John Salazar

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Doug Shriver, who was tragically killed with his friend Ray Wright on Friday, March 19, while clearing snow from the roof of Mr. Wright's cabin above Creede, Colorado. Mr. Shriver was my friend and a tremendously respected member of the San Luis Valley and Colorado water community. He was only 54 years old. Combined, both of these men held nearly 60 years of water knowledge related to the Upper Rio Grande basin and State of Colorado. Shriver was on the Colorado Ground Water Commission and served as president of the Rio Grande Water Users Association, an umbrella organization for ditch companies along the Rio Grande. All of these board positions were on a volunteer basis. Doug's service on these boards put him in the middle of the San Luis Valley's successful fight to keep its groundwater, sought by the American Water Development, Inc., and later the Stockmen's Water Company, both who hoped to sell it to the big cities. At the time of his death, he championed the establishment of subdistricts to further protect the San Luis Valley's groundwater, a concept where groundwater users pay a combination of fees and assessments to retire farm ground and reduce groundwater pumping to protect the aquifer. Shriver was a visionary in the San Luis Valley and Colorado water community. He strongly believed that both wildlife and agriculture could live together, and was a vocal advocate for the rural way of life at the Statewide level. A native of eastern Rio Grande County, he farmed potatoes and small grains. He was also an avid outdoorsman, who loved to ride snowmobiles and four-wheelers in the high country. My heart goes out to his family and his wife Carla. Madam Speaker, today, I also rise to pay tribute and honor the life of Ray Wright, who was tragically killed with his friend Doug Shriver in the same accident while clearing snow from the roof of his cabin in Creede, Colorado. Mr. Wright was my friend and a tremendously respected member of the San Luis Valley and Colorado's water community. He was 56 years old. Wright served on the Rio Grande Water Conservation District for nearly two decades, with the last 10 years as president. He was also a member of Colorado's Interbasin Compact Committee, a Statewide board tasked with balancing the State's water needs, and had served two terms on the Colorado Water Conservation Board. All of these board positions were on a volunteer basis. I served with Mr. Wright on the Rio Grande Water Conservation District board. His service on that board put him in the middle of San Luis Valley's successful fight to keep its groundwater, sought by AWDI and Stockmen's Water, who both hoped to sell it to big cities. At the time of his death, he championed the establishment also of the subdistricts to further protect the San Luis Valley's groundwater. Ray was also a visionary in the San Luis Valley and the Colorado water community. He strongly believed that both wildlife and agriculture could live together, and was a vocal advocate for the rural way of life. A native of Rio Grande County, he farmed potatoes and small grains. He was also an avid outdoorsman and angler, who built his own bamboo fly rods. He leaves three daughters--Suzanne, Sarah, and Lauren--as well as his long-time partner, Mona.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1128, honoring the 2010 American Winter Olympic team. This resolution recognizes the incredible accomplishments of the most decorated group of Winter Olympians in history and graciously thanks the people and the Government of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Canada for hosting Team USA. I want to draw, however, special attention to the exceptional Vancouver Olympians from the Third Congressional District of Colorado. Trained on the slopes of Aspen, Steamboat Springs, and Durango, there were 12 Olympians from the Third District competing in the 2010 Olympic Games, one of the highest from any congressional district in the country. It is no secret that Colorado is a wonderful place to ski, snowboard, ice skate, and the exceptional athletes that competed in Vancouver are an inspiration to the young winter sports enthusiasts across the country. All of us in the Third District are proud, not only of what they have accomplished, but also the way that they have represented themselves, their families, and the State of Colorado and our Nation. I would like to especially congratulate Johnny Spillane for his three silver medals in individual and team nordic combined, and his teammate Todd Lodwick for his silver in team nordic combined, both of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I'm so proud of Team USA, and I will continue to support their efforts. On behalf of the entire Third District of Colorado, congratulations on your success.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the work and legacy of Gary Severson, who for the past 11 years has admirably served as Executive Director of the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG). Mr. Severson has led the council with an openness and team spirit that has allowed for effective management, while developing partnerships among the city and county entities he served. Under his leadership, the NWCCOG has emerged as a viable cohort and has grown as a respected and valued resource in addressing regional issues. As a result, the Council's guidance has been sought by elected officials from Colorado to Washington, DC. Under Mr. Severson, the NWCCOG has taken responsibility for many complex federal and state projects with significant impact on programs including Weatherization, All-Hazards Emergency Management and Elevator Inspection Programs. The influence of his leadership has been particularly profound in protection of federal lands within the confines of the NWCCOG region. With more than 68 percent of the NWCCOG region being managed by federal agencies, his stewardship and insight have helped grow the Council into a recognized leader in National Forest Planning, Community Wildfire Protection Planning and mitigating the detrimental effects of bark beetle infestation. Such efforts have led to many accolades, including receipt of the prestigious USDA Rural Leadership Award. The future is bright for the region as the NWCCOG explores ways to expand on an economic base of recreation and construction. Mr. Severson's vision includes the possibilities of a sustainable wood products industry, enhancing higher education and upgrading medical services. He has truly left a lasting legacy of accomplishment. Madam Speaker, I proudly acknowledge the work and leadership of Gary Severson and extend to him the gratitude of the 28 member jurisdictions of NWCCOG for his 11 years as Executive Director. I wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Martha Twarkins, a Legis Congressional Fellow from the Brookings Institute, a specialist with the United States Forest Service and, for the past year, a dedicated and invaluable member of my staff. Throughout the year, Ms. Twarkins has contributed her considerable expertise and ability to legislative responsibilities in my office, and I could not be more grateful for or appreciative of her hard work. Throughout her tenure in my office, Ms. Twarkins has worked diligently to mitigate the effects of the bark beetle epidemic on communities in Colorado and across the western United States. She has also provided oversight and direction to many of my legislative priorities concerning the Forest Service, including securing an additional $40 million to help with the emergency bark beetle crisis. She was an important resource on grazing and water rights, and a key advisor in the consideration and proposal of many new wilderness designations to forever protect our most beautiful public lands. Additionally, Ms. Twarkins was my key liaison to the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Ms. Twarkins advised me on the committee's work on issues from fighting climate change in developing countries to creating a roadmap to Copenhagen. I truly appreciate her guidance on this committee. Ms. Twarkins will always have a special place in my heart. My entire staff joins me in wishing her the best of luck as she resumes her position with the Forest Service, and with all her future endeavors.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a man who has dedicated his life to serving others. Mr. Eduardo Pena's lifelong commitment to public service and the Hispanic American community are to be commended. Pena, a native of Laredo, Texas, is a 1957 graduate of the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marketing. He received his law degree in 1967 from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., while working full time for the Department of Labor. Pena has a long and distinguished career in public service, working for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the U.S. Senate, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He is a two time recipient, 1968 and 1969, of the DOL's award for meritorious achievement. In 1979, he resigned from government service to enter private law practice. However, this did not prevent him from engaging in a number of community service activities. In 1978 he was elected president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), where he served for one year and used his expertise to ensure civil rights for Latinos. Today, Pena remains heavily involved in LULAC as a volunteer and his wife, Ada, serves as the State Director for the District of Columbia. Earlier this year Eduardo Pena stepped down as General Counsel for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a pro bono post he held since March 1978. In this role he committed his own time and energy to providing pro bono expert legal counsel and guidance to an organization that has grown dramatically since he began his work. His efforts have assisted thousands of young Latinos to achieve a college education and take the first steps towards launching a successful career in public service and many other fields. CHCI's growth and advancement as an organization have taken place thanks to the dedication Eduardo Pena has demonstrated for more than three decades. Madam Speaker, I extend my sincere gratitude for more than 30 years of service to CHCI and a lifetime of contributions to the Hispanic American community and the nation.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased that this bill will help rural America. Currently, physicians in rural areas are reimbursed less from Medicare than their urban counterparts. H.R. 3962 will reimburse primary care physicians in rural areas 10 percent more than the urban physicians not only to equalize the disparity, but to make rural communities more attractive to physicians. Most of my district is considered a health professional shortage area. In my district in Colorado, we have three counties with only one practicing physician. We have one county with none at all. This bill will increase the number of physicians in all of my counties and improve access for 106,000 Medicare beneficiaries. This bill will expand insurance coverage to 111,000 currently uninsured residents in my district. In my district, it will protect 900 families from going bankrupt due to excessive health care costs. It will help 184,000 low-income families pay for their insurance. Our current system is broken, and it is time to fix it now.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. I want to thank the gentlewoman for recognizing me. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 139, a bill congratulating the first graduating class of the United States Air Force Academy on their 50th graduation anniversary. I want to commend my colleague the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) for introducing this resolution. The Air Force Academy is located just a few miles from my district, the Third Congressional District, in my home State of Colorado. Since its creation after being signed into law on April 1, 1954, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Air Force Academy has not only stood as an integral training ground for our Nation's officer corps, but is recognized nationally as a pillar of education. Since the swearing in of the 306 young men who made up the first class, many of our Nation's best and brightest have started their careers in the Air Force Academy. Each year around this time I receive applications from students across my district looking for recommendations to attend the Academy. I am proud to lend my support to hard-working students from the Third Congressional District of Colorado who are looking to advance their education while also serving their Nation. Today's cadets enthusiastically hope to follow in the steps of their predecessors who we are honoring today. Madam Speaker, I encourage Members on both sides of the aisle to support this measure, and congratulate those who took the first step as part of the initial graduating class 50 years ago. Once again, I commend the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 174, directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery south of Colorado Springs, to serve the veterans and families of southern Colorado. Mr. Speaker, Coloradans take great pride in serving our nation. As a veteran myself, I am proud to represent a district that is home to 70,000 of Colorado's almost 427,000 veterans. Generations of Coloradans have stood in the service of our nation with pride. In sharing that pride, our nation must also show its gratitude when our veterans pass away. During this difficult time, it eases a family's burden when seeing their loved one interred at a veteran's cemetery and to witness their sacrifices being remembered by the nation they served. However, we are faced with a situation where current standards place many VA cemeteries closer to large metropolitan areas. In my home state alone, there are 150,000 veterans in the 29 designated southern Colorado counties that are waiting for an accessible veteran's cemetery. Such policies punish our veterans for choosing to be buried in the small towns where they chose to live and raise their families. It is wrong to force families to travel many hours and hundreds of miles to visit the final resting place of their loved ones. As it stands, veterans and their families living in southern Colorado have the option of either making the difficult journey north to Ft. Logan in Denver or east to Ft. Lyons in Las Animas. With these facilities, families have found themselves forced to travel extreme distances over rough terrain in unpredictable weather. Since 1862, more than three million burials have been made in VA national cemeteries. National cemeteries are the testimony of a grateful nation to appropriately commemorate the Americans who have served our nation in the armed forces. Of the 120 cemeteries the VA National Cemetery Administration manages, 58 of them are no longer accepting interments. In anticipation of this, a cemetery in southern Colorado would extend the life of Ft. Logan and Ft. Lyon. Families would no longer have to travel to these distant locations and instead could bury their loved ones closer to home. In doing so, space that would otherwise be used at Ft. Logan and Ft. Lyon would remain available for families closer to Denver and Las Animas. On May 2, 2008 the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs held a field hearing in Colorado Springs, Colorado to review the need for a cemetery in southern Colorado. The hearing was presided over by Chairman John Hall, Representative Doug Lamborn and myself. Veterans Advocates, VSO's and widows with Gold Star Wives gave testimony in support of the legislation and reinforced the need for such a cemetery. After hearing testimony and having experienced the difficult driving conditions and an abrupt snow storm, particularly over Monument Hill, then Under Secretary Tuerk committed to bringing a national veterans cemetery to the southern Colorado region. The cemetery is supported by national VSO's, local veteran's advocates and most importantly the veterans and their families living in Colorado. With such overwhelming support by the Colorado delegation and Congress, the VA would be acting on the intent of Congress in establishing a cemetery in southern Colorado. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support our rural veterans and support this bill.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act of 2010. It is critical that we promote the development of solar energy technology in order to expand our national energy profile. Such advancements are also important in helping us achieve our goal of energy independence. Colorado, in particular, has great potential for the generation and use of solar energy. Ten miles west of the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Alamosa County, Colorado, sits an 8.2 megawatt photovoltaic plant, one of the largest solar farms in the Nation. With 1 megawatt having the capacity to power 800 homes, enough energy is produced at the Alamosa plant to power over 6,500 homes. The facility is expected to add 250 megawatts of solar power by 2015. Earlier this year, the Bureau of Land Management identified southern Colorado as a solar energy study area for concentrated solar energy production. The two dozen areas currently being evaluated by the Bureau of Land Management could produce as much as 100,000 megawatts of solar electricity. As a rancher, I am confident that the positive environmental impact, economic development, and cost savings yielded by the access to solar energy would benefit rural communities across the Nation. Mr. Speaker, it is crucial that we promote the use of technologies such as solar as part of our energy mix. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to give this bill their full support. Investment in advanced technologies will ensure that America remains on the cutting edge, secures our standing as a leader on the alternative energy front, and brings us one step closer to energy independence.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment today to pay tribute to my very good friend Ray Clifton. Ray is the executive director of the Colorado Rural Electric Association, a position he has held since 1986. However, he will soon be retiring. Ray is a graduate of the University of Georgia and began his career in the utility industry, working with the Georgia Statewide association of cooperatives, the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. From there, he came to Colorado to take on the job of running the CREA. As executive director, he has helped guide the CREA through exciting and challenging times, as the needs of supplying energy to Colorado homes and businesses has grown exponentially. He has been a leader and an innovator. His work has earned him awards and accolades, not to mention the many people who call him friend. I can proudly say that Ray is, indeed, my friend. Since my election to Congress in 2004, I have had many occasions to call upon Ray for advice and help as we deal with the difficult energy issues facing our State and our Nation. I always knew that Ray would tell it like it is and that his years of experience would be of great benefit to me as we in Congress wrestled with ensuring that our constituents had access to a reliable supply of electricity. What I really want to say today is thank you. Thank you for your years of service. Thank you for your always excellent and sage advice, and more importantly, thank you for your friendship and for the kindness you have shown me. Ray, I wish you the best in your retirement.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. I want to thank the chairman and ranking member for their wonderful leadership on this subcommittee. I rise today to support what I consider to be my best legislative accomplishment since I came to Congress in 2004, but let me first say how important the investments that we are making in this bill are. The nearly $2.5 billion for renewable energies will play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions, creating jobs, and producing clean energy. I especially want to point out the $225 million included for solar energy. The Third Congressional District of Colorado already has some of the largest solar farms in the world, and my constituents are already recognizing the very benefits of the solar industry. The $1.13 billion included for the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation are so vitally important to the Western United States. As other speakers have mentioned, water continues to be a damper to the livelihood of many Westerners, and this investment in our Nation's water infrastructure from dams, canals, treatment plants, and rural water projects is extremely important to our rural citizens as they face crisis after crisis, from Colorado all the way to California. This bill included several desperately needed dollars for rural water projects in Colorado. The $1.75 million for the Jackson Gulch Rehabilitation Project in Mancos, Colorado, and the $600,000 for the Platoro Reservoir in the San Luis Valley will help provide major assistance to improving these rural water districts. Lastly, and most importantly, I want to thank the chairman and ranking member and all the staff of the subcommittee for taking a step that has not been taken for 50 years. The roots of the Arkansas Valley Conduit stretch back to 1962, when President Kennedy signed the authorization by Congress, which was part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, which included the construction of Lake Pueblo. The Federal project was the end result of years of work by Pueblo and southern Colorado leaders who wanted to make better use of the region's water. ``This is the best news I've heard in a long time,'' said Bob Rawlings, publisher of the Pueblo Chieftain and an avid fighter for water rights in Colorado. I am happy to say to the people of southeastern Colorado you will no longer have to wait for clean drinking water. Clean drinking water is on the way.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my mentor and close friend, Mr. Richard D. ``Dick'' MacRavey. After 26 years of service as the Secretary and Executive Director of the Colorado Water Congress, Dick is announcing his retirement. Throughout his tenure, Dick helped enact a multitude of important legislation to protect water resources throughout Colorado. As Executive Director, Dick saw 350 of the 419 Colorado Water Congress supported bills enacted into law. In addition, only one of the 123 bills opposed by the Colorado Water Congress became law. This impressive record demonstrates Dick's effective leadership and dedication to protecting Colorado's water. During my time in the Colorado State Legislature, Dick took me under his wing and taught me a great deal about water legislation. As a farmer and lifelong resident of the San Luis Valley, I understand the importance of water. This precious resource is our lifeblood and essential to maintaining our way of life. Dick understood the needs of everyone--from farmers like me in rural Colorado to those in towns like Aspen, Carbondale, and Telluride and cities like Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs. With his guidance, I helped craft a piece of legislation, ``The Basin of Origin Protection,'' which I am very proud of. Although this bill was never enacted into law, the lessons that Dick taught me during this experience were invaluable. I will always consider Dick a great mentor and a friend. Dick's dedication to protecting water and serving Colorado started long before his involvement with the Colorado Water Congress. He served 3 years as Executive Director to the Larimer-Weld Council of Governments and 7 years as Executive Director of the Colorado Municipal League. While at Larimer-Weld COG, Dick developed and guided the early stages of the Larimer-Weld ``208'' Water Quality Management Planning effort. In 1970, Dick served as chairman of the Colorado Good Government Committee for the promotion of the State constitutional amendments 1, Governors Cabinet; 2, State Civil Service Reorganization; and 3, Local Government Modernization. All three amendments were approved overwhelmingly by the people of Colorado. In addition, Dick was involved in six other statewide initiative campaigns and was successful in all six campaigns. In 1988, Dick was appointed to Colorado Vision 2000, and in 1989, he was appointed to become part of the 16-member Legislative Council Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning for State Government. From 1969 to 1971, Dick served on the National League of Cities Board of Directors. He also served as a member of the Boards for the Colorado Water PAC and the Colorado Water Education Foundation. Dick is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, Colorado Society of Association Executives, American Water Works Association, and International City Management Association. Dick is one of Colorado's great leaders. He has been involved in many aspects of Colorado life and has worked tirelessly to protect our current and future generations. However, it is his tireless fight for water that has been most inspiring to me. In 1999, Dick was named the 19th recipient of the Wayne N. Aspinall Water Leader of the Year award. This is a prestigious award in Colorado named after a former Congressman of the district I currently represent. Mr. Aspinall was a water champion for Colorado and instrumental in helping to ensure that Colorado residents have access to a safe water supply. After I was elected to the U.S. House in 2004, Dick gave me a biography entitled ``Wayne Aspinall: Mr. Chairman.'' On the inside cover he wrote me an inspirational and encouraging message. It read: To John Salazar. This book is about one of Colorado's great Members of Congress. You will some day also rank as one of the great members from Colorado. I have no doubts about your future achievement. Your friend, Dick MacRavey. January 27, 2005. Madam Speaker, this note touched my heart, and I keep this book with me in my congressional office. While serving in Congress, I will continue to fight for Colorado's water, and I hope that my efforts will make Dick MacRavey proud. I wish Dick well in his retirement, and I want him to know he will always have a special place in my heart.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my mentor and close friend, Mr. Richard D. ``Dick'' MacRavey. After twenty-six years of service as the Secretary and Executive Director of the Colorado Water Congress, Dick is announcing his retirement. Throughout his tenure, Dick helped enact a multitude of important legislation to protect water resources throughout Colorado. As Executive Director, Dick saw 350 of the 419 Colorado Water Congress supported bills enacted into law. In addition, only one of the 123 bills opposed by the Colorado Water Congress became law. This impressive record demonstrates Dick's effective leadership and dedication to protecting Colorado's water. During my time in the Colorado State Legislature, Dick took me under his wing and taught me a great deal about water legislation. As a farmer and life-long resident of the San Luis Valley, I understand the importance of water. This precious resource is our lifeblood and essential to maintaining our way of life. Dick understood the needs of everyone. From farmers, like me, in rural Colorado, to those in towns like Aspen, Carbondale and Telluride and cities like Denver, Aurora and Colorado Springs. With his guidance, I helped craft a piece of legislation, ``The Basin of Origin Protection,'' which I am very proud of. Although this bill was never enacted into law, the lessons Dick taught me during this experience were invaluable. I will always consider Dick a great mentor and friend. Dick's dedication to protecting water and to serving Colorado started long before his involvement with the Colorado Water Congress. He served three years as Executive Director to the Larimer-Weld Council of Governments and seven years as Executive Director of the Colorado Municipal League. While at Larimer-Weld COG, Dick developed and guided the early stages of the Larimer-Weld ``208'' Water Quality Management Planning effort. In 1970, Dick served as Chairman of the Colorado Good Government Committee for the promotion of the State Constitutional Amendments One (Governor's Cabinet), Two (State Civil Service Reorganization) and Three (Local Government Modernization). All three amendments were approved overwhelmingly by the people of Colorado. In addition, Dick was involved in six other statewide initiative campaigns and was successful in all six campaigns. In 1988, Dick was appointed to COLORADO VISION 2000 and, in 1989, he was appointed to become part of the 16-member Legislative Council Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning for the State Government. From 1969-71, Dick served on the National League of Cities Board of Directors. He also served as a member of the Boards for the Colorado Water PAC and the Colorado Water Education Foundation. Dick is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, Colorado Society of Association Executives, American Water Works Association and International City Management Association. Dick is one of Colorado's great leaders. He has been involved in many aspects of Colorado life and has worked tirelessly to protect our current and future generations. However, it is his tireless fight for water that has been most inspiring to me. In 1999, Dick was named the nineteenth recipient of the ``Wayne N. Aspinall Water Leader of the Year Award.'' This is a prestigious award in Colorado named after a former Congressman of the District I currently represent. Mr. Aspinall was a water champion for Colorado and was instrumental in helping to ensure that Colorado residents have access to a safe water supply. After I was elected to the U.S. House in 2004, Dick gave me a biography, entitled ``Wayne Aspinall: Mr. Chairman.'' In the inside cover, he wrote me an inspirational and encouraging message. It read: To: John Salazar, This book is about one of Colorado's great members of Congress. You will some day also rank as one of the great members from Colorado. I have no doubts about your future achievement. Your friend, Dick MacRavey. January 27, 2005. This note touched my heart and I keep this book with me in my Congressional office. While serving in Congress, I will continue to fight for Colorado's water and I hope that my efforts will make Dick MacRavey proud. I wish Dick well in his retirement and I want him to know that he will always have a special place in my heart.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. First of all, I want to thank you for your diligence in trying to help the agricultural community in California. On June 28 of 2009, Mr. Chairman, at the request of Congressman Costa and Congressman Cardoza, the Secretary of the Interior, Secretary Salazar and Deputy Secretary Hayes, Reclamation Commissioner Connor held a public meeting to address the issues of the drought in California. But previous to that, I want to also thank the administration for previously working on issues, because they understood that the drought was of deep concern to this country. In April of 2009, the Department announced the allocation of $220 million of ARRA funding from the Bureau of Reclamation for water and environmental infrastructure projects in California. Of this amount, $160 million was directed to projects to address needs of the Central Valley. Allocation of $40 million will be made for drought relief actions, most of which will go to California, with final awards coming very, very soon. Reclamation has released $134 million in water recycling and water reuse grants, of which $120 million was allocated to communities of California. Reclamation has also processed over 100 transfers, totaling 263,000 acre-feet of water to address shortages in the San Joaquin Valley. Reclamation has also accommodated a rescheduling request by Westside and other Central Valley Water Project contractors to allow them to preserve and use prior year allocations in the sum of 250,000 acre-feet in San Luis Reservoir and 57,000 acre-feet in Millerton Lake. Secretary Salazar has also asked Deputy Secretary Hayes to coordinate Federal efforts related to California water issues. So I just want to commend the administration for their diligence in trying to address the issues in California.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. I want to take a moment to recognize both Chairman Edwards and Ranking Member Wamp for their valiant effort in putting this bill together. I don't think there are any greater champions for military veterans and their families. All 17.5 million in the United States should applaud the chairman and the ranking member for their diligent fight. Madam Chair, I would like to bring one specific project in the bill forward and not only thank the chairman and the ranking member, but also Secretary Shinseki and President Obama and the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Mr. Filner, for including the $119 million for the new Fitzsimmons Veterans Hospital in Denver, Colorado. This facility will provide full service to half a million veterans currently residing in my home State of Colorado and many across the Rocky Mountain west. This new facility will be open and begin serving veterans by 2013. The 200-bed hospital will reach over a million square feet in size and include 30 special beds for spinal cord injuries. I am proud that after over a decade of waiting, the veterans of the Rocky Mountain west and my State will finally benefit from this state- of-the-art facility.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a respected leader of Southwest Colorado, Mr. John Gamble of Durango. Mr. Gamble has served the community of Southwest Colorado with distinction for 24 years and is announcing his retirement this month. In 1985, Mr. Gamble took over the new Southwest Colorado Volunteers of America in Durango, Colorado. Under his strong and steady leadership, the agency grew to provide many critical services to the community. At the beginning of his tenure, Mr. Gamble helped to open a domestic violence shelter to provide a safe haven for those in need. And, in the early 1990s, he led the effort to open a much needed homeless shelter. To fund all of these critical services, Mr. Gamble opened a very successful thrift store and led many colorful and profitable fundraising events. In his spare time, Mr. Gamble served on the Durango City Council, including a term as the mayor of that proud city. Madam Speaker, I commend Mr. John Gamble for his outstanding service and dedication to the residents of Southwest Colorado. Mr. Gamble clearly has a heart for service and the skills to get the job done. His community is a better place due to his efforts. While we will all miss Mr. Gamble's service and leadership, I ask that you join me in wishing him well upon his retirement.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an unsung hero from Southwest Colorado; Lt. Colonel Charlie Parnell of Durango. Charlie Parnell has selflessly and tirelessly been serving the veterans of Southwest Colorado for many years and it is time that he is recognized for this service. In 1988, Lt. Colonel Parnell retired from the United States Air Force after 26 years of honorable service, including tours of duty in Germany, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. He is the proud recipient of the Bronze Star. After struggling for 15 years to receive the disability benefits he had earned from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Lt. Colonel Parnell dedicated himself to helping his fellow veterans wade through the challenging VA benefits system so they too would receive the compensation they had earned. Since then, he has helped over 1000 veterans receive their benefits, and has done so completely at his own expense. It is this type of above the call-of-duty service that makes this nation great. And it is this kind of service that deserves all of our recognition. When asked why he does what he does for his fellow disabled veterans, Lt. Colonel Parnell says simply, ``Because I can.'' Madam Speaker, today I rise to join the 1000 veterans in Colorado's Southwest region to thank and honor Charlie Parnell for his service to this country and to my constituents in the Third Congressional District. Thank you, Lt. Colonel Parnell for your hard work and dedication to our nation.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Chairman, today I rise to enter into a colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the Transportation Committee. First of all, Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you and Mr. Costello for your strong leadership and for improving the safety of air ambulance operations. I want to thank you for working with us on this issue over the last couple of years. I've had an opportunity to discuss my legislation with you. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support your amendment, which includes a section that will enhance the safety of helicopters to the air medical safety community. As you know, there have been far too many fatal accidents over the years, and I thank the chairman for working on this issue over the past 4 years. We have seen three fatal air ambulance crashes in my district. A flight crew from Steamboat Springs crashed on January 11, 2005. A few months later, on June 30, 2005, an EMS helicopter crashed in Mancos, Colorado. On October 4, 2007, we lost three lives near Pagosa Springs. Two of those involved fixed-wing aircraft, and that is why it's so critical to improve the safety standards on all aircraft that provide air ambulance services. Mr. Lungren and I introduced legislation to increase the safety of all aircraft, not only of helicopters, and of pilots providing air ambulance services. Our legislation includes both helicopters and fixed wings. I would like to ask if you would be willing to work with us to include all aircraft that provide air medical services in the future. I yield to the chairman.

Mr. SALAZAR. I appreciate the chairman's commitment, and I look forward to continuing to work together.

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Chair, I thank the Gentleman from New York for yielding and I would like to recognize Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Costello for their exceptional leadership on this very important bill. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 915, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009, and urge its passage. There are many good and important issues addressed in this bill: safety, nextgen, consumer protections, and increased funding to the Airport Improvement Program. But I'd like to especially thank the leadership on the committee for working with me on several issues that are particularly important to my constituents back home. H.R. 915 provides increased funding to local governments throughout the country to maintain and develop their airports, which serve as cornerstones for economic growth. As many of us come from and represent small, rural communities, we appreciate the need to preserve and improve rural aviation programs, such as Essential Air Service. EAS serves rural communities across the country that otherwise would not receive any scheduled air service. There are more than 140 rural communities nationwide, including Cortez, Alamosa and Pueblo in my state of Colorado, that rely on this program and will benefit from this legislation. And I again want to thank the Chairman for working with me to ensure our EMS flights meet the highest safety standards. Overall, I'm pleased to see the improvements made in this bill and I hope the Senate will follow our lead and move this important piece of legislation. I believe H.R. 915 ensures that we remain the world's safest aviation system, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 466 the Wounded Veteran Job Security Act. It is more important than ever that we support this bill because of the difficult economic times facing our nation. American servicemen and women put their lives on the line every day to ensure our freedoms. Across the globe, U.S. troops are engaging in combat and humanitarian missions that place them in harms way. Regardless of the danger, generations of Americans continue to answer the call of duty. My father was an Army Staff Sergeant during World War II. My brother and I served in the Army during the Vietnam era. Most recently, my son's Army National Guard unit was activated after the September 11th attacks. As a former member of the House Committee on Veteran's Affairs, I worked with my colleagues to ensure that Veterans had opportunities to find a job once they returned home. It is important that veterans not only find a job, but they are not penalized by their employer for injuries or illnesses they received in the service of their nation. A stable career path is essential to ensuring a seamless transition into civilian life. It is unacceptable to merely provide equipment to protect our troops in combat without also having policies in place to protect them once they return home. I hope to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to create policy that helps our veterans and their families prosper and enjoy the freedoms they helped to ensure.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I'd like to share with you and my esteemed colleagues the importance of the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Basin Endangered Fish Recovery Program. This program is a premier example of how to recover endangered fish species while also providing more than 3 million acre-feet of water per year to Federal, tribal and non-Federal water projects. It has been cited as the most successful fish recovery program in the United States and is used as a model for other recovery programs developed across the country. Today I am introducing the ``Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Improvement Act of 2009'' to ensure this program can finish the restoration projects identified for complete success. This bill extends the authorization of programs until 2023. At that time the fish species of concern will be fully recovered and the infrastructure in place to ensure continued success. The projects completed to date on the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins are examples of outstanding cooperation among a diverse group of local, state and federal governmental agencies, environmental groups, water users and utility consumers. People ask why they've never heard of this recovery program and that's because it has been so successful. The fish identified as being under threat have been substantially maintained. This bill is critical for the continued and final success of the projects necessary for recovery of the endangered fish.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, this evening, the Southwestern Colorado Water Conservation District will bid farewell to a most dedicated, knowledgeable and remarkable man who has served on its board for 55 years. Fred V. Kroeger of Durango, Colorado is a devoted man--to his family, his community and water resources. Fred was born in 1918 in Durango, Colorado and he lived there all his life. He graduated from Fort Lewis College and he made his home there with his beloved wife Eleanor. Fred and Eleanor raised their children in Durango and operated a business there--Kroeger's True Value Hardware. But Fred's grandfather and father were tied to the rural land and the agricultural economy of the region, and Fred's commitment to the farmers and ranchers who were his neighbors continued throughout his life. That commitment was evidenced by Fred's steadfast support for the Animas-La Plata Project, which was to deliver water to the ``dry side'' so that those farmers and ranchers could thrive with a more reliable and generous water supply. To this day, Fred bemoans the loss of the irrigation features of the project, which is now nearly complete but is limited to municipal and industrial supplies. Indeed, the first water meeting Fred attended was with the Southwestern District to discuss the Animas-La Plata Project in 1948. In addition to serving on that board, Fred served on the Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District board for 24 years, the Colorado Water Conservation Board for 21 years and has been a member of the Colorado Water Congress for 51 years. That organization bestowed upon Fred the prestigious Wayne Aspinall Water Leader of the Year Award, given in the name of one of my predecessors who chaired the then-House Interior Committee where many of the water projects Fred Kroeger fought for were developed. Fred was active in his community and its civic and cultural organizations. He always carries a little pocket calendar with him, and it is jammed with meeting commitments to boards, business, family and friends. At 91, Fred has decided to free up some of those days on the calendar, and so he decided to retire from the Southwestern District board. He richly deserves the recognition he will receive tonight from his colleagues. I offer not only my congratulations to him on his retirement, by a little regret that he will be leaving and a mountain of respect for what he has given to the water resource community.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, today the House voted on final passage of H.R. 1256, The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. I was unavoidably detained and was unable to be here for the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the bill.

Mr. SALAZAR

Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of fire engineer William ``Billy'' D. Pine, an American hero who touched the lives of many. Born on July 3, 1979 in Yuma, Colorado, Mr. Pine lived a brave and courageous life putting out fires in his community. Known as the lovable firehouse prankster with an infectious smile and contagious laugh, Mr. Pine was both admired and respected by his fellow firefighters. After joining the Pueblo Fire Department in 2004, he quickly became active in the Union and planned firehouse activities. Mr. Pine was a ``firefighter's firefighter'' and his coworkers quickly became his second family. Mr. Pine was committed to both his work and his family. He met his wife, Janice, shortly after moving to Pueblo in 2003. The two were set up on a lunch date by a mutual friend and immediately became inseparable. They married in July 2005 and, the following April, welcomed the birth of their daughter, Sydney Taylor. Mr. Pine loved being a father and was dedicated to providing a good life for his family. However, on October 4, 2006, when Sydney was only 6 months old and he only 27, the unexpected happened. When Mr. Pine rolled over in bed to help his wife with her homework, a tumor burst, causing his intestine to erupt. After being rushed to the hospital, Mr. Pine was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and immediately began chemotherapy. While his family and friends struggled with the shocking news, Mr. Pine stayed strong. Throughout chemotherapy, Mr. Pine remained dedicated to the fire department. On good days, he would go in to work. On bad days, his coworkers would cover his shifts and send him the paycheck. In April 2008, Mr. Pine was able to return to work full-time and fought in one last fire. When a deadly brushfire swept through Olney Springs on April 15, Mr. Pine responded to the call. When he got there, two of his fellow firefighters were stuck behind a downed power line. Although, as a trained fire engineer, Mr. Pine was required to stay at the controls of his pumper truck, he went into the blaze and saved the two men. He was their hero. Mr. Pine showed amazing strength and courage until the very end. Tragically, he lost his battle with cancer on August 19, 2008 at age 29. I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Pine and am proud to announce that his name will be added to the Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Colorado Springs on September 19, 2009. Mr. Pine was a kind, loyal and genuine man who inspired those around him. May he be remembered along with the other heroes in Colorado who have given their lives protecting this country.