Mike Levin

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that the issue of climate change is very personal to me. I have a 5- and a 7-year-old at home, and like any parent, there is a lot that I worry about for their future. One of the things I worry most about is the planet that we are going to leave behind for them and for their future children. The path we are on right now leads to a grim future for our planet. We have burned fossil fuels like coal and oil at unsustainable rates, releasing extraordinary amounts of greenhouse gas emissions into the air. We have destroyed forests and other carbon sinks around the world that previously absorbed some of those emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a collection of 1,300 independent scientific experts from countries all over the world, concluded there is a more than 95 percent probability that human activities over the past 50 years have warmed our planet. As a result, the last 5 years were the hottest ever recorded, according to the Trump administration's own weather and space agencies. Over the past century, average global temperatures have increased steadily. Sixteen of the last 17 years have been the warmest ever recorded by human observations. In my home State of California, the indicators of our rapidly changing climate are unmistakable. Our summers are hotter, our droughts are more severe, and our land is drier, creating fuel for year-round wildfires that have wiped out entire communities. According to the Trump administration's own report on climate change compiled by more than 300 experts across 13 Federal agencies, the impacts of climate change are already being felt in communities across the country and will become increasingly devastating over a short period of time. The President would be well served to read the report of his own agencies. We are having more frequent and extreme weather, like hurricanes and floods. We are experiencing sea-level rise and coastal erosion. Our national security agencies have warned us that unless we take aggressive action to combat climate change, we will see a deterioration in global stability caused by food and water insecurity, worsening public health, economic distress, and damage to military infrastructure as a result of sea-level rise and more extreme storms. Climate change is a defining issue of our time. If we don't take bold action to address this crisis now, our children and grandchildren will suffer the worst consequences. Unfortunately, this President and many in the Trump administration are content with inaction or worse. In fact, some refuse to admit climate change is real, instead pushing policies that would exacerbate the problem, catering to the fossil fuel industry and corporate polluters at the expense of our air, land, and water. While we should be taking aggressive action to combat climate change and pushing countries around the world to do the same, the White House gladly surrenders our standing as a global leader. My colleagues and I are here to say that we will lead. We will continue to fight for action. My colleagues that you will hear from, they are leading right now. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Hill), my friend from California's 25th District.

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Hill, and I very much appreciate her leadership. Over the next several days, the eyes of the world will turn to the climate crisis with the Youth Global Strike for Climate set to take place in over 150 countries just before the United Nations holds a Climate Action Summit in New York City. While millions of people across the globe call for action on climate change and world leaders come together to show how they will honor their commitment to the Paris Agreement, it is safe to say that the White House won't step up to lead, let alone take any meaningful action. Instead, the Trump administration is pulling us out of the Paris Agreement, which nearly 200 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and all in between have signed. Where President Obama created a leading role for the United States on the world stage, the Trump administration has retreated. The U.N. Secretary General has called on all leaders to come to the Climate Action Summit with concrete, realistic plans to enhance their nationally determined contributions by 2020, in line with reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent over the next decade and to net zero emissions by 2050. The United States has an important opportunity to show leadership and to push other countries to follow us, and that is how we should evaluate all of these measures, on the basis of followership. That requires that we lead. That is critically important, the work that we do. The amount of collective action that will be needed must start with leadership from the United States. That is the only way we are going to combat the climate crisis. I was very proud to help introduce, among other bills, the Climate Action Now Act, the first major climate change legislation that we had in the 116th Congress, in fact, that we have had for a number of years in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would prohibit the administration from withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement and would also call on the President to develop and make public a plan for how the Nation will meet the pollution reduction goals in the Paris Agreement. The bill isn't just about staying in Paris. It is about creating good-paying, green jobs right here in America. It is about public health. It is about protecting our air. It is about protecting our water. It is about defending our national security from the threats that climate change poses. It is about again leading in the world. That is how the United States should be leading. We should set the example. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore), my friend.

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Moore for those powerful words. Madam Speaker, I also want to address something that has been in the news, and that is the President's announcement yesterday that he will revoke California's waiver under the Federal Clean Air Act to set its own auto emissions standards. This is something, as a native southern Californian, that is near and dear to my heart. So many southern Californians have had to endure poor air quality over the years, and this, honestly, is something that has never been partisan. Since the late 1960s, California has been able to set its own air quality standards, because the standards that we set when Ronald Reagan was Governor of California in the late 1960s exactly preceded those standards set by the Federal Government. Clean air is not a partisan issue. This is absolutely ridiculous that the administration would want to go after California once again in this manner. So another thing to refute are the claims made by the President about vehicle safety and cost--completely baseless. Fuel-efficient cars meet the same exact safety standards as any other passenger vehicle and have proven to be more cost-effective. The auto manufacturers want to accelerate the transition to more electric vehicles, more sustainable vehicles. Everybody wants California to be able to have its own standards, with two exceptions: President Trump and Big Oil. Those are the only two exceptions. So it is pretty clear to see whose direction the President is taking when it comes to this decision. We also need to acknowledge that his decision here flies in the face of established climate science. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in our country. The science tells us that greenhouse gas emissions are driving climate change, so we should be doing everything we can to reduce those emissions from transportation. The Clean Air Act clearly gives California the authority to set its own emission standards, and this authority has been repeatedly confirmed by the courts, the Congress, and previous administrations, Republicans and Democrats alike. Again, this is not a partisan issue. Even the auto companies want to see this happen. So why are we still here? Why are we fighting over this ridiculous assumption by the President that he can roll back five decades of progress for cleaner air in California? We are not going to let it stand. I will do everything in my power as a Member of Congress, as I know my colleagues will, and California will prevail. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman), my friend and the Representative from California's Second District.

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Huffman for his friendship, for his mentorship, and for all the work that he does. He is a true environmental champion. I am really, really grateful to call him a friend. We have got a lot of work to do. I think it is really important that, as we think about this issue, we begin to address some of the myths and the misconceptions that are out there. One of the biggest that I hear from my friends across the aisle is that we cannot combat climate change without destroying our economy, when exactly the opposite is true. If we invest in the clean energy jobs of the future, we will see incredible economic growth and we will protect the environment at the same time. Nowhere has that been more true in the United States than in our State of California, where I am proud to tell you that we have the most clean-energy jobs in the United States. If you look at this chart, there are over 500,000 jobs in the clean tech sector. I am proud to have come from the clean tech sector. I am proud to have started a trade association in Orange County, California, which historically has been seen as one of the most conservative places in the United States. We created a booming clean tech industry that is growing stronger than ever before. The same is true in San Diego County, where we have some of the leading clean energy companies in the United States. We can protect the environment and we can grow the clean tech economy at the same time. In California, it has never been a partisan issue. When we passed AB 32 in 2006, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the Governor, Republican Governor. Then when we passed cap and trade, we had nine Republican legislators who helped get that passed in the California legislature. Governor Schwarzenegger and those Republican legislators at the time understood that if we made climate change a primary focus, if we reduced greenhouse gas emissions, that not only was it the right thing to do for our State and for the planet, but it was the right thing to do for our economy. That is exactly what has happened. My friend, Marshall Burke, is a researcher at Stanford University, my alma mater. He has studied the costs of action on climate change, but, more importantly, the costs of inaction. There is an inherent cost to doing nothing. My friends across the aisle always like to tell you about the cost of doing something. They will say bold and aggressive measures will cost too much. Well, Mr. Speaker, the costs of inaction are even greater. My friend, Marshall Burke, has said that if we don't take substantial action to mitigate the climate crisis, it will cost the U.S. economy $25 trillion to $35 trillion over the coming decades. That is with a T: $25 trillion to $35 trillion. The good news is that we can take the steps we need to in order to act. We can combat the climate crisis, and we can create those clean energy jobs. I have introduced bipartisan legislation to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by promoting development of renewable energy on public lands. We can expand those technologies that grow our economy and protect the environment by extending important tax credits like the solar investment tax credit, which drives job creation, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and helps level the playing field for clean energy. And we need it for things like battery storage, as well. I have introduced legislation that presents an ambitious plan for transitioning the United States to 100 percent zero-emission vehicles, which will also have an enormous health benefit to the United States of America. According to a 2016 report issued by the American Lung Association, transitioning to zero-emission vehicles would deliver $33 billion in total health and climate savings by 2050. The 90 percent reduction in the pollution that causes smog and soot would translate to 195,000 fewer lost work days, 96,000 fewer asthma attacks, and 2,200 fewer premature deaths. And I have introduced legislation, as well, to expand electric vehicle charging on public lands across the United States and convert National Park Service and United States Forest Service fleets to zero- emission vehicles. This commitment will also help the United States lead the world in developing and manufacturing innovative zero-emission vehicle technology. Since California first instituted a zero-emission vehicle requirement in 1990, the overall economy has flourished, cutting-edge companies like Tesla have generated billions of dollars in economic activity for our State, and leading automotive companies across the country and the world have done everything they can to invest in the cleaner technology of the future zero-emission vehicles. Alternatively, if we fail to act, if American car companies don't lead, and if we don't have a supportive Federal Government helping them to lead the way in these zero-emission vehicles of the future, we will allow other countries to take the lead. China, India, and nations in Europe will reap the economic rewards that should be staying right here in the United States of America. We will find ourselves purchasing foreign vehicles that should have been made right here in the USA. Many of my colleagues are doing great work. They have introduced or passed legislation that addresses the climate crisis in many different ways and promotes the clean energy jobs of the future. You just heard from a few of them. Mr. Speaker, I want to wrap up here by pointing out one more key fact. The American people overwhelmingly support aggressive action to combat climate change. Public opinion polling shows that the majority of Americans say that it must be addressed, and it has got to be addressed now. The majority of Americans overwhelmingly believe this is a crisis, and they are right to believe that. Unfortunately, our President right now calls climate change a hoax. He says that it was brought on by China to undermine American economic competitiveness. He is not willing to listen to the science. He should listen to the scientists from his own agencies. He should just take the half hour necessary to even read the executive summary from his own scientists' report. That is all I would ask. He should think about climate change when he makes appointments. Unfortunately, he has been appointing climate science deniers like William Happer, a gentleman who once said that if the plants could vote, they would vote for coal. He said that more CO2 in the atmosphere is a good thing. This is a person advising the President of the United States on climate science. And it is not that the administration is too close to the oil and coal industry, it is that they are the oil and coal industry. It is literally a revolving door between 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, those coal companies, and those oil companies. The American people demand better than that. This complete rejection of established science is dangerous, and it is irresponsible. It is dangerous and irresponsible for the White House to pressure the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, into supporting the President's false claims about Hurricane Dorian. You don't see any Sharpies on this chart. It is dangerous and it is irresponsible that the White House refuses to accept climate science and act on it. It is dangerous. It is irresponsible. We must embrace science. We must embrace facts. As I said in the beginning of this, this is about our children and our grandchildren. I am thinking today about my own two children: my daughter, Elizabeth, who is 5, and my son, Jonathan, who is 7. Maybe my wonderful wife, Chrissy, will cue up C-SPAN and play this for them. My son, who is 7, just started second grade. We have 12 years. By the time my son is ready to graduate high school, according to the best science, we better have gotten this crisis figured out or we are going to have irreparable damage as a result. It is on us. When I am done with my service in the House of Representatives, which I hope comes many years from now, I want to be able to look back, as I know so many of my colleagues do, and know that we gave it everything we had to try to address what we believe is the most pressing issue facing the United States of America and the world. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib). Tribute to Michael Preadmore

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), my friend.

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Schakowsky for coming. It is a great honor to sit on the new Select Committee on the Climate Crisis under the chair, Kathy Castor from Florida. I serve with many other great Members, and we have an honest dialogue about the action that we are going to need to take to combat this crisis. Of course, I thank our great Speaker Nancy Pelosi for creating that select committee as part of the 116th Congress. Governor Jay Inslee said: ``We're the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and we're the last who can do something about it.'' I couldn't agree more with Representative Schakowsky. We have to listen to the children, our own children and the children we see here in Washington. When we go back home to our districts, we have to listen to those voices. We have to make those changes. They are counting on us. In these walls, right here, they are counting on the 435 people who are so honored to serve as United States Representatives to get this right for future generations. I am honored to be one of those Members trying to fight the good fight. We have so much work to do. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation, which will, among other things, help us address the epidemic of veteran homelessness. It is simply unacceptable that many of the men and women who have served this great country are now living on our streets. I am grateful to my friend, Ranking Member Gus Bilirakis from Florida. We have now had two field hearings in his district, the 12th Congressional District of Florida, and my district, the 49th Congressional District of California. We are absolutely committed to doing everything we can to address this issue in our communities and in all communities around the country. We owe it to those who have served and their families to ensure that they have everything they need to get back on their feet, including case management; assistance in obtaining VA benefits; and temporary financial assistance with rent, utilities, or childcare expenses. I was proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to help address homelessness, specifically among women veterans, by reauthorizing funding for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant program and requiring that at least $20 million goes to organizations that have a focus on helping women veterans and their families. What we are seeing in our subcommittee is that the rate of veterans' homelessness is roughly steady, but alarmingly, women veterans' homelessness is increasing. We have to do something about it. The legislation before us today will provide the reauthorization that we need before the end of the fiscal year on September 30. I have said it before, and I will say it again: Even one homeless veteran is one too many. We have a moral obligation to make robust Federal investments in programs to help get veterans off the streets. By passing this legislation, we can make those investments, and we can do more than just pay lip service to our veterans. We can give them the support and resources they have earned and deserve. I give credit to my friends, Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe. They are doing a fantastic job helping our veterans and trying to give back in any way we can to those who have served our country, those who have given so much. It is my great honor to serve with them on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Eric Larson on the event of his retirement as Executive Director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau. Eric has spent his career dedicated to the agricultural industry in San Diego County. During his forty-eight-year career, he worked in cut flower and nursery crop production, was the General Manager of the California Floriculture Growers Association and served as a board member of the Living Plant Growers Association, the San Diego County Farm Bureau, and the San Diego County Flower & Plant Association. In 1996, Eric became Executive Director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau, where he helped the Bureau launch San Diego Grown magazine, establish the San Diego Farm & Nursery Expo, and advocated for the needs of local farmers. During Eric's tenure as Executive Director, the San Diego County Farm Bureau was selected as ``County of the Year'' three times by the California Farm Bureau. The San Diego County Farm Bureau would not be the organization it is today without the hard work and dedication of Eric Larson. I thank Eric for his dedication to the farmers of San Diego County and congratulate him on his retirement.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 1146, the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act. After almost 40 years of protection, the Trump administration and the fossil fuel lobbyists that have taken up residence at the Department of the Interior opened up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development. The timing of this decision could not be more irresponsible. The last thing we should be doing is expanding fossil fuel development in the Arctic, where temperatures are rising twice as fast as the rest of the United States. But we know that this administration isn't concerned about protecting our environment or addressing the climate crisis, so it is not surprising that it is willing to sacrifice the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's diverse habitat in an attempt to help its Big Oil friends turn an even bigger profit. The American people disagree. The vast majority of Americans oppose drilling in this iconic landscape, and I am proud to stand with them. We should be reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, embracing renewable energy, and leading the world in combating climate change, not going backward. Mr. Chair, I strongly support the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to recognize an unimaginable tragedy that occurred in my district last month. On August 2, three women from the same family died when a coastal bluff at Grandview Beach in Encinitas collapsed on top of them: Julie Davis, Annie Clave, and Elizabeth Charles. They were enjoying a day at the beach with family and friends celebrating Elizabeth's triumph over breast cancer. Suddenly, all three were lost. There is a lot that I would like to say about the government's responsibility to help prevent similar tragedies in the future, but, instead, I want to use this moment to recognize the extraordinary life that all three of these women brought into this world. I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Pat Davis, who lost his wife, one of his daughters, and his sister-in-law on that day. Today, Dr. Davis is committed to ensuring that no one else experiences the same kind of loss that he has. He has called for action from local, State, and Federal officials to prevent future bluff collapses, and we stand together in these efforts. He is truly an inspiration. Please take a moment to think of Julie, Annie, and Elizabeth. May they rest in peace.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1941, the Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act, to ban new offshore drilling along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. My district is home to over 50 miles of beautiful California coastline. It is home to some of the world's premier marine research institutions, not to mention some of the best surfing in the country. In San Diego and Orange Counties, the ocean economy accounts for $7.7 billion and sustains more than 140,000 jobs in coastal tourism and recreation. All it will take to jeopardize those jobs is a massive spill like the one we saw off the coast of Santa Barbara in 2015, which poured 142,000 gallons of crude oil into the water and onto beaches across southern California. That is why the people I represent have made their voices heard loud and clear: No more drilling off our coast. We can't allow the fossil fuel industry and their friends in the Trump administration to exploit our oceans for their own profit, roll back safety regulations that help prevent spills, and threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs. I expect we will hear a lot more from my friends across the aisle, many of whom represent landlocked districts, who claim there is nothing to worry about. Well, they should know that the folks who actually live in coastal communities won't stop fighting to protect our oceans and our jobs.

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Chair, there is absolutely no sense in making a special exception to open the waters along the Pacific Coast for drilling. Supporters of this amendment clearly represent districts many miles from the nearest coastline. Maybe they never saw the environmental devastation on southern California beaches after the Santa Barbara Plains oil spill in 2015; maybe they haven't visited with small businesses in coastal communities like mine that depend on tourism and recreation to survive; maybe they don't know that offshore drilling threatens nearly 746,000 jobs and nearly $53 billion in GDP along the West Coast. However, I have seen that devastation. I visited those small businesses. And I am well-aware of how many jobs could and would be lost if we suffer from another spill along the Pacific Coast. I also know that more than 90 West Coast municipalities and all three Pacific Coast State governors formally oppose offshore drilling. The people I represent in San Diego and Orange County certainly do as well. They know that the risks far outweigh any benefit that fossil fuel companies will reap from drilling off our coast, and I am here to raise their voices. Mr. Chair, many of my Republican colleagues in the Committee on Natural Resources try to justify their push to destroy our coastal communities with offshore drilling by claiming that the alternative to expanded drilling is imported foreign oil. If my friends on the other side of the aisle were serious about addressing oil imports, they would not sit idly by as the Trump administration works to completely undermine our country's fuel efficiency standards. If they were serious, they would support the State of California as it works to strengthen fuel economy, so that this country is not dependent on oil, period. And so that Americans can save money at the pump. California is working to reduce oil imports with its vehicle emissions standards and low carbon fuel standard, but the Trump administration is fighting tooth and nail to stop it by revoking the State's Clean Air Act waiver and challenging its groundbreaking agreement with automakers to set strong standards. Those who support the Trump administration's efforts are hitting my constituents--not once, but twice. First, they are making cars less efficient, which drives climate change and hurts air quality in southern California. And now, supporters of this amendment are seeking to increase the chances of an environmental catastrophe that could do irreparable damage to my constituents' communities and our local economy. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to recognize the impact that this amendment will have on Pacific Coast economies by strongly opposing it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I am honored to name Doug Gibson, of Encinitas, as my Constituent of the Month for his 23 years of leadership as the Executive Director and Principal Scientist of Nature Collective, formerly known as San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy. Residents of North County may remember that, not so long ago, our beautiful lagoons and river valleys were not valued for their biodiversity and were threatened by development and pollution. Their outlets to the ocean were blocked and invasive plant species were growing out of control. Few fish or invertebrates could survive in the murky waters. Today, they have largely been restored to their natural states. They provide critical habitats for native plants and animals as well as wetlands for migrating birds. It has taken years of stable leadership, hard work, and a shared commitment by professionals, local citizens, elected officials, and supportive organizations to restore the ten beautiful wetlands in North County San Diego and South Orange County. They enhance our coastline-- from the Los Penasquitos Lagoon in the south--to the San Juan Creek in the North. Under Gibson's leadership, the Nature Collective is guiding to completion the $120 million restoration of the 1,000-acre San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. Forty miles of streams have been restored. An annual breaching of the inlet has been established to keep the lagoon healthy. More than three thousand school children in the Nature Collective's nationally recognized school program receive field trips throughout the Escondido watershed. Walkers and joggers can access seven miles of trails from Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Rancho Santa Fe, and new trail connections are coming soon. Gibson's contribution goes beyond the San Elijo Lagoon. For decades, he has collaborated on the planning of large restoration projects in seven north San Diego County watersheds, including Buena Vista Lagoon, San Dieguito Lagoon, San Elijo Lagoon, and Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit. He has chaired the San Diego County Wetlands Task Force and chaired five coastal counties for the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project. There is no doubt that Gibson's dedication to protecting our environment has improved the quality of life for families in Southern California and uplifted our communities. I am deeply grateful for his hard work, and I am proud to recognize him as the Constituent of the Month.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th birthday of veteran and integral part of the San Diego and Camp Pendleton communities, John Farritor. John was born on July 9, 1919 in Broken Bow, Nebraska. At the age of 13, John dropped out of school to run his family's 720-acre hay farm. Although he wanted to enlist after Germany invaded Poland in 1939, he waited a year to help his mother at the ranch before joining the Marines. John started boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego in July 1941 and was later stationed at Camp Pendleton as a member of the 3rd Marine Division Field Artillery. John is one of the few surviving Marines who marched 55 miles from Camp Elliot to the newly opened Camp Pendleton in Oceanside in September 1942. John's division played a crucial role in several battles in the Pacific, including the battle to liberate Guam and the battle of Iwo Jima. He remembers watching his fellow soldiers raising the American flag after the battle of Iwo Jima. The morning after the battle, he rose at dawn to make sure the flag was still flying over the hill. John continued his service after the war and joined the 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Battalion at Camp Pendleton. He served in the Korean War, where he received a wound to the hand from flying shrapnel. Despite his years of service, he has refused a Purple Heart and does not like being called a war hero. He says that ``all of the real heroes were buried over there.'' During his 30 years of service in the Marines, he rose from the rank of private to first sergeant. He documented his experiences in his memoir Through It All: Stories from the Top, published in 2001. John Farritor has lived an incredible and full life. He is a true inspiration for our community, and we cannot thank him enough for his service to his country and to Camp Pendleton. John Farritor celebrated his birthday on July 9 with friends and family in Vista, California. I am honored to pay tribute to John, and I wish him a very happy 100th birthday.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mrs. Colleen O'Harra, the co-founder of the Oceanside Women's Resource Center and a former member of the Oceanside City Council, as my Constituent of the Month for July. For 45 years, Colleen and her team have been serving survivors of domestic violence and their children at the Women's Resource Center, working tirelessly to ensure that community members receive the services and support they need to recover. The Women's Resource Center opened during a time when there was limited to no services available for domestic abuse victims, becoming the only facility of its kind aiding North County San Diego families. Under Colleen's trailblazing leadership, the Women's Resource Center grew from an ``underground'' network where domestic abuse survivors received short-term assistance in private homes, to a 31-bed shelter providing long-term housing, support, and resources to survivors. Colleen's work is imperative as we address the epidemic of violence against women that plagues our country. Each year, approximately 12 million adults and over 15 million children are exposed to domestic violence. These alarming figures tell us that we must do more at the local, state, and federal level to empower survivors and raise community awareness, ensuring that domestic violence and sexual assault are neither tolerated nor accepted in our communities. In April, the House of Representatives passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019 (VAWA) with bipartisan support to prevent domestic violence and ensure survivors have resources to recover and seek justice. Today, I urge my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to help end the cycle of domestic violence and reauthorize the VAWA. I launched a Constituent of the Month program to recognize residents of the 49th District who have gone above and beyond to support our neighbors and make our community stronger. After 45 years of providing critical support services and shelter to survivors in our community, we owe Colleen a debt of gratitude, and I am proud to recognize her as the Constituent of the Month.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Captain Jason B. Fitch. Captain Fitch has devoted his young adult life to the service of his family and country. Later this year, on December 1, 2019, Captain Fitch will retire from active duty after honorably serving this Nation for 28 years. As he completes his tour of duty in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, and prepares to hang up his military uniform, we all know that his influence has reached far beyond the strict confines of his rank and previous job titles. Captain Fitch's military career began 28 years ago today as a Midshipman when he took the Oath of Office at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. After graduation, he was commissioned as an Ensign into the United States Navy. He served honorably in uniform for nearly three decades with tours of duty across the United States and deployments around the world. He served as the Supply Officer for Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California. He served aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and the USS Mount Vernon (LSD 39). In 2006, Captain Fitch was recognized as the Navy Fuel Officer of the Year and as the Fuel Director for the Navy Bulk Fuel Terminal of the Year for 2007. He also served as the Naval Aviation Enterprise Officer and Director for the H-60 ``Seahawk'' Integrated Weapons Support Team at Naval Inventory Control Point in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command, he deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom (2013) in support of the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan (SOJTF-A) as the J4 director. Captain Fitch was entrusted with command ashore, where he served as the Commanding Officer for Naval Special Warfare Group ONE Logistics Support Unit. During his tenure in command, he deployed to Operation INHERENT RESOLVE (2015) as the J4 director of Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Iraq and received the Bronze Star Medal. He currently serves at the Pentagon as the Director for Outcome Based Logistics and Supply Chain Management, in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Expeditionary Programs and Logistics Management (E&LM). In addition, Captain Fitch earned a master's degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Petroleum Management and International Business from the University of Kansas. He earned a Master of Science in National Security and Resource Strategy from the National Defense University's Eisenhower School. Captain Fitch also completed Kellogg's Executive Development Program. In honor of his service, I would like to express my gratitude for Captain Jason B. Fitch's dedication to this country and our community. I wish him and his family the best as he retires to San Diego this December.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Brigadier General Kevin J. Killea on the event of his retirement. Brigadier General Killea has dedicated his life to service. Born in Rockville Centre, New York, he graduated from St. Johns University, the Naval War College, the Industrial College of Armed Forces, and the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. In March 1988, he was commissioned as a second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He is a career F/A-18 fighter pilot that included multiple combat tours and key billets, which are highlighted by his command of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 in the Western Pacific from 2004 to 2006, and the Marine Aircraft Group 11 from 2009 and 2011. He also served as the Chief of Staff to the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, and as Assistant Director, Land Domain, for Homeland Defense Policy for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In July 2016, Brigadier General Killea assumed command of Marine Corps Installations West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and it has been my recent honor to work with him. He has had a profound impact on Camp Pendleton and the surrounding residents providing service support to more than 50,000 Marines, Sailors, families and civilian employees. He has been continually focused on ensuring our warfighters have all of the vital base support necessary to be operationally ready, and all the issues that impact of the quality of life for families. He has been a leader in environmental issues and has been dedicated to finding solutions to a range of complex problems to ensure all of the five Marine Corps West Coast installations remain tremendous neighbors to our local communities. Brigadier General Killea has dedicated his life to serving his country. We cannot thank him enough for his service to Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps, and the United States of America.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mrs. Barbara Mannino, the longtime leader of the Vista Community Clinic, as my Constituent of the Month for June. After more than 30 years serving North County patients at the Vista Community Clinic and working tirelessly to ensure community members received the care they needed, Barbara retired, and I am deeply grateful for all of her service. Under Barbara's leadership, the Vista Community Clinic expanded from one location in an animal shelter to a health center network with eight locations providing care to 57,000 patients each year, primarily North County community members who are low-income and uninsured. Throughout the country, families are struggling to access affordable health care, pay for their prescription drugs, and make ends meet, in part because of this Administration's efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act. While I have fought for legislation to lower prescription drug prices, protect people with pre-existing conditions, and expand access to affordable care, it's the work of people like Barbara that has helped so many of our neighbors receive the care they desperately need. I launched a Constituent of the Month program to recognize outstanding individuals in the 49th District who have gone above and beyond to give back to our community, support our neighbors, and make our country stronger. After more than 30 years providing critical health care services to local families most in need, we owe Barbara a debt of gratitude, and I am proud to call her the Constituent of the Month.

Mr LEVIN of California

Mr LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Karen Haynes on the event of her retirement as president of California State University San Marcos. Dr. Haynes has worked for over 30 years as an academic administrator. During her tenure as president of California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), she was instrumental in the growth and development of the school. She joined CSUSM fourteen years after the school opened its doors, with a student population of merely 7,000. CSUSM is now home to over 17,000 students, Division II athletics, and a satellite campus in Temecula. Since the beginning of her tenure, Dr. Haynes has worked to ensure that CSUSM serves a diverse student population. Around one third of CSU San Marcos students are outside of the traditional college age range, and the school has the largest number of Native American students per- capita in the CSU system. Like Dr. Haynes herself, almost half of the students are first-generation college students. CSUSM would not be the school it is today without the hard work and dedication of Dr. Haynes. I thank Dr. Haynes for her fifteen years of service to California State University San Marcos and congratulate her on her retirement.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gun Violence Awareness Month, which began mere days after another tragic shooting in Virginia Beach and weeks after the Chabad of Poway synagogue shooting just outside of my district in southern California. This is wrong. After the Poway shooting, I called for concrete action to help end the scourge of senseless gun violence in our country. I called on the Senate to pass H.R. 8, which would put commonsense gun safety measures in place, requiring a background check on every gun sale or transfer. I also called on the Senate to pass H.R. 1112 to close the Charleston loophole, which currently allows the sale of a firearm to proceed if a background check is not completed within 3 business days. Months after the House passed those bipartisan bills, they continue to languish in the Senate. The American people deserve better. The American people deserve a vote. They deserve elected officials who aren't afraid of the NRA. The American people deserve action. That is what Gun Violence Awareness Month is about. We have an epidemic of gun violence that is unique to our country, and we must finally do something about it.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1812, the Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act. Madam Speaker, I was proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my friend from Tennessee and ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Dr. Roe. We must do more to address the epidemic of suicide among veterans in this country. We can start with ensuring all servicemembers have the mental health support they need. Currently, most National Guard, Coast Guard, and Reserve servicemembers are precluded from receiving readjustment counseling services at vet centers. Guardsmen and Reservists often face emotionally challenging deployments to natural disasters, drug interdiction missions, national emergencies, or civil disorders that can have serious mental health consequences. This bipartisan legislation is an important step in closing the mental healthcare gap for those servicemembers who compose four of the 20 veteran suicides we see each day in this country. As we continue to see veterans turn to suicide, often on the grounds of VA facilities, we must have an all-hands-on-deck approach, and this bill can play a critical role in this effort.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2326, the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2019. Madam Speaker, I was proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my friend from Texas, Mr. Jodey Arrington. Mr. Arrington was a friend of Mr. Mulder and represents his hometown of Plainview, Texas. William Mulder, or Bill as his friends knew him, passed away nearly 2 years ago on June 9, 2017. He was a decorated Navy SEAL of 20 years whose awards included three Bronze Stars with Valor. He was also a father, husband, brother, and friend. This legislation honors him by better equipping servicemembers for the challenges and opportunities they will face as they transition from Active Duty military service to civilian life. Far too often, the men and women of our Armed Forces lack the support and coordinated resources they need to return to civilian life and we cannot leave them behind. We owe it to those who have served and their families to ensure that they have everything they need to connect with community organizations, to pursue educational opportunities, to launch new careers, or to start their own businesses. That is why we must improve the Transition Assistance Program. This bill would extend a pilot program for off-base transition training, allowing veterans and their spouses more time and convenience to digest and access resources. It would also create a grant program for organizations to provide multiple transition assistance services such as resume assistance, interview training, and job recruitment training from a central source. We can also improve the program by expanding access to better employment data at the Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs, which this bill does. And, finally, it is important that we are constantly evaluating the effectiveness of the Transition Assistance Program, which is why this bill would require a 1-year independent assessment and a 5-year study of the program. We have a solemn duty to ensure that our Nation's heroes are able to readily access the best possible services when it comes time to transition back to civilian life. I do not believe that we are living up to that duty right now, but this bipartisan bill will help change that. I strongly encourage my colleagues to vote in support today. Madam Speaker, again, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington), my friend, and our original cosponsors: Mr. Cisneros; ranking member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, Mr. Bilirakis; Mr. Cunningham; and Mrs. Lee. Together, we can do more than pay lip service to our veterans. We can give them the support and the resources they have earned and deserve.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2045, the Veterans' Education Transition and Opportunity Prioritization Plan, or VET OPP Act of 2019. Madam Speaker, I was proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my friend from Ohio, Mr. Wenstrup. We have a responsibility to provide America's servicemembers with the best possible resources and opportunities as they transition back to civilian life, and we must do more to meet that responsibility. Education, employment, housing, and transition assistance programs are critical to veterans' economic success. But many veterans aren't receiving these opportunities because of bureaucratic red tape at the VA. These programs are currently lumped with compensation programs under the Veterans Benefits Administration. As chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, one of my top priorities is ensuring that veterans are receiving their benefits as efficiently as possible, and it is clear that the current structure at the VA isn't meeting this need. This bipartisan bill will allow us to deliver economic resources more effectively by creating a new Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration at the VA and bringing more oversight and accountability to economic programs for veterans. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize yet another exemplary citizen, Evan Marks, as my Constituent of the Month for May. Each month, it's my pleasure to recognize residents of the 49th District who have gone above and beyond to make our community stronger, and Evan has done just that as the Founder and Executive Director of The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. At The Ecology Center, Evan and his team turned a vacant lot into an educational space, featuring a vibrant farm, kitchen, and artisan goods store where they teach community members about the importance of sustainable living practices. With roughly 70,000 visitors per year, The Ecology Center is a critical resource for our community that shows people how to save water, grow healthy food, and produce goods with a minimal impact on our environment. Evan's work is imperative as we confront the dangerous impact that climate change is having on our planet. Just this week, the United Nations released a landmark report that found the health of the planet's ecosystems deteriorating rapidly, with over one million species of plants and animals on the path toward extinction due to human actions. However, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Chair, Sir Robert Watson, highlighted that ``it is not too late to make a difference, but only if we start now at every level from local to global.'' That is exactly what Evan and The Ecology Center inspire us to do, to take action at the local level that will help protect our planet for future generations. I am proud to represent a community that recognizes the impact we have on our environment and knows we are all responsible for combatting climate change. Evan and all of the dedicated staff at The Ecology Center have led by example and made an extraordinarily positive impact on the region. I am honored to recognize him as my Constituent of the Month for May.