Ted Lieu

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mother Nature does not discriminate. Whether you are 20 years old, a Republican or Democrat or a member of the Green Party, the laws of physics and the laws of chemistry do not negotiate. We are now in a danger zone when it comes to carbon pollution. If we don't act quickly to reduce carbon pollution, in the coming decades we are going to be in a world of hurt. We are going to have far more extreme weather events, far more national security issues. So, working together, it is my hope that we can pass strong legislation through this Congress, and I believe we will because, in a democracy, the side with the facts eventually wins. Thank you, Representative Swalwell, for having this terrific Future Forum event on the floor today.

Mr. TED LIEU of California. I am very honored to have Los Angeles Air Force Base in my district. It was the first base to actually go green in terms of its vehicles. So all the vehicles the L.A. Air Force Base uses on the government side are energy-efficient electric vehicles. They are the first large institution to develop a vehicle-to-grid program where you actually plug in the vehicle and it gives electricity back to the grid when the grid needs it. If you can get that widespread, that would be a game changer across America. So the military is very focused on this issue. Again, what makes America an exceptional country--one of the best in the world--is we actually rely on facts and science and measurements. Ninety-seven percent of scientists looking at this issue have said that climate change is real, it is largely caused by humans, and we need to do something about it or else we are going to be in a great world of hurt. If 9 out of 10 doctors said your child shows the symptoms of diabetes, would you keep feeding your child Snickers bars? You would be crazy if you do that. You would actually go and seek treatment. It makes no sense for folks to believe in doctors and science and math and technology and then, on this one narrow issue of carbon pollution, simply for ideological reasons, say we are not going to trust any science or facts or measurements.

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Representative Swalwell, that is a great point you make. Whether you call it science, facts, or measurements, you can measure climate change. So we know that last year was the hottest year in recorded history, only to be outdone by the first 6 months of this year, only to be outdone again, as Representative Boyle mentioned, by November--last month. We know that ocean levels have risen 8 inches in about the last century, and just since 1992, they have risen about 3 inches. I love my district, which stretches from Malibu, south through Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, and along the coast, and I don't want my constituents all moving to Representative Gallego's district because they are getting flooded. It is important that we look at this. The projections show that by 2050, large parts of American coastal areas will be at risk of flooding--and that is a huge problem. So we have to not only pay attention to that as a national security interest, but just for people to live their normal lives. And Mother Nature does not discriminate.

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Absolutely. That is why I am very pleased and proud that the University of California system became the first, and currently the only, university to be a part of Bill Gates' breakthrough energy fund. We are taking some great steps in California to mitigate carbon pollution. As you know, California passed the Global Warming Solutions Act last decade, and it is one of the strongest laws in the world. One of the first bills I authored seeks to replicate California's laws nationwide. It is an important issue for millennials because it is going to directly affect you in the coming decades. It is going to affect our children and grandchildren. So we need to make sure that we mitigate carbon pollution. All of us are busy. We all deal with a thousand issues, but carbon pollution is the one issue that can kill humanity as a species if we don't do anything about it.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Mayor of Rolling Hills Estates, California, John C. Addleman, who is retiring on December 8, 2015, after 18 years of dedicated service on the City Council. I want to commend Mayor Addleman for his commitment to our mutual constituents of Rolling Hills Estates, as well as residents of the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula and South Bay areas. Mayor Addleman began his service to Rolling Hills Estates in 1994 by serving on the city's Planning Commission. He served three years on the Planning Commission prior to his election to the City Council in January 1997. Over the years he has served on the Budget and Audit Committee, Regional Law Enforcement Committee, Stable Concessionaire Search Committee, Economic Development Committee and Chamber Liaison, Traffic and Safety Committee Chair, L.A. County Sanitation Districts Board of Directors. Mayor Addleman has also served on the Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority as Chair, Vice Chair to the South Bay Cities Council of Governments Metro South Bay Governance Council, and as Finance Committee Chair and Executive Member to the Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board. He has also served on the Executive Board of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority and on the Transportation Committee of the Southern California Association of Governments. Through his outstanding service to the community, Mayor Addleman has exemplified the best ideals of a public servant. I am proud to honor Mayor John C. Addleman of Rolling Hills Estates and thank him for his dedication to so many of the residents of the 33rd Congressional District.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor both Major Raymond (Glenn) Clanin, USAF (Ret) and Major Russell (Lynn) Clanin USAF (Ret), twin brothers who were born on April 25, 1923 and raised in Bismarck, Missouri. Major Glenn and Major Lynn were raised in a large family of nine children--six boys and three girls. I would like to commend both Major Glenn and Major Lynn for their tireless service to our nation while serving in the United States Army. Both Major Glenn and Major Lynn were drafted in May of 1943 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and were shortly accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program. After initial cadet training at Michigan State College, they both received more advanced military training at various bases in Texas. After B-26 training, they deployed to Europe on the ``Ille de France'' in January 1945 and were assigned to the 449th Bomb Squadron of the 322nd Bomb group stationed at Beauvais, France. Major Glenn completed 26 missions and Major Lynn completed 21 missions flying out of France and Belgium and deployed back to the United States in July of 1946. Major Glenn and Major Lynn were discharged from the Army Air Corps in September 1946 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. They were both decorated with significant medals which include the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two battle stars and the World War II Victory Medal. After their outstanding active military service to this country, Major Glenn and Major Lynn moved to California, and in 1948, they married sisters Carolyn and Elyn Sievers in a joint ceremony. They remained in the United States Air Force reserves, both retiring as Majors in 1983. In civilian life Major Glenn and Major Lynn worked in their own dry cleaning business until the Korean War and lived next to each other for 10 years in Manhattan Beach. Glenn transitioned into aircraft manufacturing and later the savings and loan industry, from which he retired in 1985. Major Lynn transitioned into aircraft manufacturing and in 1960 moved to Northern California where he worked in real estate, then at a refinery, and eventually retiring from a water district as a service representative in 1978. Major Glenn and his wife Carolyn currently reside in Manhattan Beach and their family includes two daughters, Diana and Wendie, two grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Major Lynn and his late wife Elyn family include sons Russell and Steven, two grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Major Lynn has resided in Concord, California since 1960. I am proud to honor Major Raymond (Glenn) Clanin of Manhattan Beach & Russell (Lynn) Clanin of Concord to thank them for their dedication and service to the United States of America.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I am Congressman Ted Lieu from California. I rise in opposition to the Republican resolution opposing the Clean Power Plan. This is just another example of the Republican majority denying the urgency and severity of carbon pollution. At a time when the entire world is meeting in Paris to address carbon pollution, you now have the Republican majority doing exactly the opposite. Now, America is an exceptional country, the best in the world. One reason we got here is because we believe in science. We believe in facts. So if 9 out of 10 doctors said that your child is showing the symptoms of diabetes, would you ignore that and keep feeding your child doughnuts? No. You would go seek treatment. So listen to 9 out of 10 scientists that are saying carbon pollution is real and it is going to kill us as a species if we don't do anything about it. If you don't want to listen to those scientists, listen to some of the most conservative companies and organizations in America. Listen to ExxonMobil today. They say carbon pollution is real, it is being caused by humankind, and they support putting a price on carbon emissions. Listen to the U.S. military. I served in Active Duty, and I am still in the Reserves. I am very proud of our military. They take the world as it is, not as they think it should be, not as they hope it will be, but as it is. They rely on facts and science. They are telling us carbon pollution is a national security threat and it is going to flood our bases, it is going to cause more extreme weather events, and it is going to make it much worse for humanity if we don't do something about it. At the end of the day, America is going to lead and the history books are going to say we led the way in saving humanity and dealing with carbon pollution or there will be no history books.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I am Congressman Ted Lieu. I am a veteran, and I oppose the Republican legislation that would upend America's refugee program for Syrians and Iraqis. It is the wrong solution for the wrong problem. There has not been a single act of terrorism on American soil committed by a refugee. In Paris, those horrific attacks were committed by French and Belgian citizens. Under the Republican rationale, we ought to be banning travel for French and Belgians to America. If that sounds ridiculous, then so is scapegoating Syrian orphans, widows, and senior citizens fleeing persecution. America is a country born of persecution, forged in liberty's name with equality for all. We are that shining city upon the hill. We are better than this.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Claudio Pellegrini for his remarkable and groundbreaking work in the scientific community. On October 20, 2015, Dr. Pellegrini received the Enrico Fermi Award for his research on relativistic electron beams and free-electron lasers. This honor is among the most respected and prestigious awards for scientific achievement. Throughout his lifetime, Dr. Pellegrini has held many prominent positions and earned numerous impressive awards. After studying at the University of Rome, he became Director of the laser division at the Frascati National Laboratories in the 1970s. He later served at the Brookhaven National Laboratory and at the Nordic Institute of Theoretical Physics. In recent years he has worked at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. He is the distinguished recipient of a Fulbright fellowship and the FEL Prize. Still, these include only a fraction of Dr. Pellegrini's accomplishments. I am especially pleased to recognize Dr. Pellegrini's position as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of California Los Angeles. Widely considered an expert in electron and photon beams physics, his research contributed to the development of the first hard x-ray free-electron laser and helped advance high-energy physics more generally. The university and surrounding community has undoubtedly benefited from Dr. Pellegrini's presence. I am confident that Dr. Pellegrini's work will continue to benefit the scientific community in the United States and throughout the world. Today, California's 33rd Congressional District is proud to congratulate Dr. Pellegrini as a Fermi Award recipient and as a tremendous scientist and individual.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, my parents immigrated to America because they saw that shining city upon the hill. America became exceptional because we invested in education, we invested in infrastructure that connected our States, in Social Security and Medicare that provided economic freedom for so many Americans. But this budget bill, one of its main points is to defund Planned Parenthood. These are not the priorities of the American people. This is a hyperpartisan document that is just talking points for extremists. It is time for the majority party to do what we were all elected here to do in Congress. We were elected to lead the greatest country on Earth. It is time we start acting like it.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Santa Monica Health Center run by Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. The Santa Monica Health Center, which is located in the heart of the 33rd Congressional District, serves more than twenty thousand of my constituents every year. Planned Parenthood Los Angeles has provided high-quality and affordable health services for fifty years, including reproductive health care, cancer screenings, sex education, and health counseling. Thanks to their consistent commitment to patient care, they are now the largest private provider of reproductive health services in Los Angeles County. Planned Parenthood clinics are particularly essential to the health of young, disadvantaged, and low-income patients. I am inspired by the tireless dedication and exceptional skill shown by the Santa Monica Health Center's employees, volunteers, and champions. Since its inception, the Santa Monica Health Center has worked to preserve and defend the reproductive rights of all Angelenos. By ensuring access to reproductive care, they have steadfastly protected their patients' autonomy and future opportunities. The Santa Monica Health Center's clinicians and patient advocates earned our deepest thanks, recognition, and support. I urge my colleagues to join me in commending them for their years of service to the residents of the 33rd District.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern that funding for critical national security space programs will be disrupted under a continuing resolution. Disrupting funding for essential warfighting capabilities for space protection, assured access to space, satellite communications and missile warning will weaken our national security and risk significant delays in development of these important missions. General John Hyten, commander of U.S. Air Force Space Command, recently stated that a continuing resolution would delay several new classified and unclassified programs aimed at U.S. space protection. He also expressed concern that failure to pass a budget would delay the development of a new rocket propulsion system prototype intended to end our dependence on the Russian-made RD-180 rocket engine. Additionally, due to the uncertainty created by the absence of a full-year appropriations bill for the Department of Defense, the Air Force is purportedly prepared to issue stop work orders on two essential satellite communications and missile warning programs under the Space Modernization Initiative (SMI). The overall SMI strategy is to invest in creating trade space for future decisions through investments to sustain or improve existing capabilities by exploring technology alternatives and architectures. These efforts ensure affordability, capability and resiliency of our space systems. For example, the Wide Field of View (WFOV) testbed initiative supports affordability and risk reduction efforts for the nation's critical overhead missile warning capability. Cuts or delays to funding would risk the ability for the WFOV initiative to support current data exploitation efforts and could delay a commercial launch opportunity. A stop work order under a CR places the WFOV effort and other SMI efforts at significant risk despite full support from the Senate Appropriations Committee for the program. Unfortunately, our inability to pass a budget has created uncertainty that endangers our national security space programs. I urge the Department of Defense and the Air Force to leverage the funding levels authorized by law under a continuing resolution to sustain development of these critical national security space systems.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 322, a bill to designate the Sgt. Zachary M. Fisher Post Office. Zachary Fisher was born in Missouri in 1986. A 2004 graduate of Marquette High School, Zachary was known for his passion for American history, patriotism, and academic excellence. To those who knew him, it was no surprise that Zachary decided to serve his country by enlisting in the Army Reserves in 2006. In 2007, he was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and later, in December 2009, to Afghanistan. Tragically, on July 14, 2010, Sergeant Fisher and seven of his fellow soldiers were killed in Afghanistan after insurgents attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. For his honorable service, Sergeant Fisher received numerous military awards, including the NATO Medal, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. Sergeant Fisher is survived by his wife, Jessica, his parents and five siblings. Having myself served in Active Duty and still in the Reserves, I honor Sergeant Fisher's outstanding service and sacrifice to our Nation, and also the sacrifice of his family. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill and remember the brave leadership of Sergeant Zachary Fisher and honor the ultimate sacrifice he made for our Nation. I urge the passage of H.R. 322. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Chair, I rise to oppose H.R. 348, also known as the RAPID Act. This bill will rapidly cause environmental degradation. Under this bill, if it became law, you could have projects that harm the environment that are deemed approved, even if the review process was not yet completed. That is crazy. Keep in mind, we have had over 60 straight months of job creation under the Obama administration. Those are the facts. This bill is written in such a way that it will cause confusion. It will cause increased delays and limit public involvement in this important process. It is also unscientific. There is a provision in this bill that says we cannot count the social cost of carbon. Now, I believe in a free market, and I believe that that has made America strong, but we can't have government artificially come in and say we are going to say things are costs and things are not costs when it is not scientifically based. We know that carbon has done a lot to increase climate change and caused global warming. That is why I, along with Representatives Peters, Polis, and Lowenthal, have introduced an amendment to put that language back in. We can't just say stop talking and ignore carbon. Keep in mind, just a few hours ago, Pope Francis came in to a joint session of Congress and told us to really revert and look at what we have done in terms of causing environmental degradation. Now, just a few hours later, we are back to attacking the environment. This is not right. I urge that we not support the RAPID Act.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 1442, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service as the ``Staff Sergeant Robert H. Dietz Post Office Building.'' A Kingston native, Sergeant Dietz served in the Army's 38th Armored Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division, during World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor, and this is some of what he did. He was leading a squad as they advanced, and a minefield and two well-defended bridges blocked their path. Despite heavy fire, Sergeant Dietz led his men through the minefield and forged on. In a show of unmatched courage, Sergeant Dietz dodged bullets to independently advance to the first bridge, where he killed the bazooka team that was defending the structure. He continued to advance, killing another bazooka team as well as other German soldiers who fired at him. In his final act of bravery, Sergeant Dietz dove into waist-deep water to disconnect the demolition charges on the second bridge, and he was struck and killed by German sniper fire when he stood to alert his men that their route was then clear. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill in order to honor Sergeant Dietz' valiant actions and to remember a man who truly put his country before himself. I urge the passage of H.R. 1442. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of S. 994, a bill to designate the Staff Sergeant Joseph D'Augustine Post Office. A native of New Jersey, Joseph D'Augustine attended Waldwick High School, where he wrestled and played football. Following his graduation, Joseph joined the Marine Corps, serving two tours of duty as an infantryman in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On March 27, 2012, while serving his second tour in Afghanistan, Joseph was tragically killed while working to diffuse a bomb. Having served on Active Duty myself--and still in the Reserves--I want to honor Joseph for his service and also his family for their sacrifice and their loss. Joseph received a number of awards for his dedicated service, including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. In addition to Joseph's courageous military service, he is remembered for giving back to his hometown through a youth wrestling program that he cofounded with his father. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor the years that Staff Sergeant D'Augustine dedicated to this country and the ultimate sacrifice he made on our behalf. I urge the passage of S. 994. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I introduced the Quarterly Financial Report Reauthorization Act, a bill that would reauthorize a vital and commonsense program for 15 years. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ordered the bill reported by voice vote in July of 2015. I want to thank Chairman Chaffetz and Ranking Member Cummings for working to quickly move this bill forward prior to the program's expiration this year. Since the end of World War II, the QFR has been a closely watched principal economic indicator used to determine our Nation's gross domestic product, the Federal Reserve's Flow of Funds account, and other vital economic estimates. It is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau based on a sample size of 12,500 companies across a variety of industry sectors, from mining, to manufacturing, to information and professional services. The end result is timely, accurate data on business financial conditions for over one- third of our economy that is widely used by both government and private sector actors. The program plans to further expand coverage to over 60 percent of our economy, tracking additional sectors and industries, such as health care and real estate. The Department of Commerce has called the reauthorization of this program a top priority, and the U.S. Census Bureau has received letters of validation from both the public and private sectors. The Small Business Administration supports it as do companies such as ProQuest, a Michigan-based global information content and technology company, and companies such as Wells Fargo, whose chief economist wrote in support of this QFR and said: Good decisions require good information. At a time when our country is not that far removed from the wake of the global financial crisis, we need all the tools at our disposal to measure the state of our economy and to chart our progress. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Thank you, Representative Clark, for your great work on this issue.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to recognize the remarkable accomplishments being made at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Secretary Robert A. McDonald. I will not be able to join Secretary McDonald in Los Angeles today as Congress is in session, but it is my pleasure to acknowledge the attention given and progress made at the West LA VA this year by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The West LA VA is the largest VA Medical Center in the nation and it had faced unfortunate challenges for many years. In January 2015, Secretary McDonald quickly settled a lawsuit that had been holding back progress for Veterans in Los Angeles. Since that time, all of the parties involved have been following a Principles Document that has been driving a Strategic Homeless Initiative and the development of a Master Plan. In addition to being the largest VA Medical Center, Los Angeles has the largest population of homeless Veterans in the United States. We cannot solve homelessness nation-wide without addressing it in LA. Secretary McDonald engaged me early this year and we have partnered on many initiatives to address the crisis in homelessness. He has demonstrated a serious commitment to addressing homelessness among Veterans in Los Angeles and to developing a roadmap to ensure the sprawling West LA VA campus is focused on uses and services to directly benefit our nation's Veterans. In fact, since March 2015 almost 1,400 area Veterans have been placed into permanent supportive housing. The VA expanded capacity to care for homeless Veterans by providing $30 million in additional Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grants. Additional HUD-VASH vouchers have been awarded to our region, new beds have been added, and VA has hired more than 100 new employees prioritizing outreach and case management. The VA has also actively forged relationships with every level of government, along with public and private partners to leverage resources in a truly unprecedented way. We have a rare opportunity at this moment to solve homelessness among Veterans if we work together to make it happen. At the same time, we must also transform the West LA VA into a campus that serves our nation's Veterans with the dignity and integrity they so deserve. I am confident with our support and partnerships, Secretary McDonald will achieve this. I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing gratitude to VA Secretary McDonald for dedicating an enormous amount of time and resources to restoring the trust of our Veterans at West Los Angeles and for delivering critical housing, programs, and services.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Norman Buchert, a loving family man and successful engineer. Upon graduating from the University of Florida, Norman began working in a nascent aerospace industry at the Kennedy Space Center, contributing to the development of the Apollo 11 launch and other space shuttle launches. Throughout his life he loved to tell stories about his time working in the space program. While Norman's career as an engineer is remarkable, his role as a loving family man is what he will be remembered for most. I have had the privilege of working closely with his daughter, Genelle, who truly embodies his caring spirit. He has left a positive mark on our world and that his legacy will live on through his family. Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues will join with me in honoring the life of this special man. We should all be so fortunate to live such a full life. I submit his obituary: Norman Charles Buchert was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 13, 1942. He graduated from Port St. Joe High School, Port St. Joe, Florida; and from the University of Florida with a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering. His career began at Kennedy Space Center on January 27th, 1967 with North American Aviation (NAA) as an RF and Telemetry Engineer working on the Apollo/Saturn Launch Vehicle second stage. He then worked on the Saturn V moon launches including the Apollo II launch to the moon (and back) and worked in the Saturn V Launch Control Center Firing room at the RF and Telemetry console. He later transferred to the Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM) organization to work on the experiments that the CSM carried to the moon and the Lunar Sounder experiment searching for water on the moon. Their first daughter, Genelle, was born shortly after man's first walk on the moon. Twenty two months later their second daughter, Charisse, was born. In 1972, he began work as a Space Shuttle design integration engineer in Downey, California for NAA. In 1975, their third daughter, Felicia, was born. That same year he transferred back to KSC to help design, manufacture and install the Orbiter Processing Facility Communications and Tracking checkout station. In 1984, they welcomed their youngest daughter, April. Promoted to Supervisor of the NAA Communications and Tracking group, he supervised the checkout of the first Shuttle launch Orbiter Communications and Navaids Systems eventually becoming the Director of Advanced Programs and Business Development for Rockwell (formerly NAA) at KSC. After Boeing purchased the Space Division portion of Rockwell in 1996, Norman became the Director of Advanced Engineering for the Space Shuttle Program finishing his career in this capacity. Norman received many awards and recognitions including the Astronaut Snoopy award for his work on the Apollo Program presented by Apollo astronaut, Hank Hartsfield. Norman worked for Boeing for over 44 years; was an avid University of Florida Gator sports fan; enjoyed talking about his experiences in the space program as a KSC docent; was active in his church; was a doting grandfather, and devoted owner of his prized mutt, Mars Rover. He is survived by Carol, his wife of 47 years, daughters, Genelle Buchert, Charisse Buchert, Felicia Kai (Sam) and April Walters (Cameron); brother Jerry Buchert (Laurie), sisters, Margie Vogt (Jim) and Carole Pille (Skip), half sister Chris Haley (Pat) and step sister Marlene Guerrieri (Bruno); beloved grandchildren Annabella Kai, Graciella Kai and Serenity Kai (with a fourth grandchild in progress) and many nieces and nephews. Norman was welcomed into Heaven on May 9, 2015, after a brave and courageous battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his father Robert Valentine Buchert and mothers, Erline Buchert and Norma Riester Boehl. He will be in our hearts always.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, when it comes to the highway trust fund, it feels like the movie ``Groundhog Day'' over and over again, where once again we are faced with the expiration of this important fund. We know from a recent Department of Transportation report that 54 percent of our roads and highways are deemed to be poor, one in four bridges are structurally deficient, and we need to fund this highway trust fund at its full capacity, and we need to do it on a long-term basis. We can't continue to do it on a short-term basis. It is not helpful to our State and local governments. We can't get projects off the ground. I request that the Republican majority put a bill on the floor that funds the highway trust fund on a long-term basis. And we know that this will help our Nation, because for every dollar we invest in infrastructure, we get over $2 back in economic output.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Ravensbruck Archive Project. The Ravensbruck Concentration camp was the Nazi's largest and central internment camp for women and children during the Holocaust. Between 1939 and 1945, over 130,000 prisoners passed through Ravensbruck and its satellite camps. The Ravensbruck Archive is an international archive that provides a critical link to the history of the Holocaust. Many of the documents in the Archive have been hidden for the past 70 years, but now because of the Ravensbruck Archive Project, the material will be translated, digitized, and shared with the world via the web and a world traveling exhibit. The Ravensbruck Archive Project will preserve and make accessible this important piece of history for generations to come. The Ravensbruck Archive is housed at Lund University in Sweden. The Archive includes more than 500 handwritten interviews with Ravensbruck survivors, taken at the time of their liberation in 1946. The Archive contains prisoners' notebooks, diaries, letters, poems, recipes, photographs, drawings, and official Nazi documents from the concentration camp such as lists of prisoners, block books, and transcripts of protocols and original documents from the Ravensbruck trial in Hamburg in 1946-1947. Our community owes the Ravensbruck Archive Project and all those involved a debt of gratitude for their tireless hard work and dedication. I would especially like to commend my constituent, Robert Resnick, for his leadership in this Project. Mr. Resnick is the Chair of this important restoration endeavor. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Ravensbruck Archive Project.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Dick Rossberg--father, husband, grandfather, and Torrance patriarch--who passed away on June 10, 2015, at the age of 87.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with my colleague, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, to recognize Dr. Chiu L. Tsang, a progressive thinker, visionary leader, and passionate educator who has spent the majority of his career promoting excellence in education. For almost a decade, Dr. Tsang has demonstrated his insightful and exemplary leadership and dedication to Santa Monica College (SMC) as its Superintendent and President. Throughout his nine years of service to the institution, Dr. Tsang was able to enhance SMC's reputation as a leading job trainer in the region by pursuing greater opportunities for students and anticipating the needs of the local workforce. During his tenure at SMC, Dr. Tsang pioneered an inter-disciplinary model to take advantage of thousands of job opportunities in the information, communication and technology industry for students. This model has now become the foundation for a Los Angeles-based community college, high school and industry consortium, ``LA HI-TECH,'' which was recognized by President Obama as part of his TechHire Initiative. Santa Monica College's student support culture also blossomed under the leadership of Dr. Tsang with the implementation of new student service programs such as the Veterans Resource Center and Guardian Scholars for foster youth. Furthermore, Dr. Tsang's leadership helped establish excellent and mutually-beneficial relationships with the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and other local organizations. Another admirable accomplishment Santa Monica College was able to obtain under Dr. Tsang's leadership included maintaining its place as the number one transfer institution to the University of California, transferring more Latino and African-American students to the UC system than any other community college. In addition to his time as the SMC Superintendent and President, Dr. Tsang has had a remarkable and accomplished career. Dr. Tsang earned his B.A. Degree in Linguistics from UC Berkeley and went on to earn his doctorate in Linguistics from Stanford University. During his extensive years in a higher education career, Dr. Tsang served as President of San Jose City College and as dean at the City College of San Francisco. He also taught at Stanford University, De Anza in Cupertino and San Francisco State University. Being a recognized leader in the field of higher education, Dr. Tsang has been asked to speak at venues including the Royal Society of London and he has guest lectured at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and the USC Rossier School of Education. Dr. Tsang's passion for higher education for all students is unquestionable. For decades, Dr. Tsang has been a trailblazer in his field. He has led a career focused on supporting higher education and the students who seek it. It is our sincere pleasure to recognize Dr. Tsang on his tenure as the Santa Monica College Superintendent and President and thank him for his unwavering service to the students, faculty, staff and community.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Chair, I rise today to express my support for the Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Wide Field of View (WFOV) effort. Unfortunately, the House's Defense Appropriations bill for FY16 would completely eliminate SBIRS WFOV funding due to concerns that the initiative was being used to develop new technology rather than making evolutionary upgrades to existing programs. I believe that these concerns are misplaced, and I am concerned that eliminating funding will derail this valuable effort at a critical juncture. It is my understanding that SBIRS WFOV does in fact support evolutionary development of the Program of Record (POR). Data gathered from WFOV efforts will support risk mitigation efforts to the POR and will facilitate cost savings by maturing technologies before implementing them on the POR. It is worth noting that the Senate and House Armed Services Committees fully funded the WFOV effort in their respective versions of the FY16 National Defense Authorization Act, as did the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. The SBIRS WFOV initiative is designed to lower future costs while evolving vital components of our national security space architecture. I urge my colleagues to support full funding for this initiative during conference negotiations.