came to America, it was the first time I was free. It was one of the reasons I joined the U.S. Army, because I wanted to show my appreciation. ``It is the best country in the world, and I am part of it now. I do not have to worry about the Gestapo knocking on my doors.'' I am proud to say that after his service, Tibor became a longtime resident of Garden Grove, California, in my district. It was still his home when he passed away on December 5, 2015, and it was the Long Beach VA Hospital where he received his medical services for over 50 years. It was my great honor to meet Tibor and to represent him in Congress. He was a survivor, a soldier, a nurse, a compatriot, and a wonderful citizen.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, on December 7, 1941 Japanese military forces attacked, without warning, United States' military bases and personnel in Hawai'i. The culmination of a decade of tense relations between the Empire of Japan and the United States, the attack took place as Japanese diplomats conferred with their American counterparts in Washington D.C., allegedly to repair relations between the two countries. The results of the attack stunned Americans: eighteen naval vessels sunk or damaged, including all eight of the battleships stationed at Pearl Harbor, 347 military aircraft destroyed or damaged on their fields, 3,581 military personnel killed or wounded. Of this number, over 2,000 were naval personnel who died while defending their ships from the relentless assault of Japanese aircraft. The events at Pearl Harbor compelled the U.S. Congress to declare war against Japan, and, several days later, its Axis partners Germany and Italy. America now entered the worldwide conflagration raging since 1939, joining with its allies, fighting a two-front war, and mobilizing the vast resources of the nation to ensure ultimate victory by 1945. This war changed the world, and changed the United States. Every part of the nation contributed to the war effort, as millions fought at the fronts, millions of citizens on the home front powered the Arsenal of Democracy that produced the ships, the aircraft, and weapons that fueled victory in Europe and in the Pacific. December 7, 2016 is the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. In commemoration, the Historical Society of Long Beach will open an exhibition, ``Long Beach Remembers Pearl Harbor,'' both to summarize the consequences of the attack, and to detail the effects of major changes on the city of Long Beach and the surrounding areas created by World War II. Long Beach has had a deep connection with the United States Navy dating to the years after World War I when ships of the Pacific fleet were first home ported in San Pedro bay, a few hundred yards from downtown Long Beach. By the 1930s, three dozen naval vessels rode at anchor in the bay, including the great warships of Battleship Division 1. The USS Arizona, the USS West Virginia, the USS Pennsylvania, and many other ships called Long Beach and the Long Beach Naval Station home. The city built a Navy Landing so sailors could easily transit from the ships to visit the amusement zone in downtown Long Beach. Officers and enlisted military personnel also resided, with their families, in the city and became part of the social fabric, marching in parades during holiday celebrations, active in civic events, and helping out in perilous times. If one event solidified the Navy's presence, it was the earthquake of 1933. Minutes after a major quake rolled through southern California in the early evening of March 10--killing over one hundred, injuring thousands more, and collapsing buildings in a dozen communities, officers aboard Navy vessels ordered their men into the city. Several thousand Blue Jackets pulled survivors from damaged buildings, patrolled the streets, fought fires, and set up field hospitals. Naval personnel spent weeks in Long Beach and other cities providing medical care, hot meals, and security. As the city recovered, the City Council, the police department, and the school district offered proclamations thanking the sailors, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel who rallied to help during the crisis. By 1935, Long Beach proudly proclaimed itself the ``Navy Capitol'' of the United States. Seventy-five years on, we are now losing the men and women of the Greatest Generation. Of the 16 million who served the country during the war, only about 500,000 are estimated to still be with us in 2016. We are losing them at the rate of 500 per day. The Historical Society's exhibit will spotlight some of the contributions of that generation. Through the artifacts, the photographs, and the letters the Historical Society compiled for the exhibition the Long Beach military members who served aboard the ships come alive, as people we can see and say hello to on any street in Long Beach. Their voices may be stilled, but we have not forgotten them or their action at Pearl Harbor on that terrible day 75 years ago. I congratulate The Historical Society of Long Beach on this wonderful exhibition and I encourage all those interested to participate in its Opening Ceremony on Dec. 7th, 2016 at 6 pm to see the exhibit, which will run until April 18, 2017.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the California State University, Long Beach's Educational Opportunity Program which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Founded in 1967-68 by Dr. Joseph White, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry and the first Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), it is the first such program implemented on a college campus in the State of California. The 1960s was a decade of civil unrest throughout the United States. In the City of Los Angeles, the 1965 six-day Watts Riot affected a number of communities of color. In 1960, The California State Master Plan for Higher Education created a three-tiered system to provide instruction in the state: University of California, California State University, and the Community College Systems. The Master Plan, however, resulted in a decline of minority enrollments. As a result, African American academicians, civil rights advocates, and community activists sought to implement strategies that would increase the number of underrepresented students into institutions of higher education and develop effective methods to address this imbalance. The event celebrated the legacy of Dr. White and his colleagues for their blend of scholarship, social activism, and mentoring which influenced and increased enrollment of African-American Students along with other students of color within the LA County and beyond. To honor the individuals and programs that transformed the lives of countless African-American students that attended CSULB during the late 60s and early 70s; and to make this history and research available as an integral part of the African-American Legacy within the Long Beach Community, Dr. White served as a member of the CSULB faculty from 1962 to 1968. During his tenure, he became increasingly frustrated by the University's low Black student enrollment. He lamented, ``Here we were, right at the end of South-Central LA and out of 15,000 students at CSULB, only 65 were black. It didn't make any sense.'' The original pioneers responsible for EOP's implementation on the CSULB campus and expansion statewide are as follows: Dr. Joseph White, Assemblyman Willie Brown, Dr. Clyde Taylor, and Mr. Ernie Clark. Others were invited by Dr. White who also contributed to the implementation of EOP and student support services for students of color on CSULB's campus include: Dr. George Demos, Congressman Alan Lowenthal, Dr. Fernando Hernandez, and deceased contributors Dr. June Cooper, Dr. Ora Williams, Dr. Enid Blaylock, and Anthony Wilkins. Despite all that has been accomplished over the years, the mission and goals still remains an ongoing journey.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my constituent, Mr. Tony Lam. Tony fled Vietnam in 1975 during the Fall of Saigon. He was a political target because of his work for the United States Government. While at Camp Asan in Guam and Camp Pendleton in California, he served as a leader for the community of refugees. After settling in Westminster, California, Tony won a seat on the Westminster City Council in 1992, becoming the first Vietnamese American elected to public office in the United States. Tony will turn 80 next week on October 4, and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate him and thank him for his many years of service to the Vietnamese American community and to the city of Westminster.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 2-year anniversary of the disappearance of 43 students from the Raul Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers' School in Ayotzinapa, Mexico. Sadly, Mexican authorities have yet to secure any criminal convictions or to uncover the whereabouts of these disappeared students. I strongly urge the Mexican authorities to continue to search for the students, to bring to justice those responsible for the disappearance, and to investigate the possible obstruction of justice by public officials. Two years is too long--too long for the students' grieving families and too long for those of us who care about justice and human rights in Mexico. Let's not let another anniversary pass without answers.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to remember a prominent Long Beach resident, Mr. Alejandro Duran. He was respected and liked by many in the community, known best for his work at the restaurant, Chianina, in Naples. As an experienced chef, sommelier, and general manager, Alejandro's extensive background and personality made him a popular figure within Long Beach's culinary community. Alejandro's experience with cooking spans over several years. Prior to moving to Long Beach, he worked in Austin, Texas as a chef at the Latin American restaurant, Malaga. Alejandro's entrepreneurial and culinary skills helped project Malaga to prominent success. In 2013, he moved to Long Beach, California and joined the Michael's Restaurant Group as general manager of Chianina. Alejandro was an active and energetic manager who often enjoyed engaging with customers. He was a respected leader amongst the restaurant staff for constantly motivating and supporting them. Alejandro's devotion to Chianina helped make it one of the top ten steak restaurants in the United States. The sudden loss of Alejandro has been a devastating blow to the community, Chianina, and his family. He is survived by his wife, Dana-- to whom he was happily married for eight years--and two daughters, Isabella and Sofia--to whom he was devoted to raising. Alejandro Duran's passing was sudden and shocking, but he will be remembered for the lasting impact he left on the Long Beach community.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, in every sport, in every art, in every field of human endeavor, there are figures that impact history so deeply that the future is reshaped forever. They are icons, pioneers, and trailblazers. Joan Lind Van Blom belongs among this pantheon. A graduate of Wilson High School and California State Long Beach, Joan is widely considered the greatest American female athlete to have ever competed in the sport of rowing. Joan was a trailblazer, paving the way for women in the U.S. to compete on the international rowing stage. During her rowing career, she was the top single sculler in America for nearly a decade and won 14 national titles. In 1976, she won a silver medal in the XXI Summer Games in Montreal, Canada, becoming the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic medal in rowing. Four years later, again a member of the U.S. Olympic team, she was the favorite to win the gold in Moscow, but the U.S. delegation boycotted the Moscow Games. In the XXIII Summer Games in Los Angeles in 1984 she returned to the medal stand earning a silver medal. The same year she married coach, former Olympian, and National Rowing Hall of Famer John Van Blom, and for the last three decades the pair have enjoyed the title of the First Couple of Rowing. She went on to be inducted in the Wilson High, Cal State Long Beach, Century Club, and National Rowing halls of fame. Joan still holds 11 indoor rowing world records. Joan also served the Long Beach Unified School District for over three decades, 25 years of that as a teacher and then another decade as the district's first physical education curriculum leader. She was instrumental in winning a million-dollar grant to put rowing machines in each of LBUSD's nine high schools. In 2014 she was given the prestigious Ernestine Bayer Award for her deep contributions to the entire sport of rowing. One year ago she passed away in her Long Beach home at the age of 62. Her smile and joy of life served as a beacon, drawing people from her past back to her, and her husband John said the last two years while Joan battled brain cancer were filled with reconnections and reunions with people from throughout their life. In addition to her husband John, Joan is also survived by son John Jr. and her sisters, Loretta Madsen and Carol Hansen.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, almost a quarter of the United States' energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are from fossil fuels that are produced from our Federal lands and waters. However, recent Government Accountability Office reports show that we don't have very good data on much of these emissions, including the methane gas that is released that is leaked, vented, and flared. The first step on the path to reducing carbon pollution is simply to know what we are dealing with: What are the greenhouse gas emissions, and where are they coming from? That is why I am pleased to introduce a commonsense, bipartisan bill with my friends in the Climate Solutions Caucus and the congressional Safe Climate Caucus, which would simply require the Department of the Interior to calculate and publish, online, the amount of climate-damaging greenhouse gas pollution from oil, gas, and coal extracted from our Federal lands and waters. I urge the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources to move swiftly to hold a hearing on this bipartisan bill and provide the American people with the transparency around energy production that they deserve.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Gabbard for giving us this opportunity to say a few words about somebody whom we cared about and respected so much and who brought so much joy and positivity to this Congress. To his family--to Sami, to Matthew, and to Kaila, thank you for sharing him with us. It meant a lot to us. The Hawaiian word ``pono'' means righteousness. It is the idea that moral character leads to happiness. It means doing what is morally right and selfless. It is the word that so captures my feelings about Mark Takai, and that is what we see here in this picture. Too often our society takes the notion of public service for granted. Mark was the embodiment of the idea of public service, an idea that he was so proud to take part in--first, in the military and, at the same time, also continuing on in government. As I mentioned before in this House, Mark was a force of positivity. He was a leader who did not lead by force of will, but he led by being humble. He listened, he was effective at what he did, and he always brought us great warmth. He was the embodiment of bravery first in his service to his Nation-- our Nation--and then in his battle against cancer. His passing is a great loss to his family, to Hawaii, for this Chamber, and our Nation. Mr. Speaker, we have truly lost one of the good guys.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, Ray Karl Thorn was born March 20, 1946 and passed away August 27, 2016. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, he was a ray of sunshine to all who knew him. As a community leader, Ray was one of the founding members of the Friends of Colorado Lagoon (FOCL). He was instrumental in the successful litigation that saved the lagoon from a flawed storm drain project, which would have precluded any restoration. He then led the group's pivot towards collaboration and relationship building, creating the strong partnerships that FOCL still enjoys with the city, port, and regional groups. He was FOCL president for five critical years during the time when the group was fighting to convince the city and regional leaders that restoring the lagoon's historic open waterway was essential to the community and environment. His relationships with the City of Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine directors gave FOCL credibility and helped the group move forward when there were many projects competing for funding. In later years Ray continued to serve as a board member and leader for FOCL as the group successfully restored vital wetland habitat, helped transform the lagoon from having the worst water quality in Long Beach to the best, and educated the public about the importance of wetlands. The final vision of the lagoon as a clean jewel of Long Beach would not have been possible without Ray's efforts. Born in Tooele, Utah to Roe and Lydia Thorn, he was the fourth of five children. Ray grew up in Springville, Utah and graduated from Springville High School. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Sociology and a Master's Degree from BYU in Organizational Behavior. It was also at BYU that Ray met his future wife Becky Asher. Their marriage of 44 years was a positive example for many that knew them because of their devotion to each other and their commitment to creating and maintaining a strong marriage. Their only daughter, Nicole Thorn, was born in 1979 and their grandson, Leif, was born to Nicole Thorn and Steve Stern in 2010. Ray spent much of his time with them, for they were a source of joy in his life. Ray loved the outdoors and was a beautiful downhill and avid cross country skier. He loved spending time in the mountains, on the beaches, hiking, bike riding, and rollerblading. Ray loved animals and enjoyed evenings throwing the Frisbee or ball for this dogs and teaching them new tricks. He was devoted to his wife and family and cherished the vacations, road trips, and camping trips they took together. He loved adventures: walking on thin ice to see under-ice whirlpools, rafting in a lake during a lightning storm, driving through rivers, sneaking into places to find the best sledding hill, and off-roading for the fun of it. He was an excellent communicator both in his work and personal life, bringing people together and making them feel valued and understood. As an Organizational Behavior Consultant, Ray worked for over 40 years with business, governmental, and educational institutions. He assisted leaders, teams, and organizations to improve their culture, norms, and working relationships. Ray had a gift for helping people communicate. He coached them to better understand each other, to enhance their levels of trust and openness, and to engage in productive problem solving. As a coach, trainer, and team builder, he assisted thousands of leaders from multiple organizations across the country and abroad. He led them to respect and utilize their differences in order to compliment rather than compete with one another, freeing them to create and maintain supportive teamwork. Ray is survived by his wife Becky Thorn, his daughter Nicole Thorn, his grandson Leif Thorn-Stern, his son-in-law Steve Stern, and his sister Maris Grotegut. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to offer this simple, nonpartisan amendment today. Like many of my colleagues here, I am determined to do whatever I can to ensure the best possible care for our veterans. And I can tell you that I see all the time just how important the services are in my hometown at the Long Beach Veterans Administration to veterans in my district. It is absolutely essential our veterans receive the quality of care that they have earned and that we owe them. I believe everyone here agrees on that. The question is: How can we ensure that our veterans receive the best quality care? One straightforward, but important way is to make sure that whistleblowers are adequately protected. When problems emerge, as they certainly will in any complicated system such as health care, it is vital that the VA employees feel that they can bring forward complaints and they will be properly considered without fear of retaliation. VA employees are key potential partners in making sure the system is responsive, honest, and efficient. And if they have any doubts or concerns about their whistleblower protections, then we lose the insights, their expertise, and the inside view that they bring to the VA's day-to-day operations. That would be bad for the veterans and bad for our VA system. My simple amendment helps to guarantee whistleblower protections are acted upon by requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or his or her designee to conduct a quarterly review of covered whistleblower complaints from the preceding quarter. This brings the necessary prompt attention and senior level VA oversight to whistleblower complaints. I believe this is nonpartisan, noncontroversial, and I hope that the majority goes along with my colleagues in the minority and will support it. I urge its adoption. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chair, I thank and appreciate the leader from the majority party. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Engel for yielding. First, I want to acknowledge the great work and the collaboration from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring this resolution to the floor today. Chairman Royce has long been a champion on Cambodian issues, and this resolution would not have been possible without his support. I would also like to thank the Republican lead on this resolution, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, Chairman Matt Salmon; and also I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), who joined with me in founding the Congressional Cambodia Caucus. I also, obviously, want to thank Ranking Member Engel for his support of the resolution. Recently, the Cambodian Government, as has been pointed out, presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen for the past 31 years, has severely cracked down on political opposition and all forms of dissent in Cambodia. As we know, national elections in Cambodia in 2013 prolonged Hun Sen's grip on power, but they were marred by allegations of voting irregularities. After the election, Hun Sen's party and the opposition party agreed to a series of electoral reforms and power-sharing compromises. However, since that time, the Cambodian Government has undertaken a comprehensive campaign to undermine the political opposition. Last year, the Cambodian Government revived a 7-year-old defamation charge against the opposition leader, Mr. Sam Rainsy, expelling him from the Parliament and forcing him into self-imposed exile. The deputy leader, Kem Sokha, who is acting as the opposition's leader, has been under effective house arrest at the party's headquarters in Phnom Penh, where he was facing charges that are similarly politically motivated, and recently he was convicted in court and is now serving time in jail. When I spoke to the deputy leader, he told me that he not only fears this arrest by the government, which has just taken place, but he truly fears for his life. And his fears are well founded. In July, as was pointed out, prominent political activist and outspoken critic of the government Kem Ley was brutally murdered in broad daylight in Phnom Penh. The passage of this resolution could not come at a more urgent time. The Cambodian Government has renewed its efforts to seek out, to harass, and to intimidate the leaders of the opposition. As I pointed out, last week Kem Sokha was tried and sentenced to 5 months in jail. In the lead-up to the trial, the government deployed security forces in the vicinity of the opposition party's headquarters. Hun Sen's strategy could not be more clear: intimidate and threaten arrest to silence the opposition in advance of local elections next year and national elections the following year. As long as these politically motivated charges remain outstanding, the current political climate in Cambodia is not one that will allow for free and fair elections. That is why it is so important for us to pass this resolution and show that the United States stands with the people of Cambodia. We will send an important signal to the Cambodian Government that political violence of any kind will not be tolerated and that the Cambodian people must be able to enjoy the freedom to choose their own leaders. Only under these conditions can elections in Cambodia be considered free and fair by the international community. Again, I want to thank all the Members who worked so closely with me to bring this resolution to the floor. I urge passage of this resolution to send a strong message that the United States supports human rights and supports democracy and the rule of law in Cambodia.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, as Dr. Ann M. Muscat retired on June 25, 2016 as president and CEO of the Catalina Island Conservancy, it is important to step back and look over her successful tenure. She has served as president and CEO for more than 13 years--the second longest tenure of any previous Conservancy president. ``Ann and the Conservancy have achieved a lot,'' said Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. ``I've had the great pleasure of working with Ann and her team, all of them consummate professionals who are dedicated to getting things done.'' ``Under Ann's leadership, the Conservancy has become a living laboratory of innovation in conservation, education and financial sustainability for nonprofit organizations,'' said Catalina Island Conservancy Board of Directors Chair Stephen Chazen, PhD. ``The Conservancy has significantly improved the Island's ecological health, greatly increased access to Catalina's wildlands and expanded and enhanced its educational programs to better serve students living in Avalon and visitors from the mainland.'' Here is a look back at how the Conservancy and its stewardship of Catalina Island have flourished since Muscat joined the organization in 2003: During Ann's 13-year tenure, and through its Catalina Habitat Improvement and Restoration Program (CHIRP), the Conservancy staff has completed vegetation mapping of the entire Island, including non-native and invasive plant species. It has controlled and eradicated numerous invasive plant species that were eliminating native and rare biodiversity. It also expanded the native plant nursery's scope to include landscaping initiatives on the Island, along with restoration, and significantly expanded the native seed collection. The Conservancy has been a leader in removing non-native and highly destructive animal species from the Island, leading to the rediscovery of native plants previously believed to be extinct. It also brought the Catalina Island fox back from the brink of extinction and supported the successful recovery of the bald eagle. Its wildlife biologists have implemented innovative social (repatriation) and scientific methodologies (contraception) for managing the bison herd. They also have conducted bird and small mammal surveys, discovering nesting sea birds on cliffs and nearby rocks, and implementing protective measures for bat populations. In addition, the Conservancy has pursued research partnerships with universities and museums from across the country, including a multi- institution collaboration that resulted in a comprehensive look at the Island's oak woodlands. Working with the Long Beach Unified School District, the community and philanthropic organizations, the Conservancy has greatly increased access to natural and intellectual resources over the past 13 years. It implemented extensive educational enrichment and internship programs for the local school population through the establishment of the K-12 NatureWorks workforce development and STEM education initiative. In its continuing service to the local community, the Conservancy provided free access to the wildlands of Catalina for Island families without vehicles. It implemented a free of charge Naturalist Training Program for tour operators and local businesses, as well as Conservancy front line staff. To ensure visitors to the Island could access the wildlands and learn about Catalina's ecosystem, the Conservancy created the 37.5 mile Trans-Catalina Trail. It also has secured funding and developed plans for further trail improvements and expansions. It significantly expanded and improved the Jeep Eco-Tour program and developed a signage and way finding system across the Island. It added new running and biking events, an Island Ecology Travel Program and Wild Side Art Program to increase access and awareness. In addition, it increased volunteer program initiatives to include AmeriCorps, American Conservation Experience and numerous university-level spring break programs. So that visitors and others had more information about Catalina Island and the Conservancy, it added a Nature Center in Avalon and a Mobile Nature Station that has served Avalon and Two Harbors, along with interpretive panels in the Garden and at campgrounds and trailheads. The Conservancy also expanded and revamped its outreach and marketing materials, including maps, field guides, monthly e- newsletters, videos, an extensive photo library and expanded web site. To serve a greater good beyond Catalina's shores, the Conservancy launched a successful radio show and web site, Isla Earth, on environmental issues that aired for 10 years on over 320 radio stations across the country. To provide the needed programs and ensure the organization's long- term financial health, the Conservancy has focused on raising revenues and creating a sustainable business model that will ensure the Island will continue to be restored and protected for future generations. In the past 13 years, the Conservancy has increased its operating budget nearly three times through an increase in philanthropic giving and mission-based earned income. It has significantly expanded its donor base and created a reserve fund to address deferred maintenance projects across its 42,000 acres. Projects have included improvements at Airport in the Sky, across its road and bridge system, a new pier, replacement and expansion of its vehicle fleet and upgrades to its numerous buildings. The Conservancy also revamped its organizational structure, adding new departments and expanding existing functions while providing professional development and training for all staff. The Conservancy's staff has doubled in size and moved to a more customer service/ community orientation. The Conservancy also expanded and updated employee housing, adding 14 new units, to support recruitment and retention of staff. The Board of Directors and the Conservancy's staff have worked together to develop a strategic vision for the organization's future, called IMAGINE CATALINA. They worked with nationally recognized sustainability architect William McDonough and landscape architect Thomas Woltz to develop a long-term strategic vision. It imagines an Island that represents California as it can be, demonstrating how nature and humans can thrive together. It envisions Catalina and the Conservancy serving as models for science-based conservation, for training tomorrow's stewards of the natural world, for connecting people to nature and for creating sustainable finances and operations. To implement IMAGINE CATALINA, the Board and staff launched the Conservancy's first-ever capital campaign, and they are more than three-fourths of the way to fully funding the first phase. They celebrated the groundbreaking for the campaign's flagship project, the Trailhead Visitor Center, on June 24, 2016. Another groundbreaking is scheduled on October 14, 2016 for the next major project, improvement and expansion of Catalina's trail system, and planning is well underway for a major ecological restoration effort on the Island's West End. ``Ann and her team's excellent stewardship work at the Catalina Island Conservancy is leading edge and has served as a model for many other land trusts,'' said California Council of Land Trusts Executive Director Darla Guenzler. Ann has also been a leader beyond Catalina. She was a founding Board member of the California Council of Land Trusts and served as its Chair of the Board. She is also a member of the Steering Committee for the Southern California Open Space Council and an Advisory Board member of University of Southern California's Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, the unique middle name Tatsu proved to be a fitting moniker for Luke Tatsu Johnson. The tatsu, or dragon, is a centuries old mythical creature of great wonder, bravery, and strength. Throughout his extraordinary life, Luke consistently demonstrated his own special type of courage, power, and excellence. As a loving son and older brother, loyal friend, accomplished student and athlete, all- around young man of solid character, and ultimately, brave cancer patient, Luke filled his life with meaning and grace. Luke was always an active kid--he loved being outdoors doing just about anything with family and friends. Over time, the video game consoles gathered dust while Luke played organized baseball, flag football, soccer, and golf, participated in Junior Lifeguards and the Stud lronman, engaged in backyard competitions with his brother Spencer, went skiing, boogie boarding, and bike riding, and enjoyed the big, small town atmosphere of Alamitos Heights and Long Beach. Some of Luke's passions occasionally kept him indoors--mom's cooking, sushi, and sports TV, especially if his beloved Angels or Chargers were playing. Luke held himself to high standards and achieved success in his many endeavors. He was a straight A student since grade school, including his freshman and sophomore years in high school studies--which he completed while enduring often difficult chemotherapy regimens. During his two periods of remission, Luke worked tirelessly on his golf game. He enjoyed long hours at the driving range and on the course alongside his father and brother. In April of 2015, while still regaining strength after his initial treatment, Luke made a hole-in-one on a family outing in Northern California. In the greenside photo commemorating that moment, Luke stands ball in hand, bathed in sunlight, shining his familiar winning smile. Luke faced his illness with the same determination and strength of character with which he pursued all of his challenges. Through months of hospital stays, difficult treatments, and intermittent setbacks, Luke continued to push ahead and never lost touch with his true nature and he remained the great kid--full of good cheer, quick to smile, concerned about others, close to his parents and Spencer--that he had always been. Luke's story inspired a broad array of supporters--Team Luke--which included friends, teammates, and relatives as well as celebrities and PGA stars. It is in and through this team that loved him that Luke's unique spirit will continue to soar, like a tatsu, as a source of courage and grace.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would ensure that the Department of the Interior continues to address the impacts of climate change on our public lands, on our waters, and cultural resources by maintaining a 2009 Secretarial order on climate change. Across the country, our public lands and wildlife are often on the front lines of climate change. Every week, we learn more from scientists about the impacts of rising levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Ocean acidification, droughts, increased frequency of wildfires, heat waves, extreme weather events, diminished air quality, habitat loss, species migrations, and more changes than even these to our environment are occurring because of climate change. The Department of the Interior is in a unique position when it comes to climate change because it is responsible for where fossil fuels are extracted, how fossil fuels are extracted, and the amount of fossil fuels extracted from our public lands and our waters. Of course, fossil fuels, when burned, contribute a significant amount of climate-changing pollution to the atmosphere. In addition, the Department of the Interior is also responsible for managing much of our public lands and waters that are impacted by that damaged climate. Therefore, the Department of the Interior should play a significant role in both promoting the transition to a low-carbon economy and mitigating the effects of climate change on our public lands and waters. That is why I am so glad the Department is finalizing a rulemaking for renewable energy development on public lands, paving the way for massive clean energy development. The Department of the Interior also recognizes that climate change is drastically changing the landscape and the wildlife it is working to preserve, and so the Department has taken a series of commonsense steps to protect our national resources from the impacts of climate change. These steps include coordinating responses across multiple bureaus of the Department; communicating the science of climate change impact; establishing regional hubs to study existing climate change impacts and management strategies; engaging the public through education; developing a network of local, State, and national partners to devise strategies for responding to climate impacts; and understanding and limiting the Department's own pollution footprint. The complexity of a changing climate require multidisciplinary teams covering large swaths of the landscape who strive to understand what is going on, respond appropriately, and adapt long-term management strategies so that the public lands, waters, and resources continue to be accessible to the public and resilient to the impacts of climate change. My amendment supports these commonsense measures to help our public lands and resources become more resilient to the impacts of climate change so that future generations will continue to benefit from our rich natural and cultural resources. My amendment also ensures that these Department of the Interior actions continue into the next administration. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support the Department of the Interior's efforts by voting ``yes'' on my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.