Jimmy Panetta

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Commander Matthew Maldonado from the Salinas Police Department after 29 years of service. The Salinas Police Department is an integral part of our community, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all Salinas residents for more than 145 years. Commander Maldonado demonstrated an early commitment to public safety and serving his community. Raised in the City of Salinas, he graduated from Salinas High School in 1989 and attended classes at Monterey Peninsula College and Hartnell College, going on to graduate from Union Institute and University with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Management. Following in the footsteps of his father Richard Maldonado, who served with the Marina Department of Public Safety, he began his career with the Monterey County Sheriff's Department in 1992. After graduating from the Gavilan Police Academy and a two-year assignment to the Correction Division, Commander Maldonado was hired by the Salinas Police Department and assigned to the Patrol unit working the midnight shift. While on the force, Commander Maldonado served in a variety of roles including patrol officer, crime scene investigator, and as a member of the Violence Suppression Unit/SWAT. In 2004, he was promoted to Sergeant, where he supervised Patrol operations, the Violence Suppression Unit, the Narcotic Unit, and the Monterey County Joint Narcotics Team. Throughout his tenure, Commander Maldonado has been a strong leader with a commitment to public safety and education, having served as a firearms instructor for 17 years and as SWAT team leader-turned-commander for 18 years. He was also a founding sergeant of the California Department of Justice ``STING'' Task Force. Then-Sergeant Maldonado's teams were responsible for Operation Knock Out and Operation Snake Eyes, two successful wiretap cases into the Nuestra Familia criminal organization. Matthew Maldonado was promoted to Commander in 2018. As a commander, he supervised patrol operations and served as the Hostage Negotiations Team Commander. For the last three years of his career, Commander Maldonado served as the SWAT Commander and was the commander in charge of the Northern California, South Bay Metro, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Salinas Violence Suppression Task Force. His team conducted successful narcotics and gang investigations spanning from Monterey County to the North Bay area and most recently worked closely with the Salinas Police Department's detectives on the wiretap case Operation Black Widow, which reached as far as Yuma, Arizona and the southern border of California and Mexico. Throughout his career, Commander Maldonado has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to the community. Along with earning the Monterey County Peace Officer Association's Award of Merit three times, he was also awarded the Salinas Police Department Outstanding Duty Award twice. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Commander Matthew Maldonado for his years of service to our community on the Central Coast. I extend my gratitude to all those who selflessly dedicate their lives to serving their community. I extend my personal appreciation to Commander Matthew Maldonado and his dedication to the community of Salinas.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Mr. Willy Elliot-McCrea from the Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County after thirty-three years of dedicated service to communities across the central coast of California. The Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County was the first food bank in California and the second in the nation--it was founded in 1972 as an emergency food pantry to distribute U.S. Department of Agriculture surplus food as a part of the Community Action Board in the City of Santa Cruz. Mr. Elliott-McCrea began his public service career with the Second Harvest Food Bank in 1979 as the warehouse manager and driver, later taking on the responsibility of purchasing food. In that same year, he represented Second Harvest Food Bank as one of thirteen founding members of Feeding America. In 1988, Mr. Elliott-McCrea was promoted to Executive Director and later to Chief Executive Officer in 1993, the position he held until retirement. Shortly after his promotion to Executive Director, the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta Earthquake devastated Santa Cruz and surrounding areas in October 1989. The Food Bank became ground zero for disaster relief, with the number of people served dramatically increasing from 15,000 per month to 25,000 people per week. Throughout his time with the Second Harvest Foodbank, Mr. Elliott- McCrea helped guide statewide policy, championing progress in food security resources. He energized the Second Harvest Board of Directors to change its mission to be more community-focused, thus pioneering a new model for food banks and inspiring emergency feeding operations nationwide. To this day, food bank distributions operate around a network of community-based food pantries in senior residential living centers, homeless service centers, schools, churches, and neighborhood resource centers. Mr. Elliott-McCrea led Second Harvest Food Bank through natural disasters, recessions, and, most recently, the coronavirus pandemic. In 2011, Second Harvest provided an average of 6.7 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to the Santa Cruz community, but in the first year of the pandemic, Second Harvest's operations grew to providing 16.5 million pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables. In addition to his role with Second Harvest, Mr. Elliott-McCrea also served as the founding president of the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) from 1995 to 1998 and again from 2019 to 2021. The CAFB ensures its coalition of 41-member food banks have the tools and resources to focus on feeding communities across California. The Association also provides Nutrition Education Programs that work with community volunteers to provide Nutrition Support Groups and Cooking Clubs. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing and thanking Willy Elliot-McCrea for his decades of service. His leadership and dedication to public service have shaped the food bank community not just in Santa Cruz County, but across the nation. I extend my personal appreciation to Mr. Willy Elliot-McCrea and his dedication to the central coast of California.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Ms. Glorietta Rowland after 33 years of public service to Monterey County and her dedication to supporting the Central Coast's unhoused community. Her legacy of service is one of unwavering devotion to improving the lives of others. Ms. Rowland began her career in 1987 with Domestic Crisis Services, kicking off her admirable and wide-ranging career. Following her departure from the agency in 1988, Ms. Rowland worked with the Salvation Army, providing resources to those experiencing homelessness. She then worked for Sun Street Center, an organization that provides educational services, as well as treatment and recovery opportunities for those battling addiction. In 2005, Ms. Rowland joined the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, where she assumed the role of Executive Officer. In this position, Ms. Rowland created and developed many programs and campaigns, including the Lead Me Home Ten-Year Plan for Ending Homelessness, Monterey County Stand Down for Veterans, and the Monterey County Homeless Connect Project. Following her time with the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, Ms. Rowland joined Monterey County Department of Social Services in 2012 as a Management Analyst in the Community Action Partnership and Director's Office. In this role, Ms. Rowland continued her career-long pattern of developing programs to support unhoused people in Monterey County. Here, she influenced programs like the Monterey County Safe Parking Program and was critical in the creation of the Salinas Housing Advancement, Resource and Education (SHARE) Center. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Rowland took the initiative to support our community's relief efforts through the Alternate Housing Site project. She also dedicated her time and talents to the Commission on the Status of Women, the Emergency Food and Shelter Local Board, the Salinas Downtown Community Board, and the Homeless Census Point-in-Time Planning Committee. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Ms. Rowland's decades of service to Monterey County. Her career will serve as a model for selflessness and compassion for our community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor her today.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the vibrant life of Diane Porter Cooley, a pillar of the Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County community, who passed away on March 10, 2022. Born to a family that settled in Santa Cruz County in the 1850s, and raised on Las Lomas Ranch in Watsonville, Diane had a deep connection to the land and people of the central coast of California. Her father Tom was one of the four founders of Driscoll Berries, and Diane continued her involvement with agriculture until her death. Diane and her husband, Don, were active members of the community, constantly engaged in the issues they cared about. A deeply passionate civic leader, Diane worked tirelessly to protect and preserve the environment, and was an outspoken advocate for the people of the Pajaro Valley. She once said, ``I care for the trees but for humans, too. People should have the chance to thrive just like the Sequoia should stand tall.'' She was a dynamic agent of change who championed the creation of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, the Pajaro Valley Arts Council, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. She was involved with the Nature Conservancy, served on the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency board, and was a supporter of many other causes, including Pajaro Valley Shelter Services, Salud Para la Gente, the University of California, Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College, and Second Harvest Food Bank in Watsonville. We may never know just how many lives she touched, or how many people received an education, braces, medical care, a home, or love when they needed it most thanks to her. Madam Speaker, Diane Porter Cooley's outreach and philanthropy extended far and wide throughout our community. As Santa Cruz County bids farewell to its beloved daughter of 95 years, may her legacy of giving continue to inspire us for generations to come.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Federal Pell grant. Created in 1972, the Pell targets students with a demonstrated financial need. It helps cover the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, and many, many other expenses. Now, unlike loans which can burden low-income students, Pell grants do not need to be repaid. The Pell actually helps students focus on school rather than have them wondering about how to pay for it. The Pell has benefited more than 80 million students in the past 50 years and is an absolute lifeline for students at colleges in my district on the central coast of California. Currently, there are close to 16,000 students receiving $68 million in Pell grants to pursue their higher education goals at our local colleges and universities. Now, clearly, support for the Pell is widespread and bipartisan. I am proud to say that we here in Congress actually increased the Pell by $400 for 2022. That is the largest increase, Mr. Speaker, to the Pell in 10 years, but I think you would agree with me that this is not enough. As we celebrate this anniversary, Mr. Speaker, the Pell now only covers less than one-third of average attendance costs. So we must do everything we can to strengthen the Pell. I believe we can do that by doubling the Pell. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that that happens and ensure that students, regardless of need, can afford college and attain a brighter future.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Recovering America's Wildlife Act. This is a proactive piece of bipartisan legislation that would help our State and Tribal fish and wildlife agencies with the recovery and conservation of close to 12,000 species of fish, wildlife, and plants. Now, I support this bill not only as the United States Representative for the central coast of California, a district that values and cherishes our wildlife, but also as the vice chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. As some of the most passionate wildlife conservationists across our country, many sportsmen and -women, including those in the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, no matter what their political persuasion, support this critical piece of legislation. In addition to enhancing the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts, sportsmen and -women want to ensure that our species are protected and perpetuated. From bighorn sheep to the Sierra Nevada red fox, from the California condors to the coho salmon, and from moose to monarch butterflies, the intent of this legislation is to protect those and thousands of other iconic animals well before they need to be listed as endangered or threatened. This way, rather than impose burdensome and costly regulations on fish and wildlife managers, sportsmen and -women, and private businesses, those species can be recovered and renewed well before any measures are mandated. Look, it is estimated that it costs the Federal Government more than $19 million, on average, to recover a single species once it is listed, including $1 million to just list the species and $18 million for the science and habitat work. Let's simply take 2,000 of the 12,000 species this bill would help conserve, and it would cost the Federal Government at least $38 billion. This bill is a preventative measure to ensure that does not happen. Through this legislation, we would not only save billions of dollars by not having to list species, but we would save thousands of plants and animals by ensuring that they are protected. By providing millions of dollars in funding for the on-the-ground efforts, we could recover, reintroduce, and restore wildlife, fish, flora, and fauna throughout our Nation. As many species face the growing threat of becoming extinct at accelerated rates, due to changing global weather events and our climate crisis, this legislation and its proposed funding would protect those species well before they become endangered. That is why sportsmen, community members, and my country members support this bill, and that is why I urge my colleagues to do the same by voting for and passing the Recovering America's Wildlife Act.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize those who participated in the National Day of Silence. This day allows students and allies to take a vow of silence as a way to speak out against any harassment and discrimination experienced by LGBTQ people in our schools. In my district on the Central Coast of California, Luka Chavez, who attends Watsonville School of Arts, took his vow last week. Luka told me that he wanted to take the vow so that he can make all the difference for all of those who don't have a voice in our own community. Luka felt that his silence for 1 day was the least that he could do to speak up for those who feel isolated and excluded every day. Luka, you may have taken your vow last week, but this week, on this day, on this floor, your voice is not only heard but, more importantly, your message is received by teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, and all who support you but also, most importantly, those who don't. Luka, your vow of silence allows me to speak for you and inspires Congress to continue its fight for LGBTQ students in our community and equal rights for our democracy.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. David Marzetti as the central coast of California celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Shagbag Radio Show. Mr. Marzetti is a pillar of the Monterey Peninsula and its airwaves. The Shagbag Radio Show has featured over 4,000 guests over 1,000 shows, cementing Mr. Marzetti's legacy as the Voice of Monterey. Mr. Marzetti, originally from Canton, Ohio, has called the Monterey Peninsula home since 1989. Inspired by the beauty of the Central Coast, Mr. Marzetti left behind a behind a burgeoning East Coast radio career to become Program Director and Morning DJ at KOCN 105.1 FM, where he would work for the next 12 years. In 2002, Mr. Marzetti developed the Shagbag Show, where over two decades, he would air over 1,000 shows and feature over 4,000 guests from all walks of life. Despite airing from the Del Monte Golf Course, Mr. Marzetti's guests extend far beyond golfers and golf enthusiasts, but include celebrities, athletes; local business owners, restaurateurs, writers, doctors, politicians, and more. Mr. David Marzetti's dedication to the Central Coast and the Monterey Peninsula goes beyond his radio presence. In an effort to promote local businesses, he joined the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau as its Membership Manager. He continues to be involved in the Peninsula's golf community, covering the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championship golf tournaments at Pebble Beach and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Over 30 years, Mr. Marzetti has interviewed hundreds of professional and celebrity players, bringing his enthusiasm for the sport and the community to the airwaves. Mr. Marzetti's dedication and enthusiasm has not gone unrecognized. He is a three-time winner of the PGA of Northern California Media Person of the Year and he was the first person bestowed with the Carmel Chamber of Commerce ``Community Champion'' Award. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mr. Marzetti's long career in service to the Central Coast. I extend my personal appreciation to Mr. David Marzetti and his dedication to radio and entertainment.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the vibrant life of Diane Porter Cooley, a pillar of the Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County community, who passed away on March 10, 2022. Born to a family that settled in Santa Cruz County in the 1850s, and raised on Las Lomas Ranch in Watsonville, Diane had a deep connection to the land and people of the central coast of California. Her father Tom was one of the four founders of Driscoll Berries, and Diane continued her involvement with agriculture until her death. Diane and her husband, Don, were active members of the community, constantly engaged in the issues they cared about. A deeply passionate civic leader, Diane worked tirelessly to protect and preserve the environment, and was an outspoken advocate for the people of the Pajaro Valley. She once said, ``I care for the trees but for humans, too. People should have the chance to thrive just like the Sequoia should stand tall.'' She was a dynamic agent of change who championed the creation of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, the Pajaro Valley Arts Council, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. She was involved with the Nature Conservancy, served on the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency board, and was a supporter of many other causes, including Pajaro Valley Shelter Services, Salud Para la Genre, the University of California, Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College, and Second Harvest Food Bank in Watsonville. We may never know just how many lives she touched, or how many people received an education, braces, medical care, a home, or love when they needed it most thanks to her. Madam Speaker, Diane Porter Cooley's outreach and philanthropy extended far and wide throughout our community. As Santa Cruz County bids farewell to its beloved daughter of 95 years, may her legacy of giving continue to inspire us for generations to come.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2954, the SECURE 2.0. This bipartisan legislation would make it easier for something that has been getting harder and harder, saving for retirement for workers and working families. I commend the chairman and the ranking member for their very, very hard work, and I thank them for including two of my bipartisan bills in SECURE 2.0. My Public Service Retirement Fairness Act ensures that retirement savings programs for nonprofits and the public sector have the same access to low-cost investments as private-sector plans. This bill would greatly benefit many teachers and nonprofit employees who serve in my district and also have to spend an inordinate amount on housing by providing them access to affordable retirement plans. My Family Attribution Modernization Act, which I worked on with my good friend, Jodey Arrington, is also included in SECURE 2.0. This bill would modernize outdated family attribution rules so that women-owned businesses and other small businesses in community property States, like California, have more flexibility and independence.

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, these bills, along with many, many other provisions in this bipartisan legislation, are commonsense solutions for the futures and the retirements of working families. That is why, Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote for SECURE 2.0.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of Mr. Moe Ammar from Pacific Grove's Chamber of Commerce after 29 years of dedicated service to Monterey County and the central coast of California. Mr. Ammar's legacy of leadership and financial stewardship will continue to guide Pacific Grove's strong and vibrant Chamber of Commerce and business community. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Mr. Ammar quickly rose through the ranks of the hospitality industry after graduating from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1979. After developing hotels around the world, his work brought him to Pacific Grove in 1986 and Mr. Ammar quickly embraced our community and became the champion of Pacific Grove's businesses at the local and state level. He passionately fought against increased taxes, parking charges, and zoning laws that limit business growth. Under his leadership and presidency, the Chamber passed four ballot measures in support of local business priorities. In 2001, the Downtown Business Improvement District was formed by the Chamber which benefits 230 businesses. In 2007, the Chamber helped form the Hospitality Improvement District that represents and benefits 23 lodging establishments, and in 2013, it established the Tourist Information Center. Furthermore, events like ``Good Old Days'' grew from two city blocks to nine, and the Pacific Grove Car Auction was introduced at the Pacific Grove Golf Links. The organization also adopted the Holman Highway, volunteering to pick up trash and keep the roadway clean for the past 11 years. Mr. Moe Ammar's dedication to the community did not stop with the Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Economic Development Committee for 27 years, taught the next generation of business leaders at Monterey Peninsula College for 17 years, and volunteered for picnics, parades, and the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. His enthusiasm for service was commemorated when he was awarded the Key to the City of Pacific Grove in 2000, becoming only the third person in the last four decade to be awarded this honor. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mr. Ammar's decades of service. I extend my personal appreciation to Mr. Moe Ammar and his dedication to the Central Coast.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the loss and the service of Salinas Police Officer Jorge David Alvarado, Jr. Officer Alvarado was fatally shot in the line of duty while conducting a traffic stop on Friday, February 25, 2022. Born in in the City and County of San Francisco, Jorge Davis Alvarado, Jr. understood what it meant to give back to his community and to his country. After graduating from the Voice of the Pentecost Academy High School, he enlisted in the United States Army as an Infantryman. He earned the prestigious Combat Infantry Badge for his gallantry during combat operations in Afghanistan and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned as a Team Leader. After completing his tour of duty, Officer Alvarado served the community of Colma on the San Francisco Peninsula for four and half years. He then joined the Salinas Police Department, and aftercompleting his required training, was assigned as a patrol officer. Officer Alvarado displayed true bravery and duty to his community, staying in the fight to the end and paying the ultimate price. Officer Alvarado's passing marks the first city police officer lost in the line of duty in Salinas in nearly 80 years. Officer Alvarado is survived by his high school sweetheart and fiancee, Veronica, his mother and father, his three brothers, and his nieces and nephews. As we look back upon his commitment and actions as we mourn his loss, let us also look to Officer Alvarado's legacy of service as a way forward. We must realize that our communities rely on the men and women in uniform for order, for safety, and for our upward mobility. Officer Alvarado did that by not only protecting and serving Salinas, but he got up every day and left his home knowing that his job was to run to the danger and not away from it. Madam Speaker, Officer Jorge Alvarado ran to the danger on February 25th. Let us make sure that his service and his sacrifice are not in vain. Together, we must support his family and support the men and women in uniform who serve and protect. It is because of their service that we make it home to our families every night and thrive in safe communities.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I support tonight's bills because we must fund the government, and of course, we must support Ukraine. As the American people get out of COVID, get back to work, and get on with our lives, they are yearning to help Ukrainian lives. Tonight's bills do that by providing aid and armaments so that the Ukrainians can continue to punch Putin right in the face. This bill, H.R. 6968, also punches Putin right in the gut by banning imports of Russian oil, by taking steps to remove Russia from the WTO, and by holding Putin accountable for his violating of rights with tougher sanctions. The last thing we want is war with Russia. However, in order to stop Putin's paranoid adventurism, we need to bolster our commitment to NATO, and we must bleed him of his resources to wage war by crumpling his ruble and collapsing his economy. This will affect us, and it will force all of us to play our part. But despite these costs, we must continue to be as united as we are inspired by this fledgling democracy that has flourished under fire. That is why we must play our part and pass this legislation to support the livelihoods of Americans, to support the lives of Ukrainians, and to ensure that Putin pays his price for his attacks on a peaceful democracy.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of the Reverend Darrell Darling. The loss of Darrell Darling hits us hard in Santa Cruz but also throughout the Central Coast, for Reverend Darling was that iconic mentor to all of us based on his longtime fight for civil rights, for equal rights, for peace, for justice, for nonviolence, and for his never-ending work for a more perfect Union. Reverend Darling's fight began when he almost got kicked out of college for pressing its administration about its racist policies toward African Americans. Reverend Darling then went on to attend the Yale Seminary, where, in 1965, he marched with Martin Luther King from Selma to Montgomery and crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge with our former colleague, John Lewis. In California, Reverend Darling served in five parishes for over 25 years. After that, Darrell and his wife, Karen, ran the Darling House Bed and Breakfast, where they hosted numerous events for our community and continued to mentor young activists and future public servants. In fact, I will never forget the conversation that I had with Darrell, seated in his backyard, that inspired me to stand here in Congress, for it was that type of impression that the Reverend Darling had on me, on Santa Cruz, and on the fight for equality in our American democracy. Madam Speaker, I not only recognize his legacy of service, but we, in Santa Cruz, acknowledge and appreciate that Reverend Darling is why many of us stand, fight, and serve today. Mourning the Loss of Jorge David Alvarado, Jr.

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the loss and the service of Salinas Police Officer Jorge David Alvarado, Jr. Officer Alvarado was shot and killed in the line of duty while conducting a traffic stop on Friday night. Before I flew back here on Sunday, I visited the growing memorial for Officer Alvarado at the Salinas Police Department and joined in the mourning, the devastation, and the disbelief of his fiance, his mother, his brethren in blue, and our entire community in Salinas. Although the investigation of the incident is ongoing, the chief of police stated that Officer Alvarado stayed in the fight to the end and paid the ultimate price. As a result, the suspected cop killer is behind bars. Jorge Alvarado understood what it means to give back to his community and to his country with his time in the U.S. Army, as well as his 5 years as a police officer. Although we look back upon his commitment and actions as we mourn his loss, let us also look to Officer Alvarado's legacy of service as a way forward. We must realize that our communities, no matter their makeup, rely on men and women who make up our police departments for order, for safety, and for our upward mobility. Officer Alvarado did that by not only protecting and serving Salinas, but also Officer Alvarado got up every day and left his home knowing that his job was to run to the danger and not away from it. Madam Speaker, Officer Jorge Alvarado ran to the danger on Friday night. Let's make sure that his service, that his sacrifice, are not in vain. Let's make sure that all of us support his family and support the men and women in uniform who strive to serve and protect so that we can make it home to our families and thrive in safe communities.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the bipartisan CAROL Act and my good friend, Representative Andy Barr, and so many others in this Nation who either have valvular heart disease or have lost loved ones to this disease. The CAROL Act is necessary now more than ever, as each year 25,000 Americans lose their lives to this often hidden yet very deadly deficiency of the human heart. This legislation would help prevent those deaths by authorizing grant programs at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute that will not only bolster research on heart valve disease but also will help identify those with this disease so that they can treat this disease before it is too late. On behalf of the very fruitful life lived by Carol Barr, on behalf of the future fulfilled lives of Mary Clay and Eleanor Barr, I not only support the CAROL Act, but I, and I urge my colleagues to, stand in solidarity with Andy Barr to give him our vote and the full strength to fulfill Carol's legacy and to continue carrying the torch so that those with this disease can continue living their lives to the fullest.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership and for his love of this institution. Mr. Speaker, the Build Back Better Act is about future opportunity for our districts and for our democracy. As an immigrant-fueled, frontier nation, we value individual mobility and reward hard work. That is the foundation of why we are the richest and most successful nation ever. However, we are at an inflection point in which the past failure to invest in our working families has led to the degradation of our common life. That is why now more than ever we must provide more for the people who have plied through the pandemic, who propel our economic prosperity and promote our national unity. This legislation does that by focusing on children, education, healthcare, and affordable housing; by furthering our fight for clean energy and climate resiliency with e-buses, e-bikes, and microgrids; and by financing it in a way that protects our family farms and promotes our farm workers. For those of you who vote against this legislation today, you will probably take credit for it tomorrow because this investment will benefit not just my constituents but yours, too, because this bill provides every working family, not just with the resources to succeed in our country but with the dignity they deserve by playing a part in our democracy.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Thomas Harper, a Title 10 AGR Functional Area-59 qualified Major assigned to the Army National Guard G-5 as a Strategic Planner. Mr. Harper began his service to our country at the age of 17 as an Infantryman in the Florida Army National Guard. He served 19 years in the Army at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels as a paratrooper, combat veteran, and qualified strategist. Mr. Harper served in units including infantry regiments, airborne special forces, the National Guard Bureau, the Department of the Army, the United States Special Operations Command, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He completed five operational tours in Afghanistan, Africa, and Central America. Before returning to the Army National Guard G-5, Thomas Harper demonstrated his commitment to building and maintaining strong relationships between the Army and the legislative branch. Mr. Harper held the MILCON portfolio in the Readiness branch of the Programs Division at the Department of the Army's Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison from 2018 to 2020. In his work, Mr. Harper worked closely with Members of Congress and interagency partners. He assisted Army Senior Leaders with preparation for Congressional hearings and traveled with Members and their staff, as well as Armed Services Committee professional staff members. Mr. Harper was also selected twice as the detail to the Department of Defense COVID-19 task force. Mr. Harper's achievements in his service to the United States have been recognized with countless awards. He is a two-time recipient of the Purple Heart Medal and the Bronze Star Medal for Valor. He received the French Cross of Military Valor at Division level (equivalent to the U.S. Silver Star) from the Ambassador of France for his combat actions in Afghanistan during December 2009. Mr. Harper is one of only seven Americans to receive this award since World War II. He has also been honored with the National Guard Association of the United States Patrick Henry Award, the National Guard Bureau's Outstanding Performance Award, the Georgia Military College Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and the Georgia Military College George C. Marshall Award. Madam Speaker, Thomas Harper is an outstanding Army officer and model citizen who has served with honor for nearly two decades. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge all of my colleagues in Congress to fulfill our obligation, not just to the people of our districts, but to the people and the economy of our Nation. Suspending and raising the debt limit simply lets our government pay our bills. It is a very simple responsibility that has been done 78 times since 1960, including 49 times under Republican administrations, and that includes three times during the Trump administration. We raise the debt ceiling because we have to take into account the spending that we have already committed to, including this time, where 97 percent of the spending was done during the Trump administration. If my colleagues are concerned with fiscal responsibility, they should know that breaching the debt ceiling will raise borrowing costs and add hundreds of billions of dollars to our debt. Failure to act on the debt ceiling will not just result in economic catastrophe. It will affect every American family, as borrowing costs and unemployment will rise and markets will crash. Provoking such a financial crisis through such a sovereign default would be self-sabotage, and it is flirting with brazen irresponsibility. We are better than that. Let's act responsibly, do our job, and raise the debt ceiling.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise with pride and in support of tonight's passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. As we know, the right to vote is fundamental to our Nation. That is why we should be doing everything possible not to make it more difficult to vote but to enhance voting rights. H.R. 4 does that by modifying the Voting Rights Act to restore and strengthen its antidiscrimination enforcement authorities. Now, in my district, prior to the Shelby decision, we had a voting rights county. But, clearly, the threats to our ability to vote are not limited to my district as this year alone 18 States across the country have passed 30 laws making it harder to vote. That is why I voted for this bill. That is why John Lewis served and sacrificed, and that is why he crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965 and in 2020 when I was honored to cross it with him, hand in hand. Tonight, we not only upheld the legacy of John Lewis but, by passing H.R. 4, we were able to eventually provide citizens with more opportunity to vote in our democracy.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bipartisan amendment No. 10 that would bolster agricultural research. This amendment, offered with my co-chair of the Ag Research Caucus, Rodney Davis from Illinois, would support farmers all across the country in their ongoing efforts to produce bigger, safer, sustainable, and more agriculture. In my district, on the central coast of California, otherwise known as the Salad Bowl of the World, with its hundreds of specialty crops, the farmers depend on USDA research programs, not just to survive but to succeed. Two of those key programs that our amendment funds are the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative, or AFRI, and the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority, also known as AGARDA. AFRI is the Nation's leading competitive grants program for agriculture research. Our amendment funds it with $450 million, a $15 million increase from last year. AGARDA is a new program that was authorized in the 2018 farm bill, and for the first time, it is now funded with $2 million. During the pandemic, Madam Speaker, it was clear that the work of our farmers and farmworkers is absolutely essential. The least that we can do in Congress is to provide this type of funding for the necessary research that will help not just our recovery right now, but it will also ensure food security for our future.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel Gary M. Hausman on his departure from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Col. Hausman was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1994 as a Military Intelligence Officer from the University of California, Irvine. He was initially assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado and served as a MI Platoon Leader, Assistant Battalion Intelligence Officer, HQ Company EO, Battalion Intelligence Officer, and Company Commander. Throughout his well-decorated military career, Col. Hausman demonstrated exceptional leadership and dutifully upheld the seven core values of the U.S. Army. Because of these attributes, Col. Hausman was competitively selected for many prestigious assignments and postings, including Cryptologic Services Group Officer in Charge at the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Battalion Operations Office and Executive Officer for the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade; Liaison Officer in support of the Special Operations Joint Task Force--Afghanistan; Liaison Officer for Joint Special Operations Command for the NSA in Fort Meade, Maryland; assuming command of the 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Buckley Air Force Base, Denver, CO; and as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General of Army Cyber Command and then the Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Cyber Command. During these assignments, Col. Hausman deployed several times to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, demonstrating bravery and a commitment to democracy in our global fight against terrorism. In June of 2018, Col. Hausman was appointed as Commandant for the Defense Language Institute Language Center and Presidio of Monterey, California. During his tenure, he oversaw the finest foreign language instruction of approximately 2,500 soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen, as well as select Department of Defense and State members. Col. Hausman's contributions to the Central Coast of California extend beyond the Defense Language Institute--he contributes to and supports our culture of service, learning, and community. Madam Speaker, Colonel Gary M. Hausman is an outstanding Army officer and model citizen who has served with honor throughout his nearly three decades of service. I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in honoring him today.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Mr. Timothy Goncharoff, an instrumental environmental advocate, on his retirement from his position as the Zero Waste Programs Manager for Santa Cruz County. Mr. Goncharoff has been an environmental champion and leader on California's Central Coast since the first Earth Day more than fifty years ago. His advocacy dates back to the creation of the Santa Cruz Greenbelt in 1979, an initiative that preserved open space and ensured future development in the rapidly expanding areas of Santa Cruz, which included adequate affordable housing. He also played an instrumental role in the designation of Monterey Bay as the 11th national marine sanctuary in 1992. Mr. Goncharoff has always been committed to reducing the impact of plastic pollution; he wrote the world's first law banning plastic straws, and authored ordinances restricting plastic bags and harmful styrofoam products. The impacts of Mr. Goncharoff's work can be seen beyond Santa Cruz County. A law authored by Mr. Goncharoff inspired Starbucks to establish its policy of only using recyclable and compostable products in thousands of locations worldwide. His ordinance creating a drug and sharps takeback program paid for by the pharmaceutical industry inspired a statewide law now rolling out across California. Further, his initiative to reduce single-use personal care products in hotels led to a new statewide law in California and changing standards in hotels around the world. During his time as the Zero Waste Programs Manager for Santa Cruz County, Mr. Goncharoff developed dozens of environmental protection laws that have improved the environmental outlook of the county, and served as examples for countless cities, counties, and states. Mr. Goncharoff has fought for a sustainable and equitable future for Santa Cruz County and his leadership has inspired others to do their part to address the climate crisis. Mr. Goncharoff's work has been honored by Governor Jerry Brown with the presentation of the Governor's Economic and Environmental Leadership Award, and by local environmental advocates Save Our Shores with their Ocean Hero Award. Madam Speaker, Mr. Goncharoff is an outstanding community leader and environmental advocate whose work has influenced those around the world to save our precious resources and create a brighter and more sustainable future. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring him here today.

Mr. PANETTA

Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, the child tax credit is a tax cut for working-class families. By passing the American Rescue Plan, we enhanced, and we advanced this tax cut, so that if you are a parent that works or a parent that cares for children, you will get a tax cut. We enhanced this tax cut so that per year working-class families will receive up to $3,600 for each child under 6 and $3,000 for each child under 18. We advanced this tax cut so that working class families will get this benefit starting July 15. Now, in my district on the central coast of California, the tax cut will benefit over 150,000 children and lift 15,000 children out of poverty. Working-class parents from the central coast to the center of America can use this support to provide healthcare, childcare, and daycare for their kids so that those same parents can continue to work, or better yet, get right back into the workforce. Madam Speaker, the child tax credit will not only help us recover from the economic shutdowns of the pandemic, it is a tax cut that will lift parents out of poverty, reward working-class families, and really represents what we stand for as a Nation.