Doris Matsui

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I was not present during votes on September 26, 2016. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on H.R. 5392 and ``yes'' on H.R. 3537.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sacramento Stand Down Association as they embark on their 25th annual event. As supporters of this organization gather to serve our veteran community, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring the Sacramento Stand Down Association for their incredible service to the homeless veterans of the Sacramento region. For over two decades, Sacramento Stand Down has been a vital resource for thousands of homeless veterans in the Sacramento Region. The annual three day event brings together a varied support system of local and federal service providers from around the region where a veteran can reach all of his or her needs in a single visit. Stand Down participants assist homeless veterans with reconnecting to civilian life by providing copies of essential documentation such as driver's licenses, discharge papers, and military IDs needed to access services. Participants have access to housing organizations, County services, and VA medical health centers. Sacramento Stand Down has provided a safe and comfortable environment where veterans can connect with other individuals who understand and share their experiences. The resources gathered here at Stand Down are so transformative; many ``graduates'' of previous years return to support other homeless veterans. This event creates a temporary community that creates long lasting results. The Sacramento region is forever grateful for the Stand Down event and its dedicated organizers. Mr. Speaker, as the participants and partners of Sacramento Stand Down gather to provide life-altering services, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring them for their unwavering commitment to homeless veterans in the Sacramento Region.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Fifty years ago on September 18, the Eastern District of California opened its doors to serve the people of counties across California, including those who live in my hometown of Sacramento. Over the last half-century, the judges, attorneys, and staff of the Eastern District have worked tirelessly to ensure that justice is served, that cases are adjudicated efficiently and fairly, and that the law is respected and upheld. Throughout its history, the Eastern District of California has been fortunate in the quality of its leadership. Judge Myron D. Crocker served as the District's first Chief Judge, followed closely thereafter by Judge Thomas J. MacBride. Judge MacBride served in that capacity for eleven years, making him the longest-serving Chief Judge in the history of the Eastern District. Judge Philip C. Wilkins followed Judge MacBride as Chief Judge in 1979, and was in turn succeeded as Chief by Judge Lawrence Karlton in 1983. In 1990, Judge Robert E. Coyle became the court's fifth Chief. His term ended in 1996, when the duties of Chief were assumed by Judge William B. Shubb. Judge Shubb remains on the bench as a Senior District Judge to this day. He was succeeded as Chief by Judge David F. Levi, who held the post for four years until resigning his commission to train the next generation of legal minds as Dean of Duke University School of Law. Judge Garland E. Burrell served as Chief from 2007 to 2008, when he was succeeded by Judge Anthony W. Ishii. After Judge Ishii's tenure as Chief concluded in 2012, Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. assumed the reins of the District Court's leadership. The current Chief Judge of the Eastern District is Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill. The Eastern District of California has, from its inception, been one of the hardest-working district courts in the United States. Today, the court has the heaviest weighted caseload in the Ninth Circuit. The fact that the Eastern District's docket carries more cases than most other courts in the country means that the judges, attorneys, staff, and volunteers of California's Eastern District are some of the most dedicated and effective people in our country's entire judicial system. I am proud to represent so many who do the critically important day-to- day work of adjudicating cases, dispensing justice, and upholding the rule of law. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Eastern District of California on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Gabbard for bringing us together here this afternoon. I have to say that this is a special time here for all of us. I was sitting here listening to all of the wonderful memories of Mark. We are so privileged to have known Mark. May I just say this: I have been in and around Congress a long time, and this is so highly unusual for an individual, any individual, who has been here to have this kind of response. Mark was special. Amongst our sadness that we feel here, we can't help but smile when we think about him. That is what he did for us all the time. I didn't know Mark very long at all, but I feel like I have known Mark forever. He has been a joy to all of us. He is somebody that has come into our lives and grabbed our hearts in such a meaningful way. And he came to Congress with a purpose. He said: Oh, he is merely a freshman. Mark Takai was never merely a freshman. He came with his commitment and his duty and his love of country wanting to do the best thing. His impact was immediate. He had already been in the legislature and served in the Army National Guard. He had experience. He understood what it meant to be American and to do the right thing. He also understood what it meant to be a loving father, a husband, a son, and a wonderful sibling. He was the complete person. We don't meet many of those people in our lives. And when we do, we remember, we will always remember. He demonstrated a selfless dedication to public service, to all of us, from a young age, by being a State representative for two decades, and through his service to our country in the Army National Guard and in Congress for such a short time. My memories of him are just so joyful because I watched his commitment. I went on that trip with Leader Pelosi last April, and he was so privileged to be a part of that group. As the Leader said, we started out in San Francisco and then we went to Hawaii. We met many service people, and we were meeting the military with security aspects in mind. Leader Pelosi said to Mark: Mark, you are our expert here, you have served, and you understand. And Mark said: Oh, yes, ma'am. Then he turned to me after a while and said: Doris, I am just a freshman. I said: You are not a freshman; you know what is going on; and you can stand up to the generals and everyone else because you understand. And do you know what? He was our expert, and we were so proud of him throughout that whole trip. That is what I remember so much about him. He took responsibility, but he also understood the human side. Because on that trip, as we went through our official duties, there would be Mark always with a smile and a laugh and always trying to find a better place to eat, a place he had heard about from someone he met on the street, some person who said: You have got to try this little restaurant. So sometimes after our official dinners, he would say: Do you want to go to this little restaurant that I just found? We would say: No, we don't want to do that. But do you know what? He was a Pied Piper. He was a Pied Piper, and we wanted to be with him. We are going to miss him so much. He was a complete person. We love him. We are going to miss him. Let me just say this: Sami, Matthew, Kaila, the family, we will never forget him. He touched us in a way that few people have. We love him, and we will miss him. We love you, and we will always remember him.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Volunteers of America (VOA) Veterans Services, California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), Los Rios College District, Mather VA Hospital, Women's Veterans Alliance, and Spiritual Warriors as they come together at the Stand Out celebration, recognizing the diversity of those who have served in the military. Additionally, this year marks the five year anniversary of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring these fine organizations participating in this celebration. The Stand Out event reaches out to Northern California's military members and veterans who are underserved in a variety of areas including healthcare, housing, and employment. This year's event honors all women and LGBT veterans in the hopes that they will obtain the resources, education, and access to services that have been challenging to pursue, but nonetheless rightfully deserved. California has the largest population of homeless women and LGBT veterans in the nation. Since the transition from military to the civilian sector is challenging and often met with barriers, especially for women and the LGBT community, organizations participating in the Stand Out event are working together to ensure that these communities have the information and support to receive their rightful benefits. In participating in the Stand Out celebration, it is important to recognize that all of this progress has not come easily, especially with the fear and hatred that exists for these populations. We thank those who are dedicated to helping these underserved communities of women and LGBT veterans despite the many challenges they have faced along the way. Mr. Speaker, as the members of the Stand Out event celebrate military diversity and the five year anniversary of the Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring them for their commitment to women and LGBT veterans

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 70th anniversary of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento Hongwanji Betsuin's Annual Bazaar. As our community gathers to showcase and celebrate Japanese food and culture, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring this remarkable festival. The Sacramento Buddhist Church is one of the oldest Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Churches in the continental United States and, as such, is one of Sacramento's richest cultural gems. In 1947, the church hosted its first bazaar in an effort to encourage strength and identity within the Japanese-American community. In its 70th year, the bazaar is now a treasured and highly-anticipated Sacramento summer festival. With attendance in the tens of thousands, the bazaar no longer attracts only the immediate community of the church's congregation, but serves to educate and engage the larger Sacramento community on Japanese culture. Close to 700 volunteers come together to facilitate the bazaar, which funds scholarships, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and the Dharma School supported by the church. The Sacramento Buddhist Church's Annual Bazaar has been invaluable to Sacramento in its promotion of cross- cultural understanding and unity in Sacramento's diverse community. Mr. Speaker, as the community of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento Hongwanji Betsuin gathers to celebrate the 70th, anniversary of their Annual Bazaar, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring their commitment to preserving and sharing the rich traditions of Japanese culture with the wider community.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Denice Seals as CEO of the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. As her family, friends, and colleagues gather to celebrate her long list of accomplishments, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this unique individual who has served and contributed so much to the city of West Sacramento. After 10 years as a member of the board of the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, Denice was named Board President/CEO in 2008. As Chamber of Commerce CEO, she boosted Chamber membership and helped recruit several businesses to West Sacramento, including Shimei and Nippon Shokken U.S.A. Denice also sought to fulfill social needs in the community, striving to align goals of economic development with cultivation of West Sacramento as a vibrant cultural hub. She spearheaded efforts to promote West Sacramento as one of the United States' premier Farm-to-Fork cities. Denice helped launch the superbly popular West Sacramento Farmers Markets, showcasing locally grown produce from around the Sacramento Valley. She followed up on that success by hosting monthly Dig In dinners at the farmers market where farmers, chefs, local leaders, and residents come together to share a delicious meal and conversation. Denice has also promoted art within West Sacramento, including one of the city's newest and most unique structures, known as The Barn, which is a social space as well as work of art. The Barn helps bookend West Sacramento's River Walk Promenade, and once fully open, it will be a tremendous asset to our community. The dedication Denice has demonstrated to making West Sacramento a wonderful place to live, work, and play has been nothing short of exemplary. As Denice likes to say about West Sacramento, ``we don't do boring.'' Neither does she. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to exceptional community member Denice Seals as her community celebrates her service to the City of West Sacramento. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring her outstanding work and wishing her the best in retirement.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 70th anniversary of Del Paso Union Baptist Church and Pastor Donnell Riggins. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their important roles in Del Paso Heights and in the larger Sacramento community. As lead pastor of the Del Paso Union Baptist Church, Pastor Donnell Riggins has demonstrated outstanding dedication to his community. Through his work with the Shoulder to Shoulder organization, he has empowered at-risk local youth and fostered their development into excellent citizens. Following the inspirational example set by Pastor Donnell Riggins, the congregation of the Del Paso Union Baptist Church Sacramento Community makes community service a priority, regularly volunteering with the Sacramento Food Bank and St. John's Program for Real Change to provide necessary goods and services for Sacramento's less fortunate. The commitment of Pastor Donnell Riggins and the Del Paso Union Baptist to the people of Del Paso Heights has been nothing short of exemplary. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor to pay tribute to Pastor Donnell Riggins and the Del Paso Union Baptist Church. As the congregation of Del Paso Union Baptist Church gathers to celebrate their 70th anniversary and the service of Pastor Donnell Riggins, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Pastor Donnell Riggins and the Del Paso Union Baptist Church for their invaluable contributions to Del Paso Heights and the Greater Sacramento community.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th anniversary of the Sacramento Children's Home. As the staff, volunteers, and community supporters gather to celebrate this momentous occasion and the beautiful renovations on their historic home, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing this outstanding organization. I know firsthand the incredible impact the Children's Home has on our community. I have long been a supporter of the Sacramento Children's Home and I formerly served as a member of their board. I will continue to offer my support in any way that I can because I believe in their mission to serve our community's most vulnerable families. By supporting both children and parents, to create happier, more stable families, the Sacramento Children's Home is making an invaluable investment in our community. Founded on February 14, 1867, the Sacramento Children's Home began as an orphanage for abandoned children during the time of the Gold Rush. Since then, the Sacramento Children's Home has continued to serve the most urgent needs of children with unwavering dedication. Today, the Sacramento Children's Home provides a variety of services to children and families, including counseling, emergency childcare, and programs promoting healthy parenting. These wraparound programs and resources, many of which are provided at no cost to the family, fight and protect against child abuse and neglect in our community. Mr. Speaker, as the Sacramento Children's Home gathers to celebrate their renovated home on their 150th anniversary, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring 150 years of service to Sacramento's children and families.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, today, House Republicans are leaving town for 52 days. That is 52 days that we won't be taking action to address public health crises like Zika and the Flint water crisis. Time and time again, House Republicans have blocked meaningful emergency funding needed to protect the health and safety of American families. And even as Americans continue to lose their lives every day, House Republicans still have not answered our call for a vote on bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation. We have a responsibility to protect the safety of the American people. Mr. Speaker, it is time we answer the call of communities across this country who are demanding action on commonsense solutions like strengthening our background check system and ensuring we keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists. Families are counting on us. Let's do our job.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the late Tommy Kono for being an American champion. Mr. Kono is the most decorated American in the history of weightlifting. He was born and raised in Sacramento and suffered from asthma, making him unable to participate in physical activity. At the age of eleven, Mr. Kono and his family were moved to Tule Lake Relocation Center following passage of Executive Order 9066. While there, Mr. Kono began lifting weights and joined a bodybuilding club. This marked the beginning of Mr. Kono's passion for weightlifting. After three years, Mr. Kono was released and returned to Sacramento, enrolling in Sacramento High School. Despite being known as the ``a 98 pound weakling'' when he was younger, he entered into local weightlifting competitions and began winning. With the start of the Korean War, Mr. Kono was scheduled to deploy to Asia, but the military allowed him to stay in the United States after learning he was a contender for the 1952 Olympic team. Mr. Kono was an individual who was devoted to his country; he was a Japanese American who was able to embrace new opportunities after World War II. Mr. Kono won his first gold medal in 1952 and won a silver medal at the 1960 Olympics. Mr. Kono went on to win several bodybuilding competitions, made the cover of national magazines, and earned attention of fellow athletes when he set world records in four weight classes. After retiring, Mr. Kono invested his time coaching aspiring champions, including young lifters in Sacramento and Hawaii, as well as tutoring high school students in Sacramento. Mr. Kono passed away in April in Honolulu. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Tommy Kono for being an American champion, as well as a mentor to young adults in the Sacramento area. While family, friends, and mentees gather together to celebrate Mr. Kono, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring his outstanding work of service to his country as well as his commitment to his community.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to vote against the Conscience Protection Act. This is just another attempt by the Republican majority to create barriers for women as they make personal decisions about their reproductive health care. This legislation would expand and make permanent existing refusal policies, which would erode important patient protections. If this law were enacted, employers and companies could refuse to provide information to women about their health care. That is unacceptable. Women have a right to receive all of the information they need as they make important decisions that are personal to them. Women's access to care, our ability to make choices about our health, and our right to be informed should always be protected. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this damaging legislation for women's health.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, it has been a challenging and heartbreaking time for our country. Today, we mark the 1-month anniversary of the horrible mass shooting in Orlando. As we process the pain from the gun violence that continues to shake our Nation, we must come together and find solutions. We all share a desire to feel safe. We all want our children to grow up free from fear. The violence that has gripped our communities has taken many forms, and stems from many causes. There is no question that we have work to do, and that solutions will not be simple. But we can and should be taking action in Congress to make our citizens safer. We can't solve every problem overnight, but we can take steps now to do some commonsense things Americans agree on, like expanding background checks and passing the bipartisan no fly, no buy bill. Mr. Speaker, let us work together to find a path forward in our shared commitment to peace in our Nation.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, in honor of the memory of Lana Carlson, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. For far too long, those with mental illness have been left in the shadows, and mental health prevention and treatment have been left out of our health systems. The mental health crisis in this country is very personal to me, and I have been fighting for patients and their loved ones for many years. I believe there is a lot we can do better to stop or slow down the hurt and pain that patients and families feel when mental health is left unaddressed. The bill before us today is a good bill. It is a first step toward mental health reform, offering policies that help move us in the direction of better parity between mental and physical illness, a stronger workforce trained to address mental illness, and promotion of evidence-based services and supports. Especially important to me are the provisions that will help clarify when and how providers are able to share information with families and caregivers in order to better serve the patients in times of need. There is more left to be done, more to do, and our reform efforts will not be complete or comprehensive until we make real investments in our mental health system. I will continue working for the comprehensive mental health reforms that our families need and deserve.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Barbara Takei, who is being awarded the National Parks Conservation Association's Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Award for her work in the protection of the Tule Lake confinement site as a national park. As her family, friends and colleagues gather to celebrate her long list of valiant accomplishments, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this awe- inspiring individual who has served and contributed greatly to the National Park System. Born in Sacramento, the daughter of camp internees, Ms. Takei was raised in Detroit and graduated from Howard University. She eventually became the chief financial officer of the non-profit Tule Lake Committee, an organization focused on the education and recognition of Tule Lake, one of the largest and most controversial sites where thousands of men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated and detained. Ms. Takei is being honored for spearheading the effort to prevent the construction of an intrusive fence for an airport on the Segregation Center Property, which would have disturbed visitor access to the site and its visual history. Without her longstanding and tireless leadership, the Tule Lake confinement site would likely not be a protected unit of the National Park System today. In addition to her steadfast fight for national park protection, Ms. Takei has been active in the community for preserving the cultural history of Japanese-Americans, as well as spending the past decade researching and writing about Tule Lake's segregation history. Mr. Speaker, as the members of the National Parks Conservation Association celebrate and recognize Ms. Barbara Takei for her accomplishments and value to the National Park System at the annual Tule Lake Pilgrimage, along with Tule Lake survivors and their families, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring this outstanding individual.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, since our sit-in, led by our moral leader, John Lewis, a steady, consistent chorus of voices across the country is growing louder demanding action on gun violence. The heartfelt calls, letters, emails, and social media postings continue to flood in from my constituents. These are grandparents, mothers, young people who are saying ``enough.'' In Sacramento alone, 60 people have lost their lives this last year. These are people who believe in the power of democracy, who are raising their voices, and who are counting on us to listen. They are saying ``enough'' to Republicans not having the courage to stand up to the powerful gun lobby. The NRA-backed Republican deal we are considering today is an empty promise to the American people. It would make it nearly impossible to stop suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms, and it would do nothing to close a loophole that allows criminals to bypass a background check by simply going online or to a gun show. Mr. Speaker, our citizens are demanding real answers, not hollow gestures. Let's listen to them. We will not rest until you do.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, we lose over 30,000 people a year to gun violence. We must never forget that that number is made up of thousands of individual stories: a family grieving over the death of a child, a teenager missing a friend at school, a son who must get used to spending holidays every year without a parent. One of my constituents in Sacramento lost her cousin and her cousin's son to gun violence right before Christmas. She wrote to me and said, ``I would like to see a world where such crime is minimized . . . if not erased. Gun control is an important and essential step in the path toward nonviolence.'' We must listen to these stories that have become all too common. Just over the weekend, another person in my community was shot and killed. Every moment we don't act matters. Must we feel vulnerable in our churches, sending our children to theaters or to the schools? We are not going to accept this bloodshed any longer. We must disarm the hate and vote on real solutions for the American people. Democrats are calling for a vote on two pieces of bipartisan, commonsense legislation. We must not wait any longer to answer the call for action.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Center for Fathers and Families as friends and supporters gather to celebrate those being honored at the 14th Annual Salute to Fatherhood Banquet. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring the Center for Fathers and Families and these fine fathers. Founded over two decades ago, the Center for Fathers and Families focuses on promoting the roles that fathers and father-figures play in their families and in our community as a whole. The Center offers many programs and services that aim to enrich and empower fathers and their families. Classes for parents include parenting classes for men, co- parenting classes, anger management classes, and GED preparation and completion, as well as individual personal assistance sessions. Each of these services and transformational programs make the Center for Fathers and Families a cornerstone of our community. At this year's gala, four men will be honored for their contributions to our community as fathers, father-figures, and mentors. I would like to recognize each of these men, Frankie McDermott, Kevin Ridgle, Peterson Latortue, and Micah Simmons, for their commitment to parenting and mentoring our youth. These men truly model the Center's motto, ``Fatherhood is Forever.'' Mr. Speaker, as friends and families of the Center for Fathers and Families gather to recognize this year's honorees, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring them for their unwavering commitment to family and to strengthening our community.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Robert D. Dean, Founding Chair of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man & Woman of the Year campaign for the Greater Sacramento Area Chapter. As 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of this important event, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Dean for his leadership and commitment in the community to raising awareness and vital funds in the fight against blood cancer. In 1997, in the aftermath of losing his son Bobby to leukemia at the age of 19, Mr. Dean set forth to honor his son's memory by founding an annual event that would unite adults, students, families, businesses, schools, and organizations from throughout the Sacramento region to partner with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to raise funds for blood cancer research, and to provide patient services for those suffering from the disease. Over the past 20 years, the Man & Woman of the Year event has brought together hundreds of volunteers, many who themselves are cancer survivors, to work towards finding a cure. In great part due to Mr. Dean's dedication to this cause, nearly $5 million has been raised, which has helped to fund breakthrough research and lifesaving therapies that have dramatically increased survivorship in both adults and children. In taking a stand against blood cancer, Mr. Dean has continued to honor his son in the most meaningful way--by giving hope to others. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Robert D. Dean, Founding Chair of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man & Woman of the Year campaign, as he celebrates the 20th anniversary of this important community event. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring his exemplary volunteerism on behalf of cancer patients and families, as well as his ongoing dedication to the fight against blood cancer.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the retirement of my good friends, Reverend Robert ``Bob'' Oshita and Reverend Patti Oshita, of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento Hongwanji Betsuin. As the community celebrates the departure of two excellent leaders, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their remarkable contributions to the Buddhist Church of Sacramento and the greater Sacramento community. It is a great pleasure to recognize Reverend Bob and Reverend Patti, as Reverend Patti had served as Executive Assistant for my late husband, the Congressman Robert T. Matsui. Reverend Bob began ministering at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento in 1984 after completing both undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of California, Berkeley and ministerial training in Kyoto, Japan. Two years later, Reverend Bob married Reverend Patti, who attended California State University, Sacramento and also studied in Japan for her ministerial ordination. Together, they have become an institution at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento. Reverend Bob was the 36th minister of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, and has served the church for 32 years. Reverend Patti was an assistant minister of the church and taught Sunday Dharma School classes. Both have proved to be excellent community leaders, leading with humility and providing comfort and guidance for those in need. It is under the leadership of Reverend Bob and Reverend Patti that the membership of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento has grown to just under 1000 households. Through seeking out genuine human connections, Reverend Bob and Reverend Patti have promoted a more unified community, both within the Buddhist Church of Sacramento and beyond. The dedication Reverend Bob and Reverend Patti have demonstrated is exemplary and the wisdom they have spread in the Sacramento area is truly invaluable. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to exceptional community members Reverend Bob Oshita and Reverend Patti Oshita as they celebrate their service to the Buddhist Church of Sacramento and the Sacramento community. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring their outstanding work and wishing them the best in retirement.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Congressman Welch for his leadership on this common sense amendment. Working mothers are driving our economy forward. Two out of every three women are the sole or equal breadwinner in their households. Many of these women are juggling the responsibilities of caring for their children and supporting their family. Having workplaces that accommodate the needs of our hard working American mothers makes our economy stronger. Businesses across the country have made important improvements in their work place standards for women. And the Federal government has too. In fact, the General Services Administration now requires that federal buildings have lactation stations for breastfeeding mothers. But here in the U.S. Capitol we are not living up to these standards--at the expense of the thousands of women who work in the Capitol and the millions of women who pass through these grounds every day. We need to make working mothers' ability to contribute to our economy easier, not harder. This amendment simply brings the House of Representatives into compliance with existing laws already on the books and would not require any new funding. It is a common sense step forward for working mothers. Our Capitol is a symbol of our democracy and should set the highest example for the American people. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment which makes our Capitol more welcoming to all.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Troop One--Sacramento as the scouts, their families, leaders, and former scouts join together to celebrate their centennial anniversary. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring BSA Troop One for its dedication to service in our community on the occasion of the troop's ``100 of One'' celebration. Troop One was officially formed in Sacramento in 1916, and is the oldest troop in the western United States. It was one of few Boy Scouts of America troops that remained active during World War II. The first Eagle Scout of Troop One, the late Charles ``Muddy'' Watters, Sr., was recognized in 1932. Since then, over 400 Troop One scouts have ascended to the rank of Eagle Scout. Troop One is active in molding young leaders in the Sacramento area. Through monthly wilderness adventures, service outings, and jamborees, the 88 current scouts of Troop One learn and maintain the troop's founding values: a commitment to ethics, behaving responsibly, and serving one's community. For 100 years, Troop One has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to Sacramento's youth and its larger community. From founding Troop One Scoutmaster George W. Spilman, to current scoutmaster Christopher Tileston, Troop One Scoutmasters have dedicated themselves to cultivating scouts into outstanding citizens. In turn, Troop One scouts have worked hard to better Sacramento. Sacramento is a better place thanks to the service and commitment of Troop One's scouts. Mr. Speaker, as Troop One celebrates its 100th anniversary, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring the troop and its contribution to Sacramento's youth.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the House amendment to S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act. Although this bill contains some important provisions overall, it raises barriers to our clean energy future by reversing important progress we have made to curb emissions and combat climate change. House Republicans have made a bad bill worse by attaching harmful provisions that will have a negative impact on consumers, public health, and our environment. Mr. Speaker, I am particularly concerned that this energy package is being used to advance irresponsible, short-term policies in response to California's drought. The provisions included in this bill will pit one region of our great State against another instead of providing a balanced, long-term solution. We need to be taking an all-of-the-above approach to our drought by advancing wastewater recycling projects, investing in groundwater storage, and encouraging new technologies that allow us to responsibly manage our water usage. I actually grew up on a Central Valley farm. My grandparents farmed in Reedley, California, and I grew up in Dinuba. So I understand that the debate over water is complicated and personal to so many, but I believe that we can balance the needs of our farmers and urban centers while protecting our drinking water supply and our ecosystems. Our American families deserve an energy package that brings us forward, not backwards. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015.

Ms. MATSUI

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Sister Jeanne Felion as Executive Director at the Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center. Additionally, I rise today to recognize the 5th anniversary of the Carl R. Hansen Teen Center and of Erika Elizarraras, a social worker who is celebrating her 5th anniversary working at the Teen Center. As the friends and supporters of Sister Jeanne Felion and the Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center gather to celebrate these milestones, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring her leadership in the Sacramento region. It is a great pleasure to recognize Sister Jeanne Felion. Thanks to her leadership and vision over the past four decades, Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center continues to be a valuable community resource providing social services to thousands of people in our North Sacramento communities. Programs offered benefit the health and well- being of all and include senior and children services, neighborhood outreach, and emergency assistance. The Sisters of Social Services began the Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center 80 years ago when they took charge of the former residence of Governor Leland Stanford. The Sisters later moved their programs to the Gardenland Northgate area. Their work was instrumental in obtaining City water, parks, street lights, sidewalks and gutters for the area. The facility grew to include both the Sister Jeanne Felion Senior Center and the Carl R. Hansen Teen Center. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Sister Jeanne Felion and to the Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center as they celebrate Sister Jeanne's 40th anniversary as executive director. While Stanford Settlement Neighborhood Center's staff, supporters, and friends gather together to celebrate Sister Jeanne and the 5th anniversary of the Carl R. Hansen Teen Center, I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring her outstanding work in providing the community with much-needed social services.