Jimmy Panetta

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a lifelong LULAC member and community activist of the Central Coast community, Crecencio Cruz Padilla. Born in Mexico City, Mr. Padilla arrived in Monterey County in 1953 and worked as a farmworker for Driscoll's Berries. During the 1960's, Castroville's Head Start Program hired Mr. Padilla as a Community Liaison where he had an opportunity to work with farmworker families. Education was very important to Mr. Padilla, and he decided to take part-time classes at Hartnell College focusing on criminal law. That experience led him to advocate for community members accused of committing crimes. Mr. Padilla went on to become an investigator at the Monterey County Public Defender's Office in 1974 where he worked until his retirement in 1997. Mr. Padilla was also a pioneering civil-rights activist in Monterey County. In 1972, he founded the North Monterey County Chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, a civil rights advocacy organization. Mr. Padilla, alongside Cesar Chavez, was also a strong supporter of the United Farm Workers in their fight for unionization. Mr. Padilla spent his life fighting to help those in the community of little means. In one account, Mr. Padilla demanded that the city of Salinas form a police review board after a string of officer involved incidents. Mr. Padilla also helped community members in generous ways that did not make headlines. He defended a countless number of people and was known to take in families he found without shelter at the courthouse. In 2012, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the La Raza Lawyers Association, and the Alisal Betterment Association dedicated a Lady Justice statue at the National Steinbeck Center in honor of Mr. Padilla's work. Mr. Padilla's legacy as a passionate advocate for his community will stand the test of time. Crecencio Padilla's legacy is defined by his dedication to his family as well. His children remember him as ``an amazing father and husband,'' who gave love and support to all his family. He was a role model for his family and the Central Coast community. His legacy will live on in the memories of those of us who had the honor to know him. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in honoring Crecencio Padilla.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, for 40 years, Congress has funded the bipartisan Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. For close to 42 million Americans, SNAP provides food security and the freedom to choose what you want to eat, from fresh fruits and vegetables to milk and meat, to sandwich bread and even ice cream sandwiches. But last week, the Trump administration released a budget proposal that would gut this critical lifeline by a third and completely change what food they get and how they get it. Instead of being able to go to the store and select fresh food at the supermarket, the corner market, the rural market, or even the farmer's market, half the benefits would now come in a periodic delivery of a cardboard box filled with cheap peanut butter, canned goods, uncooked pasta, dry cereal, and something called shelf-stable milk. I get that we want to get people who can work to work, but on the central coast of California, 63,000 people rely on over $127 million worth of SNAP benefits to meet their own family's needs. Those same benefits provide local businesses with over $227 million in economic activity. That is why the administration's proposal to change SNAP won't work for the families and the store owners that I represent, and it will not work for many of the Americans that you represent.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a couple of Olympic athletes from my district on the central coast of California. Brita Sigourney and Nick Cunningham will be representing Team USA at the Olympics in South Korea. Brita attended the same schools I went to, Carmel High and UC Davis. She is a freestyle skier, and she is the first woman to land a 1080 in competition at the halfpipe run, and she is one of the top female freestyle skiers in the world. Nick is a bobsledder. He also went to one of the schools I went to: Monterey Peninsula College. He is a sergeant in the Army National Guard and a member of the Army's World Class Athlete Program. Starting this Friday, Brita and Nick will compete on the world stage under the stars and stripes of our flag. As we know, the Olympics is an event where many different people from different places come together and compete with one another for the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, and in doing so, they provide their opponents with dignity and respect. Hopefully we here in Washington will not only watch the Olympics, but we will learn from Olympians like Brita and Nick, because it is our hometown athletes who not only understand what it takes to win, they know what it takes to represent the best team at the Olympics and the best country in the world.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember Darby Worth, an activist, a community member of my hometown, and most importantly, she was one of the teachers at my elementary school. Mrs. Worth, as I knew her, worked 20 years at Tularcitos Elementary School, the school where I went and my daughters go today. Now, I didn't know that at the time, but many years ago before she was a teacher, she was well versed in environmental and social activism. By the time she did take up teaching, she had already traveled to San Francisco many times to protest the Vietnam war. Well after she retired from Tularcitos, Darby was unrelenting in her commitment to social justice, women's rights, challenging corporate power, and, yes, fighting climate change. She had many movements that she was behind, and it is understandable considering that she felt strongly that everything is interconnected. That is why, at 90, she was already planning and fighting the county to be buried in her front yard. Madam Speaker, I am not sure if she was laid to rest in that location, but I do know that Mrs. Worth will always be remembered not for just being a teacher to children, but because of her interconnectivity to all of us. She was somebody that we all learned from.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Gerald Brown on his retirement after forty-four years of distinguished service to his country and community as a Professor of Operations Research at the Naval Postgraduate School, located in my district on the central coast of California. Throughout his long and distinguished career, Dr. Brown has demonstrated deep commitment to our nation and its values. After receiving his M.B.A. in Quantitative Methods from California State University, Fullerton in 1969, he went on to complete a Ph.D. in Mathematical Methods at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1974. While working on his doctorate, he concurrently completed Naval Officer Candidate School, graduating with the rank of Ensign in 1973. After his education and training, Dr. Brown began to work as an Assistant Professor of Operations Research at the Naval Postgraduate School. He has committed his entire teaching career to training the next generation of our nation's naval officers at the Naval Postgraduate School, earning countless awards and accolades that reflect his dedication. Over the past forty-four years, Dr. Brown has taught the principles of operations research and computer science to thousands of officers from the U.S. military and allied nations. Former students include astronauts, Admirals, and even former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen. The accolades earned by Dr. Brown include the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, the highest honor that the Secretary of the Navy can bestow upon a civilian who demonstrates extraordinary service in their post. Dr. Brown also has three patents under his name owned by the federal government, and was the first professor from the Naval Postgraduate School to be accepted into the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Gerald Brown's devotion to his work and impressive accomplishments will be remembered by all who have worked with him at the Naval Postgraduate School, and the work of his students will serve as an enduring legacy. I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating Dr. Brown's body of work, and congratulating him on a well-earned retirement.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call upon my colleagues to set up and extend funding for community health clinics. Community health centers are a vital resource for millions of Americans, providing more coverage at a lower cost. These healthcare providers serve our underserved communities. In rural districts like mine on the central coast of California, they are sometimes the only healthcare provider close enough for patients to receive immediate or long-term care. They provide prenatal care, annual checkups, and lifesaving screenings. In my district, there are nine federally funded health centers serving approximately 190,000 patients from Santa Cruz to Seaside and from the Salinas Valley to San Benito County. They have dedicated staff that serve the unique and multilingual and multicultural needs of the patients in my district. Without proper funding, these vital community health centers may be forced to reduce their hours of operation, lay off staff, or even close their doors. We must support our community health centers not just on the central coast of California, but across this Nation. These clinics, their patients, and the people we serve deserve our support. I ask Congress to support our community health clinics.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak against this administration's choice to end the temporary protective status designation for El Salvador. Because of this disheartening and potentially dangerous decision, 200,000 people who have been legally living and working in the United States will be forced to go back to a country they don't know, a country that still hasn't fully recovered from the devastating earthquakes but is in the grips of widespread gang violence with one of the world's highest murder rates. These families have chosen to stay here. In my district, the TPS recipients from El Salvador have become ingrained and embedded in our communities. They are longtime loyal employees; they have started families; they have started businesses; and yes, they pay taxes. If they are removed, our country would lose over $100 billion over the next decade, billions would be lost from Social Security and Medicare contributions, and employers would experience hundreds of millions in turnover costs. Congress should right this wrong and pass the American Promise Act so that these TPS recipients can continue to work and live in our communities and contribute to our country.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, last week, the Trump administration announced a proposal to open our Nation's Federal waters to potential oil and gas exploration. Immediately, leaders and lawmakers from the West Coast to the East Coast, and Republicans and Democrats from the leftwing to the rightwing came out against such a proposal for offshore oil drilling. Being from the central coast of California, I know how important our oceans and our coastlines are for our economy, our businesses, our communities, and our families. That is why we have long fought to protect our coast from drilling with zoning laws and limiting onshore oil infrastructure to the designation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and legislation to protect our oceans and coasts. I believe that, in Congress, we will work to uphold those laws and legacy of protection and preservation, but the Trump administration needs to hear from you. So I ask my constituents and all Americans to share why they also oppose this proposal for oil drilling off our coast. Participate in the public comment period that is now open until March 9, for it is your opportunity to speak directly to the administration, to stand up for your community, and to protect our environment and our future.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, in California, wildfires have become a year-round threat. Because of these fires, communities across our great State have suffered devastating loss of life and property. Last year, in my district on the central coast of California, we had the most expensive fire in United States history, the Soberanes fire. This year, we have had some of the deadliest and costliest fires in California history in Napa and Sonoma. This week, we watch fires burn in the hills from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara to Oakland and Big Sur. Governor Jerry Brown calls this ``the new normal.'' We should call it unacceptable, and we must do something. We must fully fund the cost of fire suppression. We must include California fire relief in this year's disaster package. We must think outside the box when it comes to fire prevention and focus our efforts to better manage our forests in the future.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Farm Bureaus of Monterey County and Santa Cruz County. This year, those farm bureaus will mark 100 years of serving our agriculture communities across the central coast of California. We know that those in agriculture are consistently evolving as they constantly contend with Mother Nature, mandates, immigration, and the ever- changing market. Fortunately, the local farm bureaus' leadership and consultation has always been there to help our over 600 farmers stay competitive and keep our communities strong. The farm bureaus are an essential ingredient as to why our number one industry on the central coast is agriculture and why my home can claim the title of being the berry bowl and salad bowl of the world. I thank and recognize the Santa Cruz County and Monterey County Farm Bureaus for their past, present, and future work for our agriculture industry and for our communities that feed our families throughout our Nation and the world.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Lance Linares on the occasion of his retirement as CEO of the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County after twenty-two years in the position. Lance's career began at KUSP, a Christian music broadcasting station in the area. Following his time at KUSP, Lance found his home at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County. The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County helps non-profit agencies establish the funds they need in order to serve their communities. Under his leadership, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County's work has supported the arts, education, health, human services, environmental advocacy, and disaster relief. Under Lance's leadership, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County grew from $6 million in assets at the start of his tenure to over $100 million in assets. Lance's ability to connect charitable and community oriented organizations with funds is just one example of his successes. He maintains that his efforts would not have been possible without the Santa Cruz community's support and charitable character. Many local philanthropic organizations who benefit from this support, such as the Jack and Peggy Baskin Center for Philanthropy, Healthy Kids Initiative, and Second Harvest Food Bank stand as a testament to these efforts. Lance's support of impact investment also helps support small businesses which ultimately expand and foster economic growth in the community. As the representative for the 20th Congressional District of California, I am deeply grateful for Lance's commitment to serving our communities. I would like to personally congratulate Mr. Linares on his well- earned retirement and wish him the best with his future endeavors. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in congratulating Mr. Lance Linares for his twenty-two years of service to the community of Santa Cruz and for bettering the lives of numerous individuals through the projects he has supported during his tenure.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chief Gary Craft for his retirement from the Monterey County District Attorney's Office. Chief Craft began his career in 1976 as a reserve police officer for the Seaside Police Department. From there, he transferred to the Pacific Grove Police Department, where he spent the next four years as a uniformed patrol officer. In 1980, he took the knowledge that he gained from these two departments to the Monterey County Sheriff's Department, where he would spend the next fourteen years. During his tenure at the Sheriff's Office he served in various roles to protect the residents of Monterey County. Some of these roles included narcotics team member, special enforcement team member, and special unit and tactics team member. The Monterey County Sheriff's Office went on to name him ``Lawman of the Year.'' Chief Craft later received an executive certificate from the California Peace Officers Standards and Training. The executive certificate is the highest level of certification that is given by the State of California. In 1994, Chief Craft left the Monterey County Sheriff's Office and began the next phase of his career in public service. Chief Craft chose to bring his knowledge and experience to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office, where he would spend the next twenty-three years. During his tenure there, he held in many leaderships roles including ten years as chief DA investigator. During his time at the District Attorney's Office, Chief Craft received numerous accolades including Investigator of the Year. In 2016, Chief Craft attended and graduated from the FBI National Academy. The FBI National Academy is a prestigious law enforcement education program that provides training to the top 1 percent of law enforcement executives. Classes include, amongst other subjects, psychology of communication, topics in contemporary law, and physical training. The grueling courses demand a sharp intellect, strong interpersonal skills, and perseverance. Chief Craft is also the first sworn peace officer from the Monterey County District Attorney's office to attend the FBI Academy. Chief Craft's dedication to keeping the people of Monterey County safe deserves our highest commendation. His actions have demonstrated a deep commitment to public service and an eagerness to go the extra mile. As the Representative for the 20th Congressional District of California, I am deeply grateful for his service to our community. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in congratulating Chief Gary Craft and wishing him a happy retirement.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the Senate's version of the tax reform bill because this bill will hurt the central coast in California. By fully repealing the State and local tax deduction, 177,000 households in my district that deduct an average of $23,000 each year will be hurt. By repealing the student loan interest deduction, low- and middle- income students in my district will find college further out of reach and will be hurt. By allowing individual tax cuts to expire on people earning less than $75,000, over 140,000 households in my district will see their taxes go up and they will be hurt. Now, with confirmation that the tax cuts will not pay for themselves but will add over $1 trillion to our debt, this tax reform bill will be a tax burden bill not only for my constituents in my district, but for all of our constituents in our Nation. Worse, this bill will hurt not only my two daughters, but all of our sons and daughters. That is why I oppose the Senate bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday this House took a step to establish and maintain an environment where sexual harassment and discrimination is neither tolerated nor swept under the rug. When I got here a year ago, I was surprised that there was no antisexual harassment training that was mandated. In every professional position that I have held, there always was this type of training. In the Navy, as a law student, and as a prosecutor, antisexual harassment training was a given. So this month--before yesterday--I had an ethics attorney come into my office and conduct that type of training with my entire D.C. staff. I am proud to have done that. I am proud to be an original cosponsor, and I voted for the legislation yesterday which makes antisexual harassment training mandatory in all offices for all Members and their employees. Although this bill should have been passed a long time ago, it is a small step in the right direction in the large fight against sexual harassment, and I look forward to being a part of that fight.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker: ``Let us strive to bind up our Nation's wounds, to care for him who have borne the battle, his widow, and his orphan.'' Those words were declared by President Abraham Lincoln at his second inaugural address where he set out our Nation's obligation to our veterans. On the eve of Veterans Day, I rise to honor our heroes, the men and women who served our Nation, and remind us of our responsibility to those, our veterans. Now, in my district, on the central coast of California, nearly 30,000 veterans live in that area, an area imbued with military history, from the former Fort Ord to the many military installations that are on Active Duty now, to the men and women who have served in our community and kept the security of our country safe. It has been those servicemembers and their families who have not only served, but stayed in our community, who have fulfilled that obligation by serving those who served us. Now we have a healthcare clinic, the VA-DOD General Gurley health clinic; we have the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery; we have the Veterans Transition Center; and we have a Veterans Treatment Court. On this Veterans Day, we not only want to thank our veterans for their service, but we recommit ourselves to serving those who served us.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of an organization that displays the unique beauty of my district around the entire world. The Monterey County Film Commission has served my district on the central coast of California by inspiring, facilitating, and assisting in the production of media that highlights the pristine beauty, and unique culture of our community. This year, the Monterey County Film Commission celebrates its thirtieth anniversary. Since its inception, the Commission has helped attract and assist in the production of hundreds of movies, television shows, commercials, documentaries and still photography productions. Thanks to the work of the Commission, our community has benefited from over one hundred million dollars in direct financial impact in our local communities. The Commission serves as a liaison for movie producers, government entities and local businesses. It provides substantial information about our Monterey County, and straightforward guidelines for filming procedures that facilitate the development of successful media productions. The Commission also serves our community by highlighting highly desirable Monterey County locations through domestic and international tradeshows, sales trips and direct public advertising campaigns. Beyond this, the Commission also contributes to growing the next generation of young filmmakers, and is crucial in our communities' effort to create opportunity for creative-minded young people to find success pursuing their passion. I would also note that the Monterey Peninsula has been, and remains, home to many prominent actors including Clint Eastwood and Betty White. Clint Eastwood came to Carmel to film Play Misty for Me, and later become Mayor of Carmel. The Peninsula has hosted stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Barbara Stanwyck in Clash by Night. Over the years, the Central Coast of California has attracted over two hundred films, hundreds of television programs and countless magazine ads. Most recently, my district played home to the highly successful and critically acclaimed HBO series Big Little Lies, filmed on the Monterey Peninsula, largely in Monterey and Pacific Grove. The hard work of the staff and Board of Directors of the Monterey County Film Commission continues to provide our community and our country with great films and TV shows filmed in our beautiful district. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize the dedication and hard work the Monterey County Film Commission has given to the Central Coast and the entire State of California. I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing the Monterey County Film Commission as an integral part of our community.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Mr. Lipinski's kind words, but I think he and I know best that we had good teachers to help us understand what it takes to get things done here in the United States Congress, and, most importantly, that is the ability to work together. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here today with all of my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, who are on the Climate Solutions Caucus. As you have heard tonight, and as we know, the Climate Solutions Caucus is a bipartisan caucus that gives Democrats and Republicans the opportunity to sit down and to discuss ways not only to protect our environment, but to protect our homes, our Nation's economy, and our Nation's security. Yes, this caucus consists of people from separate political parties, but all of us are united in our belief that we must have this dialogue to defend our future. Being from the central coast of California, where we have over 120 miles of stunning coastline in my district, we understand the vulnerability that comes with rising sea levels, something that can impact our economy, our security, and, of course, our daily lives. The co-chairs of the Climate Solutions Caucus, Florida Representatives Carlos Curbelo and Ted Deutch, they understand and they appreciate that threat, for earlier this year Florida was pummeled by Hurricane Irma and the subsequent severe flooding, a storm that affected the lives of millions of Americans and cost billions in recovery and cleanup efforts. We have seen that at times of crisis like that, despite the damage and despite our differences, our government and even this Congress can come together and put back together those communities. That is our government during an emergency, and at times where there are storms, where there is damage, we are motivated to come together and govern. This year, my district saw this type of governing due to damage it suffered during the major winter storms earlier in 2017. Every county in my district saw devastation. One county in particular, Monterey County, suffered an extreme amount of damage--the town of Big Sur, along the coast of California, in particular. The northern route of Highway 1, going into Big Sur, suffered a knockout of a major bridge. The southern route had a major landslide, leaving that community isolated. But I can tell you, 2 weeks ago, I stood on the brand-new bridge that was built. And as I was standing there, to me, it was a story of the people of Big Sur, very resilient, always coming back from these types of situations. But it was also the story of government working, people and government coming together, getting things done to help people. Now, just prior to that, I had read a New York Times editorial, where the title of that editorial was, ``We Used to Build Things.'' And it was by David Brooks, and he talked about this big fire called the Big Burn, back in the early 1900s, that started in Washington and Oregon and spread throughout the upper West, all the way into Montana. And from that devastating fire arose something, and that was the U.S. Forest Service. When I read that article, it reminded me that, throughout the history of this Nation, we have always built things to help people. We have engineered infrastructure to energize our economy, and we have expanded agencies to embolden and to empower our communities and the people who live there. So now, after the storms on the West Coast, after the flooding in the Midwest, and after the hurricanes on the East Coast, it is our turn. It is time for this generation, our generation, to build things in a smart and resilient fashion, so that future generations are secure and safe in their homes and in their communities. And we need to start by focusing on and building infrastructure that is strong and stable to sustain the inevitable intense storms of the future. Now, we know, and what has been confirmed by the nonpartisan Federal Government Accountability Office, that extreme weather events are already costing U.S. taxpayers billions and billions of dollars each year. According to that GAO report, the Federal Government spent more than $350 billion over the last decade on losses to private property and disaster assistance programs from natural disasters. Now, that amount doesn't even include the massive price tag on the recovery effort from this year's hurricanes and fires that are expected to be amongst the costliest in our Nation's history. And we know that it is going to get worse as storms are more intense, and recovery efforts are going to cost more. So we need to recognize and we need to realize the need for smart rebuilding. Now, after the 2012 hurricane up in New York, Hurricane Sandy, there was a Rebuilding Task Force that was put together, and it recommended that Federal flood protection measures should entail that projects receiving Federal dollars, they should comply with elevation and flood- proofing measures to avoid rebuilding them after future storms. The report wanted to ensure that we do not need to pay multiple times to repair for flooding damages in flood-impacted areas. In 2015, the administration put forward the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. That was a standard that set out that federally financed infrastructure projects must be built to withstand future storms and flooding. That standard was meant to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and communities are protected. However, in August, this administration decided to roll back the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, a decision that was compounded by its poor timing, as it was announced 2 weeks before the hurricanes that ripped apart Houston, Florida, and Puerto Rico. So last month, Congressman Curbelo and I introduced the Federal Infrastructure Flood Resiliency Act, a bipartisan bill that ensures that Federal agencies complete implementation of a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard; such a standard that will not just benefit our coastal communities, it will help our government, and it will help our country, because we know that every dollar that is invested in flood mitigation efforts results in $4 in saved flood recovery costs. This is something that Republicans and Democrats understand. After Hurricane Harvey, the Governor of Texas, Mr. Abbott, stated: ``As we go through the build-out phase, and rebuilding Texas, part of our focus must be on rebuilding in a way that will prevent a disaster like this from happening again.'' Mr. Speaker, by investing in more resilient project designs, our communities will be able to recover quickly, and they will be protected against any future flooding. Taking these prudent steps will save taxpayer dollars and prevent future loss of life and property. It is a commonsense step that we can take toward responsible, bipartisanship governing; and it is this type of governing that needs to happen all the time. Now, when I stood on that bridge, and I was there celebrating the reopening of that bridge, the reopening to Big Sur, I also thought that this was government at its best, where the government came together, it responded, it reacted in record fashion, and it reconstructed a major bridge. So yes, it made me proud, but it also made me realize that we need to stop just governing by crisis. We need to start governing with leadership. We need to come together to get things done, not just in emergency situations, not just for natural disasters of today, but we need to start governing for tomorrow. The Climate Solutions Caucus understands and believes that we, in Congress, need to lead. We need to do that by coming together. We do that by talking about the effects of climate change. We do that with Flood Risk Management Standard legislation, and we don't necessarily do it for us. We do it for our children. That is leadership, and that is why I am proud to be on the Climate Solutions Caucus.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a lifelong member of the Central Coast community, World War II veteran and member of the Office of Strategic Services, John Cardinalli. Mr. Cardinalli grew up on the Monterey Peninsula speaking Italian to a family of commercial fishermen. Drafted into the Army in 1942, he began his service to the United States at the Presidio of Monterey where he completed Army basic training. He was qualified as a Morse code expert and was sent to the Signal Corps. At Fort Bragg, he responded to a call for volunteers who were proficient in Morse code and a second language. Mr. Cardinalli responded and would find himself swearing a 65-year oath of secrecy to the Office of Strategic Services. During his time in the OSS, he became proficient in collecting clandestine information about Axis forces. He was primarily stationed in the Netherlands, where he worked with members of the Dutch underground to ship weapons, ammunition and supplies to Allied forces. He volunteered to escort a Polish spy across the River Rhine in the cover of darkness, which was instrumental towards obtaining information about German defenses. He also participated in the Battle of the Bulge, the last German offensive on the Western Front in Belgium and Luxembourg. Mr. Cardinalli served in our intelligence community before the creation of the Central Intelligence Agency, paving the road for future intelligence analysts and operatives. After World War II, he returned to the Monterey Peninsula and was a sardine fisherman for 25 years. He raised a family along with his wife of 70 years, Josephine. In 2008, he was allowed to tell his story of service in the OSS. Mr. Cardinalli's service to the nation as a member of the OSS became fundamental towards the creation of the Central Intelligence Agency. Current and future analysts and officers within the CIA and our nation's seventeen intelligence communities have many individuals to look up to, and John Cardinalli is certainly one of them. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending John Cardinalli for his many years of service, devotion, and contributions to our nation.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the San Benito County League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) on the occasion of its thirty-year anniversary. For three decades, San Benito County LULAC has worked to advance civil and political rights and open economic opportunity to the Latino population of San Benito County. Founded in 1987, LULAC was the first organization whose primary objective was the advancement of civil and political rights for the Latino community. Since its founding, San Benito County's LULAC chapter has regularly mobilized its members to defend the rights of Latinos and to establish a forum for discussing community issues. They have made great progress in achieving these goals. At the core of LULAC's mission is the belief that education is the foundation for the growth and success of the Latino community. San Benito County LULAC sponsors numerous educational initiatives in support of its mission to advance the academic opportunities of the Latino community. One such initiative is the Young Adult Council. Since its formation in 1989, San Benito County LULAC's Young Adult Council has been instrumental in advancing the achievements of Latino students across the county by providing scholarships to over 175 students. The Young Adult Council works to provide the same support to its student members enrolled in universities and higher learning institutions throughout the state of California. Similarly, San Benito County LULAC's Young Readers Program works to promote reading comprehension skills within the Latino community. San Benito County LULAC's dedication to promoting educational success and opportunity helps make the American dream accessible to all. In addition to its educational initiatives, San Benito County LULAC also works to encourage civic engagement among the Latino community in the county. One example is their voter registration drive, which drives greater participation in local races and local politics. Encouraging political engagement also helps defend Latino voting rights. San Benito County LULAC provides the Latino community of San Benito County with a valuable platform to discuss their needs and concerns. For three decades, San Benito County LULAC has stood as a beacon for a large portion of the Latino community in my district. The organization's 30 years of work have been indispensable in making the American dream a reality for many people in my district. I would like to commend them for setting an example of community service in our district for 30 years. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in congratulating the San Benito County League of United Latin American Citizens for 30 years of excellence and service.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chase Kelsen for his attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 614 of the Boy Scouts of America on the central coast of California. At the age of just 16, Chase represents a personification of our nation and its values. He has demonstrated this through his service as First Sergeant with the Civil Air Patrol's Squadron 36 and his graduation from Non-Commissioned Officers School. These are difficult tasks and are a testament to Chase's fortitude and leadership capabilities. His sense of duty also goes beyond our nation's borders. He has spent considerable time teaching sustainable farming techniques and building orphanages abroad in places such as Mexico and Nicaragua. Chase's tireless work and dedication to go far beyond what is expected of an Eagle Scout Service Project, the task required to be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. His Eagle Project included building a crosstie and wash station for horses used in hippotherapy at the Pediatric Therapy Center in Aptos, California. During hippotherapy, the rider uses the movements of a horse as a type of physical therapy. With these new additions, the center will be better able to help children with disorders such as cerebral palsy develop greater posture, coordination, and a stronger sense of control over their bodies. The crosstie and washroom took over eight hundred and sixty-five hours to construct and cost over $20,000. Chase was able to acquire the cost of the project solely through donations, an impressive feat at any age. Facilities like these are deeply needed in the central coast of California and each improvement or addition to existing facilities serves to make our community that much stronger. Through his efforts, Chase has produced a positive, tangible impact on the place he calls home. It is young women and men like Chase that will become leaders in our communities. His commitment to serving others and his sense of duty to our country and the world is something that deserves the highest recognition and praise. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in congratulating Chase Kelsen.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, it is the 30th anniversary of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence is a crime that impacts every race, gender, class, and sex. In my home State, 33 percent of California women and 28 percent of California men will experience domestic violence. Nevertheless, since this month was recognized for the first time in 1987, much progress has been made. I began my professional career as a prosecutor back in 1996, and I can tell you, back then it was tough to get a jury to understand and even listen to the circumstances behind domestic violence, and it was tough to convince jurors that domestic violence is not a private issue that should be kept in the bedroom, but instead, it is a righteous issue that needed to be brought out in our courtrooms. Fortunately, there were police officers to make arrests, there were prosecutors to try the cases, and there were advocates to give the victims the confidence they need to come forward. So this month we recognize those who support domestic violence victims, we vow to hold abusers accountable, and we strive to create and to update legislation that not only protects, but emboldens victims of domestic violence so that they can embrace living their lives.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Driscoll's, a company based in California's 20th Congressional District as the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County's 2017 Food Donor of the Year. The company, made up of dedicated independent growers, has been donating their fresh berries to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Watsonville for over two decades. In 2016 alone, Driscoll's donated nearly one thousand tons of berries. Because of Driscoll's efforts, many food insecure families on the central coast of California now have access to the vitamin-rich and highly nutritious berries and can make them a part of a healthy diet. The Driscoll and Reiter families, the founders of Driscoll's, have been producing berries in the Pajaro Valley since 1904. Officially founded in 1950 as Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc., the company originally sold only fresh California strawberries. Their creation of the first patented strawberry variety in 1958 made Driscoll's the national berry of choice by extending the crop's growing season and allowing berries to be shipped long distances. Today, they have expanded their operations from just strawberries to include raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Driscoll's innovative work, along with the contributions from many other farmers and ranchers of the Central Coast, has contributed to my district's reputation as an agricultural powerhouse. Driscoll's has always been committed to giving back to the local communities that have given them so much. Through their Berry Donation Program, Driscoll's works to make sure families throughout their community have access to berries during local growing seasons. The company also supports a variety of food banks and related organizations such as the California Association of Food Banks and Ag Against Hunger. Driscoll's culture of philanthropy is not limited solely to their senior leadership, but extends to their employees who are closely involved in the company's efforts to support their communities. Together, Driscoll's and their employees have donated over 5 million pounds of berries to the Second Harvest Food Bank. As the representative of the 20th Congressional District, I commend Driscoll's for working to ensure that families on the Central Coast have access to the fresh and nutritious berries grown in their own backyard. We are lucky that they call the 20th Congressional District home. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues in the House join me in congratulating Driscoll's on their 2017 Food Donor of the Year award.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today to recognize the reopening of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge in Big Sur, California. After 4 years of drought, my district on the central coast of California finally got the rain it needed, but a little too much. As a result, this year there were many large-scale landslides, including this one, as we see here to my right, which knocked out the pilings of the Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge, causing this bridge to fail. This left a community of people isolated and numerous businesses without revenue for at least 8 months. But over that same amount of time, the people of Big Sur, the people and government of Monterey County, the engineers and construction crews, and the California Department of Transportation demonstrated a lot of grit, guts, determination, and dedication. They listened to each other and came together to fix this bridge. Tomorrow I will be able to attend the opening of this bridge. We will be able to show our pride for the record pace of construction, of government working together to get things done, the businesses that struggled but remained open in Big Sur during this time, and, most importantly, we will show our pride in the people of Big Sur and the communities on the central coast of California.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend Samuel E. Gaskins, Sr. for his tireless dedication to improving the lives of residents in my district. Born in Lake City, South Carolina in 1937, Rev. Gaskins enlisted in the United States Army at the age of fifteen. By the age of seventeen he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and later a Chief Petty Warrant Officer, a testament to his innate leadership skills. After twenty four years of military service, including two tours as a chaplain in Vietnam, Rev. Gaskins settled in Seaside, California where he continued serving the public. In the late 1990s, the United States Army donated the former Fort Ord's Army chapel to Rev. Gaskins. Through tireless work, he restored and converted the building into the Christian Memorial Tabernacle's chapel still in use to this day. Rev. Gaskins' efforts to improve the lives of his fellow citizens extend far past the walls of his church. Rev. Gaskins has founded numerous organizations and initiatives aimed at helping those in our community who are most in need. One such program is a new homeless ministry named ``The Stepping Stone Outreach Program.'' Rev. Gaskins' five year program aims to provide housing and education for over 500 people in need. I commend Rev. Gaskins for his dedication to caring for those in my district who need help the most. Apart from his work to care for the less fortunate, Rev. Gaskins has worked to foster solidarity and strong relationships among communities in my district. One such initiative is ``One Great Fellowship,'' which he created in conjunction with Jason Harbert of the Carmel Presbyterian Church. One Great Fellowship aims to promote racial harmony between communities on the Monterey Peninsula. The program, which involves multiple Peninsula churches, has held several interracial and interdenominational services per year which regularly drew hundreds of people. Rev. Gaskins has proven himself to be a natural leader in service to his country and community. His life's work adds up to nothing short of transforming the lives of the residents of the Central Coast. We are lucky to have someone as selfless and dedicated as Rev. Gaskins call the 20th district home. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in recognizing Rev. Samuel E. Gaskins, Sr. for his many accomplishments and contributions to the betterment of his community, country, and fellow man.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important milestone in my district. The Capitola Begonia Festival has recently completed its 65th and final year. This event has provided family friendly fun in the beautiful village of Capitola for thousands of people in our neighborhood and beyond. It has brought hundreds of families together and has created many memories that will always be remembered. The Capitola Begonia Festival has been a cherished event in our community since it began in 1952. The begonias have been donated by several growers in our community, including the Antonelli, Vetterle, and Reinelt families. The Golden State Bulb Growers provided additional support that helped keep the tradition alive for 65 years. The begonias provided by all of these growers have been a part of one of the most prized events of the weekend, the Nautical Parade of begonia adorned floats. Each year, volunteers head down to the city of Marina in the early morning to collect the blooming begonias to adorn the floats. While begonias once grew abundantly in Capitola by the 1970's, they were eventually only to be found in Marina. The Begonia Festival has allowed us to encourage imagination in our community. We have seen a giraffe created out of begonias for the 2007 ``Jungle Safari'' theme and witnessed the sunshine yellow form of SpongeBob SquarePants come alive for the 2008 ``It Came From the Sea'' theme. Whether it is creative ideas or creative structures, the Begonia Festival has been an incredible outlet for art, creativity, and imagination here in our community. Along with the Nautical Parade, there have been many other activities created to help celebrate this special weekend. Among these, some favorites stand out, including the Horseshoe Contest, Fishing Derby, and the Sand Sculpture Contest, where art is created from one of the finest mediums found on the Central Coast of California. All of these events are open to the community and beyond, making Capitola a warm and welcoming environment. These cherished events will be remembered fondly for creating a family friendly and historical tradition for Labor Day weekend in our community. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize this treasured community tradition that has brought together countless participants, volunteers, and sponsors. I thank all of those who have given their time and resources to make the Capitola Begonia Festival a gem of our community; one that will be truly missed.