Jimmy Panetta

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment to the INVEST in America Act that would save our Nation's pollinators. In my district, on the Central Coast, we grow over 100 different specialty crops that greatly contribute to our Nation's food security. But what many people don't realize is that our agriculture, from the Central Coast, or to the center of America, would not be possible without our pollinators. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, those pollinators and their habitats on are the verge of extinction. That is why the robust investment, as provided in my amendment, is needed now more than ever. The amendment sets up grant programs that State transportation departments can use to grow more flora and fauna, from grasses to wildflowers to milkweed, so that pollinators can thrive. I want to thank Representative Carbajal, my Central Coast neighbor, for his partnership on this amendment, and our work together on bills and amendments like this to revive our pollinators habitats and regrow their population. By passing this amendment, we not only can save the pollinators, but we can also secure the food supply of our Nation.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I along with Representative Lofgren, rise to recognize the Gilroy City Council for its historic celebration of Pride Month: the Pride flag will fly for the first time at Gilroy City Hall. Everyone in our community deserves to feel seen, heard, and loved. By displaying the Pride flag, the City of Gilroy reminds everyone in our community that they have a safe and welcoming home here. Our country has made so much progress, but despite this, one in three LGBTQ+ Americans have faced some kind of discrimination in the past year. Members of the LGBTQ+ community continue to face discrimination in their personal lives, in the workplace, and in their access to necessary healthcare. The significance behind the Pride flag's display is not only to demonstrate acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in Gilroy, it's also to celebrate the contributions to progress made by so many LGBTQ+ individuals. Everyone should be able to live their truth without fear of discrimination or violence. Members of the LGBTQ+ community deserve equal rights under the law, to be treated as full and equal citizens, and to be celebrated for their impact on history locally, nationally, and internationally. Madam Speaker, it is our pleasure to recognize the historic nature of this occasion, and we ask our distinguished colleagues to join us in recognizing this celebration of Pride Month. We extend our personal appreciation to the Gilroy City Council for their support of Gilroy's LGBTQ+ community.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Dignity Health Dominican Hospital as the recipient of the 2021 Al Smith Friend of Agriculture Award. As a strong supporter of local agriculture, the Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has been instrumental in the COVID-19 vaccination efforts for our local farmworkers. Dignity Health Dominican Hospital's values include compassion, inclusion, integrity, excellence, and collaboration. By leading the charge in providing COYID-19 vaccines to farmworkers in Santa Cruz County, they have demonstrated the impact and importance of their mission in our community. Dignity Health Dominican Hospital will celebrate their 80th Anniversary later this year. It has always been the Hospital's steadfast mission to serve all who come through its doors, regardless of ability to pay. When its founders, the Adrian Dominican Sisters, arrived in Santa Cruz in 1941, they traveled from Michigan to reopen a failed hospital on West Cliff Drive. Even though only one of them was an active healthcare worker, they felt driven to provide care for our community. In 1988, the hospital joined what was then known as Catholic Healthcare West. Their founding tenets of community outreach and helping those in need have remained the driving values for the Dignity Health Dominican Hospital as it moved into the 21st century. Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has evolved to offer the greater surrounding community the kind of cutting-edge technology typically reserved for large metropolitan areas, earning them the recognition they deserve. The 2021 Al Smith Friend of Agriculture Award was awarded to the Hospital for their creation of the first large-scale vaccination clinic in California that is focused on farmworkers. Additionally, they worked with local partners, such as the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, to develop a formula to ensure equity in vaccine distribution to local farmworkers, Their ongoing efforts during vaccine distribution made Santa Cruz County a model for prioritizing farmworkers for counties throughout the country. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize the compassion, excellence, and community support exemplified by the Dignity Health Dominican Hospital, and I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing their service. I extend my personal appreciation to the healthcare workers, administrators, and staff of the Dignity Health Dominican Hospital for their service to our community.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Day of Silence this Friday, April 23. It is a day when people around the country and in my community on the central coast of California take a vow of silence to raise awareness surrounding the many hurdles that LGBTQ youth face. One of those students will be Lucia Umeki-Martinez. Lucia is a gay woman of color and a student leader at Watsonville High School. As co- class president and member of the Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Club, Lucia works to build bridges between her classmates and community. She told me that taking the vow of silence for 1 day was her way of paying tribute to those who have been silenced by homophobia and hatred. It also is a way to show solidarity to those, like Lucia, who have ever felt unwelcome or unsafe in an environment where they are supposed to thrive. Countless students across this country will take the vow of silence on Friday for the same reasons as Lucia. That is why we as leaders must continue to step up every day to ensure that all Americans, whoever they are, are accepted and respected.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, the Salad Bowl of the world lost a key ingredient this week with the sudden passing of Dennis Caprara. In his 74 years, Dennis contributed so much to our leading industry of agriculture and our fundamental identity in the Salinas Valley. A true local boy, Dennis grew up in Gonzales, grew fond of farming, and grew to appreciate the hard work and sound judgment necessary to succeed in agriculture. Starting RC Farms and RC Packing, Dennis and his family became the definition of what it means to be a successful family farm. But Dennis was not just a farmer, he was a leader; chairman of the Grower-Shipper Association, director of the Salinas Valley River Coalition, and a distinguished fellow at a local college. Dennis also gave back to the community that gave him so much; as a member of the Swiss Rifle Club, and always attending the local livestock auctions where he and his wife, Janice, were active bidders, supporting the kids of 4H and FFA. Dennis was a friend and a mentor to many, including myself. And although he often fondly called me a donkey, not necessarily referring to my political party, he offered so much more to those who knew him, who worked with him, who listened to him, and who loved him. Madam Speaker, today we mourn the loss of Dennis Caprara. But because of Dennis, every day we realize that the Salad Bowl of life tastes so good, not just because of its products, but also because of its people.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the indispensable advocacy of a Central Coast organization that gives a voice to some of our most vulnerable community members. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Monterey County improves the lives of children in the foster care system by pairing them with trained volunteers from the community who advocate for them and stand by their side as stable adults they can count on as they go through the chaos of the foster care system. CASA and its devoted staff and team of volunteers are guided by the needs of children in need of someone to stand by them and ensure they are not alone as they face instability, fear, and unfamiliar surroundings. Since 1994, the organization has continued to be the only local nonprofit of its kind that recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers to serve as court appointed advocates for abused and neglected foster children throughout Monterey County. CASA of Monterey County exists so that abused and neglected children in protective care have the chance to become successful adults. Monterey County is home to over 400 children and youth in foster care. But thanks to the devoted advocates and the CASA team, these children have a voice as they navigate a tumultuous system. CASA provides these children the compassion, clarity, and care they so desperately need. And it is because of CASA that these children and youth have the tools they need to go on to successful adulthoods. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize this treasured community organization that has protected and advocated for countless foster children and youth. I thank all of those who have given their time and resources to help these children feel safe and succeed. I extend my gratitude to CASA Monterey's Board of Directors, Board Chair Jennifer Rosenthal, Executive Director Beth Wilbur, and its devoted network of advocates.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest gratitude to U.S. Army Officer Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Anthony Heisler of U.S. Special Operations Command Legislative Affairs office (SOLA). He is truly a great American and has been a tremendous help to Congress in developing increased transparency and understanding into what Special Operations Forces brings to the fight regarding the National Defense Strategy. LTC Heisler earned his commission through Georgetown University Army ROTC as a Field Artillery Officer in 2004 and was assigned 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) from 2005 to 2007 before he volunteered to attend Special Forces Assessment and Selection. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2009, LTC Heisler was assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Germany, where he served as a Special Forces detachment commander, headquarters and support company commander, and the Aide-de- Camp to the Commanding General of Special Operations Command-Europe. He was later assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado, where served as a Special Forces company commander, battalion executive officer, and Group operations officer. He has been serving at SOLA since May 2018. LTC Heisler's operational deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom (2005 to 2006), Operation Enduring Freedom (2009, 2010), Operation Juniper Shield (Niger, 2015), and Operation Atlantic Resolve (Germany, 2017). LTC Heisler has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and others. U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) develops and employs fully capable Special Operations Forces to conduct global special operations and activities as part of the joint force to support persistent, networked and distributed combatant command operations and campaigns against state and non-state actors to protect and advance U.S. policies and objectives. SOCOM trains, organizes and equips U.S. Special Operations Forces and provide those forces to the geographic combatant commanders on the Global Campaign Plan for Countering Violent Extremist Organizations, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction and Web-Based Military Information Support Operations. While in the job at SOLA, LTC Heisler guided a Congressional Delegation to West Africa. His personal knowledge and experiences were priceless in making the visits to Niger, Nigeria and Mali a tremendous success in August 2019. We are very grateful for him escorting us around the continent. He departs the SOLA office this spring after three years working with Congress and takes command of 3rd Battalion, 10th SFG. We wish Anthony and his family safe travels as they move to Colorado Springs, CO. There is a high likelihood that Congress will see LTC Heisler again as he progresses through the Army ranks. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our gratitude to LTC Heisler for his service to our country and the House of Representatives.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the indispensable advocacy of a Central Coast organization that gives a voice to some of our most vulnerable community members. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of San Benito County improves the lives of children in the foster care system by pairing them with trained volunteers from the community who advocate for them and stand by their side as stable adults they can count on as they go through the chaos of the foster care system. CASA and its devoted staff and team of volunteers are guided by the needs of children in need of someone to stand by them and ensure they are not alone as they face instability, fear, and unfamiliar surroundings. Since 1994, the organization has continued to be the only local nonprofit of its kind that recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers to serve as court appointed advocates for abused and neglected foster children throughout San Benito County. CASA of San Benito County exists so that abused and neglected children in protective care have the chance to become successful adults. Thanks to the devoted advocates and the San Benito CASA team, these children have a voice as they navigate a tumultuous system. CASA provides these children the compassion, clarity, and care they so desperately need. And it is because of CASA that these children and youth have the tools they need to go on to successful adulthoods. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize this treasured community organization that has protected and advocated for countless foster children and youth. I thank all of those who have given their time and resources to help these children feel safe and succeed. I extend my gratitude to CASA San Benito's Board of Directors, Board Director Robert Marden, Executive Director Esther Curtice, and its devoted network of advocates.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of teacher, activist, and social justice advocate, Joyce Ryder Vandevere, who recently passed away at the age of 94 on February 17, 2021. Joyce's parents met while students at UC Berkley and instilled Joyce with the value of education and a firm sense that she could accomplish anything she set her mind to. Joyce graduated from Pomona College in 1948 and earned a master's degree in Psychology and Child Development from Stanford in 1950. Upon receiving her degrees, Joyce became director of a preschool in San Francisco where she would be introduced to prominent progressive leaders, including labor leader Harry Bridges. It was during this period that Joyce developed a commitment to social justice and equality. In 1956, with her husband Judson Vandevere, Joyce moved to Monterey, where she would reside for the rest of her life and dedicate her time to social service and political activism on the central coast of California. During the Vietnam War, Joyce worked to provide soldiers at Ft. Ord with counseling and other services that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Additionally, she was an advocate for prison reform and worked with Friends Outside to support the families of incarcerated individuals. Joyce returned to her teaching career in the 1960s as a volunteer teacher with Head Start in Seaside, California. In 1971, she co-founded the Learning Community, an open classroom, alternative program at Seaside's Del Rey Woods School, and would continue to teach until 1988. Further, Joyce was a co-founder of the local chapter of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the Peace Coalition of Monterey County, and the Monterey Peace and Justice Center. She remained active in all these organizations until her death. Joyce even learned to code and designed relational databases while in her 70s to produce a weekly Peace calendar. Joyce's life is celebrated by her children, Keith and Gwyn, her three great-grandchildren, and her numerous nieces and nephews. Joyce's meaningful legacy of service and advocacy will always endure with the people living on the central coast of California.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the indispensable advocacy of a Central Coast organization that gives a voice to some of our most vulnerable community members. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Cruz County improves the lives of children in the foster care system by pairing them with trained volunteers from the community who advocate for them and stand by their side as stable adults they can count on as they go through the chaos of the foster care system. CASA and its devoted staff and team of volunteers are guided by the needs of children in need of someone to stand by them and ensure they are not alone as they face instability, fear, and unfamiliar surroundings. Since 1994, the organization has continued to be the only local nonprofit of its kind that recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers to serve as court appointed advocates for abused and neglected foster children throughout Santa Cruz County. CASA of Santa Cruz County exists so that abused and neglected children in protective care have the chance to become successful adults. Thanks to the devoted advocates and the Santa Cruz CASA team, these children have a voice as they navigate a tumultuous system. CASA provides these children the compassion, clarity, and care they so desperately need. And it is because of CASA that these children and youth have the tools they need to go on to successful adulthoods. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize this treasured community organization that has protected and advocated for countless foster children and youth. I thank all of those who have given their time and resources to help these children feel safe and succeed. I extend my gratitude to CASA Santa Cruz's Board of Directors, Board President Andrea Willy, Executive Director Lynne Petrovic, and its devoted network of advocates.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, as Representatives in Congress for this Nation, it is all of our jobs to ensure that the programs for those tools and that food are here not just for today but tomorrow. We can live up to that responsibility by supporting H.R. 1868.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 1868 to prevent these harmful budget cuts to vital agricultural programs that are relied on by farmers, farmworkers, and food-insecure families in all of our districts. If we don't pass this bill today, $29 billion in agricultural funding would be subject to these sequester cuts. Those types of cuts would zero out funding for such crucial agricultural programs like EQIP, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. In my district on the mid-central coast of California, many farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners rely on those types of helpful programs not just to survive, Mr. Speaker, but to succeed. They use those programs to harvest their products and to be part of the climate solution. The producers in my district understand and appreciate the old adage called usufruct, which basically says the land they use now must be kept fresh and fertile, not just for them, but for future generations. It is these programs that contribute to their current product and, yes, that type of forward thinking. Sequester cuts would also prevent the Federal Government from purchasing and donating food to food banks through section 32 purchases. After the year we had, in which food banks contributed so much to the food security of so many of my constituents, we should be doing everything we can to protect and bolster our food programs. We should also be doing everything we can to protect the production of food, but sequestration cuts would compromise many parts of the farm bill, like the specialty crop block grants or the agricultural research extension programs at public universities. As the co-chair of the Congressional Agriculture Research Caucus, I know that these types of ag research programs help our farmers meet the challenges of 2021 and will allow them to prepare for challenges of the 21st century. Mr. Speaker, as the Representative from the salad bowl of the world, it is my job to ensure that my farmers, farmworkers, and food-insecure families have all the tools that they need to live and lead healthy and productive lives.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act would simply protect our existing farmworkers and perpetuate an enduring farm workforce. It would do that by modernizing and streamlining our H-2A visa system and by allowing those who are willing to come here to stay here if they continue to work here in agriculture. Now, this bill is a bipartisan bill. It is the right bill because it was a negotiated bill. No, it is not the perfect bill, but it is the necessary bill that was formulated after months and months of difficult talks between Democrats and Republicans and farmers and farmworkers. Now, during those discussions, unlike what we are hearing today, we put negative politics aside and we focused on the positive policies for the people who are part of the solution to the number one problem for our farmers. We don't have a domestic workforce willing to do ag labor, so farmers are reliant on immigrants to harvest their products. That is why, if we pass this bill today and the Senate does its job tomorrow, farmers will have a predictable and dependable workforce, farmworkers will get the legality and the dignity that they deserve, and we in Congress will have done our job for our agriculture and for our Nation that both rely on immigrants for our future.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago this week we left Congress early because of COVID-19. Since then our entire way of life has been upended with the worst pandemic in a century, where at times we weren't taming this COVID tiger, we were just riding it. Yet, despite that rough ride, we did our job in Congress with five massive relief bills that kept the economy afloat, the poverty rate flat, and put us in the position where right now we are neck and neck in this race between injections and infections. Yet my colleagues on the other side want to slow us down by voting ``no,'' claiming process or price or pork or politics. Well, I support the American Rescue Plan, not just because we need to speed up our response but because this bill is about people; their health, their vaccines, their jobs, their businesses, their local governments, and getting our kids back to school safely. So let's do our job. Let's defeat this disease. Let's win this race by voting ``yes'' on the American Rescue Plan.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, what I am about to show you are the examples of the cycle of destruction from the climate crisis in my home district on the central coast of California. Last year, my district was victim to a brutal wildfire season in which almost 650,000 acres were burned. What was left behind in many of those areas is called a burn scar, ground that has crusted and is hard for water to penetrate. As a result, when it rains, it leads to floods, mudslides, and devastation, including this damage to Highway 1 in Big Sur, in which water and debris flowed down the hills, blocked the culverts, then flowed up over Highway 1, and took out the road from that side. Now, we know we have a lot of work to do when it comes to reducing our carbon output. In the meantime, we can stop this type of damage with reforestation of burn scar areas. That is why I will reintroduce the REPLANT Act, to fund those types of projects, and I plan to work on bipartisan legislation to help manage forests to prevent fires and not just suppress them. It is that type of reasonable and practical legislation that is the foundation for how we in Congress can protect our communities and prevent the effects of the climate crisis.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, after one long year of this pandemic, many of my constituents are anxious. And, yeah, they are angry. Their health has been harmed, their businesses have been shut down, and they are absolutely frustrated waiting for their vaccines. They are not happy with our ex-President's response, and they are not pleased with the local response. That is why now, more than ever, we in Congress need to continue our response to COVID-19. Madam Speaker, in the past year, we passed five bipartisan bills that kept the economy afloat and the poverty rate flat. That is why on this night with this pandemic raging this year we must support this rule, which will put shots in arms, checks in pockets, kids in schools, food on tables, strike teams in nursing homes, keep police and firefighters on our street, keep pensions secure, and provide vaccines for essential workers, including my farmworkers on the Central Coast of California, so that they can do their job for their families and for our food security. Madam Speaker, let's do our job tonight for our constituents and for this country and pass the American Rescue Act.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of the University of California, Santa Cruz African American Theater Arts Troupe (AATAT) to enrich student life at UC Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz community by providing a space for expression and empowerment. This year, AATAT is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Since its founding in 1991, AATAT has been a steward for theater arts by fostering performing arts, providing a space for community and expression, and furthering cultural enrichment. The creation of this organization at UC Santa Cruz was not without challenges. AATAT began without a budget, dedicated space, or theater amenities. With the guidance and tireless work of founding instructor Donald Williams, AATAT was able to grow over the years into a full theater production troupe that performs, inspires, and uplifts thousands of people each year. The artistic and generous spirit of AATAT goes beyond the stage. AATAT strives for inclusivity by making their performances free and accessible to all UC Santa Cruz students. The group's sense of duty has led them to work with high school students across California, tutoring an average of 2000 students each year. In the spirit of uplifting others, AATAT has been able to provide over $100,000 in scholarships through the years. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize the history, dedication, and contributions of the UC Santa Cruz African American Theater Arts Troupe. I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing the UC Santa Cruz African American Theater Arts Troupe as an exceptional group of community and artistic leaders on the central coast of California.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sharon Esther Papo, a community activist in the Santa Cruz County community on the central coast of California, for over fifteen years of work standing for justice and lived equality for the LGBTQ+ community. It is my honor to recognize her as she leaves her role as Executive Director of the Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County to spend more time with her family. Her leadership over the past eight years has allowed the organization to excel through funding, policy, and COVID-19 pandemic challenges. Sharon's activism and professional career have followed her educational journey, where she earned a B.A. in Feminist Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master's Degree in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley, and soon became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Sharon has worked with the LGBTQ+ community for more than 15 years, beginning with her time as Program Coordinator for the STRANGE youth program at the Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center. During her time as Executive Director, Sharon has led the Diversity Center to put a more specific focus on the needs of the most vulnerable segments of our the LGBTQ+ population on the Central Coast, including youth, seniors, queer people of color, and people who identify as transgender or gender neutral. Sharon has also collaborated with key local health organizations to train hundreds of clinicians and frontline medical staff in providing culturally appropriate services to the LGBTQ+ community. Sharon's strong strategic partnerships with social service organizations in our community have ensured a visible queer presence and access to necessary services throughout Santa Cruz County. She has led the Diversity Center to steady financial footing, tripling its financial support from community members, governmental agencies, and foundations, allowing for an expanded offering of services for the LGBTQ+ community on the Central Coast in a permanent setting. Sharon's positive attitude, graciousness, and dedication have served her well as she represented the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ people in her work with community leaders. She has been a thoughtful and strong advocate for creating anti-racist awareness and action as a primary element of the Diversity Center's mission in its community. Madam Speaker, the people of the Central Coast are proud of Sharon Papo and her tireless work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating her dedication and wishing her the best wherever the future may take her.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Presiding Judge Steven R. Sanders for his legal career spanning 37 years as well as his nearly 34 years in public service. His professional accomplishments and leadership in the community of San Benito County have greatly improved the lives of those living on the central coast of California, and I congratulate him on his retirement. Judge Sanders is a Salinas native and has always felt he had an affinity for advocacy. This affinity would motivate Judge Sanders to put himself through college, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications at the University of California, Davis. After graduation, he attended the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law while working as a clerk at a Sacramento law firm. Judge Sanders said that the law was a natural direction for him to take. Upon returning to the Central Coast, Judge Sanders became a member of the San Benito County Counsel from 1987 to 2000, including six months as County Administrative Officer. He later became a Superior Court Judge from 2001 to 2021, which included 10 years as Presiding Judge. During his 20 years on the bench, Judge Sanders integrated a consolidated jury trial schedule to improve efficiency, founded a drug calendar for DEJP and Prop 36, created a library literacy program for the children of felony probationers to reduce recidivism, served as the Juvenile Dependency Court Judge for 14 years, and was a Professor of Law at Monterey College of Law for over 10 years where he taught Civil Procedure. Further, he established in-chambers discussion to manage increasing caseload, designed vertically integrated calendars, and formed collaborative courts including Drug Court, Behavioral Health Court, and Parental Responsibility and Truancy Court. In addition, Judge Sanders presided over the approval and construction of a new courthouse and the Veteran's Diversion and Mental Health Diversion calendars. Judge Sanders recently stated, ``I am proud of the fact that the Superior Court has continued to increase the public's access to justice, while maintaining the highest standards of fairness and impartiality to all. I am honored to have served all the people of San Benito County.'' We, on the Central Coast, are grateful for Judge Sanders' dedication to justice and his service to San Benito County. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring and congratulating Presiding Judge Steven R. Sanders on his retirement.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, a week ago was the culmination of carnage caused to our country by this President. Four years ago, he said he would stop such devastation. Instead, the President has continued to debase our democracy with assaults on our elections and incitement at the Ellipse and the battery at our Capitol. American exceptionalism is not guaranteed; we must always work to grow it. That includes our work today to hold President Trump accountable. American carnage started with this President. A vote for impeachment will stop it for our posterity.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, on January 7 at 4 a.m., I was right outside those doors where, 14 hours earlier, a rioter was shot as she violently tried to enter this Chamber. It was in that early morning and at that location that I had a brief conversation with Vice President Mike Pence right after we finished certifying the electoral college. I was proud that we did our job that morning despite the violence we experienced earlier that day, but I knew that was not enough because of the seditious actions by President Trump before that riot and his inaction during that riot. So I said to the Vice President, ``It's up to you to keep us safe.'' Tonight, with the President still in office, I am beyond asking; I am legislating to compel the Vice President to convene the Cabinet, to conclude that the President is not just unable but, clearly, he is unwilling and unworthy to discharge his duties. So, through this legislation, I ask my colleagues to call on the Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment, yes, to keep us safe and keep this Nation secure.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the COVID temporary relief package in this rule. We did it before. We must do it again. Our past COVID legislation kept the economy afloat and our poverty rate flat. However, as Democrats passed more bills, the Senate and the President put a pause on those efforts. Now, the pandemic is raging, hospitals are bursting, and our economy is hurting. That is why we must play our part with Federal funding to combat this disease and carry on through the locally mandated shutdowns. This relief package will allow us to avoid calamity and aid our recovery by providing small businesses with PPP, laid-off employees with unemployment insurance, families with checks, farmworkers with PPE, renters with direct relief, and the ailing with the HOSPICE Act. To help State and local governments, there is funding for broadband, food, healthcare, education, and transportation. Look, this package should have been bigger. It should have been done quicker. It is not entirely what we want. But it is what we need to be that bridge to a vaccine-fueled revival in 2021. If we do that, we will further the faith in what we do here in Congress for the future of our democracy.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of floriculturist and philanthropist, Andy Matsui, who recently passed away at the age of 85. After being born and raised in a family of farmers in Japan, Andy got an educational visa to go to California and study agriculture. He liked it so much that he bought some land and established a nursery in the Salinas Valley, in my district. Andy produced orchids and pioneered the sale of potted orchids in stores. Today, the Matsui Nursery has one of the greatest selections of orchids in the entire world. But Andy didn't just grow flowers; he grew the future for many. Andy said that education is the only way to change things in this world. That is why he and his wife established the Matsui Foundation to provide scholarships to countless students. Andy believed in our home by encouraging those students to not just study, but to stay and give back to the central coast of California. Our prayers are with his family. May Andy Matsui rest in peace with the satisfaction that he left us with magnificent beauty from his orchids and magnanimous bounty for our community.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the decades of service of my good friend, Scott Horsfall. Scott is retiring this month after decades of serving our agricultural community on the central coast of California. Scott's career has been spent serving farmers and farmworkers through his work at California Grown, at the California Kiwifruit Commission, at the California Table Grape Commission, and where I got to know him, at the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, where he was the first CEO. With Scott at the helm for over the past 13 years, leafy green producers in California have operated under one set of science-based food safety standards. Over 6,200 government audits have been conducted, and more than 7 billion servings of lettuce and leafy greens have been grown and enjoyed by American consumers. But it is not just about his accolades and accomplishments. It is about the relationships he has fostered and the work he has done to build strong relationships on the central coast and throughout our country. Mr. Speaker, I thank Scott for his work, his commitment, his dedication for our food safety, for our agriculture, and for our Nation's food security.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our colleague and my good friend, chairman of the Agricultural Committee, Collin Peterson. Mr. Speaker, Chairman Peterson has served 30 years as a Member of Congress; so long that there was another Congressman Panetta serving in this body when Collin was elected back in 1990. Fortunately, over that long time came experience and wisdom that Chairman Peterson was more than happy to use and share to help other Members of Congress, to serve his constituents in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District, and to further our Nation's agriculture. One thing that I have learned and one thing that Chairman Peterson will always tell us is that more needs to be done for our agriculture. Mr. Speaker, now, I first met Chairman Peterson as a freshman Member on the Agriculture Committee. I will never forget how he gathered the freshmen Democrats, who were all excited not just to be a part of Congress, but having the opportunity to formulate the upcoming farm bill. But in his, let's just say, charming way, Collin quickly cooled that enthusiasm when he warned us about the potential for issues on the nutrition title--the largest section of that bill--in which he said it could prevent us from getting a bill. In fact, in his straightforward way, he actually said, ``If they screw with SNAP, we are not getting a farm bill.'' I have to say, as the 115th went on, and with the positive hearings we had on SNAP, I was incredulous as to that warning that Chairman Peterson had. But that ominous warning turned into an accurate prediction, because 2 weeks before the farm bill was dropped, we were notified of the majority's desire to add stringent restrictions on how one acquires SNAP benefits. Mr. Speaker, but what I experienced after that was something I will never forget. The way Chairman Peterson not only stood firm in his beliefs about the importance of the benefits to low-income families and that the fraud and error rate in those programs is among the lowest in government, and using the passion of Congressman David Scott, Chairman Peterson got us all to stand together in opposition. He then worked together with chairman and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee to push together, push forward, put together and pass a bipartisan 2018 farm bill. Mr. Speaker, it is not surprising that Chairman Peterson was able to do so, because during his time, he worked on five farm bills, a bill that has 12 titles and is complex and nuanced. So to lead the Agriculture Committee, to lead Congress, and to unify our members on something so diverse, it takes leadership, it takes knowledge of the farm policy, but also an understanding and appreciation of how the farm bill protects our food security and the people affected by our foreign policy. It is also a bill that demonstrates what Chairman Peterson stands for and what Chairman Peterson made the Agriculture Committee stand for--a platform to support farmers, ranchers, and families in America. From the row crops and dairy producers in his rural district to the speciality crop and organic farmers and farm workers in my district, to the families in every district who rely on food assistance programs, Chairman Peterson made sure that all of us in Congress have a seat at the Agriculture Committee. I believe that is a big part of why the Agriculture Committee stands out for its bipartisanship and its commonsense approach in protecting food security and promoting people in agriculture. Mr. Speaker, see, based on who he is and where he comes from, Chairman Peterson understands the incredible contributions that rural Americans have on our way of life. We do have the best farmers and farm workers in the world. Rural Americans supply most of our food, our water, and our energy. They are the reason for our food security and our economic diversity. We don't have to pay that much for food. Therefore, we can spend on other things in our lives and create a diverse economy. Mr. Speaker, rural Americans understand that every American's obligation is to give back to this country and community that has given us so much. Maybe that is why 30 percent of rural America makes up 30 percent of our Armed Forces. But what Chairman Peterson warns is that, even with all that good work in rural America, they feel underappreciated and they feel overwhelmed. Chairman Peterson sees that firsthand with the widening divide between rural America and urban America, a divide that has led to the depletion of jobs, of small businesses, of people, and even communities, which ultimately leads to a growing sense of desperation. Don't get me wrong, people in agriculture are used to dealing with the challenges. I call them the four Ms. They deal with Mother Nature. They deal with the markets. They deal with the mandates. They deal with the migration and the lack of labor. But they are always pivoting to get over those hurdles. It is that risk-taking attitude that allows them not just to survive, but to succeed. Mr. Speaker, nowadays, there are other forces in play in rural America, with large corporate firms squeezing out the family-owned farms, with chain stores pricing out mom-and-pop stores, with the lack of rural broadband, and the lack of healthcare options and the shrinking number of rural hospitals. It is no wonder why in many parts of rural America there is a sense of desperation leading to a ridiculously high rate of suicides and leaving a vacuum that can be filled with a vilification of certain races, certain places, and certain political parties. Unfortunately, this has led not just to that type of vilification, but also to the lack of faith and how our Congress and government can help them. Mr. Speaker, it is time to do what Chairman Peterson has always said we should do. It is time for us to do more for those who aren't from rural districts to work on focusing and connecting with rural districts by showing up, by shutting up, by listening up, and for us to put up a strategy that is not just about doling out billions of dollars to farmers, but actually partnering with them so they have sustainable business and a sustainable way of life. Mr. Speaker, if we do that, we will uphold what Chairman Peterson has always asked us to do, and that is to work for the people and agriculture, and we can do that and provide faith to people in rural America and all of America.