Jackie Speier

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, today, we commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Sumgait pogroms, which saw the murder, abuse, and eventual expulsion of Armenian Christians living in Azerbaijan and Nagorno- Karabakh solely based on their Armenian identity. The Azeri government cannot be allowed to continue denying its role in instigating these atrocities and allowing them to continue, especially in light of similar efforts to target Armenians by Azerbaijan today. I hold memories of the Sumgait victims close to my heart, they motivate me to fight for the rights for Armenians and all people.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, today I have the great honor of reading again along with my colleague, Angie Craig, ``I Am Jazz.'' It is a book about a transsexual young boy who becomes a young girl. ``I am Jazz. ``For as long as I can remember, my favorite color has been pink. My second-favorite color is silver and my third favorite color is green. ``Here are some of my other favorite things: dancing, singing, back flips, drawing, soccer, swimming, makeup, and pretending I'm a pop star. ``Most of all, I love mermaids. Sometimes I even wear a mermaid tail in the pool. ``My best friends are Samantha and Casey. We always have fun together. We like high heels and princess gowns, or cartwheels and trampolines. ``But I am not exactly like Samantha and Casey. ``I have a girl brain but a boy body. This is called transgender. I was born this way.''

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 4, 2019, and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Krista Joy Martinelli as she ends her service as City Clerk of the City of South San Francisco. It's unusual to have an attorney as a city clerk, but Krista is unusually committed to helping others. A California city clerk has many important duties. The clerk runs local elections, documents the development and passage of local ordinances, provides public records under the Public Records Act and the Political Reform Act, and ensures that public meetings are held in compliance with California's open meeting law known as the Brown Act. On ceremonial occasions, the clerk's office will often organize events. In all circumstances, a city clerk must be accountable to the public and supportive of the efficient operations of all city departments. Krista Martinelli excelled in the performance of her duties. As an attorney, she recognized that a foundation of good government is accurate recordkeeping and ready access to information by all. As the duties of her job multiplied under numerous new mandates, she and her team managed compliance despite a tripling of compliance obligations. She advocated for the public and offered efficient administration of local elections. Residents could always count on Krista to produce records in a timely and accurate manner. In her extended professional life, Krista served on numerous statewide committees that support the duties of a city clerk, including the League of California Cities' Administrative Policy Committee and she worked in the state legislature to support needed changes in the law. As if all that wasn't enough to occupy her time, she has co- authored five publications and authored two. She is leaving public life to again work as an attorney and to advocate for children with special education needs. Her hard-working autistic son, Noah, is the inspiration for her next phase in life. Using skills honed as a seasoned litigator during her early years out of law school, she will be negotiating and mediating on behalf of children who need representation before school districts. She will be a powerful advocate for parents seeking equal education opportunities for their children. She hopes to build collaborative relationships between teachers, school administrators and parents throughout all phases of the IEP process. She holds a BS in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She is a member of the State Bar of California. Life tosses us curveballs. In Krista's case, she's excelled in every undertaking. Now, out of dedication to others like Noah, she will begin a new phase and we will all be better off due to this new way in which she will serve the public's interest. We want to thank her husband, Greg Elliott, and her children Noah, Lucca, Santino, and Pia, who have allowed us to share Krista's time with them. She is a woman of faith and active in All Soul's Church. Her faith and her optimism will buoy her during this next adventure. I have always been impressed with Krista, her work ethic and professionalism. We in the community wish her well and we are blessed that she will remain a neighbor and friend for years to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Sue Digre for her 16 outstanding years of service on the Pacifica City Council, three times as mayor. Sue's compassion for others and her love of community have shaped her public service and dedication to keep Pacifica a livable and lovable town on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. It is her firm belief that Pacifica's environment with stunning ocean views, coastal hills, and family-friendly neighborhoods is its most valuable asset. Sue deserves much credit for the current upgrades and repaving of Highway 1 by Caltrans. This ambitious project will renew ten miles of Highway 1 from Gray Whale Cove to the Highway 1/280 interchange, the first time in over 20 years that the main road through Pacifica will be repaved end-to-end instead of in sections. The finished project will be hugely beneficial to the 250th Commemoration of the Ohlone-Portola Heritage Trail in 2019, an event Sue has lobbied for since 2014. Sue was also instrumental in helping the Pacifica Historical Society turn the Little Brown Church into a beautiful coastal museum and event space. The Manor Beach Park, brainchild of the late Councilman Jim Vreeland, was completed in part due to Sue's efforts. A tireless advocate for our youth, Sue feels it is important that they be given an opportunity to speak for themselves. She helped create the Youth Advisory Board in 2011, and a representative of the board now has a seat on the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission. She supported TRUST, Teens are Unbelievably Strong Together, in their work surveying transportation needs for youth and seniors which temporarily led to shuttles in Pacifica. Sue understands that small businesses are the lifeblood of her town and has consistently listened to their owners' needs. She also spearheaded Pacifica's membership in the San Mateo County/Silicon Valley Visitors Bureau which brings the town attention from visitors throughout the region. While Pacifica's geography makes it one of the most spectacular communities in San Mateo County, it also makes it vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal erosion. In 2016, fierce El Nino storms pounded the coast and damaged the seawall. Sue, along with the entire council and city staff, reached out to the City of San Francisco, the State of California and the federal government for assistance. To this day, my office is deeply involved in finding solutions to these ongoing challenges. My office has also worked closely with Sue and the council to reduce the relentless airplane noise that has been plaguing Pacifica neighborhoods for years. Sue has been a fierce advocate for Pacificans on the disastrous health impacts of airplane noise that the FAA must address. Susan Anne Lockard was born in Youngstown, Ohio and, as a Navy child, attended schools all across the country and world, from Ohio to North Carolina to Hawaii to Japan to Illinois to California. She earned her B.A. in Biology with a minor in Philosophy and a California State Life Credential from the Women's College of Notre Dame in Belmont. She started teaching general education classes throughout California for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1960. In 1968 she moved to Burlingame and taught at Mercy elementary and high schools until 1999. In 1977, she married Erick L. Digre. They have four children, Colleen, Sean, Michael and Scott. Sean and Michael serve in the military and were deployed after 9/11. Sue reached out to other mothers through the local paper, the Pacifica Tribune, to co-found the Pacifica Military Moms. This effort led to its incorporation as the San Mateo County Blue Star Moms. Since 1999, Sue has served as the Family Support Services and Advocacy Department Director for PARCA, Partners and Advocates for Remarkable Children and Adults. She has also volunteered for numerous organizations including the Burlingame Civic Action Forum, the Pacifica Open Space Committee, and the Sierra Club. As is obvious from this list, Sue is deeply dedicated to serving her community and supporting those in need. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor a great community leader and personal friend, Sue Digre. We hail her contributions to Pacifica residents and visitors that will remain long after she retires from the city council. It's been my privilege to work with her for many years and I have no doubt that she will continue her civic engagement in her beloved home town.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Donna Rutherford who is leaving the city council of East Palo Alto after a total of 25 years of service to the residents of her remarkable community. Donna is a steady voice of reason and a warm, committed person who welcomes all who enjoy her city's diversity, opportunity, and vitality. East Palo Alto is a city in the midst of great change. As a town of nearly 30,000, the community is at the crossroads of two major highways, deep in the heart of Silicon Valley. Donna Rutherford understands that the economic forces shaping East Palo Alto must not be allowed to change the diverse population of the community but instead be harnessed to create opportunity for all its residents. Central to opportunity is housing, and as a councilwoman Donna Rutherford advocated for and supported the construction of affordable housing for all populations. While Mayor, she approved of, and then joined in turning the ground for, a long-awaited senior project-- University Avenue Senior Housing. On the council, she consistently spoke about the need to develop the city's parcel on Weeks Street, a project that will come to fruition in the next few years thanks in part to her vote. She also supported the use of a city-controlled lot that will soon become a supervised, nighttime parking location for residents living in their recreational vehicles. Her dedication to opportunity did not begin with the council. As a school volunteer while her children were in elementary school, she attended school board meetings so frequently that some thought she was a district employee. She ran for the school board and was successful, serving from 1988 to 2000, including some of the most difficult years of school funding by the state. At one point, students approached the city council with a study showing that East Palo Alto had more liquor stores per capita than surrounding communities. The council took note, and Donna celebrated their investment of time and energy, noting years later that students have so much potential to make a difference. Liquor stores have gradually given way to a thriving retail center, a hotel and office complex and other improvements to East Palo Alto's quality of life. As a councilmember, Donna Rutherford represented the city on the San Mateo County Vector Control District board, as an alternate on C/CAG-- an agency formed from cities throughout San Mateo County, on the county library board, and the wastewater management board. She is also the city's alternate on numerous other important boards impacting the quality of life of residents. Mr. Speaker and Members, East Palo Alto is definitely a city on the move. It will miss the leadership of Donna Rutherford, but her moral authority and authentic voice of concern, filled with wisdom, will continue for many years to come. She once noted of her childhood neighborhood, Hunters Point, that she loved living near the bay. The winds sometimes blow hard across both Hunters Point and East Palo Alto, two communities with a vast bay shoreline, but the winds will never extinguish the will to serve that lives within the heart of Donna Rutherford. Donna Rutherford is a friend and colleague whose guidance I will miss as East Palo Alto continues to evolve. I know she will still be available to offer her sage advice. As she retires from the council, I wish her, her husband, Joe, and her children Trevor, Roxanne, and Damaris well in the years to come and we know that new adventures await this relentless leader of East Palo Alto.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Richard Cline as he concludes his service on the City Council of Menlo Park. He leaves a record of passionate commitment to the priorities of housing, transportation and education. A few years ago, as the economy was finally recovering, Councilman Cline and I visited a large development for seniors. It sits on a main entrance to the Belle Haven neighborhood. Sequoia Belle Haven offers 90 deeply discounted apartments to seniors, plus amenities such as organized events and access to public transit. It is a model that reflects the commitment of the entire city to its elderly, low income population. Councilman Cline was very proud, and rightfully so. As a member of the council, he knew many long-time Menlo Park residents who would benefit by moving to this new development. He was also very enthusiastic about building housing at the site of an abandoned school located in Menlo Park. It appears that the district and the city have agreed that this would be a good site for faculty/ staff housing, and that the site has since been cleared in preparation for future development. During his 12 years on the council, he supported the revitalization of the downtown plan which included hundreds of new housing units. In Menlo Park, parks and recreation are treasured. Councilman Cline helped guide the city council during a period of significant construction on the Burgess Campus, the passage of bonds for a sports field, and construction of an ever-expanding bike lane system. The City of Menlo Park is blessed with exploding economic development. As a councilmember who sat on the council through the Great Recession and who had to make very painful cuts to the city's budget in order to deliver balanced budgets for 10 of his 12 years of service, Rich Cline has seen both sides of the economic cycle. He supported tiered pensions for sustainability and worked hard with his colleagues to ensure that prudent reserves were created during times when property and sales taxes rise. He advocated for smart growth along transportation corridors and for mitigations to the Facebook development that would put housing closer to the campus, create shuttles, and potentially reactivate a rail line across the bay to reduce vehicle traffic. At some point, long- anticipated improvements to the Willow Road overcrossing will be finalized. While Rich Cline will not be on the council when the intersection is opened, his support was vital to ensuring that this community-wide benefit is implemented. In his elections to the council, he was variously supported by the Sierra Club and labor, community leaders and businesses. Rich Cline is a pragmatist and a respectful leader, which is part of the reason that his colleagues elected him Mayor of Menlo Park on three separate occasions. As he retires from the council to concentrate on his business and family, we want to thank his wife Julie, and their three children, Maria, Chiara and Gina, for allowing Rich to spend so much time on public affairs during these three terms on the council. He will be missed as he leaves an indelible impact on Menlo Park. His service is an excellent example of the quality of local leadership that exists in San Mateo County, and of the strength of democracy in cities throughout America.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Pradeep Gupta as he departs the South San Francisco city council. Councilman Gupta served four years during a time of enormous change in South San Francisco, and previously served for three years as a planning commissioner. South San Francisco is a city of 67,000 with a long and colorful history. Immigrants settled in the early 1900's and were the backbone of a thriving industrial hub. The city was once home to steel mills, meat packing plants, and paint manufacturers, among many industrial enterprises. Today, South San Francisco is universally recognized as the biotechnology capital of the world, and the founding location of the biotechnology industry with Genentech's establishment in 1976 in the city's Oyster Point area. Pradeep Gupta fits well with his city's history. In 1964, he arrived in the United States from India with a superb education and ambition, but little money. He attended Purdue and obtained his MSEE in 1966 and his PhD in Electrical Engineering in 1969. He had a successful engineering career around the globe working with Southern California Edison, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and as a consultant to USAID and the World Bank on international energy projects. Ultimately, Pradeep and his wife, Kumkum, settled in South San Francisco. Councilman Gupta is a scientist at heart, and a leader in growing the connections between industry and local schools. He initiated the Steering Committee on Biotechnology, Workforce and Education. He worked hard with the Genentech Foundation so that a new $7.9 million biotechnology laboratory at South San Francisco High School could be approved and constructed. Today's students in South San Francisco schools come from around the globe. Councilman Gupta is living proof that America thrives when its immigrants have opportunity. Extending this lesson to others, and using his position on the council for educational advocacy, is a passion of Councilman Gupta. Population growth is rarely without conflict. Historically, South San Francisco has extended the hand of welcome to new arrivals and allowed for the construction of ample housing at affordable prices. In recent years, global capital flowing into the biotechnology sector has brought explosive employment growth to the east side of the city. Councilman Gupta was far-sighted enough to welcome new, high density housing in the city's core and around the train station so that employees could find homes near their jobs. On numerous occasions over the years, Councilman Gupta remarked to me or to my staff about how troubled he was by the hardships created by skyrocketing rental and homeownership costs. He can be proud that developments near the core and near the BART station around Chestnut and the El Camino Real will allow many families to settle and work in the community. San Mateo County is one of a few communities to have created its own electricity aggregator. Peninsula Clean Energy delivers greener, less expensive electricity than the existing utility. Councilman Gupta, with his extensive history in the industry, was an invaluable contributor to the effort to bring this service to San Mateo County residents. Among his many responsibilities on the council, he has served as a board member of the Association of Bay Area Governments, as the Chair of the Economic Strategy Group, as Mayor in 2017, and as a board member of the C/CAG Resource Management and Climate Protection Committee. He performs all these official duties while also being a loving father to his children Seema and Susheem, and a loving grandfather to grandson David and granddaughters Riya, Raveena, and Nadia. I closing, I want to remark upon the goodwill and grace of Pradeep Gupta. He is my friend, and I've known him to be passionate, but I've never seen him cross. I've known him to be energetic, but he's always organized. His constituents recognize him as highly educated but nonetheless a man who easily relates to others. In short, he is a quintessential leader of South San Francisco--outgoing, responsive to community needs, and deeply devoted to his family. As he closes this chapter in his life, others will open. I spent my childhood in this city, and despite all of the outward change the community remains rooted in family, faith and country. In sum, South San Francisco, the Industrial City, is a place of generous, loving people vigorously engaged in the enterprise of building the United States of America. Pradeep Gupta will be remembered by his neighbors and friends as a master builder.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Liza Normandy for her five years of service on the South San Francisco City Council, including this year as the Mayor. Liza is firmly committed to keeping South San Francisco diverse and thriving so that all residents can live, work and eventually retire in this San Francisco Peninsula town of 67,000. Mayor Normandy has been a strong advocate for affordable housing, solutions to the gridlock on our roads, infrastructure upgrades, youth and senior programs and fiscal responsibility. During her tenure on the council she served on the Community Development Block Grant Subcommittee, the Downtown Subcommittee, the Financial/Budget/Audit/ Investment Subcommittee, the Harbor District Liaison Subcommittee and the South San Francisco School District Liaison Subcommittee. She also represented South City on the Airport Land Use Committee, the Housing Our People Effectively (HOPE) Leadership Committee, the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, the SFO Airport Community Roundtable, the San Mateo County Emergency Services Council and the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust (HEART) of San Mateo County. As a proud mother of two, Thomas and Ariel, Liza has also been a tireless champion of education. She served on the South San Francisco Unified School District Board of Trustees from 2006 to 2013, two of them as president. Her focus was on preparing our students for successful and productive careers in the 21st century by modernizing school sites, promoting STEM and arts education, and balancing budgets. Liza understands full well that education is the foundation for the success of our future generations. Liza was the first Asian-American elected to the school board, the second Asian-American elected to the city council, and only the third woman to serve on the council. For the last two years, she spearheaded the South San Francisco Women's Networking Forum, a series of evening forums designed to motivate women to get involved in local government. During the same period, Liza became an ordained minister and officiated seven weddings. Originally from Pusan, Korea, Liza immigrated to the U.S. and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1991. She is currently pursuing a degree in Human and Social Sciences. With that many professional obligations, it is hard to imagine where Liza finds any spare time to volunteer but she does give her energy and expertise to the South San Francisco Asian Alliance, of which she is a founding member, the Police Athletic League Boosters, Friends of the Library, the Historical Society and Friends of Parks & Recreation, among others. Liza departs from the council to pursue her current position as CEO of the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce which will allow her to stay actively involved in our community. Her goal to improve the quality of life for all residents of South City hasn't changed and we will continue to benefit from her leadership and engagement. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Members of the House of Representatives to join me in thanking Liza Normandy for her twelve years of public service to South San Franciscans of all ages, backgrounds and cultures. I commend her for her contributions and wish her well in her future endeavors.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Kirsten Keith, a great community leader and personal friend, for her eight years of outstanding service on the Menlo Park City Council, two terms as Mayor. Kirsten decided to run for city council in 2010 during one the worst years of the Great Recession when the city and the region were in distress. Her willingness to step up to serve her community during tough times exemplifies her unwavering commitment and determination to help others. Kirsten was instrumental in steering Menlo Park's budget from deficit, due to the Great Recession, into recovery. She served on the Finance and Audit Committee and the Business Development Council Subcommittee and she represented Menlo Park in the Association of Bay Area Governments. She and her council colleagues hired now-former city manager Alex McIntyre to build a 21st century organization. Today, Menlo Park has a population of 34,000 people. Facebook, its largest employer with 15,000 employees, moved to the city in 2011 when Kirsten was Mayor the first time. The city is also home to financial and investment powerhouses such as Intuit, numerous major venture capital firms, and the Stanford National Accelerator Laboratory. In recent years, the explosion in employment outpaced the construction of residential units and has led in part to our housing crisis and gridlock on our roads. Eighty percent of the traffic in Menlo Park neither begins nor ends within its borders. Kirsten has been a fierce advocate for affordable housing and improvements to reduce traffic congestion, notably supporting transit-oriented housing along the El Camino Real. Kirsten's tenure on the council is the continuation of more than two decades of public service and volunteering for numerous organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. She was appointed to the San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women in 1996 where she served for eight years, two as chair. In 1997, she joined the board of the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo and continues to serve on the Fundraising Luncheon Committee. She served on the Community Mediation Services Committee, the Housing Committee and the Planning Commission. She also joined the boards of Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), the Service League of San Mateo County, the City/ County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG), Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA), the Dumbarton Rail Policy Committee, the County of Santa Clara Community Resources Group for Stanford University, the Grand Boulevard Task Force, and the San Francisquito Joint Powers Authority. She represents Menlo Park on the Caltrain Modernization Local Policy Group. As you can surmise from this long list, Kirsten's energy is inexhaustible. She is always the first to raise her hand to volunteer or tackle an issue--and she does it with a warm smile on her face. Kirsten earned her B.A. in Political Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara and her J.D. in Law with Public Interest Law Award from Golden Gate University, School of Law. As an attorney, she has practiced immigration and family law and has made it her mission for twenty years to defend indigent clients in criminal court. While Kirsten's time on the council is coming to an end, I know she will continue to stay engaged as a community leader and fight for justice and a better quality of life for all residents of our region. She will also have a little more time for her beloved husband John and daughter Claire and son Liam, who allowed Kirsten to spend countless hours in city council and committee meetings, serving the public. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in thanking an outstanding community leader and colleague Kirsten Keith for her stellar service to the residents of Menlo Park. She can look back to 2010 when her hometown was crumbling under the pressure of the recession and feel proud that it is today a thriving city. Her contributions have left an indelible mark and will be felt for years to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Peter Ohtaki of Menlo Park who is departing the city council after eight years in service to its residents. In 2010, Peter Ohtaki filed to run for the council. These were some of the worst years of the Great Recession, and the city's budget was in distress. It would have been easy for Peter to wait for a less challenging time to run, but instead he stepped up to serve his community. He came in first among six candidates for three seats. He was subsequently re-elected in 2014 and has served twice as Mayor. From 2007 through 2010, Peter was also elected to the Menlo Park Fire Protection District board of directors and served as the President in 2010. Peter served on the Finance Committee and oversaw a balanced $32 million budget at the district. With Peter's leadership and financial background, the district paid down 78 percent of its $13 million pension obligation, saving the district millions in interest costs. The recession of 2010 was a heavy blow to the city's finances, but since that time the recovery of the national economy has brought traffic to a standstill at commute hours. There are no easy or inexpensive choices regarding traffic in a city growing due to global innovation and the physical expansion of this globe's pre-eminent social media company, Facebook. As Peter Ohtaki noted, 80 percent of all traffic in the city neither begins nor ends within its borders. To improve mobility, he supported an undercrossing at the Ravenswood/ El Camino Real intersection so that residents could bypass the wait at Caltrain. He supported housing along the transit corridor and improvements to signs so that traffic would be less likely to cut through the Allied Arts and Belle Haven neighborhoods. He was a strong supporter of the Downtown Specific Plan that will allow the city's businesses and tax base to thrive. Residents may take a short drive downtown instead of going to surrounding communities for services. During his terms in office, Mayor Ohtaki was also known for his respect for all during public meetings, his commitment to community safety and improved emergency response capacities, his devotion to balanced budgets and prudent reserves, and his willingness to work with the fire protection district to enhance protection for all residents. Peter grew up in Menlo Park, attending both La Entrada Middle School and Woodside High School. He graduated with a B.A. in Economics, magna cum laude, from Harvard University and an MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. Peter and his wife Julie have three children, Robby, Nicolee and Trey, in Menlo Park public schools. Now that he is leaving public life, he may spend more time with his family. We deeply appreciate their dedication to public life and are grateful that they allowed Peter to serve despite the sacrifices in time that every family endures when someone serves in public office. Mr. Speaker, the people of Menlo Park are highly educated, passionate about their beliefs, and deeply engaged in national and local public affairs. Peter is a stellar example of that. He may look back at where he started--with the budget in tatters and basic services in retreat-- and relish that he helped guide Menlo Park through recovery and into prosperity. I wish him well in his next adventure during the years ahead.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Larry Patterson as he departs his position of City Manager after 18 years of stellar service in that role and as Public Works Director for the residents of San Mateo. His retirement has been planned for a while, but this does not make his departure any easier for those of us who've known this man for decades. Larry has a reputation for taking on the toughest tasks of city governance. Thanks in great part to his efforts, the city's former racetrack, Bay Meadows, has been transformed into a 21st century hub of high technology, housing and transportation-related businesses. Where ponies once trotted, Survey Monkeys now play. While many councils and staff contributed to this transformation, the roads, sewers, water, and rail station placement were heavily influenced by the expert vision of Larry Patterson. San Mateo has several areas that flood. Larry was a champion of these residents through many years of heavy rains or drought. Every City Manager or Public Works Director must also be cognizant of the federal Clean Water Act and the responsibilities of the city under that law. In alliance with Foster City, Larry Patterson devoted countless hours to the development and construction of a $1 billion + wastewater treatment plant improvement project that will soon allow residents to comply with federal law and to protect our environment for decades to come. Some little boys really don't grow up, and Larry Patterson's interest in transportation--including trains and roads--illustrates that phenomenon wonderfully. Under Larry's stewardship, and in alliance with Caltrain, San Mateo replaced four rail bridges including one that had long given expensive haircuts to oversized trucks. During his tenure, the city began planning for the impacts ofhigh speed rail and brought the grade separation project at 25th Avenue into construction. The intersection of Highway 92 and El Camino Real was a proverbial gleam in the eye of most San Mateo leadership, but Larry Patterson pushed forward over years and ultimately, in alliance with his highly capable staff, created an interchange that replaced a confusing cloverleaf with a safe intersection that efficiently serves the entire county. Larry is not all about roads, bridges and rail. He's also a man of the people. San Mateo's Spanish-speaking residents increasingly have their voices heard in city hall because Larry began a program, in alliance with the San Mateo Adult School, to teach Spanish speakers in the city about city government. I should also note his service to the people of Half Moon Bay while on the City Council during the 1990's. It was an extraordinary time in that city's history. As a city manager Larry is, in effect, a ``two-fer'' for any city councilmember because he's walked in their shoes. In the past year or so, Larry embarked upon a special assignment, in part at my request. He leads a countywide effort to create a flood and sea level rise resilience district. This district, once formed, will permit San Mateo County to play in the big leagues by securing Army Corps and other federal and state funding. San Mateo County is ground zero in California for sea level rise. Larry waded into this difficult discussion so that future generations in San Mateo County would not have to wade across incoming tides to get to their homes and places of work. Mr. Speaker, San Mateo has been well served by Larry Patterson. He became City Manager at a time when the economy was accelerating, but he also worked as a senior manager during the darkest days of this nation's recession. He navigated public challenges brilliantly during his years with the city and has now earned a standing ovation for his good humor and great accomplishments across decades. He leaves behind a strong team and a grateful city council and community. He personifies the term public service. We wish Larry Patterson well in the years ahead. He is an outstanding leader, friend, and American.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor John Seybert who is leaving the city council of Redwood community, he has served as a councilmember since 2009. He also served as Mayor from 2015 to 2017. His public service began in 2001 when he joined the Planning Commission. When the Great Recession arrived, John stepped up to the challenge as he joined the city council and was immediately confronted with difficult choices to make in the city's budget. His candidacy for council was a very important act of leadership during a time of great stress. John is passionate about people, buildings, and the quality of life of city residents. He initially moved to Redwood City to lead the development of housing for his then-employer, and he never departed from that commitment to people and their basic needs. Under the leadership of John and his fellow councilmembers, they devised a way to encourage housing development in the downtown that has led to an increase of thousands in the city's core. Where once the city's downtown was known locally for its bleak storefronts and failing attractions, today's downtown Redwood City is vibrant, bustling and attractive to families and to young people alike. From the major cinema to the history museum to the entry of major employers such as Box.com, John has played a decisive role in ensuring that Broadway moved from darkened storefronts into a blaze of prosperous businesses and nighttime lights and joyous visitors. I want to note that it takes an especially dedicated local official to join the board of directors of a wastewater treatment entity. John joined with relish and brought his building experience to bear on the board of the Silicon Valley Clean Water Agency. During his service, major upgrades of the system were commenced or completed and the agency's finances remained sound despite the challenges of a recession and the ever-present threat of litigation. John also served on the council's utilities committee, personnel committee, city-owned property committee, and the 101/Woodside Road Interchange Committee. He served on the Airport Land Use Committee, the Belmont/Redwood Shores School District Committee, and on the board of our local housing nonprofit, HEART. In his regular work, John is the facilities manager for our public transit agency, SamTrans. His professional and public work are only made possible by the support of his wife, Donna, as well as his daughters Jessi, Heather and Megan, and his granddaughter, Molly. John's life is full by any measure. As we take the measure of departing city councilmember John Seybert, I want to note that he's been a thoughtful and respectful colleague and representative. It may be difficult to serve in public life during our modern era, but John has demonstrated that service may be performed in such a manner as to build the public's confidence in the institution of local government. The residents of Redwood City and the county owe John Seybert thanks for his example, and we wish him well as he removes himself from the dais to begin the next phase of his life, that of private citizen deeply dedicated to the public's best interests.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Jeff Gee who is leaving the city council of Redwood City, a community he has served as a councilmember since 2009. He has also served twice as Mayor, in 2014 and 2015. However, the beginning of his public service was 20 years ago when he served on the Architectural Review Board and later on the Planning Commission. He was particularly well prepared for the city council when he entered office during that difficult year of 2009. Redwood City is growing rapidly under global influences. It is also composed of young and old, many families and newly-arrived singles. According to the Census Bureau, its population has increased 15% since Jeff Gee joined the council. Box.com, Google, dozens of pharmaceutical and biotechnology startups, two major hospitals, a shipping port, and a regional transportation hub now fuel the city's growth. In the downtown area, thousands of new apartments dot the landscape. During the Great Recession, the city council adopted a downtown plan that offered 20 years of planning certainty to potential investors. When the economy took off, developers created 20 years of growth in less than a decade. Jeff and his colleagues on the council played a major role in shaping the modem downtown of Redwood City. On the east side of Highway 101 is a road lined with trailer parks. During his time on the council, Jeff was a strong advocate for residents whose trailer parks became filled with floodwaters during severe winter storms. His advocacy led to an effort by multiple agencies to construct the Bayfront Canal project which will allow water to be accepted by the existing canal and to be funneled to an adjacent salt pond to prevent flooding of the residents. These parks, which I have personally toured, are filled with children and hardworking heads of households. They owe Jeff Gee a major vote of thanks for his efforts to normalize their lives. In addition to local advocacy, Jeff represented Redwood City and San Mateo County on numerous multi-jurisdictional and regional boards. Among his thousands of hours of public service, he can count his time on the SamTrans Board of Directors, Director and Past-Chairman of the board of the Caltrain Joint Powers Authority, and Past President of the San Francisco Airport Community Roundtable. He is also a statewide leader where he currently serves as President of the League of California Cities Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, and on the League's Public Safety Policy Committee. Jeff Gee is a sincere and intelligent person who can wax poetic about transit. Jeff is a transit nerd's best friend, and I think that he's probably never met a wheelchair lift mechanism that didn't fascinate him. One could easily imagine a much younger Jeff Gee running up to a neighborhood ice cream truck, ordering an ice cream, and then closely examining the truck's tires to determine if the depth of tread remained safe for operation of the vehicle. His reliability as a leader is evidenced by numerous volunteer positions that he's held in his community over many years. He was an officer in several homeowner associations, serves on a community college advisory board, and is a board member and/or trustee for a local nonprofit and a local university. His role in the Chamber of Commerce led to him being named Citizen of the Year in 2006. During all of this time, he's been a senior manager/architect at a major construction company. Redwood City's official slogan is ``Climate Best By Government Test.'' There is also a test of dedication to a community's future, and Jeff Gee scores an A+ on that test. I will miss him as an articulate and talented leader who went about his tasks as a community leader with little fanfare or interest in personal aggrandizement. As he leaves the public realm to rejoin his wife, Judie, and his children Christopher and Elizabeth as a private resident, he can leave office knowing that his community is thriving because he guided its evolution toward a healthy and dynamic future.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Gary Pollard who is leaving the city council of Foster City and the governing board of the Estero Municipal Improvement District after four years, and after serving six years on the city's Parks and Recreation Committee. Serving on a city council means being serious about quality of life issues. Gary Pollard's service illustrates his commitment to the quality of life of every resident. For example, he served as the council's liaison to the transportation committee, the Chamber of Commerce, the Peninsula Clean Energy Authority and the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, and the countywide library board, just to name a few. Foster City was an early adopter of the use of 100 percent renewable energy from the Peninsula Clean Energy Authority, and Gary was the one who led the city down this path to sustainability. Serving in local government also means being active in statewide associations. Gary was Foster City's representative to the League of California Cities and he made substantial contributions as a member of the League's Public Works Policy Committee for the past two years, ensuring that policy and legislative recommendations reflect the priorities of city residents. As an avid bicyclist, Gary focuses on mobility. He participates in the community bike ride every year and has encouraged bike safety. He served on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee as a part of a local agency composed of cities, and was involved in the bicycle, pedestrian, and intersection evaluation study. Gary served twice as the city's Vice-Mayor from 2014 to 2015 and from 2017 to 2018. Foster City's finances are now enviable, but there was a time in his earlier years of service that difficult choices had to be made. He served on the city's audit committee and used that position to ensure that city operations were as efficient as possible. He participated vigorously in goalsetting during budget sessions and explained difficult choices to residents. One of those difficult choices was the need to upgrade the city's vulnerable levee. Gary supported the bond measure and city voters rewarded his decision and that of his colleagues with a vote of 81 percent to fix the levee. Gary also took time from his busy life to coach youth sports. For twelve years he coached Little League and Pony/Colt Leagues and was President of the Foster City Youth Baseball Association. His name was added to the city's Sports Wall of Fame in 2010. Mr. Speaker, Foster City is a planned community dedicated to families and to residents who love its bayside location and ample recreational opportunities. Gary Pollard is a great representative of residents because, like them, he values the city's quality of life and the tenor of the community, which is to seek a good outcome for everyone. I want to thank Gary's wife, Christine (Chris), and his children Bryan and Marcus for their patience as Gary served the community through countless hours of council debate and volunteer efforts. As a professional, he operates his own travel agency. It's been a long journey for Gary after ten years in the public spotlight. Hopefully, the tour was as remarkable for him as it was beneficial to the residents of Foster City. He leaves the council with the goodwill of his fellow residents and our thanks for a job well done.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great friend and leader, Bob Grassilli, who is departing the San Carlos City Council after serving from 2005 to 2018 and three times as Mayor. Bob's leadership during his years in city life has left an indelible imprint on San Carlos. From 1994 to 2000, Bob served on the planning commission and struggled with some of the most vexing problems of the community. Bob served on the Railroad Land Use Committee, a temporary entity that left a lasting impact in the form of an extensive grade separation project that now saves lives throughout the year. During his time on the council, San Carlos created a new budget process, contracted for police and fire with other agencies to save taxpayer money, ended its chronic budget deficits, and started new communications efforts with citizens. A major medical practice building was built and a hospital remains in the city's future. New hotels have been constructed, including one that required the city to aggregate land and to solicit an investor. Many claimed the hotel effort would fail. Bob and his colleagues knew better and it's been a major success. After years of planning, major housing developments are now dotting the landscape of San Carlos. These units, and others that are planned, give people a chance to live near work, to improve the environment by reducing their emissions related to commutes, and add vibrancy to the city's thriving downtown area. Bob Grassilli supported these new units and, as a developer, had a keen eye for the balance between aesthetics and the critical need to house a growing population. Bob has a conciliatory personality, but he's not afraid to make hard choices. He voted for the controversial Holly Street restriping project which opened up an additional lane to burgeoning traffic during commute hours. He voted to adopt a climate action plan despite the skepticism of some about whether humans play a meaningful role in global climate change. No one likes to be the one who votes to eliminate trees from a city that cherishes its landscape, but the trees were dangerous and Bob stood up for public safety. He also made countless other choices about individual housing proposals, traffic lights and crosswalks, and the city's master plan that never pleased everyone. This is leadership--the willingness to take the hits because in the long run the public deserves the choice you believe is in its best interests. One anecdote illustrates Bob's dedication to public service. As mayor, he was alerted to a dangerous road condition that had been inadvertently created by a city road contractor. He drove to the scene and confirmed that the intersection was dangerous. He contacted the city manager and then waited about 90 minutes for a crew to show up to fix the problem. At the time, Bob was wearing his signature lime-green polo shirt. It served the dual purpose of alerting oncoming traffic--from 1000 feet away--to a road hazard and it protected Bob from being hit. Unfortunately, it also created its own hazardous road condition. Bob knows so many people in San Carlos that motorists and pedestrians would honk or shout out and wave to him, sometimes even congratulating him on his fashion choice, but they also sometimes lost track of where they were in the dangerous intersection. Thankfully no one got hurt. The insight from this anecdote is clear: Bob Grassilli dresses for success and never leaves until the job is done. In his private life, Bob is one of the Peninsula's consistent philanthropists. He sits on the board of one foundation and personally contributes thousands to some of our most important safety net nonprofits in San Mateo County. He also participates in countywide and regional bodies focused on good governance. He's a leader who is dedicated to ensuring that others receive a fair shake in life through better public services and assistance when times are difficult. Bob will be challenged in retirement from public life because he will have to be satisfied by what newcomers may do. These choices may be different from his own. However, Bob is a true product of American democracy. He may disagree with any given choice and yet celebrate the outcome because it is created by the people of his community through an elected city council. A man who is satisfied with a dissatisfying result because it was fairly determined is an uncommonly wise individual and a too-rare public official in modem America. However, this is the man who we know as Mayor Bob Grassilli, the wise man with the gavel and the model for those who cherish local government in all its glory.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the departure from public service of San Carlos City Councilman Matt Grocott. Councilman Grocott has served from 2001 to 2018, twice as mayor. During his tenure, the city has undergone enormous change. Although a small community, the city has many distinct neighborhoods and groups of residents. Through all of the changes impacting these constituencies, Matt Grocott contributed mightily to the effort to improve communication between the city and its residents. He regularly provided opinion pieces in local newspapers, wrote online and spoke directly with residents on their doorsteps and at civic events. Everyone could count on Councilman Grocott to offer them information about the public services and initiatives being undertaken in San Carlos. The city has a new budget process that makes it much easier for residents to figure out what the city is accomplishing. Matt Grocott has supported this process and used it to explain what the city does well and where it needs to improve. During his tenure, he served on multiple joint power authorities and committees. This is not glamorous work, but these appointments help cities work together to create the greatest value for residents. Councilman Grocott served on the Airport Land Use committee, the SFO Roundtable, the governing board of the library, the Grand Boulevard Initiative to re-imagine our El Camino Real, the South County Fire Authority, the Belmont San Carlos Fire Board, several subcommittees of the City/County Association of Governments, and multiple other boards, committees and commissions intended to answer many quality of life issues that vex any community. Councilman Grocott has been a staunch advocate for persons on fixed incomes and for taxpayers. He has often persuaded residents as to the wisdom of his viewpoint, and they rewarded him with repeated re- election and, at times, by voting as he recommended on measures on the ballot. San Carlos is known as the City of Good Living. Its streets are more bike friendly because Councilman Grocott is an avid supporter of bike riding for the entire family. Its trails, playing fields and parks are more enjoyable because Matt Grocott insisted that parks have facilities as accessible as possible to all residents. His advocacy for small business is heartfelt and longstanding. He is a trusted advocate for many merchants throughout the city. After many years in public service, Councilman Grocott has decided to move on to different challenges and will also have more time to spend with his wife, Vivian, and step-son, Daniel. He will be remembered as a man who believed passionately in local government. While a community may ultimately speak with a single voice about a given subject, it takes many voices to create this result. Through long nights and difficult deliberations, Councilman Grocott contributed to governing San Carlos towards a better future. I join the community in thanking him for his service and wishing him well in his future endeavors.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Cameron Johnson, a departing member of the San Carlos City Council. Cameron Johnson has served four years and made an indelible impact during his service as Mayor, Councilman and presently as Vice Mayor. He will be remembered in part for his advocacy on behalf of local merchants on Laurel Street, and against chain stores populating this treasured shopping district. Thanks to Vice Mayor Johnson, there will be space for local residents to establish their own businesses, to offer unusual items and services, and to keep the charm of small town San Carlos alive. Vice Mayor Johnson successfully advocated for a community foundation to be established from the proceeds of a legal penalty paid by PG&E. The foundation will allow the city to reliably fund community events and projects, through good times and bad, for decades to come. During his time in service, the council adopted a downtown parking plan, saw the beginning of the long-planned Wheeler Plaza project and the construction of the transit village around the Caltrain station. Like his colleagues, he contributed greatly by serving on the important boards and commissions that make crucial recommendations to the council or regional bodies about the quality of life in San Carlos. These include the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, the ABAG General Assembly, Peninsula Clean Energy, and council sub-committees such as the shuttle sub-committee, the bond sub-committee, the economic development sub-committee, and the 2+2 City/school district sub- committee. He is a strong advocate for affordable housing and of ensuring that homeowners can use their property to meet the growing needs of their family. He recognizes that keeping the character of San Carlos involves more than preserving any given structure, but instead entails keeping opportunity alive in San Carlos for all generations that make this small town their home. During his tenure, San Carlos was hit by a wave of burglaries. Cameron Johnson's explanations of police activities and his support of the public during council study sessions maintained public trust in the efforts of the sheriff's office to end the burglaries. While he was part of a team effort to maintain the public's trust during this trying time, Cameron Johnson went out of his way to explain police activities while also holding the police accountable to resolve the problem. As a councilmember, Cameron excelled in his communications to residents. His charts and verbal explanations of public policy were clear and built credibility in all public services. He strongly supported the periodic newsletter sent to all residents, explaining new initiatives around town. He readily stood at the farmer's market and answered questions from the public. In all these communications, it may help that Cameron Johnson is also the Director of Product Innovation for Netflix. Indeed, one can readily imagine a primetime television show based upon his public service experience: The Real Councilmembers of San Carlos, featuring Bruce Willis as Mayor Bob Grassilli and Justin Timberlake as Vice Mayor Cameron Johnson. Admittedly, this is not likely to produce blockbuster ratings around the country, but there may be a block or two in San Carlos where the series would be a big hit. In closing, the people of San Carlos owe Cameron Johnson a significant vote of thanks for his efforts to improve their lives. He saw a challenge and seized it with both hands, at least when his hands were not otherwise holding his two children, Josephine and Ellis. We must also thank his wife, Celina, for her patience as he contributed to the community. It has been my pleasure to watch Vice Mayor Johnson become an outstanding leader in San Carlos and I count him as a personal friend. He will now leave the council, but his smile, facile mind, and goodwill will be remembered for many years to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Michael P. Guingona for his remarkable 25 years of dedicated service on the Daly City City Council, including five terms as Mayor. Mike has worked continually to improve the quality of life for all Daly City residents while also raising a family, maintaining a full-time public defender career, and coaching wrestling and judo. Mike was the first Filipino-American elected to the council in 1993 and then re-elected to four consecutive terms. In 1995, at age 33, he became the youngest Mayor in Daly City's history. Born in San Francisco and raised in Daly City, Mike attended Westmoor High School and Skyline College. He earned his B.A. in History at the University of California Los Angeles and then his JD at the University of San Francisco School of Law. Soon after, he was hired as a Deputy Public Defender in San Francisco. Mike's interest in local government grew after he finished law school. He saw the rapid growth and demographic changes in Daly City. The population grew from 40,000 to over 100,000 and by 2000, the Filipino-American community accounted for almost one third of the city's population. After being elected to the council, Mike continued his full-time work as deputy public defender in the San Francisco Public Defender's Office. In 1999, he established his own law firm on Mission Street in Daly City. He is a member of the State Bar of California, the Bar Association of San Francisco, and the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California. During his tenure on the council, Mike served on the SamTrans Board of Directors for ten years, and on the San Mateo County Transportation Authority for eight years. He represented Daly City's interests as an appointed member of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) served as board chair for North County Fire Authority, and served on the Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Services Board of Directors. Among Mike's top priorities and passions are health and fitness. He supported a resolution adopting a city-wide wellness policy and initiated legislation to fight second-hand smoke. He also made a pledge that I believe no other council member has duplicated. He rode his bike on every street in Daly City to raise awareness for health and safe bike routes. For many years he was a judo coach at Cahill's Judo Academy in San Bruno and a wrestling coach at Terra Nova High School. He is a Mixed Martial Arts Judge for the California State Athletic Commission, Director of Operations and Coach for the Wrestling Association of the Philippines, and a swim instructor and certified personal trainer working with employees at Google and YouTube. While Mike will retire from the city council, he will continue his interest in everything Daly City, many of his athletic activities and his work as an attorney. Mike is looking forward to spending more of his freed-up time with his wife Jackie and son Kai who is a member of the Philippine National Wrestling Team which Mike is coaching. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in thanking my long-time friend and colleague Mike Guingona for his outstanding and dedicated public service to the residents of Daly City. His likeability, charm and optimism have been assets as he represented Daly City in many positions. He beautifully reflects and advances the spirit and character of his beloved home town. I join the community in wishing him the best in all of his future endeavors.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Charlie Bronitsky upon his departure from the city council of Foster City and the governing board of the Estero Municipal Improvement District. During his service, Charlie has been a well-reasoned, principled voice for smart change in a city undergoing significant transformation. He was born in Brooklyn and moved to California in 1980 to finish his education in Berkeley. He is a graduate of the U.C. Berkeley School of Law, as it is now known, and practices real estate law focusing on transactions and litigation, including construction litigation. He brings to the city council a vast knowledge of land use law, mediation, and the intricacies of how every level of government operates. After he served on the planning commission for 3\1/2\ years, the residents of Foster City wisely selected him to serve on the city council, starting in 2009. Of course, 2009 was an extraordinarily bad year for our economy. Foster City finances cratered and the council had to make very difficult decisions. City staff endured layoffs and the public endured service reductions. During this time, Charlie supported the consolidation of fire service with surrounding communities. He also supported partnering with San Mateo to deliver park and recreation services. By 2013, the city's finances were stabilized but challenges remained. An economic plan, written in part by Charlie and a colleague on the council, was passed and the city's growth since has largely followed its outline. Charlie represents Foster City on the board of the regional water agency which guarantees clean, reliable water at a fair price to all ratepayers. He is a leader on infrastructure issues, supporting renovations of the wastewater treatment plant and levee repairs to protect residents from catastrophic flooding. The construction of a senior residence development near city hall was due to a significant degree to the leadership of Charlie Bronitsky. Throughout these times, he's been a champion for sustainability initiatives. During his second term as Mayor, the city was one of two that received a Platinum Sustainability Best Practices Award from the Institute of Local Government. With the economy now recovered, major companies, such as Illumina and Gilead, are creating or adding to their corporate campuses in Foster City. Startups are once again moving into the office complexes in the city. Science and its bounty are powering the growth of this community that offers products and services around the globe. Foster City is also coping with enormous traffic that travels through the city on its way to surrounding communities. Councilmember Bronitsky has repeatedly advocated for the city to experiment with measures to deal with traffic rather than conducting lengthy studies or trying half-hearted measures. He has also cautioned residents to be mindful of the way a city's budget is financed in modern-day California. Development brings additional property tax revenue to provide such essential services as police, fire, parks and libraries. His message is wise and needed during a time of change. Mr. Speaker, Foster City is a small town of 35,000 where families come to thrive, where seagulls come to dive, and where pelicans and boaters vie for space on the lagoons. For all its beauty, Councilmember Charlie Bronitsky chose to run for the city council when our nation was in crisis and the town's budget was severely challenged. He stepped up because that's what a citizen of this nation does when a community needs leadership. His priorities in 2009 included strong fiscal management of the city, the construction of a senior living facility near city hall, and managed, green growth. All three have largely been achieved during his terms in office. Residents can be certain that Charlie Bronitsky cast his votes and made his public comments with the best interests of existing and future residents in mind. He will now return to private life and leave the opportunities of leadership to his successors. I am proud to call Charlie a friend and colleague and wish him and his equally impressive wife Martha and son Will much happiness and continued success.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise along with my colleagues, Mike Thompson and Jared Huffman, to honor an American icon, a woman who is one of a kind on the water and on land. Jaqueline Douglas, better known as Wacky Jacky, has been taking people fishing for almost half a century. There is nothing that makes her happier than a happy angler walking off her sportfishing charter boat, the Wacky Jacky, with two big, bright king salmon after a day on the open ocean. Fishing and people are her life. Jacky was born Jaqueline Detsch on October 3, 1928 in San Francisco. Do the math and you'll realize just one of the reasons that makes her special: at age 90, she is still the captain of her boat. Retirement is something she thinks about occasionally, but as she told San Francisco Chronicle reporter Tom Stienstra at the beginning of this year's salmon season, ``If I can't run my boat, you might as well hang me out to dry.'' Jacky attended Lincoln High School and studied journalism. Fresh out of high school in 1946, she started to work for a brand-new organization, the San Francisco 49ers. She was the Queen of the 49ers during its inaugural season under general manager Lou Spadia. After that season, Jacky began a modeling career with Alice of California, a San Francisco women's designer. Work had to take a temporary backseat when she met and married George James Douglas XVII at age 19. They soon had four daughters, Diana, Johanna, Lucinda and Roni, and Jacky focused on being a devoted mother and wife. In the mid 50s, it was George who kindled Jacky's passion for fishing. She joined him for one of his many trips on a party boat and thought to herself, ``Gee, this is pretty neat; I wonder how we can get our own boat.'' In 1960, they scraped together enough money to buy a 28-foot double ender in Monterey which was christened the first Wacky Jacky and berthed in a backrow slip at Fisherman's Wharf. By now, Jacky was thoroughly hooked on fishing. She decided to become a sportfishing charter boat captain--to the shock of the instructors at the Dovi Navigation School. There simply weren't any female captains, but in 1972 she became the first one. License in hand, she purchased a 36-foot boat from her friend Albie Spadaro, the second Wacky Jacky. To this day, she is the only woman skipper in the San Francisco Bay Area fleet. Her third and current Wacky Jacky is a pristine 50-foot Delta she bought in 1976 which is berthed in the number one slot at Jones and Jefferson streets at Fisherman's Wharf. Making it in this male-dominated world wasn't easy. The petite, 5- foot Captain Jacky Douglas endured plenty of contempt, ridicule, and cat calls in the beginning of her career, but as time passed, she won people over with her skills, perseverance, warmth and humor. She has taken over 150,000 people fishing and they usually return with fishing limits and great stories to tell. She loves to share what she calls Wacky Jacky's World. ``The atmosphere is so heavenly. You just completely don't even think about what's going on in the rest of the world. You are out here trying to catch a fish, enjoy the people. It's a wonderful, wonderful world.'' Her skills, advocacy and boundless energy have earned her a long list of awards and nicknames. She was inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame in 2013 for her outstanding work as a salmon boat skipper, naturalist and conservationist. It is worth pointing out that she received a record 40 out of, 41 votes. She has been called the First Lady of Salmon Fishing, and California's No. 1 goodwill ambassador and advocate for salmon, fisheries conservation and water issues. She has represented the Golden Gate Fisherman's Association at state and federal hearings. And she is the public face of salmon fishing having appeared in hundreds of television, radio and print stories. In 2008, Jacky lost her husband George to cancer. It was only recently that she found new romance which was tragically cut short. Last year, she and long-time family friend and fellow skipper Roger Thomas became a couple. The two resembled a teenage couple head over heels in love. Roger worshipped Jacky. In a horrible twist of fate, Roger was diagnosed with terminal cancer, given just weeks to live. Jacky took care of Roger for six months, making his remaining time the best anyone could make it. Those who knew Roger had never seen him that happy. I have known Jacky Douglas for eight years and believe that making other people happy is her foremost priority in life. For every holiday, I receive a box of sweets and her famous origami fish in Valentines, Easter, Christmas, or whatever occasion colors with a heartwarming note sending me ``Best Fishes.'' Jacky Douglas has a heart of gold. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to celebrate the 90th birthday of a remarkable woman with a heartfelt ``woohoo,'' one of her favorite expressions of joy, excitement and happiness. May Captain Jacky Douglas, the extraordinary huntress of the sea, continue to bring joy to everyone around her for years to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I have a brief 1 minute to say that San Francisco International Airport is in my district. We are being hounded by noise in the middle of the night at 1, 2, and 3 a.m. in the morning. I convened a meeting with the FAA. They joined me at that meeting. They agreed to have a meeting with the airlines, and then the FAA here in Washington decided to renege. This is a message to the FAA: You owe your obligation to all the people of this country, and when a Member of Congress seeks to have you at a meeting, you show up at a meeting. When you don't show up at a meeting, heads are going to roll.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise along with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, to commend the extraordinary service of Michael Theriault, the retiring Secretary-Treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, after 13 years of service to the council and many years of service to the San Francisco Bay Area. Mike graduated from St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He became an Apprentice in Ironworkers Local 377 in 1985 and in that position was named Apprentice of the Year. He was so successful as an apprentice and journeyman that in 2001 Local 331 selected him to be the Business Representative, and then elected him to the position in 2003. He would later remark that his skill at negotiating agreements came in large part from his understanding of the day-to-day realities of working at a job site. As he noted, ``Understanding of the work, the flow of work, is more important to union leaders in the trades than in most other unions . . . you come to union leadership after actually having run work.'' In addition to serving as a delegate to the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, Mike represented his local as a delegate to councils in San Mateo, Marin, Sonoma-Lake-Mendocino and Humboldt-Del Norte counties. For any of you who know the geography of California, you would instantly realize that Mike has been a busy man. It's 350 miles and a 6\1/2\ hour drive between San Francisco and Crescent City in the most northern county of California. It takes the fortitude of an ironworker to make that trip on a regular basis, representing the interests of members whose livelihoods depend upon Mike's skills and dedication to their wellbeing. These counties are also the core counties comprising the Golden Gate Transportation District, the entity that built and manages the Golden Gate Bridge. Mike was appointed a director of the bridge district in 2011. The bridge itself is a testament to the skill of his members from generations ago through to our times. In addition to serving on these other entities, Mike served on the Executive Board of the San Francisco Labor Council, the Executive Board of the California State Building and Construction Trades Council, on the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition, and as a member of the SPUR Board of Directors. In the depths of the Great Recession, Mike fought hard for work via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act so that the 40% unemployment rate in his hall would be dramatically reduced. He noted to us and to our staff that people were losing their homes and their hopes. Over $400 million in federal funding was delivered to help construct the new Transbay Terminal. That Act, championed by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi and supported by the entire Bay Area delegation, literally created the foundation of the project. Other policies created by the City of San Francisco also contributed mightily to a resurrection of the local economy. Today, construction cranes are as numerous on the skyline of the City and County of San Francisco as are cable cars on its streets. In an interview published just before his retirement, he noted that he was able to negotiate a string of project labor agreements that will give jobs to families for a generation to come. He cited projects on Treasure Island, Hunters Point/Candlestick Point, the city's wastewater system, and the new Transbay Terminal, among many projects transforming the city's streets and skies. He also noted his goal that housing be created for all income groups, but particularly for middle and working- class residents who are his and our neighbors and friends. Another key tool to keep middle class families in San Francisco is to offer middle class jobs. Mike Theriault was instrumental in getting shop classes reestablished in the high school system. From these shop classes will come future Mike Theriaults, apprentices of the year. As he retires, he says that he's going to work in his garden and will write bad poetry. We seriously doubt that he will write bad poetry and we hope that his garden flourishes. He deserves time to contemplate the skyline and the hopes that he built across 33 years of union membership, and definitely more time to spend with his wife, Diana, and their two boys, Josquin and Eugene. It's been said that hope springs eternal, but in truth it takes great leadership to keep hope alive across a generation. Mike has earned the gratitude of his membership and his community for keeping hope alive throughout these years. Like the Golden Gate Bridge created by prior ironworkers, Michael Theriault is truly one for the ages.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Connie Jackson, an extraordinary public servant and tireless advocate for residents for her 15 years as the City Manager for the City of San Bruno, California. She has left her mark on just about every square inch of this Peninsula city of 43,000 people. I have had the great honor to work with Connie during the best and the worst of times. Her moral compass guides her and she is never afraid to take on challenges. I am proud to call Connie Jackson a colleague and good friend. Under Connie's capable leadership, San Bruno has not only survived the Great Recession of 2008, it came out stronger on the other side. All city programs and services were intact, the city was financially stronger, and it earned an AA+ credit rating. Connie oversaw San Bruno's completion of an updated General Plan and helped create a long- term vision for a city friendly to residents and businesses. She is particularly proud of the redevelopment of a former Navy site into a housing complex called Village at the Crossing, which provides over 1,000 apartments for individuals and families, including affordable units for senior citizens. She was also instrumental in the redevelopment of The Shops at Tanforan, a large shopping mall frequented by shoppers and diners from all over the Bay Area. For over a decade, Connie worked on the planning, design and construction of the CalTrain grade separation and station, offering commuters access to convenient public transportation. Connie oversaw the rebuilding of the entire aging water and wastewater infrastructure, and the building of mixed-use residential and commercial projects downtown and along El Camino Real. One of the elements to her success is her talent to connect the dots and collaborate with other individuals and agencies. The ultimate test of her leadership came on September 9, 2010. At 6:11 p.m. that evening, a Pacific Gas and Electric Company natural gas transmission line exploded and tore a giant crater into one of the residential streets. The horrendous explosion and fire killed eight residents, destroyed 38 homes and devastated a neighborhood. Connie, along with other city leaders, fought with everything she had to heal the physical and psychological trauma her community suffered. I closely worked with Connie in the years following the explosion and she never wavered or was afraid to speak truth to power. She demonstrated strong leadership in the initial emergency response, community and recovery efforts, and pipeline safety advocacy. She led the city's work with the National Transportation Safety Board investigation and the proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission. Connie and her colleagues were instrumental in exposing regulatory failures and corruption and in forcing corrections. Due to that work, cities all across the country have safer, improved gas utility infrastructure. Connie was also a consoler throughout the crisis. She offered her shoulder to cry on, her hugs to comfort, her smile to reassure, and her wisdom to move forward. To this day, she has regular contact with survivors. While nothing will bring back the eight victims of the San Bruno explosion, PG&E was forced to give $120 million to the city for community restoration, recovery and restitution. Being the community- loving and resilient city that San Bruno is, the residents decided they wanted to spend the money benefitting all residents. The city will build a new recreation center and aquatics center for everyone in San Bruno to enjoy. Connie's talents and achievements have been recognized on many occasions. For example, she received the 2012 League of California Cities City Manager of Distinction award, the California Women Leading Government Leadership Award, and the 2006 International City/County Management Association program innovation award. She is a life member of the Municipal Management Assistants of Northern California and a member of ICMA. Before serving San Bruno, Connie was the city manager of the City of Hercules and the City of Fort Bragg for a combined 18 years. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to recognize Connie Jackson, a woman and leader I hold in high esteem, for her vision, strength and perseverance fighting for the interests of the residents of three California cities. She can enter her well-deserved retirement knowing that she has improved the lives of tens of thousands of people. San Bruno residents are lucky to count themselves among them. Connie leaves behind giant shoes to fill. Many will lead San Bruno through the next decades, but no one will leave a legacy that echoes across the generations. This will be the unique contribution of Connie Jackson.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, because I am at home recuperating from a medical procedure, I unavoidably missed the following vote on July 24. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: on rollcall No. 372, I would have voted ``yea'' (Passage of H.R. 184--Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2017).