Jimmy Panetta

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard).

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I am proud to have supported H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. This comprehensive infrastructure package will make clean energy investments, create more affordable housing, and improve broadband across the United States. I am proud that H.R. 2 included many of my bills, including the green bus tax credit, so that Monterey-Salinas Transit and Santa Cruz METRO, in my district, can get their fleets of zero-emission buses on the roads and also my Clean Energy Production Parity Act to support linear generators manufactured in California. H.R. 2 also includes my amendments to increase the Reforestation Trust Fund for more job-creating environmental infrastructure and to give greater flexibility to communities using EDA funding so that we can better target Federal funding for economic recovery projects. It is past time to address the infrastructure needs of our country. That is why I urge my colleagues in the Senate to, hopefully, take up and pass H.R. 2, so that we can continue to move our country forward to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Greg Ford for his 24 years of military service and to congratulate him on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Army. Colonel Ford assumed command of Presidio of Monterey (POM) in June 2018 and has served not only the post, but also the broader community with distinction. It has been a privilege to work alongside Colonel Ford over the past two years, and it is my honor to recognize his service on the House floor today. Colonel Ford earned a bachelor's degree from Western Oregon University in 1996, and was commissioned a Military Intelligence Second Lieutenant through ROTC. He later held numerous assignments within the 101st Airborne, deploying to Operation Iraqi Freedom multiple times between 2001 and 2006. In 2010, Ford transferred to Hawaii where he served as the U.S. Army Pacific G2 Operations Chief and later as the 25th Infantry Division G2. Between these assignments, Ford deployed to Afghanistan from 2014 to 2015. Upon his return, Ford became a U.S. Army War College Fellow at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. From there, he served in the Republic of Korea as the G2 Chief of Operations for the 8th U.S. Army. In the two years that Colonel Ford served as Garrison Commander at the Presidio of Monterey, he has made a lasting impact on base operations, military families, and the wellbeing of the broader community. He was a leading advocate for Presidio of Monterey Housing residents and worked tirelessly to ensure safe and quality housing to our servicemembers and their families. My office has received countless testimonials from POM residents who credit Colonel Ford with improving their health and safety through his advocacy efforts and direct communication with anyone in need of assistance. Colonel Ford continuously engaged on the Fort Ord Reuse Authority Board to ensure Army equities and community reuse goals were synchronized. He also worked to strengthen ties between POM and the local community, including organizing rehearsals of the Peninsula Evacuation Plan with the City of Monterey for the first time in a decade. During his command, Colonel Ford worked with local organizations and leaders to improve support to Gold Star Families, Exceptional Family Members, and Housing Residents. In doing so, he sought ways to integrate local efforts, such as Stonepine Estate, Operation Care and Comfort, and Hayward Scores, to better support the military community. Most recently, Colonel Ford rose to the challenge as COVID-19 reached the central coast of California. He coordinated with the County and local municipalities to ensure that Garrison actions were synchronized with local efforts. Additionally, Colonel Ford quickly implemented safety measures through POM and held regular virtual townhalls to ensure the Military community remained informed in the midst of the pandemic. His actions undoubtably contributed to the relatively small impact of COVID-19 within POM. It has been a pleasure having Colonel Ford and his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Ford, in Monterey for the past two years. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Colonel Ford on his retirement and expressing gratitude for his and his family's many years of honorable service to our country.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember and honor the life of the mayor of Salinas, California, Joe Gunter. Mayor Gunter passed on Monday after a quick bout, unfortunately, with cancer. Mayor Gunter was a true public servant, who truly understood what it means and what it takes to live up to our obligations as Americans--to give back to his country and community--that gives all of us so much. Right out of high school, Mayor Gunter joined the Marines where he served and fought in Vietnam. Right out of his service to our country, Mayor Gunter joined the Salinas Police Department where he proudly served and protected for 32 years. And right out of that service to our community, Mayor Gunter then volunteered at a Women's Crisis Center, in youth sports, for the Salinas Air Show, and the California Rodeo. But that wasn't enough. Because right out of retirement, Joe then served as mayor of Salinas for the past 8 years. And I can tell you, as Mayor Joe knew well that it really wasn't about the snarkiness of your tweets, it is about making government work for people. Joe would tell you he wasn't much for politics, but when it came to serving the people of Salinas, Mayor Gunter was the best. Because Joe knew dang well that good governing is good politics. My prayers are with his wife, Lisa, his children, and his grandchildren. I hope they take comfort knowing that although Joe will be missed, his legacy of service will always endure with the people of this country and the community of Salinas, California.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 2, for added flexibility to funding that goes to local Economic Development Administrations. As we fight this pandemic, our communities have relied on EDA funding in regard to other revolving loan funds. As we progress through this crisis, however, those same communities will start to look at forms of economic recovery and should be able to use those same funds to repair roads, bridges, and water systems; to support downtown revitalizations; and to help market tourism. That is where H.R. 2, with my amendment, can help all of our communities, by allowing recipients of these revolving loan funds to first lend out those funds and then, after those loans have been repaid, to repurpose that money and use it for new infrastructure projects that initially were outside the purpose of the revolving loan fund. This type of flexibility will allow our communities to best target Federal dollars as needs change over time. Mr. Speaker, that is why I urge passage of this amendment and passage of H.R. 2.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. This comprehensive legislation will do what I have always said needs to be done to the ACA: It won't get rid of it, but it does fix it. This bill does that by lowering healthcare costs and raising access to quality healthcare, especially for those who need it the most. We must do this now, more than ever, with COVID-19 numbers spiking and an administration that is trying to overturn the ACA and reduce healthcare access rather than expand it. In my district on the central coast of California, the numbers of COVID-19 are growing, but impacting certain communities more than others. Nearly 80 percent of all COVID cases in Monterey County have been found to be in the Latinx community. Across the Nation, Latinos make up 34 percent of the cases of COVID- 19, despite only representing 18 percent of the total U.S. population, while, nationally, Latinos have the highest uninsured rate. H.R. 1425 would fix that by eliminating barriers to affordable healthcare for Latinos and expanding coverage for DACA recipients. This bill would improve healthcare for all Americans by increasing protections for people with preexisting conditions, strengthening the State marketplaces, expanded premium tax credits, and helping low- income postpartum women and children. So I call on my colleagues to come together and vote for this bill because now, more than ever, it is time for us to do our job: Improve the Affordable Care Act so that we can provide the necessary healthcare to those who need it the most and everybody in our Nation.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Salinas City Elementary School District Superintendent, Martha Martinez, on her retirement after serving the state of California as a public educator since 1975. An outstanding citizen and educator, Superintendent Martinez has made an unparalleled impact in the educational community of the central coast of California and our entire state through 45 years of service. Superintendent Martinez's began her career as a paraprofessional in California's Bay Area before later becoming an elementary teacher. After 20 years as an educator, she put her expertise towards work as a school administrator with the Santa Clara County Office of Education and Gilroy Unified School District. In 2015, she became Superintendent of the Salinas City Elementary School District. In this role, she has distinguished herself as a passionate advocate for providing all students, regardless of background, with a quality education that provides equitable opportunities for all learners. As a visionary leader, Superintendent Martinez not only holds students and educators to high expectations, but also provides her own endless support so that all goals can be attainable. Superintendent Martinez has also built strong support for her district in the local community. She has launched a citywide literacy campaign in Salinas to provide over 160,000 residents with a free Early Literacy App and mobilized leaders across Monterey County to work to end bullying. With her robust background in building local and regional partnerships, Superintendent Martinez was selected to organize Salinas Founder's Day, to celebrate the city's 150th birthday, and the Salinas City Elementary School District's Sesquicentennial Commemoration. With these two events, Superintendent Martinez brought individuals from all backgrounds in our community together to celebrate the City of Salinas and its outstanding students. Recognizing the support of the community around her, Superintendent Martinez is well-known to distinguish the stellar efforts of those she works with at every possible opportunity. In addition to her work in her role with the Salinas City Elementary School District, Superintendent Martinez has been an exemplary citizen and community member. She has won countless awards, serves as a member and leader in many local and regional organizations, and produced a three series Leadership Institute so that others can learn from her own success. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize the dedication and work of Superintendent Martinez. I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing Superintendent Martinez and to congratulate her on her well-earned retirement. I extend my most earnest appreciation to Superintendent Martinez for her service to our community.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller, a Sergeant with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. Damon will be remembered as a dedicated police officer with a passion for serving his community, kind friend, and devoted husband and father. Damon Gutzwiller was raised in Santa Cruz County on the central coast of California and graduated from Aptos High School. Shortly after his graduation, he began volunteering with the Santa Cruz Sheriffs Office and was hired as a full-time Deputy Sheriff in 2006. Sergeant Gutzwiller held many roles during his 14-year career at the Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office and was promoted to Sergeant last year. Damon distinguished himself to his colleagues and those he served across the Central Coast for his aptitude at resolving tense situations with his calm demeanor, infectious smile, and sense of humor. Above all else in his role, Damon's first priority was to selflessly serve the community he called home. Damon was especially proud of the life he shared with his loving partner, Favi, and their two-year-old son. Damon was eager to welcome another baby to their family later this month and looked forward to growing the family that he loved and had completely committed himself to. Damon will be remembered as a beloved community member, partner, and father. We celebrate his service to the Central Coast and his life well-lived. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the life of Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Ben Kelly, an entrepreneur, surfboard shaper, and surfer on the central coast of California. Ben will be remembered for his kindness, adventurous spirit, and passion for his religious faith. Ben Kelly was born in Orange County in Southern California. While attending Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California, where he met his wife, Katie, Ben began shaping surfboard and eventually developed his own brand, Ben Kelly Surfboards. Following his move to the central coast of California, Ben and Katie started their social media company, named Authentic Approach. This business encapsulated Ben's quick embrace of his new community. Not only was he dedicated to the work he did with his wife to help others realize their dreams of starting and operating local businesses, but he also quickly established himself in the local surfing community on the Central Coast. Ben's friends knew him as an adventurous young man who formed tight bonds with those around him and used his supportive and sincere nature to encourage friends to excel at their goals. Ben was especially passionate about his deeply held Christian faith. As a member of Twin Lakes Church in Aptos, California, Ben channeled his faith to guide his generous nature and devotion to helping friends and strangers. Ben's faith was a part of his daily life, finding daily lessons in the world around him and offering earnest guidance to anyone who needed help. Ben will be remembered for his adventurous and generous spirit and his love for and devotion to his wife, Katie. We, as a community, celebrate his life well-lived. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the life of Ben Kelly.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. H.R. 6800 is anything but a wish list for Democrats. Instead, the HEROES Act means everything to the people in all of our congressional districts. States and cities across our country are losing revenue that will lead to a loss of services and our safety. The funding in this bill shores up those services and our security, especially for our small cities. The PPP benefits small businesses, but it needs to be expanded and easier to understand. This bill provides those improvements, as well as more testing and tracing, help for renters and owners, broadband for kids, purchases for farmers, and protections for farmworkers. So when you call this a wish list, know that it is our constituents who are wishing for funding so that they can fight and defeat this pandemic.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Lieutenant Cameron McCord for his faithful service to our country as an esteemed member of the Navy's Office of Legislative Affairs in the U.S. House of Representatives. In this capacity, Lieutenant McCord facilitated interaction between the Department of the Navy and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. These engagements included, but were not limited to, formal responses to congressional inquiries, counsel to Members and staff, and execution of congressional and staff delegations. These interactions were pivotal in providing Members and staff a greater understanding of the issues facing our Navy and its sailors. I am particularly proud to note that Lieutenant McCord planned and executed CODEL Panetta to the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility to examine aspects of U.S. Special Operations Force and partner nation operations in North and West Africa. He coordinated and facilitated movement across six countries and three continents for seven individuals. I am forever grateful for his leadership, persistence, and support of CODEL Panetta. Lieutenant McCord's distinguished career began after commissioning in the U.S. Navy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His first assignment was in Charleston, SC, where he entered the Nuclear Power School and Nuclear Power Training Unit. After completing the Submarine Officer Basic Course in Groton, CT, McCord reported to the USS Helena (SSN 725) in 2015, where he served as the Chemistry and Radiological Controls Assistant, Information Technology Officer, Antiterrorism Officer, and the Assistant Weapons Officer. McCord stood both Junior Officer of the Deck and Officer of the Deck on a dynamic EUCOM deployment from 2016 to 2017, completing multiple missions vital to national security. McCord holds a Navy Commendation Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals, and has served on a team onboard USS Helena that has earned two Navy ``E'' Ribbons, amongst other personal and unit awards. Madam Speaker, I commend and thank Lieutenant Cameron McCord on his service to the United States of America, the House of Representatives, and my office. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing him today.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, at this time--just like I said last week, and I say it again this week--the COVID-19 pandemic will get worse before it gets better. It will get worse for our public health. It will get worse for our financial health. That is why I rise in support of the CARES Act. With these shelter- in-place orders, we are continuing to try to flatten the corona curve. But when we do that, figuratively, we are putting our economy in a medically induced coma, a step that, as we have seen this week, has led to one of the worst employment rates in our history. That is why we need one of the biggest stimulus packages in our history. The CARES Act will expand unemployment insurance for restaurant, retail, and hotel workers on the central coast of California. It will assist my specialty crop farmers in the salad and berry bowls of the world. It will provide small businesses across this country with the loans necessary to survive. With this bruising pandemic, we are asking our constituents to do something that is not normal: to stand down, to stay inside, to separate from one another. They are relying on us to do the right thing: to step up and to support the CARES Act.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish a happy 100th birthday to private first-class David Perez. In 1931, David's immigrant parents and their 14 kids moved to the Salad Bowl of the World in Salinas, California to work in agriculture and raise a family. During World War II, David and two of his brothers were drafted to fight for our country. As a combat medic, Private Perez shipped out to the Pacific theater. Serving with the 27th Infantry Division, he fought hard, saved many lives, and even was injured by enemy fire. Private Perez received many medals for his service, including the Bronze Star for his bravery in the Battle of Saipan where he evacuated and tended to four of his wounded comrades. After the military, David returned to Salinas, raised a family and was a member of the Elks Lodge, American Legion Post 31, and in 2019 he was chosen to be the grand marshal of the Salinas Veteran's Day parade. For all that he has done in his long life, David will be the first to tell you, though, his proudest moments are being with his wife Lillian, his two daughters, Celia and Felicia, five grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I wish a happy 100th to David and thank him for showing our community and our country what it means to be a part of the Greatest Generation and what it takes to fulfill an American Dream. Happy birthday.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and ranking member. I appreciate this opportunity to talk about something that both of these gentlemen have discussed and support. I appreciate that, so I thank the gentlemen very much. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support as well of H.R. 3749, the Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act. This is a bill that directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide grants to organizations that provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. The grant funds will be used to provide legal services related to housing, such as legal services related to family law; legal services related to income support; legal services related to criminal defense, including defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness; and legal services related to requests to upgrade discharge characterizations. The legislation also authorizes appropriations of at least $20 million for additional aid to women veterans experiencing housing instability and homelessness. As you heard from the chairman, women are the fastest growing group not just of homeless veterans but in the military and in our veterans' communities. And, as you heard, they are more likely to be single parents. While serving as a local prosecutor, before my time here in Congress, in Monterey County, and working as a board member for the Veterans Transition Center of Monterey County, an organization which offers veterans not just transitional housing but, of course, case management programs to get them up on their feet and back into the communities where they can continue to serve, I worked firsthand with many veterans who had certain legal issues that brought them to the brink or pushed them right into, unfortunately, homelessness. It is essential that Congress now ensure that our veterans are properly supported, have access to legal aid, and, yes, get the benefits that they have earned. We can then keep a roof over their heads. For veterans in my district and across this country, this bill will provide them aid that really can help them during such events as Veterans Stand Down, a biennial event that we have in our district that provides much-needed legal assistance and helps our community's veterans get back on solid ground, be accepted into housing, drive legally, and make sure that they can find a job. Madam Speaker, as a former veteran, I do urge my colleagues to support my bill to provide veterans the resources necessary to help them resolve legal issues and get back on their feet so that they can get back to being an integral part of our community and, of course, our country. Finally, Madam Speaker, I thank the members of the For Country Caucus for endorsing this legislation. As a co-chair and founder of this caucus, the membership and I have worked to provide a platform for military veteran members to work across the aisle, to improve governance, and to enact productive policy, just like we have done here. Madam Speaker, I am proud to have this bill introduced through the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, which I do believe does the exact same thing, and I thank both of these gentlemen for bringing this bill to the floor.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Jack Baskin, a prominent engineer, builder, and philanthropist on the central coast of California. Jack will be remembered as a generous and active supporter of his community. Jack Baskin was born on September 20, 1919, in upstate New York. After graduating from New York University with a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1940, Jack used his engineering expertise to support the domestic military aircraft manufacturing industry through World War II. After the war, he found success building housing developments throughout California and settled on the Central Coast in Santa Cruz in 1970. Jack remained in Santa Cruz for the next 50 years, establishing deep ties to the Central Coast. Jack is well-known for acts of kindness and generosity to support his community and was named the ``Man of the Year'' by the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce in 1986. Many local institutions have benefitted from his personal donations, including the Dominican Hospital of Santa Cruz, Monterey Peninsula College, Cabrillo College, and the Seymour Marine Laboratory. Jack was especially passionate about supporting the University of California, Santa Cruz campus, establishing the funding that was used to build the Baskin School of Engineering and make UCSC a destination to study and develop technical innovations. In 2008, Jack and his wife, Peggy, established the Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation to provide financial support for educational opportunities for disadvantaged women and other marginalized communities on the Central Coast. Jack will be remembered for his convivial and generous spirit. We, as a community, celebrate his legacy and life well-lived. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the life of Jack Baskin.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment today to H.R. 2546, Protecting America's Wilderness Act. As we know, this bill would provide permanent protections for approximately 1.3 million acres of Federal land, including in California, and 1,200 miles of rivers. Not only will it provide vital protections for some of our most precious natural resources, but it will also improve outdoor recreational opportunities for underserved communities. Now, my amendment ensures that, as we work to protect, conserve, and enjoy Federal public lands, we also prioritize the safety of our communities. This amendment gives the authority to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture to ensure that they are able to manage for fire, insects, and disease in wilderness areas, particularly during times of crisis. In California, we are, unfortunately, no stranger to the threat of wildfires; and with climate change, wildfire seasons are becoming wildfire years. Now, wildfires do not stop at property lines, so neither should our Federal efforts to fight wildfires and better manage our forestland. As we work to fight the effects of climate change and the impacts on our forests, we must also take every action that we can to protect the families and the homes in these vulnerable communities. In putting forward new and critical protections on land--from the redwoods to the Los Padres National Forest, to the San Gabriel Mountains--we must ensure our Federal land managers have the flexibility that they need to take the reasonable and necessary actions to preemptively address fire, insects, and disease threats to this land. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Carbajal), my good friend from the southern coast of California.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I want to thank my good friend and neighbor to the south, Representative Carbajal, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I do have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Lawson, Ms. Pressley, and the ranking member for their work on this bill. I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 3621, the Student Borrower Credit Improvement Act. As we all know, this bill that we are considering today strengthens consumer protections for all Americans by making overdue reforms to credit reporting. Specifically, the Student Borrower Credit Improvement Act gives borrowers facing economic hardship an opportunity to repair their credit profiles and prevent certain prior delinquencies from being reported. These borrowers, who are working to do everything right, deserve that chance to repair their credit scores. But at times, when a borrower experiences sudden economic hardship, it can be nearly impossible to make payments on time. That is why the legislation in front of us allows borrowers to pause their repayments when they demonstrate undue hardship resulting from an unusual extenuating life circumstance. My amendment would include homelessness, as defined by HUD, as an extenuating life circumstance demonstrating a hardship, therefore making them eligible for that type of grace period that this legislation allows. When a borrower experiences homelessness, it is nearly impossible to focus on anything else, and securing a safe place to live becomes a top priority. This amendment would ensure that a borrower who is experiencing homelessness can focus on finding a place to stay without worrying about missing a payment. A Federal Reserve study has shown that student loan debt has caused a third of borrowers to move in with their parents after school. But many students with debt lack that type of support system, and faced with a lack of housing options, they do become homeless. On the central coast of California, where I represent, there are some borrowers who face homelessness even before graduating college. Students at the local university, the University of California at Santa Cruz, many of them have been forced to live in vehicles in the university's parking lots. By including my amendment in this legislation, we can ensure that borrowers experiencing homelessness are given a temporary reprieve and preserve their ability to repair their credit. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. McHenry for his very thoughtful comments. Mr. Chair, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley).

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.