Jimmy Panetta

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, briefly, the bill is identical to H.R. 2009, which passed in the 114th Congress by voice vote. That is why, as well as what we have heard today, I urge quick adoption of this legislation once again. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva).

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this legislation represents the final part of a collaborative land agreement between the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, located in southern Arizona, and the Tucson Unified School District, TUSD. H.R. 1404 will transfer a 40-acre parcel currently managed by TUSD under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act into a trust for the Tribe. Two additional parcels of land will be transferred to the TUSD, provided that the TUSD pays fair market value so that it may better plan for the future needs of the school district in the areas near the Tribe's reservation. I want to commend the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the ranking member and sponsor of the bill, not only for his leadership on the Natural Resources Committee, but for bringing this legislation forward. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1397 authorizes the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration to comply with a longstanding agreement regarding two parcels of land near Claude Moore Colonial Farm in McLean, Virginia. Specifically, the bill transfers a small parcel within the boundary of the George Washington Memorial Parkway from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Transportation. The bill also transfers a half acre within the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center from the Department of Transportation to the Department of the Interior. Simply put, this bill permits a one-time land transfer that was agreed to 15 years ago. Ultimately, this will improve management efficiency and save taxpayer money. The bill is noncontroversial and has been a longstanding legislative priority of the National Park Service. I commend the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Comstock) for her bipartisanship, and I urge my colleagues to support its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 954 removes the use restrictions on a 1-acre parcel of Federal land provided to Rockingham County, Virginia. In 1989, Congress authorized Rockingham County to use a 3-acre parcel of Federal land for the purpose of establishing a childcare center under the condition that the land continues to be used for this purpose. If the county no longer needs the land for a childcare center, the land reverts back to ownership by the United States or the county has the option to purchase it at a fair market value. The Federal Government has a long tradition of providing public land to State, county, and local governments. Fair use of Federal land and a fair return to the American taxpayer has yet to be at the forefront of these transactions. Removing public-purpose requirements and use restrictions should only be done when it is deemed appropriate and necessary, and in this particular case, the sponsor of this bill has worked with the National Park Service to develop legislation that is both fair and transparent. The land provided to Rockingham County includes a garage previously used by the National Park Service that the county has determined could benefit Plains Area Daycare Center. The Park Service no longer needs the garage, and removing the use restriction on one of the 3 acres will allow this childcare provider to access financial assistance in order to upgrade and rehabilitate the garage so that it is suitable to their needs. This is a worthy goal, and I commend the gentleman from Virginia for this legislation, and that is why we support the adoption of H.R. 954. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In one of the worst civil engineering failures of the 20th century, the breach of the Saint Francis Dam, on March 12, 1928, tragically took the lives of over 400 Americans. To honor the memory of those who lost their lives on that fateful day, H.R. 2156 establishes a national memorial at the disaster site in California's Santa Clarita Valley. The memorial will provide a permanent place of remembrance and a place for healing. In addition to the memorial, H.R. 2156 establishes the Saint Francis Dam National Monument on 440 acres of public land managed by the Forest Service. The national monument designation authorizes the U.S. Forest Service, in consultation with a range of stakeholders, to develop educational programs and improve the health of regional watersheds. I want to thank Congresswoman Julia Brownley, as well as Congressman Knight, along with the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, for bringing the legacy of the Saint Francis Dam disaster to the attention of Congress. As we have all heard: ``Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.'' This bill received strong support last Congress and was voted out of the House. This is a good bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Along with dozens of other California Tribes, the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians had its relationship with the Federal Government terminated in 1958. That resulted in the loss of its Federal status and all of its Tribal lands. The Tribe's federally recognized status was eventually restored, but their reservation lands were not. As a result, with the exception of a small parcel of land that Congress provided for gaming in San Pablo, the Tribe has been left essentially landless and without a reservation since it was terminated. This bill will take approximately 511 acres in Sonoma County into trust as part of the reservation of the Lytton Rancheria. By directing these lands into trust, the United States will ensure that the Lytton Rancheria will finally have a permanently protected homeland on which they can, once again, live communally and plan for future generations. I commend Representative Denham, my neighbor to the east, for this bipartisan legislation, and I urge quick adoption of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1306 is a culmination of years of work to address the wrongs of the past. The termination era in Federal Indian policy is one of the darkest chapters in American history. In Oregon, all but one of the Tribes lost their Federal recognition. Fortunately, the Federal Government eventually saw the error of their ways and restored the Tribes, but they were now left with nonexistent or inadequate land bases. H.R. 1306, the Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act, will go a long way in helping reestablish, long-promised land bases for the Oregon Tribes, while also giving them the ability to effectively manage their land on their own terms. I want to thank our colleagues from Oregon, Mr. DeFazio and Mr. Walden, for listening to the needs of the Oregon Tribal people and continuing to push this bipartisan legislation. The previous version of this bill passed the House by voice vote last Congress, and I now urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan bill, and I thank Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva for their leadership, their work, and assistance in getting this bill to the floor of the House of Representatives. I also thank Representatives David Valadao, Jeff Denham, and Paul Cook, as well as my predecessor, Representative Sam Farr, and our staffs for their work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge quick adoption of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1913 establishes the Clear Creek National Recreation Area and the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness Area on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management in the central coast region of California. From hiking and hunting to off-highway vehicle use, those designations will improve and enhance access for a variety of recreational activities, while ensuring that ecologically sensitive and unique areas are managed in a way that supports their lasting and permanent protection. In addition to the many ecological benefits they provide, including clean air and clean water, wilderness areas throughout the country play a large role in supporting the approximately $646 billion per year outdoor recreation economy, so I am pleased that we are advancing this bill to add 21,000 acres of the National Wilderness Preservation System. This bill has strong local support from San Benito County government officials and a number of off-highway vehicle and wilderness groups. These advocates understand that Clear Creek is important to the economy, and they have fond memories of the recreational opportunities when they were younger. I have received numerous support comments from my constituents, the off-highway vehicle community, and other California residents about the importance of Clear Creek to their family and how the closure has impacted them. It is time to honor the desire of my constituents in California's 20th Congressional District and pass this bill once again. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters in support of the bill. San Benito County, Hollister, CA, June 1, 2017. Re Letter in Support of H.R. 1913. Hon. Jimmy Panetta, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Panetta: I would like to express my support of proposed legislation H.R. 1913. On at least three previous occasions, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors has formally expressed their support of this proposed measure in the form of H.R. 1776 as submitted by then-Congressman Sam Farr. As background, the Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) of the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) was closed in 2008 based on a study by the EPA which concluded that naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) posed a public health risk. However, in 2010, the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division of the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioned an independent OHV-specific risk assessment of NOA exposure within the Serpentine ACEC of the CCMA. This report, completed by the International Environmental Research Foundation (IERF), concluded that management and operation strategies could be employed to allow for off- highway vehicle (OHV) recreation in the CCMA without exposing the public to higher than acceptable levels of NOA and without presenting a serious risk to human health. Specifically, the risk of OHV usage five days per year, for eight hours on each of those days, was equated to being similar to the lifetime risk of smoking less than one cigarette one the same one year period, and the report noted that other recreational activities, such as swimming, hiking and snow skiing, are over 100 times more dangerous. In light of this report which directly contradicts the conclusions of the EPA study and undermines the necessity of BLM actions taken since 2008 in reliance of that study, it would appear that closure of the ACEC is not scientifically warranted, and especially not during winter months when dust from OHV activity is greatly reduced. Therefore, the County supports opening the area to OHV users once again and allowing the public access to this natural area which is easily accessible to the urban residents in the San Jose/San Francisco metropolitan areas. H.R. 1913, which would establish the Clear Creek National Recreation Area in San Benito and Fresno Counties, is essential to enhancing public access to natural and scenic areas within our State. The lack of evidence of a serious health risk is reinforced by the fact that there is the lack of any documented case of any person, whether recreational, visitor or governmental employee, injured by NOA within the ACEC despite the use of the area for decades. Therefore, the activities taken to close the area are especially troubling considering the effect of the closure on the public generally, as well as the local economy. Access to recreational areas within San Benito County, including the CCMA, provides a necessary and substantial component to the local economy which has been drastically affected by the recent economic climate. The BLM's past decision to close the Clear Creek area has already seriously affected San Benito County's economic vitality. The County could understand such action if there was truly a serious health risk presented by use of the CCMA, but there is no generally accepted scientific evidence, especially during wetter winter months. The Clear Creek Management Area was among the five most popular areas cited by California off-highway-vehicle (OHV) users in a 1990 study conducted by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Many of these users were residents of the San Jose and San Francisco Bay. In 2003 and 2004, there were an estimated 50,000 visitors to the CCMA, largely attributable to allowed OHV usage. In conclusion, the Board of Supervisors supports the proposed legislation, as well as designation of the Clear Creek Management Area as a National Recreation Area, designation of OHV recreation as a ``prescribed use'' within the National Recreation Area, and providing that the management plan of the Clear Creek National Recreation Area, including OHV routes, open areas, number of permitted OHV events and other recreational activities should be as set forth in the 2005 Clear Creek Travel Management Plan. Thank you for your consideration of this letter. Respectfully, Jerry Muenzer, Supervisor District 4, Board of Supervisors.

Mr. PANETTA

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

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier).

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I am opposed to H.R. 3003 because, if this bill passed, it would punish our communities more than it would punish the criminals. As written, this bill would deny critical funding for our police departments. As a former 20-year prosecutor in local counties, I know firsthand how much our local police rely on Federal funding not just to do their job, but to be safe when they keep our communities safe. Any decrease in any sort of funding would decrease the safety of our officers as they strive to protect and serve our communities. This law will not only affect our police officers' safety, but it will negatively affect the sense of security in our communities. Yes, the underlying intent of the law is to make it easier for ICE to target undocumented people who are criminals--I get it--but it is not that simple. In the past few months, my district has seen two large-scale raids by ICE. Yes, they swept up criminals, but they also snagged collaterals, law-abiding people who were here in the wrong place at the right time. Those operations cast a complete pall over the community that affected our ability to enforce our laws. As a gang prosecutor, over and over I experienced people who were afraid to come forward out of fear of retaliation. Now they are afraid of the police, afraid of the courts, and afraid of our government. That is why I am opposed to H.R. 3003.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, this week, it was confirmed that the Senate's Better Care Reconciliation Act is not just mean, it can't even be passed by the majority party. The nonpartisan CBO revealed that if that bill did pass, in our Nation, 22 million people would lose their healthcare coverage over the next 10 years. That means in my district, on the central coast of California, 49,000 people would lose their insurance, and 16,000 people would lose their coverage they gained due to the Affordable Care Act. So because of that score, the Senate couldn't pass the bill, and they delayed the vote on it. So now, we have the time. So now, let's slow down. Let's do something the American people are yearning for. Let's come together, Republicans and Democrats, not just to repair our Nation's healthcare, but to find bipartisan solutions for what is best for all of our constituents and all of our communities for healthcare all across our country.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau's Farmer of the Year for 2017, Ms. Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp. Georgeann owns Cowles Berry Farm, where she and her family grow berries. The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau selected her for this honor, and presents this award annually to farmers who contribute beyond their normal duties in service to their community. Born and raised in Watsonville, California, Georgeann graduated from Watsonville High School in 1957 and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University in 1971. In 1999, she returned to Watsonville to work on her father's ranch. During this time, Georgeann learned the farming industry from the ground up, from weeding to bookkeeping. When Georgeann's father passed away in 2006, she took over farming operations at Cowles Berry Farm, making her a 5th generation farmer. In addition to berries, Georgeann has grown Syrah wine grapes and had a successful wine submission at the 2008 Santa Cruz County Fair. Georgeann is a model of productive civic engagement, and serves her community in a myriad of ways. She serves as the Founding Co-Chair of the Down to Earth Women Luncheon Committee, which raises funds for local agricultural education programs. Additionally, Georgeann currently serves on the Board of Directors for the educational organization Agri-culture. This remarkable organization based in Watsonville operates numerous programs that raise awareness about the complexities of the agriculture industry in an easily accessible way. In particular, the ``Focus Agriculture'' program, a first-in-the-nation program, provides opportunities for community leaders to participate in an intensive program to learn about a broad spectrum of agriculture topics. I had the chance to participate in this award-winning program, and have found the lessons I learned there to be very helpful to me as a member of the House Agriculture Committee. Georgeann is also an active member of the Watsonville Rotary Club and regularly leads fundraising efforts for wonderful causes in her community and around the world. Some of these causes include support for victims of the 2010 Haitian earthquake, new vans for Renaissance High School, and providing medical care and clean water to a village in Peru. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp as the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau's 2017 Farmer of the Year. I am sure we will continue to hear more of her great work in the community for years to come.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, during this Pride Month, I rise today to speak out about the human rights violations occurring in the Russian republic of Chechnya. It has been reported that in that country, men are kidnapped, detained, tortured, and even murdered just because of their sexual orientation. Families have been shamed by these kidnappings and have resorted to taking their own sons' lives. In April, I, along with 48 other Members of Congress, signed and sent a letter to Secretary of State Tillerson asking him to raise the issue of this horrible violence against innocent men with the Russian officials, but to date, neither Secretary Tillerson or President Trump or anybody else in the administration have committed to taking action on this issue. The United States must speak out about this atrocity, and Russia must investigate such human rights violations so that there is accountability for an end to these senseless crimes. During this Pride Month, we here in the United States celebrate our equality. However, every month we must say and act for the men in Chechnya as we fight for equality across the globe.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tom Nunes, Sr., this year's recipient of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California's E.E. ``Gene'' Harden Award for Lifetime Achievement in Central Coast Agriculture. Tom has devoted his entire career to farming the fertile ground of the Salinas Valley, contributing to the economic lifeblood of this region known . as the ``Salad Bowl of the World.'' Tom was born and raised in the heart of the Valley by a farming family in Chualar, CA. After graduating from Salinas High School, Tom attended Saint Mary's College on a football scholarship and later transferred to Stanford University, where he graduated with a degree in Economics. After college, Tom immediately went to work in the Salinas Valley agricultural industry. He started a farming venture with his father where he worked for several years before partners approached him with the idea to start a grower- shipper company in the mid-1950's, they named this venture Growers Exchange Inc. In 1966, Tom and his brother Bob decided to start their own venture, and founded Nunes Bros. of California Inc., a grower- shipper of iceberg lettuce. This venture achieved enormous success, and the Nunes brothers ultimately sold their company to United Brands/ Chiquita. The brothers were also one of six western vegetable grower- shippers that formed Inter-Harvest, the largest vegetable grower- shipper organization in the country at the time. Tom and Bob Nunes briefly ran Inter-Harvest before retiring in 1970. In the fall of 1976, Tom and Bob carne out of retirement to launch The Nunes Company, Inc., whose core values of honesty, integrity, trust, and attention to detail have fostered a culture that continues to this day. Through his long and distinguished career, Tom has spanned the transition of harvests in the Salinas Valley from sugar beets and white beans to the modern specialty crop era. He has been an instrumental figure in the conversion how we farm, harvest, cool and market our fresh produce in the Salinas Valley that feeds people all across this country, and around the world. What started as 400 acres of iceberg lettuce on the central coast of California in the 1950's has grown into more than 22,000 acres of vegetable crops spanning five states. Aside from his business success, Tom is also an invaluable member of our community. Tom has served as the President and Chairman of the Board for the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, worked with the Western Growers Board, was a charter member of the Palma High School Foundation, served on the Palma High School Board, and the National Steinbeck Center inducted him into the Valley of the World Hall of Fame. His friends and family know him as a passionate, powerful and intelligent man. In true farmer fashion, he is a man of action and few words. The Nunes Company has created opportunity for hundreds of residents, and three generations of the Nunes family continue to operate the company to this day. The strong work ethic that Tom has passed down to future generations is evident in the tradition of innovation and pride in stewardship of the land that his successors carry out at every level of this business to this day. I am proud to add my name to this chorus of thanks and congratulations to Mr. Tom Nunes, Sr. for his enormous contributions to our community, and our country.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Butch Corda for his work as Chair of the Board of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California. In my home district on the central coast of California, agriculture is the engine that drives our local economy, and creates opportunity for the citizens who reside there. The Grower- Shipper Association plays a central role in bringing the region's vegetables and berries to tables around the world. Under Mr. Corda's leadership as Chair, the Grower-Shipper Association continued to expand upon its rich tradition of addressing the complex and evolving issues facing the agricultural industry, such as food safety, pest prevention, research and education, and much more. A native son of the fertile Salinas Valley, Mr. Corda was born and raised in Gonzales. After attending Gonzales High School, Hartnell College and San Jose State, he returned home and has been working in the agricultural industry for over 35 years. Most recently, he has served as the General Manager of lppolito International, known for being North America's largest supplier of Brussels sprouts, among many other mixed and specialty vegetables. He has raised his family in Salinas, where his wife and daughter also work in the industry. His immense experience, ingenuity and creativity gained from a long and distinguished career served him well during his tenure as the chair of the Grower-Shipper Association. Mr. Speaker, I was particularly impressed by Mr. Corda's implementation of the Association's ``Future Leaders Program.'' Through this program, the Board of Directors paid special attention to developing the next generation of leadership in the industry through mentorship, participation in board meetings, and many other educational events. This exposed a new generation of agriculture professionals to issues facing the industry as a whole, beyond what they manage in the day-to-day duties of their respective jobs, and empowered them to bring new and creative ideas to the table to solve these pressing concerns. Also during Mr. Corda's tenure, the Association premiered the documentary film ``Historical Narratives of Salinas Valley Agriculture,'' a collaborative project that engaged and educated the public on the important and often overlooked stories of the people who have built Salinas Valley agriculture into what it is today. Under the leadership of Mr. Corda, the Association assisted in providing a place for industry leaders to come together to make progress on a number of important issues, particularly pesticide safety and water conservation. While Mr. Corda's tenure as Chair of the Board has ended, I am certain his contribution to this vital industry in my home district will continue. It is my pleasure to add my name to the chorus of thanks and congratulations to the outgoing Chairman and look forward to continued collaboration to champion bold, productive, and creative solutions to address the needs of the industry, its workers, and the American families who enjoy the harvests that we produce here every day.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor a man who served California's Central Coast and the United States as a Marine and a public servant. Roderick Olson, a proud veteran of the Vietnam War from Santa Cruz, California passed away but left a legacy in place for LGBT Californians and service members. Roderick Olson arrived in Santa Cruz in 1997 after serving in Vietnam. During his time in Santa Cruz, he dedicated his time to serving the community, especially his brothers and sisters in the LGBT community. He joined the Board of Directors of the Santa Cruz AIDS project, focused on a community-based response towards reducing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Roderick also served as a coordinator at the Santa Cruz Diversity Center, a member of the Pride Committee, the Program Committee and the Executive Committee. Further, he focused his time on protecting individuals from domestic violence and founded the 60 Plus program to support LGBT seniors. Additionally, he established the first gay veterans group in the Santa Cruz region dedicated towards supporting LGBT service members. Roderick dedicated his life towards assisting LGBT veterans prior to the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, helping future LGBT service members serve openly. Mr. Olson passed late last year and will be interred with military honors this week at the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery. However, his life and dedication to the Central Coast will not be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the life of Roderick Olson.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Jack O'Neill, a Santa Cruz resident, a cultural icon, and a surfing legend. Jack passed away last week at 94 years young. There has been a great amount of love for this man and a great amount of appreciation for what this man did. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he moved to Santa Cruz, where he loved surfing in its cold waters, so much so that he was quoted as saying: ``When you get screwed up, just jump in the ocean and everything is all right.'' Jack's love for being in the ocean was demonstrated by being one of the first people to create and the first person to market the wetsuit. This led to him and millions of other people being able to surf at any time and at any temperature. He was a trailblazer not just in the ocean, but in life. As a father of seven and grandfather of six, he understood how important it was to preserve our ocean for our children. He was instrumental in designating Santa Cruz as a world surfing reserve, one of only four locations in the world that preserve surf spots and their surrounding environment. He created the O'Neill Sea Odyssey, an educational program on a 65- foot-long catamaran that teaches our children how to be stewards of the ocean. Jack not only bestowed upon us the wetsuit and year-round surfing, he left a legacy for our children to understand that being in and around the ocean really can make everything all right. For that, I thank and I honor Jack O'Neill.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of a uniquely distinguished community leader, Captain William Perlstein, who has served the State of California as a Commander for the Highway Patrol. Bill began his career as a traffic officer in Hayward. He soon combined his career in law enforcement with his love of aviation, and trained to become a flight officer/paramedic, working on a CHP helicopter out of the Golden Gate Division. Subsequently, he became an instructor with the California Highway Patrol Academy and trained individuals on emergency medical procedures. As an instructor, he developed new emergency medical response programs, which helped to save lives across California. Bill also encouraged transparency in policing and was promoted to work in the California Highway Patrol's legislative affairs, working to develop cooperation with traffic and law enforcement advisory groups. Bill eventually was promoted to provide technical advice to the California State Legislature and advocate for the California Highway Patrol at the Capitol. In this role, he was able to protect California police officers and ensure equal protection under the law. Bill also managed finances for the California Highway Patrol and provided leadership, guidance, and supervision to area personnel. Most recently, Bill became Commander for the California Highway Patrol's Monterey Area. In this role he was able to establish goals, and develop strategies and tactics to keep the Monterey Bay area safe. Bill supervised employees and provided training and area management. He also ingrained himself within the community by joining the several organizations, including becoming a member of the steering committee for the Monterey County Gang Task Force; serving as treasurer of the Monterey County Chief Law Enforcement Officers Association; joining the Board of Directors of the Monterey Rape Crisis Center; and participating in the esteemed Leadership Monterey, a program aimed at providing the continuity of community stewardship. Throughout his entire career, Bill has been dedicated to the safety and welfare of California citizens, including his own family: three wonderful children, Stephen, Matthew and Juliet, and his wife of twenty-four years, Stephanie. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize a distinguished law enforcement officer who has dedicated his life to supporting California families. I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing a true public servant who embodies the spirit and values of a committed law enforcement officer, and to congratulate him on a well-deserved and well-earned retirement.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gonzales Chief of Police Paul D. Miller on the occasion of his retirement after thirty- four years of distinguished service to the community of Gonzales. Chief Miller has dedicated his entire career to the people of Gonzales, and our communities on the central coast of California. His career began in the Monterey County Sherriff's Explorer Program in 1978 where Chief Miller achieved the rank of Captain, the highest rank in that program. After completing the Explorer Program, Chief Miller joined the Gonzales Police Department (GPD), first as a reserve officer, and then a full-time officer in 1985. After being recognized as the Department Officer of the Year in 1987 and 1991, Chief Miller was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1992. He was recognized a third time as Officer of the Year in 1995, and as Department Supervisor of the Year in 2006 and 2007. In 2010, he was appointed as Chief of Police for the City of Gonzales, where he served with distinction for seven years. A champion of proactive community policing, Chief Miller provided important leadership that helped the GPD make important strides in reducing gang violence and maintaining Gonzales as one of the safest cities on the Central Coast. Under the leadership of Chief Miller, the GPD weathered one of the toughest recessions in history, coordinated the construction of a new 10,000 square-foot police station, and took a leadership role in securing key grants for the police departments of South Monterey County. Chief Miller also guided the department as the lead South County police agency in securing several important grants that helped provide important tools to help break the cycle of gang violence that continues to plague our communities on the central coast. One of these key grants included $500,000 in funding for the city of Gonzales through the California Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention (CalGRIP) Program. Mr. Speaker, as a former prosecutor who has worked closely with local police to prosecute violent criminal gang members, I know from experience that the work of taking and keeping these and other dangerous people off the streets of our communities is not easy. It requires dedication, perseverance, and the selfless willingness to put oneself in harm's way in service to others. Chief Paul Miller certainly embodies these qualities, and I whole-heartedly thank him for this service, and congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement. There is no doubt that his commitment to justice, security, and prosperity for his community will be missed.