Jackie Speier

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Michael J. Massoni who is retiring as Police Chief after 35 years of outstanding service at the South San Francisco Police Department. Mike is an exceptional law enforcement officer and human being and I have had the great privilege of working closely with him to combat human trafficking in San Mateo County. Mike started as a police officer in August 1979, was promoted to police corporal in 1983 and to police sergeant in 1988. In his four years in that capacity, he served as traffic and planning liaison sergeant, acting commander of the investigations division, and acting watch commander and in the patrol and criminal investigation divisions. In 2001, Mike became police lieutenant and served as patrol watch commander and training manager. Three years later he rose to police captain and was the commander of the operations and services divisions. And finally in May of 2009, he rose to the top of the department and became Police Chief. Over the course of three decades, Mike has served on the San Mateo County Police Chiefs and Sheriffs Association, the San Mateo County Commanders Association, the San Mateo County Training Managers Association, the Police Athletic League and the Police Association--on most of them as president. As if that wasn't enough responsibility, he agreed to also serve as the Public Safety Chief this last year. What that really means is that he served as both Police and Fire Chief. You will never hear Mike complain. He just gets the work done quietly, and with a smile on his face. However, I have heard him say over the last few months leading up to his retirement that he is looking forward to relaxing and spending time with his wife Lexann who has lots of plans for him. Mike was born in South San Francisco in 1955 and attended South San Francisco High School. He received his Associates of Art in Administration of Justice from the College of San Mateo in 1975. He continued his education at Notre Dame De Namur University where he earned his Bachelors of Sciences in Human Services in 2001 and his Masters of Public Administration in 2004. Mike has completed a long list of professional classes and certificates, including the Supervisory Leadership Institute, Executive Development and the Role of the Police Chief. He also served on several regional committees such as the North San Mateo County Gang Task Force, the San Mateo County Commanders Subpoena Process Revisions Committee and the San Mateo County Human Trafficking Committee, which Mike and I cofounded in 2012. He was an incredible partner in taking on an issue that nobody in San Mateo County law enforcement knew existed. Human trafficking on the San Francisco Peninsula is indeed a serious problem because of high demand and an infrastructure that easily supports it with freeways, an airport and a large number of hotels. We brought together law enforcement on the local, state and federal level to combat this modern version of slavery. Mike took the lead in developing and implementing the San Mateo County Human Trafficking Protocol for Law Enforcement which lays out in detail how to best deal with trafficking cases. The protocol should serve as a model for communities across the country and the world. Mike's thoughtful approach to law enforcement has been appreciated and published on many occasions. He is a prolific writer. One of his articles was published in the FBI Law Enforcement Journal and the South San Francisco Municipal Code includes several of his city staff reports on issues such as regulating adult related businesses, side shows, curfew violations and commercial alarms. His dedication and work have been noticed and recognized throughout his career; he was awarded a Certificate of Commendation in 1981, the South San Francisco Police Department Chief's award in 1995 and the South San Francisco High School Community Service Award in 2007. Mike firmly believes in giving back to the community, so in addition to his job obligations, he volunteers as a guest lecturer and advisory committee member at Notre Dame de Namur University, and is a member of the South San Francisco Rotary Club, a member of the Sitike Counseling Center and co-chair of the Interact Club for South San Francisco High School. He also participated in the annual Senior Citizens Breakfast, Tip-A-Cop and Day in the Park events organized by the police department for the community. As mentioned earlier, Mike's wife of 32 years, Lexann McKay Massoni, will be his travel and social manager in his retirement. He will no doubt enjoy spending extra time with their two children, Heather and Steven, and watching San Francisco Giants games. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House of Representatives rise with me to honor the long and meaningful law enforcement career of South San Francisco Police Chief Mike Massoni whom I'm proud to call a friend and colleague. He has touched and saved countless lives and leaves behind giant shoes to fill. Mike will be deeply missed, but his impact on our community will be felt for years to come. He will no doubt go down as one of the finest police chiefs to serve in the history of San Mateo County.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate San Bruno Police Chief Neil Telford upon the occasion of his retirement from the San Bruno Police Department after 32 years of distinguished service. Chief Telford's story is an example of a boy who grew up to serve his neighbors. Neil Telford was raised in the adjacent city of South San Francisco. He graduated from South San Francisco High School and attended two of our outstanding community colleges: the College of San Mateo and Skyline College in San Bruno. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from San Francisco State University, an outstanding institution also located in California's 14th Congressional District. In 1982, San Bruno hit the jackpot when it offered Neil Telford the chance to be a volunteer Reserve Police Officer. During that time, he attended the basic police academy in San Jose and was then sworn in as a full-time San Bruno police officer in 1984. He immediately demonstrated his leadership capability by serving as a Field Training Officer and as a Detective. San Bruno promoted Detective Telford to Sergeant in 1991. From there, his rise was swift as he was promoted to Lieutenant in 1997 and to Captain in 2002. He became San Bruno's sixth Police Chief in 2006. San Bruno is a wonderful city of 42,000 nestled on the bay and across the hillsides of the San Francisco Peninsula. It is characterized by families. There are families in San Bruno Park, families in its churches, families supporting its outstanding schools, and civic engagement that rivals that of any community in America. It is home to the Peninsula's middle class, an outstanding community college, and amazing youth baseball. The city is blessed with beautiful trees, quaint streets and a new train station that will soon be a centerpiece of downtown revitalization. It is also a community that supports its police and fire departments, and a town in which children respect public safety professionals. In both the State Legislature and Congress, it has been my privilege to represent this remarkable city, and to interact with Chief Telford on many occasions. However, none of my interactions with the Chief were marked by tragedy until one late afternoon on September 9, 2010. Eight precious lives were lost that fateful afternoon when a natural gas transmission pipeline exploded in a residential neighborhood of San Bruno. Throughout the night and on through the days to follow, bravery and compassion in the line of duty were an every-moment event on the front lines. The explosion shaped this nation's laws and practices on pipeline safety. Chief Telford led his police force through the fire and the difficult days thereafter with outstanding compassion, strength and calm. In those difficult weeks, events that might otherwise have marked decades of experience cascaded upon Chief Telford and other public safety professionals, the leadership and the residents of San Bruno. Through it all, Chief Telford stayed focused on recovery, protection of public safety, and the preservation of the dignity of every resident of San Bruno. While he has many other notable accomplishments in his career, Neil Telford will always be remembered as the Chief who cared when caring counted for everything. Mr. Speaker, Chief Telford is a graduate of the State of California's Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), the Command College program, and he also holds Advanced, Supervisory, Management and Executive certificates from POST. California law enforcement is marked by a high degree of professionalism. In truth, Neil Telford could have written the definitive textbook on police leadership. Please join with me in congratulating Chief Neil Telford upon the occasion of his retirement after 32 years of public service to the residents of San Bruno. He and his wife, Cindy, have lived for 22 years in the city that he protects. They have a son, Anthony, who also resides in this special place on the Peninsula. We wish the Telford family much happiness in the coming years.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 150th Anniversary of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Redwood City, California. This congregation cherishes its diversity and welcomes anyone who wants to join its spiritual journey. Father Giles Alexander Easton founded the church in 1864 a few months after he led the first Episcopal service in Redwood City in a room at the old county courthouse. He named the congregation after St. Peter's Church in Smyrna, Delaware, where he had been baptized and confirmed. St. Peter's was the second church in Redwood City to organize and construct a church building. In 1867, the ``Little Red Church'' was built and became a landmark for six decades. In the 20th century, as the population in Redwood City increased, the parish outgrew its building and moved to its current location at 178 Clinton Street. In 1925, the congregation built a parish hall that served as the church and a meeting space. In 1952, the sanctuary, offices and classrooms were added as the baby boom reached its peak. While many of the baby boomers are thinking about retirement now, the young generations continue to utilize St. Peter's buildings and grounds. The church houses a Montessori preschool, the Ragazzi Boys Choir and its own youth group. Over the last 150 years Redwood City has changed dramatically. The railroad transformed a small logging port into a suburb, and the explosive growth of Silicon Valley turned the suburb into the hometown of many technology companies and their employees. This explosive growth has brought wealth to many residents, but it has also left some of them behind. Many families struggle with skyrocketing housing prices and rents, a high cost of living and job insecurity. One thing that has not changed in Redwood City is that the doors of St. Peter's Church are open to everyone. The parish is proud to include people from all walks of life and of all ages. It is also very active in mentoring young people to give back to the community. St. Peter's has delivered hundreds of backpacks and uniforms to local schools, has served many meals and filled many ``Hope Bags'' for the homeless. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives rise with me to acknowledge the good that St. Peter's Episcopal Church has done over the last 150 years for its parishioners and the community at large. May it continue to share its welcoming spirit for at least another 150 years.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Jerry Deal who is retiring after serving for eight years on the Burlingame City Council, the last four as Vice Mayor, and for 13 years on the Planning Commission, three times as the Chair. His work on the Planning Commission earned him the nickname ``Father of Design Review.'' Jerry's commitment to his beloved home community and public service has benefitted the city of Burlingame and the quality of life of its residents. As an architect, Jerry has used his training and skills to inform many of his public policy decisions. He was instrumental in the transformation of Burlingame Avenue and the building of the new Safeway, roof garden, pocket park and retail and office spaces. As a business owner himself and a member of the Burlingame Economic Development Committee, Jerry helped foster a business-friendly environment. His pragmatism and humor, essential to any good architect, have allowed him to be effective in leading the public and his colleagues. Due in part to Jerry's leadership, the library was saved and Burlingame still maintains its own police department. Jerry is also a tireless advocate for children, promoting and protecting our schools and developing additional recreational fields. Jerry's passion for community service began with a seat on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Repertory Company, and as a board member of the free Shakespeare in the Park festival. During his time on the Burlingame City Council he was involved in a long list of issues and committees. In addition to the already-mentioned Economic Development Committee, Jerry served as a liaison between the city and the Burlingame Chamber of Commerce. He has one of the better attendance records at Chamber functions, and he listened closely when the Chamber made important suggestions to improve the quality of life in Burlingame. He was also a member of the Fire Advanced Life Support (ALS) Joint Powers Authority, a public--private partnership launched in 1977 to provide improved emergency medical care to Burlingame citizens. It isn't just the citizens of Burlingame who trust Jerry Deal to be fair and insightful. Jerry was elected by San Mateo County's 20 mayors to serve on the SamTrans Board of Directors overseeing fixed-route and para-transit bus services in San Mateo County. The county's mayors also elected him to serve as Vice Chair of the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board which owns and operates Caltrain. The Caltrain Board of Directors appointed Jerry as its representative on the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA), the body responsible for overseeing the new Transbay Transit Center, a rail extension for Caltrain and High-Speed Rail and adjacent transit-oriented developments in downtown San Francisco. As you can surmise from this list, Jerry is smart, self- effacing, and is passionate about improving the quality of life for all Bay Area residents directly impacted by city planning, housing and transportation. Jerry's expertise, enthusiasm and effectiveness have left an indelible mark on the city of Burlingame which he has called home for over 35 years. He and his wife JoAnn Johnson-Deal, a teacher at Franklin Elementary School, have five children and ten grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Jerry Deal, the Vice Mayor of Burlingame, a proud resident and a dear friend, for over two decades of outstanding public service. He will be leaving us shortly to move to Oregon, but his legacy will live on in the beauty of Burlingame, in its architecture, in its family- focused activities and lifestyle, and in the example of fairness that Jerry exhibited during his time in public office. We will say farewell to a friend of decades who has etched his mark on decades yet to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the San Mateo County Law Library, a unique California resource that provides public access to justice. The law library in Redwood City, founded in 1916, houses a wealth of information not available at other public libraries and is used by some 9,000 individuals a year. In addition to attorneys, legal professionals and students, ordinary citizens use the library to get assistance with landlord/tenant complaints, marital and child custody disputes probate questions, entrepreneurial pursuits, safety issues and a broad range of other legal issues. In fact, last year the general public constituted 26 percent of all library users. Individuals without legal training are not left to their own devices to find and interpret legal literature. Librarians help everyone find answers to their legal questions, regardless of their educational background or financial circumstances. The appreciation for this service is best expressed by the public users themselves. One patron said, ``The best legal librarians in the Bay Area. Superior kindness, knowledge and patience.'' Another said, ``The staff here have made my life better, and for that I feel compelled to dole out some kudos to them.'' The idea for law libraries was born in the Bay Area. In 1870, the San Francisco Law Library Act required the City and County of San Francisco to provide facilities and services at no charge and mandated access to county citizens. In 1891, the California Legislature adopted this practice at the state level requiring each county to have a law library. The libraries were not connected as a system, instead each county library rendered services according to the needs of its communities and was funded by the filing fees generated by the court system. Because the state law does not provide any financial support to maintain the law collections or services, the San Mateo County Library is now at risk. Filing fees have dropped dramatically. Before the San Mateo County Law Library opened at its current location at 710 Hamilton Street in Redwood City, it used to consist of two branches to serve the entire peninsula, one in San Mateo's Superior Court and the other in South San Francisco's courthouse. Due to funding cuts, support for the law collection at San Mateo's Superior Court had to be discontinued many years ago and then the courthouse was closed. Similarly, support for the law collection at the South San Francisco courthouse was discontinued in 2011 due to cutbacks and then the courthouse was closed. This created a Catch 22: as the courts closed and filing fees increased, fewer law suits were filed, more members of the general public used the law libraries to solve their legal issues, and the funding for the library dropped. The popularity of the San Mateo Law Library has ironically contributed to its threat of extinction. California's County Law Library Statute was a direct result of the progressive movement in the late 20th century when disparity in wealth resulted in armed clashes between the working and moneyed classes. Lawyers were considered tools of the rich and the law libraries were tools for the common man to be his own lawyer. Justice Conrad Rushing wrote: ``The establishment of law libraries was not by any means the most important feature of what grew out of the progressive movement, but it nevertheless spoke strongly to the idea of equality under the law.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to honor the important role the San Mateo County Law Library continues to play today by providing access to legal support services and justice. May it be saved for all San Mateo County residents as a symbol and manifestation of ``equality under the law.''

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, ``anything for football.'' It is a phrase I have heard a lot recently, that we should ignore what happens off the field for the sake of the sport. This creed used to mean something positive. Vince Lombardi, the namesake of the Super Bowl trophy, said he viewed his players as ``neither black nor white, but Packer green.'' ``Anything for football'' meant he had to fight racism and homophobia off the field to coach the best football team possible. Recently, ``anything for football'' has been used to justify an organization that perpetuates violence and sexism rather than teamwork, family, and sport. Instead of fighting injustice off the field for the sake of the sport, the NFL chooses deafening silence. We are told to ignore what happens on the sidelines, in disciplinary boardrooms, or behind elevator doors, all for the sport. Well, I refuse to ignore what is happening. The NFL thinks they can play by their own rules. As we saw in the Ray Rice case, these decisions go all the way to the top. Commissioner Roger Goodell is judge and jury, yet he is also the one who stands to profit by seeing these cases hushed and unpunished. Since he took over the NFL in 2006, there have been 56 arrests of players for domestic violence. The NFL has been inconsistent in its response, ranging from counseling, to single game suspensions, to conditional fines, to nothing at all. After a player is arrested, more often than not they continue to play, even if there is clear evidence for their violent crime. When a police officer is being investigated for domestic violence, they are suspended with pay until the investigation ends. If the NFL is serious about zero tolerance, why shouldn't it play by the same rules? Of the 56 football players arrested for domestic violence, they only saw a combined 13 games suspended. The NFL would rather see these players on the field than take a stance against violence. After all, ``anything for football.'' I say, ``Bench them.'' Ray McDonald of the San Francisco 49ers was arrested at a party after his fiancee, who was 10 weeks pregnant, showed police bruises on her neck and arms. He has played the last 2 weeks. Why hasn't he been benched? ``Anything for football.'' I am an avid 49er fan, but this is disgusting. I expect more from my 49ers. Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers was arrested and convicted for assaulting his former girlfriend. The woman said Hardy picked her up, choked her, threw her on a couch covered in assault rifles and shotguns, and bragged to her that they were loaded. He is appealing his case and still playing. Why hasn't he been benched? ``Anything for football.'' Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens, who was indicted in March with assaulting his then-fiancee, has finally received a punishment befitting his crime, but only after a video of the actual event was released. After he was indicted, his coach, John Harbaugh, said, ``He will be part of our team. Support the person without condoning the action.'' Why wasn't he benched from the start? ``Anything for football.'' The list goes on and on. Like the military and universities, the NFL thinks they can enforce their own justice internally. They have failed. The NFL should change their policies so that these players stay on the bench while they are investigated. This week I will send a letter to Commissioner Goodell and team owners, calling on them to immediately change their domestic violence policy. When a player is arrested for domestic violence, the NFL should immediately suspend the player and continue to pay them until a preponderance of the evidence determines their guilt or innocence. This suspension should continue until the end of court proceedings, when the NFL can then apply its player policy. It is what we do with police officers. This is what zero tolerance looks like. Two-thirds of all Americans watch the NFL. Let us work together to put an end to the NFL's inaction. Lombardi didn't just think we could fight racism through football. He said, ``People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses or the problems of modern society.'' It may be difficult, but we deserve sports that show the best in our society. After all, ``anything for football.''

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Armed Services Committee and my ranking member for their leadership on this issue and for the exhaustive discussions and briefings we have had. I also commend all of my colleagues for their thoughtful statements. This is, indeed, a tough decision, but we are elected to make tough decisions. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this amendment to equip and train the Syrian rebel forces. After countless briefings and the President's speech, I am left with more questions than answers. At a briefing today, former U.S. generals have opined that training 3,000 to 5,000 members of the Free Syrian Army will be lame-- in fact, totally inadequate. Why would we train an inadequate number of FSAs to contain ISIL? How do we identify and vet a sufficient number of Syrians who can fight a long, protracted conflict to effectively degrade ISIL? How do we compel the Free Syrian Army to focus on ISIL instead of Assad, the brutal dictator they took up arms in the first place to destroy? What will prevent Assad from continuing to attack the FSA? And what will we do in response? How do we avoid arming individuals that would rather do harm to the United States than ISIL? How do we create a true coalition that will share the burden of this conflict when some only agree tacitly behind closed doors? Jordan has ISIL on both borders but cannot commit publicly to providing boots on the ground. How does a plan that relies primarily on airstrikes truly degrade ISIL's capability? What I have heard in response to these questions simply doesn't add up. We should have our eyes open wide enough to know that we are being asked to support today something much more than just training 3- to 5,000 members of the Free Syrian Army. There are consequences of what we have supported in the past, and there will be consequences today. What happened when we spent billions of dollars to train and equip the carefully vetted Iraq military over almost a decade? They folded in the face of ISIL, many taking arms up with ISIL and others stripping their uniforms from their backs. The plan before us is unrealistic and insufficient. None of the military experts outside the government believe that this strategy will topple ISIL. General Dempsey conceded yesterday that if this plan is insufficient, which I believe it is. He may recommend ground forces. He also said that there is no military solution to ISIL. We should be frank with ourselves and the American people. We are not facing a limited engagement but a new war that will only escalate. We are setting out on a path to send our own troops to the ground. This is an amendment and a debate to start yet another war in the Middle East with a very uncertain future.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, four years ago today, a massive explosion killed eight of my constituents, injured 66, and destroyed 38 homes, and scarred a San Bruno neighborhood. The fire roared for 90 minutes until PG&E finally located the gas line's manual shut-off valve. Last week the California Public Utilities Commission recommended a $1.4 billion fine. Their punishment must send a message to all utilities across the country: putting profits before safety has serious consequences. We're good at passing legislation that doesn't solve problems and patting ourselves on the back. The fact that there have been ten more explosions since then shows we must do more. That's why I'll be introducing legislation that will adopt recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board including requiring auto and remote shut off valves and hydrostatic testing. Please join me in honoring the families of the Crestmoor neighborhood and the first responders. I also ask you to join me in remembering the lives of Jacqueline Greig [Greg], Janessa Greig [Greg], Jessica Morales, Elizabeth Torres, Lavonne Bullis, Greg Bullis, Will Bullis, and James Emil Franco.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Steve K. Oshita-- affectionately called Mr. O--who retired after 37 years of teaching math and science at Crocker Middle School in Hillsborough, California. Mr. O is no ordinary math and science teacher because his students learn about life and leadership. He starts out his new classes by announcing that ``respect is the very first thing we will learn in this class.'' That is followed by his instruction that ``body language is everything, students. If you are sitting up, you are ready to learn; if you slouch, you are not!'' Every student in his class sits up straight and is ready to learn. The respect is mutual. Mr. O is one of the most thoughtful and dedicated educators I have met. He gained the deepest respect of my two children whom he taught math, science and invaluable lessons for life. They remember him as personable, resolute, with a wonderful sense of humor and the gift of creating a great environment for learning. In the Hillsborough community, Mr. O is known as one of the most beloved teachers at Crocker. Alumni often return just to visit with him. For one year he served as the Vice Principal, but that took too much time away from the classroom and he went back to teaching only. Steve Oshita was born in San Francisco, California. His parents wanted him to become a dentist and he started his education at UC Berkeley in pre-medical technology, but his calling was science and he earned his degree in Biology and Entomology, the study of insects. He then earned his teaching credential at San Francisco State University and has been teaching ever since. Not surprisingly, Mr. O married another Hillsborough teacher, Robyn Chamness. They met in 1986, married in 1995 and have two lovely children, Reid and Renee. Mr. O loves to dress up at school events. A fan of Motown music, Saturday Night Fever and Miami Vice he has been spotted as John Travolta and Don Johnson. He is also an enthusiastic sports fan and enjoys SCUBA diving, basketball, tennis--religiously every Sunday--and the Giants. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Steve Oshita, a model educator who has inspired hundreds of children and set them on a path to lifelong learning and success.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 100th anniversary of Holy Angels Church in Colma, California. This diverse and close-knit parish beautifully calls itself a family of faith, sharing time, talent and treasure. Today the church on San Pedro Road has a seating capacity of 1140, but its beginnings a century ago were much smaller. St. Anne Church was built in 1868 on land donated by Peter Dunks of Colma and named after his daughter Anne Dunks. Priests from San Mateo and San Francisco rode their horses to the church until the advent of the railroad. One priest, Reverend James Cooper, spent so much time in the saddle that he was known as ``the horseback priest.'' It took him four days round trip to travel to the church. From 1899 to 1914, St. Anne was a mission of St. Michael in the Ocean View district. In 1914, the mission received the status of parish and the name of the church was changed to Holy Angels. Catholics from the coast had to travel to Colma for mass and sacraments until Father Sorasio, the pastor at the time, set up a mission in a house near present-day Nick's Restaurant in Rockaway Beach. By 1952, the parish had outgrown the size of the church. A growing number of Catholics from Broadmoor, Sterling Park, Sherman, Callan Heights and other new developments joined the church. A campaign to enlarge the church and build a parish school was launched in July of that year under the chairmanship of San Mateo County Supervisor Thomas Callan. As a result, Holy Angels underwent its first major alteration in 87 years. The church was enlarged and a school with eight grade levels, a library, office and convent was built. In 1960, a fire destroyed the whole sacristy including all vestments and linens. It was accidentally started by children playing with candles in the sacristy. The following year, the church once again needed to be enlarged and a new campaign began. The new Holy Angels Church and rectory were dedicated in September of 1962. Its mission architecture, mosaic murals and stained glass windows give it a simple beauty and grace. Holy Angels has had 16 pastors since its establishment in 1914. Father Alex L. Legaspi became the newest one on July 1, 2013. Holy Angels has a rich parish because of its diversity, from its humble beginnings with German, Irish and Italian immigrants and more recently with parishioners from Mexico, Central and South America, the Philippines and other countries. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor the 100th anniversary of Holy Angels Church, a house of worship that enriches its parishioners with a close sense of community.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Lester Chun who is retiring after 33 years as Instrumental Music Specialist for the Hillsborough City School District. Mr. Chun has shared his love of music with hundreds of students and opened their ears and hearts to this universal art form. I witnessed his infectious style of teaching in my own son whom Mr. Chun taught for three years at Crocker Middle School. He describes him a musician through and through and a teacher who created a great environment for learning. My son remembers that he was jovial, yet didn't allow talking during class. ``Practice makes perfect,'' Mr. Chun would say--and of course he was right. You can honestly say that music is Mr. Chun's life. When not teaching with an inexhaustible enthusiasm, creativity and dedication, he plays trumpet and is a pit musician. My son wasn't the only one recognizing his talent and passion. Mr. Chun has received numerous awards including the Hillsborough Community Care Award, TONY Award--Teachers Outstanding Nurturing Youth, BRAVO Award--S.F. Bay Area awards for the Arts, the Kent Award for innovative instruction, and the Golden Bell Award for eight years of publishing the Viking Weekly for Crocker Middle School. Lester Chun was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1954. He attended Damien Memorial High School in Honolulu. When he moved to the mainland for his higher education, he didn't leave the Aloha spirit behind; it is part of his soul. He earned his BA in Music at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont and did his graduate work in Music History at the University of Southern California. He started his position as Instrumental Music Specialist in 1981 and is a member of the Hillsborough Teacher's Association, the California Teacher's Association and the California Music Educator's Association. In his well-deserved retirement, Mr. Chun is looking forward to spending more time with his wife of 34 years, Janet, and their daughter Clarissa. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Lester D. M. Chun, an exceptional music teacher who makes his students' hearts dance with joy.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, with just 1 day before the recess and many pending issues before us, the majority has focused on one issue and one issue alone: suing the President of the United States for essentially doing what they seem incapable of. The lawsuit focuses solely on a small part of the ACA, one that Republicans themselves wanted to roll back. I am going to list my objections to this monumental waste of time on this poster. First is standing. The S is for standing because the Speaker is trying to sue the President, and he does not have standing. He must show that there is some concrete harm to him that goes beyond the general interest in seeing the law enforced. In fact, he should listen to conservative legal minds like Justices Roberts, Scalia, and Rehnquist, all of whom have expressed skepticism about a court granting standing to the House to sue the President. It is absurd to think that the House of Representatives, as an institution, has been harmed by President Obama's attempting in good faith to implement the ACA. I understand their feelings might be hurt, but acting out only gets them negative attention, and the Americans agree that this is a waste of time. The next reason that I object is the taxpayer waste of money. The last time the Republicans sued the President, it was over the implementation of DOMA, which went nowhere and cost the taxpayers $2.3 million. Like this previous fruitless lawsuit, this will bounce around the courts for years, making rich lawyers rich. That is the only jobs program the Republicans will have passed in Congress this year. The next reason I object to it is that it is useless. Just what are the Republicans trying to accomplish with this circus? It is certainly not governing. As of June 30, this Congress has only enacted 125 bills into law--the lowest number of any Congress in history since 1973, when they started keeping data. Now, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will say, well, it is all about the Senate, but in five previously divided Congresses before this one, the average number of bills enacted at the same time period was 254--almost twice as many. The next reason I object to this lawsuit is P, political stunt aimed at appeasing the fringe elements in the Republican Party that want to impeach the President. The same people calling for this lawsuit shut down the government last fall because they wanted to delay the Affordable Care Act, and it cost us over $24 billion. Now, they are suing the President over the fact that he did something they wanted him to do in the first place. The only other group of people I know who scream that they want something and then throw a tantrum when they get it are toddlers. The next reason I object to this lawsuit is that it is inconsistent. It is inconsistent because when George Bush was proposing the prescription drug benefit and we were trying to implement that, he asked to have it delayed for 1 year--and guess what? The Republicans didn't object then. Then the final reason that I object to this lawsuit is because it is a distraction. The Republicans are trying to distract Americans from the fact they have ruled over a do-nothing Congress. While we are frittering away our last few days in session in this pointless and childish exercise, we are not creating jobs, fixing immigration, renewing the Export-Import Bank, doing tax reform, or even completing a full appropriations process. Words fail me in describing the petulance of the other side. This toddler is more adult than some of my colleagues. She has figured it out. I suppose I will have to let her express her feelings.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California, whom I am honored to serve with and who I want to compliment for bringing recognition to this issue and a spotlight on the importance of providing this service to veterans when they are no longer in Active Duty. The reason why this particular section 503 is so critical is because so few of these survivors ever come forward when they are on Active Duty to speak about their sexual assault. In fact, the military in many respects encourages them not to come forward because oftentimes the result is, when you do come forward, you are labeled as having a personality disorder and then honorably but involuntarily discharged from the military. The stories I have heard over the last 3 or 4 years are really very disturbing because it makes the case over and over again that the military does not really want to deal with this issue. So 26,000 sexual assaults or sexual harassments that take place to members of the military every year. 5,000--only 5,000 of them report them, only 500 of them go to court-martial, and only 250 see any kind of time in jail or prison. There are many of these victims who upon retiring, upon being discharged from the military, are into drugs and alcohol, and all of a sudden find out that what is really driving their conditions is the fact that they were raped when they were in the military. I had the opportunity just last week to spend some time at the MST program in Menlo Park, California, with five survivors who were in an inpatient program. They were all extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity they had to participate in that program. They found it to be a lifesaver, literally a lifesaver. They were all on the brink before being admitted into this particular program and for the first time feel that they are getting their lives back, but one of the great eye-opening parts of that experience was that, of the five women, four of them would be homeless upon leaving this in-treatment program, which went on for about 45 days. On top of everything else that we are learning about MST, I think it is important to recognize that survivors, particularly women survivors--but I believe it is true of men survivors as well--need to be in programs that are single-sex because they have so many issues associated with it and that we have got to find housing for them after they leave. With that, I support the motion.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I think we can all agree that we want the workers at our nuclear facilities to be proactive in reporting health and safety violations. It seems pretty obvious. In California, whistleblowers were key in pointing out critical safety problems at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Had these brave whistleblowers not come forward, we could have had a Fukushima- like meltdown right next to the Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton and within 50 miles of 8 million Americans. We need more whistleblowers, not less. That is why I was flabbergasted to learn that the Department of Energy has allowed its contractors to force their employees to sign agreements not to disclose waste, fraud, or abuse. The DOE's allowance of nondisclosure agreements has been the subject of ongoing congressional investigations, which found that whistleblowers at the Hanford plutonium processing plant in Washington State were fired after raising safety concerns. Not only does this violate basic principles of workplace safety, but it circumvents Congress' constitutional duty to conduct oversight over governmental activities. This is a part of pattern of abuse by contractors using employment contracts to hide outrageous crimes within their organizations. In 2005, an employee of a contracting company deployed to Iraq was gang-raped by her coworkers and was then prevented from going to court because her employment contract said that sexual assault allegations would only be heard in private arbitration. Another contract worker in Iraq reported $80 million in fraud by the major defense contractor that employed him and was terminated for blowing the whistle. The employer used the excuse that the employee had missed a conference. Shockingly, the Department of Energy is actually subsidizing this type of illegal and unethical activity with taxpayer money. In many instances, DOE is picking up the legal tabs for these contractors, funding long legal battles against the very whistleblowers who have bravely come forward to protect public health and safety. The DOE told me just this week that they have no intention of stopping these subsidies, and that they would only seek reimbursement from the contractors if the whistleblower won in court. My amendment is simple. It makes clear that the Department of Energy must protect non-Federal employees from whistleblower retaliation. It is the workers on the front lines who are best suited to identify and expose misconduct, but contract workers are the most vulnerable to termination. The risk of career-ending retaliation is currently too great for most non-Federal employees to blow the whistle on their employer or contract manager. The DOE must stop allowing its contractors to stifle whistleblowers through illegal workplace secrecy agreements and taxpayer-funded lawsuits.

Ms. SPEIER. I yield to the gentleman from Idaho.

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, it is not often that I can use a passage from the Bible to describe an appropriations bill, but the money- wasting allocation of funds in this bill is perfectly described by the Gospel of Matthew. It observes: For whoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. A sociologist termed this the ``Matthew Effect,'' a term for why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. That is pretty much what is going on here. Why on Earth are we handing out money to fossil fuel companies? They don't need more abundance. They are receiving more than enough from the Federal Government as it is, some $4 billion in taxpayer subsidies each year. My amendment is extremely modest. It retains the $562.1 million for R&D that is in the budget--far more, I might add, than the President had in his budget of $475 million. But do we really need to increase the R&D budget for fossil fuels beyond the $563 million? Let's show the taxpayers we have just a little restraint. Fossil fuel companies are perfectly capable of funding their own research. In fact, they do. ExxonMobil alone has spent about $5 billion since 2008. If more spending on R&D is, in fact, needed, they are more than capable of funding it on their own. Perhaps they could reallocate some of the $144 million, or more than $396,000 per day, they spent last year lobbying Members of Congress. Maybe some of their 763 lobbyists--nearly two for each Member of Congress in the House--would be willing to start a new career in research. Here in the Federal Government where we don't have millions of dollars to throw around willy-nilly, we need to reexamine our investments. Appropriations bills are documents that spell out our priorities. Increasing the fossil fuel R&D budget by $31 million to an already overly generous $562 million while slashing renewable R&D budgets by $80 million states loud and clear that we are more interested in funding rich energy companies of the past rather than energy of the future. Again, this amendment is simple. It strikes $31 million in R&D from fossil fuels and commits it to deficit reduction and maintains the FY14 level of funding for this research. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Chairman, we have been having a raging debate in this House over the Ex-Im Bank. Many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are screaming that that is, in fact, corporate welfare. Well, when the three largest oil companies in this country-- ExxonMobil, BP, and Shell--made over $62.7 billion in the last year, and you are sitting here and telling us that giving them $4 billion and giving them another $563 million is not enough, that we need to augment it by some $31 million, I think that is pretty darn laughable. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 10th annual San Mateo County Disaster Preparedness Day on this day, Saturday, June 7, 2014. This event grew out of the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated southeast Louisiana on August 29, 2005. The Nation watched in horror as Americans were waving for help from the roofs of their homes surrounded by water. Hurricane Katrina became the costliest natural disaster and one of the five deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen here in the Bay Area if a major earthquake hit. As all of us know, it's not a question of if, but when. We convened a small group of leaders on September 11, 2004 to discuss disaster preparedness in our county. From this meeting arose the first countywide disaster preparedness event to educate residents. San Mateo County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier and Supervisor Don Horsley created such a stir in the community that when event day dawned, about 5,000 individuals attended. They learned directly from first responders giving emergency demonstrations, and that first year there were 40 exhibitor booths and numerous emergency vehicles. Through sponsorships by local businesses and community partners, we were able to hand out 1,000 emergency preparedness backpacks to the first attendees and feed all attendees complimentary lunches. It was a true community event. Every year since then, the San Mateo County Disaster Preparedness Day has taken place at locations throughout the county, including South San Francisco High School, the USGS campus in Menlo Park and at the Event Center. Tens of thousands have been trained. Many of those who attend are young people and students. Disaster Preparedness Day offers families a teaching moment--a time to reflect upon what will happen to each family member if communication is cut off or mobility restricted. As mothers and fathers instruct their young children in how to be safe but not frightened, and as emergency responders offer teens their first exposure to adult-like duties, such as first aid and CPR, you can almost watch the fabric of the community being woven right before your eyes. On the 10th anniversary of this important day, we continue our tradition of presenting, during the opening ceremony, flags by the San Mateo County Sheriff Department Honor Guard and a wreath dedicated to the lives that have been lost due to disasters. We also continue to offer a free CPR course for attendees plus explanations of hospital care during an emergency, and instructions on how to store food, currency and water in safe places. Experts on earthquakes, fires and floods explain likely scenarios and often the local fire departments give detailed, localized explanations to their own residents. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor the 10th annual Disaster Preparedness Day in San Mateo County. No one wants to experience a disaster, but everyone must be prepared for one. It has been said that practice makes perfect. In San Mateo County, we can never hope to be perfect in our response to disaster, but everyone knows that we practice because we love our families, our community and our neighborhoods, and we are determined to be prepared.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an extraordinary leader in San Mateo County. Sheryl Young, Chief Executive Officer of Community Gatepath, is retiring after 26 year of remarkable service to the special needs community. Sheryl is a leading ambassador for individuals with special needs in San Mateo, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties and one of the most thoughtful, generous and creative women I know. I feel extremely fortunate to count her as one of my closest friends and a member of the yoga girls. Sheryl first joined the organization as a volunteer, then known as Poplar Center, and quickly discovered she found her life's calling. In 1988, the nonprofit provided direct services to 370 individuals, had a modest budget of $1 million and a workforce of only 20 professionals. Since then, Sheryl has overseen remarkable growth at the agency as it now serves more than 9,000 individuals, has a budget of $12.4 million and employs 175 directors, managers and professionals. For more than 95 years, Community Gatepath has provided programs, support services, education, and information for the special needs community. Sheryl and her staff are dedicated to making their motto more than just words. These good people have their hearts committed to ``Turning Disabilities into Possibilities.'' Sheryl's significant accomplishments include the launch and completion of a $5 million capital campaign; the development of Learning Links Preschool--San Mateo County's first inclusive preschool; and the creation and launch of AbilityPath.org--a first-of-its-kind online resource and social network for parents, families, and providers that was voted best online special needs community by users of About.com in 2012. Sheryl was the only invited guest focused on children with special needs at the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention event in 2012 that was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Sheryl was also selected to participate in Harvard Business School's Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program. As proof of Sheryl's standing in our community, ``The Sheryl Young Community Impact Award'' has been established to pay tribute to persons, businesses and organizations that make an impact in their community by helping people with disabilities. Sheryl is a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders. She also earned a Masters of Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley, a Master's Degree in Special Education from Ball State University and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Purdue University. I first met Sheryl when she worked for the County of San Mateo. A friend of mine gave birth to a child with Down syndrome and was told by her doctors that she would be unable to raise the girl and was urged to turn her over to a residential treatment center. Sheryl advocated on behalf of the infant and found a suitable program at Poplar Center to assist the family. Sheryl was so impressed with the program at Poplar Center that she stayed involved. Shortly thereafter, Sheryl's heart and head convinced her to leave county government and accept an offer to lead Poplar Center. Little did I know that this first encounter with Sheryl would lead to a lifetime friendship. I find inspiration in her leadership style and her entrepreneurial spirit within the non-profit community. In her retirement, Sheryl is primed to continue her world travels, read and hike more and is delightfully planning her daughter's wedding, with dreams of becoming a grandma. Her co-workers will miss her energy, warmth and ability to think outside the box. They will miss her daily example of unconditional love toward her clients and friends. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Sheryl Young for being a public servant extraordinaire. Sheryl has changed lives for the better, including my own.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dan Banks on the occasion of his 80th birthday. No matter what Dan takes on--professional or personal--he always gives it 110 percent. Take for example his third century bike ride he completed in May to celebrate his birthday: 100 miles through Napa County. He also continues his quest to become a Life Master at bridge. Dan's endurance and determination are awe-inspiring. I've had the great honor and pleasure to call Dan and his wife Cynthia Schuman my treasured friends for more than a dozen years. Their wit, warmth and generosity enrich my life every day. Dan was born in Sri Lanka and when he was seven years old his family moved to Madras, India, where his father worked for Standard Oil. They returned to Nashville, Tennessee, his mother's home, in 1941 during World War II. Dan graduated from Sewanee Military Academy, earned his BA in History and English from Yale, became a member of the coveted and secretive Skull & Bones Society, completed his training with the United States Marine Corps, and finally earned his MBA at Stanford University in 1961. He spent two years in the Marine Corps as a First Lieutenant and was stationed in Japan. While going back and forth to Asia his eyes were opened to San Francisco where he landed his first real job as an assistant buyer for Macy's. He met his first wife Sandra at Macy's and she helped him make it through business school at Stanford. Dan is a thoughtful and ethical man. He pursued a successful career as an investment banker in San Francisco and hasn't left the city since. Dan fondly remembers raising money for corporate clients through public offerings, private placements, mergers and acquisitions. The act of raising money to fund an expanding business is a key step in creating jobs. Dan understood his role in creating opportunities for all. He points out that investment banking then was not what it became in the 90s. The deals and fees were much smaller, he says. ``My favorite client, Nordstrom's, initial public offering was $21 million, not the hundreds of millions one might expect today. After a long and productive career, he retired in 1993. The 1980s were a difficult time for Dan and his family. Sandra was diagnosed with breast cancer and died in 1989. He calls that period a bookend to that phase of his life, but it also brought new beginnings. In 1991, Dan met his wonderful wife Cynthia and they married the following year. Dan has always valued the arts and developed a deep appreciation for opera while he was stationed in Okinawa. He invested a tremendous amount of energy and passion into his role as a Trustee of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco for eight years. For the last two decades Cynthia and he have focused on their beautiful family of their four children--Pamela Banks Joyce, Tom Banks, Darrell Benatar and Denise Benatar--and eight grandchildren--Colin, Sandra, Michael, Taylor, Isabel, Maya, Trevor and Parker. It is best to cite Dan's own words to illustrate his optimism and outlook on life. ``We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth,'' he says, ``surrounded by those who love us and thank our lucky stars for each successive day.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Dan Banks, an extraordinary man. I thank my lucky stars for his wisdom and friendship each successive day.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. I have an amendment at the desk, Madam Chair.