Jackie Speier

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Will the gentleman yield?

Ms. SPEIER. As do I.

Ms. SPEIER. We are joined by the Congressman from northern California, my colleague for many years, Congressman John Garamendi, who is no stranger to this floor for Special Orders, I might add.

Ms. SPEIER. Well, I thank the gentlelady for her passionate and clear-minded commentary on how critical this is for the entire country and to all the lives that are at risk, should we not fund NIH at a level that is going to come up with the next cure, the next blockbuster drug that is going to save lives and create longevity for so many Americans.

Ms. SPEIER. Would the gentlelady entertain a question? You were here when then-President Bush worked in a bipartisan fashion with the House and the Senate, the Republicans and the Democrats, to double the funding for NIH; and all we have seen since then is just an absolute cliff decline in funding. What happened then that isn't happening now? How can we reinstate that kind of bipartisan sentiment?

Ms. SPEIER. I thank the gentleman from California. And I thank him for recognizing so early in his career here in Congress the critical need we have not only to support NIH but also the biotechnology companies that are part and parcel of what California has become. I am now joined by my distinguished colleague from California as well, from the San Diego area, Susan Davis, who has much more to tell us from her perspective and from her neck of the woods.

Ms. SPEIER. I thank the gentleman from California for his articulation of what profound impacts it has certainly to the economy of California, but also to the country. And the point he made about having some kind of continuity and some certainty is critical to the future of science in this country. All we have to do is look back to what then-President George Bush did when he and a bipartisan group of Members of Congress supported doubling the budget for the NIH. That was a plan conceived of where it was going to take place over 5 years. So there was continuity and there was a sense of certainty that funding would be there for the near and the long term. So what does a moderate investment in NIH have as a catalyst, so to speak, for economic growth? Well, it is similar to what happened when the government invested in the Internet and spurred dramatic growth in the previous decades. Where would we be today if the government had not funded the research that created the Internet? Before ``google'' became a verb and we actually had to write and mail letters to our friends and families and call the doctor to find out about medical symptoms, before there was the Internet, there was, in fact, the U.S. Government standing behind sound science and research. So let's talk about what the NIH-funded research has meant for our economy and for our lives. The U.S. medical innovation sector employs 1 million Americans, generates $84 billion in salaries annually, and exports $90 billion in goods and services. The economic value of gains in the U.S. life expectancy has been estimated at roughly $95 trillion from 1970 to 2000. Now, that is looking at it from dollars and cents. But think about it in terms of people's lives, extending their lives. That is what is truly significant about this. Now, since 1990, our Nation has gained about 1 year of longevity every 6 years with the help of NIH research. Medical research, the most advanced of which is often done here in the U.S., has saved millions of lives over the last few decades. Death rates for heart disease have dropped 65 percent over the last 60 years. That is a phenomenal number. Deaths from heart disease have dropped 65 percent over the last 60 years, in part, in a great part, due to NIH funding. The stent that we use so commonly now with heart disease, discovered, created at NIH. Death rates from cancer down 12 percent, and death rates from strokes down 34 percent, all because of medical research going on right here in the United States, spurred by the help of NIH funding. I yield to my colleague from California, Eric Swalwell, to speak about issues from his perspective.

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, tonight we are going to discuss the National Institutes of Health. In many respects, the National Institutes of Health is the goose that keeps laying the golden eggs, the golden eggs that help cure many of the maladies that many Americans suffer from, the goose that lays the golden eggs that create jobs, the goose that lays the golden eggs that help us bring down the cost of health care. But we are at the brink, we are at the tipping point of killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Let's put it in perspective. Not so long ago, then-President George Bush was part of a bipartisan effort to double the funding for the National Institutes of Health. It was $21 billion. Doubling of the resources for the NIH was extraordinary and received with great fanfare and appreciation because there was so much that the researchers were ready to do with that money. What have we done since then? Since then, in 2003 dollars, we have seen a gross decline in the money to fund the National Institutes of Health. Now it is down to the equivalent of $17 billion. So for the next hour, we are going to talk about what that means to every American who is suffering from a cancer, for every American that is suffering with a chronic disease like diabetes, for every American who is suffering from Alzheimer's and whose family is trying to cope with it. Former Republican Senator and Majority Leader Bill Frist recently wrote: When Alzheimer's is cured, when HIV is cured, when MS is cured, I want it to be America that discovers the breakthroughs and shares it with the world. I agree with Dr. Frist. I want to see that happen too. I would like to think that every Member in this House wants to see that too, but it is not going to happen if we keep starving the goose that lays the golden eggs. Let me read you another quote: Whenever you hear about a research breakthrough in anything to do with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, influenza, whatever, in the United States, it's extremely likely that NIH supported that effort. That was Dr. Francis Collins, head of the National Institutes of Health who made that statement. He also doesn't mince words. Recently, in response to sequester cuts to the NIH budget, he said: I think we'll no longer be the world leader in the production of science, technology, and innovation. You can't look at the curves and say, Oh, well, it'll be fine, if we stay on this track. It will not be. China is coming up so fast, they are so convinced that this is their pathway towards world leadership; they're not going to slow down. He recently recounted a trip that he took to China in 2011 where he was taken on a tour of a former shoe factory. You need to know a little bit about the history of Dr. Francis Collins. He is called the ``father of the human genome project.'' He and a number of other scientists are responsible for absolutely unlocking DNA sequencing. So he was invited to China to see what they were doing. He was taken to this old shoe factory, except it is not a shoe factory anymore. Inside that factory were 3,000 scientists who were focused on sequencing the human genome and the medical and economic potential of this technology. In fact, the capacity at that one factory is more than all of the genome sequencing centers in the United States. Dr. Collins said to me with great sadness, Within 3 to 5 years, China will eclipse us. Mind you, we have invested billions and billions of dollars in unlocking the human genome with the intent of seeing great strides made; but we are on the verge, we are at the tipping point of seeing this all come to a screeching halt if we continue to ignore the fact that we are starving the NIH. Here is an interesting chart. This shows how much R&D spending is going on around the world. China from 2012 to 2013 had an increase of 15 percent. Germany, up 5 percent, Japan up 5 percent, South Korea up 5 percent, Canada down 3 percent, the United States down 5 percent. This says it all. If we don't want to see the outsourcing of medicine in this country, the outsourcing of science in this country, we have got a huge wake-up call that we must listen to. I am joined this evening by my good friend from San Diego, Scott Peters, who I want to engage with him and have him speak a little bit to this issue as well. I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Peters).

Ms. SPEIER. I thank the gentlelady for her support and for her involvement in this very critical issue. I am really very grateful for the conversation we have had this hour on the National Institutes of Health, but I am also anxious for the millions of Americans across this country who are suffering with some diabolical disease--some cancer--some disease that has no cure, whether it is heart disease or glioblastomas or breast cancer. There are millions of Americans right now who are dealing with stage 4 cancers, who are holding on by just their fingernails, hoping against hope that there will be some cure, some breakthrough drug, some clinical trial they can participate in. I think, for each and every one of us in this House, we have to think about those people in our districts, and there are thousands of them in each of our districts. If they knew that we were tying the hands of the National Institutes of Health in doing that kind of cutting-edge research, I think they would be so disappointed--more than disappointed. They would be so angry that the lives of their loved ones were in the offing. I would like to continue with a brief discussion on our academic health centers in the United States. They are, really, the pulse of so much of the research that goes on when it comes to advanced medical research. Many of them are funded through the NIH, as was mentioned earlier--thousands of them across this country. I am going to tell you about one such researcher. Her name is Dr. Valerie Weaver. She is a professor in the UCSF Departments of Surgery, Anatomy and Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences. She does think outside the box. Her lab is investigating not only tumors, themselves, found in patients afflicted with breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, or brain cancer, but the neighborhood of tissues and cells where those tumors take up residence. Unfortunately, her quest for cutting-edge solutions to rapidly improve cancer treatments is threatened by the sequestration of the NIH budget. Because of reduced funding on her existing grants, Dr. Weaver has had to lay off three existing personnel and has had to cancel three new hires. ``The only people I can take are those with their own funding. Each year, you get less and less, and you are asked to do more and more,'' she said, ``and you try to get more creative, but wonder what you are supposed to do.'' As a scientist, she finds herself spending less time thinking about how to battle cancer in the lab and more time struggling against funding cuts. ``I spend way too much time writing grants. My grant writing time has doubled,'' Weaver said, but added she still pushes to move her research forward. ``I have to do some type of science every day, at least once a day, even if it's only an hour. It should be the other way around--1 hour of administration and 12 hours of science--but it's not. That breaks my heart,'' she says. For those suffering from the forms of cancer that Dr. Weaver hopes to treat, she points out that time is of the essence. Patients with brain tumors and pancreatic cancer, in particular, frequently live only a short time after diagnosis. ``Some of the studies we're doing in the next 4 to 5 years will have a direct impact on the clinic,'' she said. ``This could have huge implications for saving patients.'' Weaver also worries about the impact that sequestration is having on the next generation of talented researchers. ``You think: you can't let these people go under. If they go under, you lose them, because they don't come back,'' she stated soberly. In truth, there is so much at stake that we must recognize that the sequestration of the NIH is killing the goose that lays the golden egg--that saves American lives, that creates opportunities for great trade, that provides us with, yet again, more and more and more research that leads to more and more cures. Alzheimer's alone will choke us--will choke the Medicare system--if we don't do more research in that area. So I want to close by saying that the funding of the NIH is not a political issue. It is an economic and a medical imperative. Medical research makes Americans and the rest of the world healthier. It grows our economy, and it produces valuable jobs here at home. It is time for us to take the shackles off the NIH, to restore the funding that was there when George Bush was President and to regain the position that we have had for so long in terms of fine medical research. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Jeff Ira for his 16 years of outstanding service on the Redwood City City Council, two terms as mayor. To say that Jeff's enthusiasm and expertise will be missed by his colleagues and all residents would be the understatement of the decade. Jeff has demonstrated superb leadership in setting Redwood City on a stable financial path and in making it a better place to live. I am proud to call Jeff a colleague and long time friend. When Jeff became mayor in 2009, he opened his two- year term with a ``Call to Action'' to inspire residents to get engaged in their community and help it recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. He recommended volunteering at schools, libraries and non-profits and youth sports groups because he knew first-hand that all were suffering during the economic downturn. Under his leadership, and despite tough economic challenges, the city completed a new General Plan and the Downtown Precise Plan, attained a garbage collection agreement, accomplished a partnership with the San Carlos Fire Department to share services and save money, and passed a budget under enormous financial constraints. On his own time, Jeff worked hard to get ballot measures passed to bring more revenue to Redwood City. While mayor, he served on the city's Audit, Finance and Revenue, Jail, Economic Development/Downtown and Fox Theatre committees. He was also the council's liaison for Neighborhood Association co-chairs, and chair of the South Bayside System Authority. Jeff's vision and persistence were instrumental in creating the beautiful downtown of Redwood City. Courthouse Square and the Fox Theater would not be the sparkling jewels they are today without his hard and strategic work. Additionally, he made recycled water a reality for the community. Jeff showed the same creativity, integrity and commitment during his entire tenure on the city council. He will always be known for is the 2004 Great Toilet Giveaway when thousands of residents received low-flow toilets. He saved countless trees by having the city council move to a paperless system for staff reports and digital delivery of agenda packets. You can also thank him for the photo gallery on the city website showing off the beauty of Redwood City. His in-depth understanding of finances and fiscal constraints, and his contribution to creating controls over spiraling costs, helped steer the city through the economic downturn and towards financial stability. As a member of the South Bayside Systems Authority for 13 years, Jeff created the blue ribbon task force to analyze the governing structure of SBSA which resulted in a change on the board to include elected officials and a technical advisory committee. He oversaw the restructuring of the board's commission and committees to make them more effective and to meet the needs of the community. Jeff is passionate about public schools. As a parent, he was deeply involved in Clifford Elementary School in the Redwood City School District, and he worked tirelessly to raise funds for the district. He is committed to equal opportunity for all through quality public education. Jeff also serves as Treasurer of the Sequoia Awards which offers college scholarships to outstanding young people in Redwood City. Jeff has been a major fiscal and spiritual steward of this all-volunteer program for many years. In short, no matter what Jeff takes on, the results are always lasting. Jeff was born and raised in Redwood City and attended Saint Pius School and Saint Francis High School. He graduated from Humboldt State University with a B.S. in Accounting. Jeff is the proud father of Josh, Julie, Jessica and Joseph. While I am sure that he will enjoy more time hiking, kayaking, gardening and traveling after he retires from the council today, I have no doubt he will find ways to stay engaged and to give back to our community. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Jeff Ira, one of the finest mayors and public servants San Mateo County has seen. His tireless commitment and contributions to the city and residents of Redwood City will be felt for generations to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Coralin Feierbach for 14 years of outstanding service on the Belmont City Council, serving as mayor in 1999, 2007 and 2011. Coralin was first elected in 1995 for one term. She joined the council again in 2003 and has served continuously since that date. Coralin's hands-on and passionate style make her one of the most memorable leaders in Belmont. She always strives to see the side of residents, and works hard to ensure that their interests rather than the interests of others are the central focus of the council's deliberations. She will listen to Belmont residents on any topic, at any time of the day or night. Coralin has been a longtime advocate of open space. She first made a name for herself in the community in the mid-1970s when a plan to build housing on Sugarloaf Mountain in San Mateo on the border with Belmont was proposed. She and others won the fight to protect open space and Coralin has spent much of her life since protecting the Belmont hills from development. During her tenure on the council, she was instrumental in getting both Measure F, the Hillside Preservation Ordinance, and the Slope Density Ordinance, passed. She assisted in the acquisition of 35 acres in San Juan Canyon which are now permanent open space. The canyon was slated to have 1,000 homes built and Coralin helped reduce the number of lots for homes down to about 60. She succeeded in preserving the land for its beauty and recreational purposes, making it a sanctuary for the area's wildlife and residents. She also worked on a revision of the city's tree ordinance, the smoking ordinance, design review, code enforcement, the noise ordinance, construction time limits and green initiatives. Literally, if you look at the lush trees and canyons that distinguish Belmont, you see Coralin's clarity of purpose throughout the community. Coralin served during some of the most difficult economic times for Belmont. She always wanted a balanced and fair budget. She worked hard to prevent Caltrain's evolution from changing the character of the community, and her service did not begin with the council. Coralin served on the Planning Commission from 1986-1987 and 2001-2003. Coralin has a Bachelor's in Mathematics from San Francisco State University and did two years in the graduate program in mathematics at San Francisco State. She was a software developer and part owner of a software development firm. In her well-deserved retirement, Coralin is looking forward to spending more time with her husband Gary, their daughter and grandchildren. And she plans to take music classes at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont and to start a quartet as she plays classical piano. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Coralin Feierbach for her outstanding public service to the residents of Belmont. She has preserved and nurtured the city's spirit in order to produce tranquility amidst the urban din, and a small town appeal that makes Belmont a gem on the San Francisco Peninsula.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dave Warden for his twelve years of service on the Belmont City Council, including three years as mayor in 2002, 2005 and 2012. Dave was first elected in 1999 and served two terms until 2007. He returned in 2009 for his current term. Dave has been a tireless advocate for open space and was a driving force behind voter-approved Measure F, the Hillside Preservation Ordinance, and the Slope Density Ordinance. He worked hard on the acquisition of 35 acres in the San Juan Canyon which are now permanent open space. He was also instrumental in getting the new library built and was the council's representative to the library JPA. He also made the seismic upgrade of city hall a reality. He supported the smoking ordinance and the creation of Semeria Park. Dave's top priority has always been to spend Belmont taxpayers' money wisely. He was critical in negotiating with the city's bargaining units to rein in escalating pension costs. He is well-known for his bargaining skills and has helped keep Belmont's budget balanced with a minimal use of reserves even in a down economy. Before joining the council, he served as the Planning Commissioner and Parks and Recreation Commissioner. He is also a former president of his neighborhood association and former member of the Belmont Chamber of Commerce. Dave was born and raised in Belmont and graduated from Carlmont High School in 1979. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from UC Berkeley and is a medical software engineer. He worked for several Silicon Valley start-up firms and developed successful products for Sony, Zenith, Samsung, RCA, Casio, Panasonic and the U.S. Navy. He is also a former school teacher at Ralston Middle School where he was named the PTA Teacher of the Year in 2002. He and his wife of 17 years, Lisa, have always had an eye out for preserving Belmont's village-like charm and character. As you can see from this long list of accomplishments, Dave has a love of Belmont that has been demonstrated over many years and in many forms. Working in local government is not always the easiest task. You often face your neighbors and friends whose expectations are sometimes difficult to meet. However, through his tireless efforts, Dave Warden has demonstrated that he truly wanted to meet the needs of residents as much as was possible given fiscal and other constraints. Mr. Speaker, this dedication over time is rare, but his length of service and focus on the quality of life in Belmont is why Dave Warden's tenure on the council and in so many other capacities will be remembered. He will be missed on the council but his legacy will live on for many, many years.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Karen Clapper for her service on the San Carlos City Council since June 2012. She has applied decades of experience with private and public organizations to keep San Carlos the ``City of Good Living'' for all residents. When a seat on the council became vacant, the four remaining council members unanimously selected Karen to fill the remaining term. She has been a passionate advocate for our neighborhoods, schools, parks and public safety. During her time on the City Council, Karen Clapper has worked collaboratively with her colleagues and sought to create a community marked by fiscal prudence and regional relevance. She was always well prepared at council meetings and asked many important questions during budget and policy sessions. Karen has been a team player who worked hard to ensure that San Carlos had the finest fire, police, and parks services possible. She was frequently attended public events, wanting to be accessible to residents. During her time in public service, Karen served on the boards of the Peninsula Congestion Relief Alliance and the Library Governing Board WA. She also served on ad hoc committees dealing with school property, the San Carlos Transit Village, and Wheeler Plaza. She was the liaison to San Carlos Green, a citizens group advocating for environmentally sensitive projects and policies, and the Planning Commission. In fact, Karen's longest service to the city was during her time on the commission where she served from 2009-20012. During this formative time in the city's history, she helped to maintain the city's small town character while recognizing that its planning decisions had to fit into the regional need for housing and other changes. Karen earned her BA in Environmental Design from San Diego State University and her MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA. She has been a consultant, coach and board member for a long list of companies and non-profit organizations, including Great American Bank FSB, Accenture, Friends of San Carlos Library, the Service League of San Mateo County, and Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden. Karen will continue her work as an independent productivity and leadership coach and be guided by one of her favorite quotes by Albert Einstein: ``Out of clutter find simplicity; from discord find harmony; in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.'' Her eternal optimism will no doubt direct her to continue to contribute to the community. In her spare time she enjoys reading, quilting and doing crossword puzzles. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Karen Clapper for her outstanding leadership during her tenure on the city council and for her service to the residents of San Carlos at many meetings and forums in the past. She will be missed on the council but certainly seen and heard throughout the community for many years to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Gina Papan for her eight years of service on the Millbrae City Council, two of them as mayor, one as vice mayor. In her role as mayor this past year and throughout her tenure on the council, Gina has focused on sustainable finances and revenue enhancement in Millbrae. She has played an instrumental role in the adoption of the Economic Development Plan and the ongoing negotiations for a fire department merger with Central County Fire and San Bruno Fire. She is an avid advocate for public-private partnerships that benefit the local community. Gina serves on the City and County Association of Governments Board of Directors and Legislative Committee, the Congestion Management Program and Environmental Quality Committee, the High Speed Rail Policymakers Working Group, the San Mateo County Council of Cities, the Mayor's Civic Coordination Council, the Budget/Finance Subcommittee, the Field Agreement Subcommittee, the Fire Shared Services Subcommittee and the Commission/Committee Subcommittee. In the past, she represented Millbrae on the San Mateo County Housing Endowment and Regional Trust, the Grand Boulevard Task Force, the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, the San Mateo County Emergency Services Council and the Airport Land Use Committee. Gina continues a family tradition of public service and philanthropy following in the footsteps of her late father, Lou Papan, known as the ``Dean of the Assembly'' for his 20 years of service in the California State Assembly and her late mother Irene Papan, a dedicated community leader and tireless supporter of her husband. Gina began her professional career as a corporate attorney, but quickly moved to the public sector and served as Deputy Attorney General for the state for 19 years. She litigated to protect civil rights and prevent fraudulent use of taxpayer money. She was appointed deputy director of Governor Gray Davis' Office of Criminal Justice Planning. In that capacity, she served on the School Violence Prevention and Response Task Force, the Child Abduction Task Force and as a legislative advisor to the High Technology Crime Advisory Committee. School safety became an immediate focus on her second day on the job when the nation was shocked by the school shooting in Columbine. Gina grew up in Millbrae and graduated from Capuchino High School. She received her Bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics from UC Santa Barbara and her law degree from the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law. She completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Her commitment and dedication to others is unwavering. She and her sister Diane run John's Closet which provides free new clothing to underserved children and offers them confidence to achieve. John Papan was Gina's brother who suffered from a congenital condition that tragically and prematurely ended his life at age 21. In response and to continue its advocacy for disabled children, the Papan family set up John's Closet. Gina also is the co-director of the John Papan Memorial Scholarship Fund which was founded by the family to help special education students and late bloomers, kids who overcome early learning difficulties in high school. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Gina Papan who is retiring today as mayor of Millbrae and who has committed her life and career to serving her community and fighting for justice.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, when Jerry Spencer told his family that he was gay, his mother told him not to worry about it because they would ``fix it.'' This began 7 years of going through so-called ``conversion therapy'' to try to make him straight. He was forced to put blocks of ice on his hands while he looked at pictures of guys holding hands and would only be given relief from the pain if he pleaded to see a picture of a man and woman holding hands. Other survivors of this quackery were told to strip down and hold their genitalia or snap themselves with a rubber band each time they experienced same-sex attraction. Jerry said that after each therapy session he was ``a little more destroyed.'' These attempts to change LGBT youth are extremely harmful and can cause depression, substance abuse, anxiety, self-destructive behavior, and even suicide. These practices have been rejected by every mainstream mental health association as neither safe nor effective. These efforts frequently increase family rejection, which we know make LGBT youth eight times more likely to report attempting suicide, five times more likely to report high levels of depression, and three times more likely to use illegal drugs. Recognizing these harms, California and New Jersey have passed laws to protect minors. State legislatures in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio are considering similar measures. This week, I will introduce the Stop Harming Our Kids resolution to encourage other States to pass laws to protect LGBT minors from these harmful and damaging practices.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the remarkable Sharon Williams, the long-time director of Menlo Park-based JobTrain. Sharon is retiring after forty years of instilling optimism in each JobTrain client and building life skills amongst an entire community. I have watched with amazement over these many years as Sharon has guided the JobTrain organization. Sharon earned her BA in English from the University of the Pacific in 1965 and her teaching credential from San Francisco State University in 1968. She joined JobTrain in 1973 as a GED teacher. She became Director of Development in 1978 and a short time later took over as Executive Director. Conducting job training classes and connecting people with jobs was very difficult in the late 1970s. Sharon guided JobTrain and its clients through difficult financial times and build a stunningly successful career and job education center. With Sharon's outstanding leadership, JobTrain has offered cutting- edge and traditional job training, everything from solar panel installation classes to computer repair to culinary arts to laboratory technician training for biotechnology facilities. Knowing that life skills are a large component of the training done by JobTrain, Sharon and her staff insist that clients learn how to show up on time to work, become team members in the modern work environment, and learn how to balance work and the demands of a family. Mr. Speaker and Members, Sharon Williams has infused JobTrain with the same ``can do'' attitude that she insists from her clients. I've visited JobTrain on several occasions, most recently in the last few months. It's a very busy place. JobTrain helps 8,000 persons per year, and 600 of them receive full-time vocational training. At least 85 percent of those who enroll complete their training. Seventy five percent of those persons are placed in jobs, and 12 months after placement, 84 percent are still working. JobTrain's success is spelled out in these numbers. Sharon's contributions to the Peninsula are not limited to JobTrain. She currently serves on numerous boards, including the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits, and East Palo Alto Digital Village. She has also previously served on the boards of the East Palo Alto Senior Center, the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula, Leadership Mid- Peninsula, and the San Mateo County Workforce Investment Board. After forty years at the helm of JobTrain, it is time for Sharon Williams to bid her beloved nonprofit goodbye and to head off in new directions. The only thing missing from JobTrain's smorgasbord of classes at the moment is a class on how to make eyeglasses. That's not surprising. Sharon sees quite clearly the need for human dignity through productive work. Why would she believe that anyone else in the community needs glasses when her own sight is both perfect and prescient? Let us give Sharon the highest compliment that any employer can offer an employee. Let us say, ``Job well done.''

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 150th anniversary of St. Matthew Catholic Church in San Mateo, California. Since its founding in 1863 the buildings, parishioners and pastors have changed, but the church has always been a place for comfort, solace, community and friendship for everyone. A century and a half ago, Archbishop Alemany sent Father Denis Dempsey to San Mateo to establish the first parish in the county. A small wooden-steeple church was built on the corner of Third Avenue and A Street--today Ellsworth Avenue--on a piece of land donated by Charles B. Polhemus, an investor in the San Francisco-San Jose Railroad. Father Dempsey was the pastor for 18 years and earned the admiration and love of his parishioners. It is said that his funeral mass was attended by local officials and dignitaries from throughout the State. Sadly, the next pastor, Father William Bowman, only had a tenure of seven months before he passed away. He was followed by Father Peter Birmingham who presided for three years until he was transferred to San Francisco. Longevity was the signature of the fourth pastor, Father Timothy Callaghan. He served St. Matthew Church for 53 years. During his tenure, a parish cemetery was established and a new church was built. The congregation was growing and the threat of a fire destroying the old wooden church led to a fire resistant brick church on Ellsworth between Second and Third Avenues. The dedicating mass was held in September of 1900. Father Callaghan was elevated to Right Reverend and witnessed continual growth of the parish. Father Henry J. Lyne became the fifth pastor and established a parish school in 1931. Seven Sisters of the Holy Cross taught 140 students in the first year. He is credited with starting Catholic formal education in the Archdiocese of San Francisco on the peninsula. In 1947, Pope Pius XII appointed him a Domestic Prelate with the title Monsignor. Father Edward J. Meagher, the sixth pastor, saw unprecedented growth of the Catholic population after World War II. In 1952, total enrollment from Kindergarten to the 8th grade had grown to 861. Father Meagher raised funds to build an independent parish in Shoreview which was named St. Timothy as a tribute to Monsignor Timothy Callaghan. Soon after that, the Western portion of St. Matthew parish was detached with the establishment of Bartholomew parish. Father Meagher's successor, Father Bernard C. Cronin, oversaw the building of a new St. Matthew Church and Rectory at Ninth Avenue and El Camino Real which opened in May 1966. The downtown church also remained open. Father Cronin was elevated to Right Reverend Monsignor in 1972. In 1979, Father James Ward, a graduate of St. Matthew School, class of 1937, became its eighth pastor. Father James Ward was devoted to the school and the students. During his tenure, the downtown church was demolished after suffering seismic damage. He and the archdiocese fought hard, yet unsuccessfully, for the vacated property that was eventually leased to Walgreen Drug. Father Ward died from a leg infection in 1995. Monsignor James McKay succeeded him and oversaw fundamental renovations of the newer church at El Camino Real and Ninth Avenue that are still in place today. In 2004, the tenth and current pastor replaced Monsignor McKay. Father Anthony McGuire now oversees the St. Matthew parish of 2,500 and is credited with growing the diverse parish and attracting an ever increasing number of Hispanic and Asian families. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor the rich history of St. Matthew Church in San Mateo which has been a place of spiritual and social growth for thousands of families for 150 years.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Willy ``Clipper'' Cahill who is being honored today with a USA Judo Lifetime Achievement Award. I can't think of a more deserving person to receive this exceptional honor. Willy has empowered thousands of children and adults through an ancient art form that builds confidence and enhances independence. I was one of those lucky children. Willy was my judo teacher from third through sixth grade. He was a fantastic role model, the embodiment of discipline, humility and grace. His teachings have served me well throughout my life. A few years ago, Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's Colbert Report came to Capitol Hill to interview me. He was, of course, not interested in ordinary footage, instead he made me get on a skateboard and cruise through the halls of Congress. He goaded me about my judo experience and dared me to throw him onto the marble floor in the Capitol. Colbert ended up on the floor and so did the footage--on the cutting room floor. Without my early lessons and Willy's guidance who knows what would have happened? Willy was born in 1935 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He started his martial arts education under his father, Professor John Cahill, Sr. who had studied under Professor Okazaki's Kodenkan System of Jujitsu in Hawaii. When Willy was 12 years old, he was treated and cured of Polio. He walked out of the hospital--a miracle for which he credits Professor Okazaki. After graduating from South San Francisco High School, Willy attended San Mateo Junior College. His father founded Cahill's Judo Academy in Daly City in 1948. Professor Cahill's dream was to get one of his students to the Olympics. That dream was cut short by his tragic and premature death at age 50. Willy had big shoes to fill, but he lived up to the challenge and beyond. In honor of his dad, Willy opened a new Cahill's Judo Academy Dojo in San Bruno in 1963. Setting the highest standards and goals for himself and his students, Willy has surpassed his father's dream. His coaching and mentorship has produced 1,200 national and international medal winners. He accepted the position of U.S. Olympic Judo Coach in 1988 and of U.S. Paralympic Judo Coach in 1999. In the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sidney, his team made world history and brought home two gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal. Four years later at the games in Athens, his team won two silver and one bronze medals. It is important to point out that since judo was introduced as an Olympic discipline in 1964, no team--sighted or not sighted--had ever won gold. Coach Cahill's students have won 75% of all medals in judo on the Olympics and Paralympics level. Willy has been successful in making judo accessible to people of all ages and abilities. In 2003, he cofounded the Blind Judo Foundation. The non-profit provides blind and visually impaired athletes the chance to train and compete in judo. To advance to the Paralympic Games these athletes often have to compete with sighted competitors. In judo, the same rules apply to the Olympics and the Paralympics. In addition, Willy has trained U.S. Army Green Berets, Navy Seals, US Secret Service, and Homeland Security. He is the judo coach at Stanford and San Francisco State Universities and of the Junior Pan American Championships and Goodwill Games. Willy has always led by example. He is a 10th Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu, the highest rank, and an 8th Degree Black Belt in Judo. He has been inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame and the Black Belt Coaches Hall of Fame. He was recognized by three presidents at the White House. He received the U.S. Jujitsu President's Leadership Award and earned the title of Professor Willy Cahill from the U.S. Jujitsu Federation. None of these prestigious awards and accomplishments has tainted his humility. He will not let others call him Professor or Sensei, he simply wants to be called Coach. His 10th Degree Black Belt entitles him to a red belt, but Coach always competes in a black belt. The tenets of judo define Willy's life. He has practiced for 65 years and at age 77 still does so five to six days a week. He has been married to his wife Ellie for 24 years. He is the proud father of two children from his first marriage, Carin Lockwood and Curtis Cahill, who have given him four grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Coach Willy Cahill, an extraordinary teacher and human being who's physical and spiritual embrace has enlightened thousands. Because of Willy, the world is a better place.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Deputy County Manager Mary McMillan upon the occasion of her retirement after 23 years of stellar service to the residents of San Mateo County. Ms. McMillan's accomplishments are the definition of public service and these accomplishments are legion. As a leader in our county, she has been a passionate advocate for foster children. There is a rental apartment building in South San Francisco that exists today because years ago Mary saw that foster children who aged out of the system were often homeless and forgotten. This type of vision and compassion are typical of Mary McMillan. Mary led the county's efforts to create its vision. She included citizens in the process of setting county priorities through innovative town hall-type forums in which citizens ranked county priorities and discussed their expectations about such services as mental health, parks, child protective services and services for the elderly. As a leader, Mary volunteered for the boards of multiple nonprofits and has most recently been serving on the board of Puenta de la Costa Sur in the rural community of Pescadero. This nonprofit community center serves farm workers in that community, and their families. This agency's vital services are near to Mary's heart: Providing for the clothing of children, the feeding of families, and the direction to healthcare services when needed. The San Mateo County delegation to the state legislature knows Mary as the tireless advocate of the county's priorities. Woe to the state legislator who failed to heed Mary's advice. She was always the best prepared advocate in the room and often knew more about a topic than the State Senator or Assemblymember. Mary McMillan is not a particularly tall woman, but she fits the image of the mouse that roars. She roared on behalf of the county's parks. She roared on behalf of special education funding that was otherwise targeted for state budget cuts. She roared on behalf of child support for indigent children. Mr. Speaker and Members, Mary's example sets the standard for public service because there was no cause too slight or complex that it evaded Mary's examination and advocacy. The people of San Mateo County owe her a debt of gratitude for her remarkable talents as exhibited throughout the halls of the State Capitol. These are talents that were honed over many years as a legislative staffer, and then turned toward the service of San Mateo County. Finally, Mary McMillan is much beloved by everyone who knows her. It is a tribute to a person who has been in the public eye for so long that everyone has a wonderful story to relate about her character and judgment, as well as her personal kindness. Mr. Speaker, this retirement will be a tremendous loss for San Mateo. The county may someday have another advocate, but it will be hard- pressed to find such a talented steward of its trust. We wish Mary McMillan well on her next journey in life. We have no doubt that, wherever she goes, she will continue to be the mouse that roars.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Arthur Roy Jensen on the day he is retiring after a remarkable career serving water customers of the Bay Area for 37 years. Art has served as the CEO of the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency since its creation ten years ago. I had the great honor to work closely with Art on the creation of BAWSCA while I was in the California Legislature. BAWSCA is tasked with protecting the health, safety and economic well-being of water customers in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda counties who depend on the Hetch Hetchy water system. Art, as the father of BAWSCA, he led the agency ably for 10 years. He has always been smart, strategic and exceptionally knowledgeable about water--California's gold. Starting in 1995, Art was the General Manager of the Bay Area Water Users Association (BAWUA), BAWSCA's predecessor. In 2002, the California Legislature authorized the multi-county agency and in 2003 it was formed. BAWSCA has three goals: a reliable supply, high quality water and a fair price. Today it serves 1.7 million residents, 30,000 businesses and thousands of community organizations. Under Art's leadership, the agency has negotiated a 25-year water supply agreement with San Francisco that saves residents in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda millions of dollars, created regional water conservation programs, brokered an agreement to share limited water supplies during droughts, and initiated a long-term reliable water supply strategy, among many other concrete results. Before joining BAWUA and BAWSCA, Art served as Assistant General Manager and Director of Planning at the Contra Costa Water District for five years. From 1984-1990, he was the Deputy and Acting General Manager of the San Francisco Water Department. His time there included the Loma Prieta earthquake and the initial years of the most recent drought. From 1977-1984, Art worked as a senior engineer at Brown and Caldwell Consulting Engineers where he performed studies of the San Francisco regional water supply, treatment and delivery system. He also taught engineering at UC Berkeley. Before that, he was an acting assistant professor at Stanford University from 1976-1977 teaching courses in water management, hydrology, hydrologic modeling and hydraulic engineering. Art also serves on the advisory board of Sustainable Silicon Valley and the citizens advisory committee of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Art was born in Berkeley in 1954. He earned his B.S. in Engineering Physics from UC Berkeley and both his M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Science from California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He and his wife of 37 years, Mary, have one daughter, Catherine. In his well-deserved retirement, Art is looking forward to spending more time with family and friends. His many interests, including photography, aviation history, Buddhism, chess, harmonica and guitar, will undoubtedly keep him engaged and active. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor a brilliant engineer, a water expert and a dear friend. He leaves behind giant shoes to fill and his leadership will be missed by his colleagues and Bay Area residents.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 100th anniversary of the South San Francisco Unified School District in San Mateo County, California. This K-12 school district serves over 9,000 students in 15 schools in South San Francisco, San Bruno and Daly City. As a South San Francisco native, I received my early education in primary and middle school at Magnolia, Spruce and Parkway from 1955-64. There is no question that the years in the South San Francisco school district molded my life. Today, the South San Francisco Unified School District has nine elementary schools, three middle schools, two comprehensive high schools, one continuation high school and one adult school, but its beginnings were very humble. In 1866, an elementary district was formed under the original name of San Bruno District. In 1878, a one-room school near the railroad station known as ``Twelve Mile House'' became the first school in the area. It had one teacher and three trustees. The first major school in the area was built around 1885. Baden Avenue School had four rooms, a library, a principal's office and sanitary arrangements outside the building. In 1913 the high school district was established. Four years later, South San Francisco High School graduated its first class of three proud seniors on the new campus on Spruce Avenue. The flu epidemic of 1918 took a serious toll on the area. All schools were closed and the high school was converted into a soup kitchen. From the 1920s through 1940s, the district built several schools, including Martin, Magnolia and Grand Avenue Schools. Buildings were expanded, renamed, demolished and replaced. The district was able to serve its students. That changed after World War II when the post-war baby boom created a shortage of schools. South San Francisco's population doubled to almost 40,000 and 40 percent of them were under 18. The district embarked on a massive construction project and built seven schools--Parkway Intermediate, El Camino High School, Ponderosa Elementary, Serra Vista Elementary, Monte Verde School, Foxridge Elementary and Skyline Elementary. In the 70s, Magnolia and Spruce were closed due to seismic concerns and Avalon and El Rancho were closed and sold. In the 80s, Southwood Junior High School closed and Parkway, Alta Loma and Westborough converted to a middle school format. With continuing declining enrollment, Foxridge and Serra Vista closed in 1992. Parts of Foxridge were leased to a childcare facility and Serra Vista eventually became the home of the NCP College of Nursing. In 2005, Hillsdale Elementary closed its doors and the facility was leased to Mills Montessori Schools. While the school district has experienced expansions and contractions over the last century, it has always kept the focus on quality education and lifelong learning. The 439 teachers, Superintendent Alejandro Hogan and the Board of Trustees are committed to educating our future generations and to giving them the tools to achieve their highest potentials. Plato said over two millennia ago: ``The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to commend the South San Francisco Unified School District for having started thousands of students in the right direction.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Cathy Baylock who has served on the Burlingame City Council for twelve years with distinction, two of them as mayor. Cathy's love for the city and her commitment to make and keep it beautiful have made her an outstanding public servant and a beloved colleague to many. We can thank Cathy for one of the most beautiful and recognizable buildings in town, the Burlingame Avenue Caltrain station. If it hadn't been for her in-depth research, perseverance and good judgment, our train station might not be the jewel it is. Cathy was first elected to the city council in 2001. She was mayor in 2006 and 2010. During her tenure, she was always committed to protecting Burlingame's historic landmarks, magnificent trees, architectural heritage, unique neighborhoods and the integrity of the parks. She oversaw the Park and Recreation budget, was a member of the Economic Development Committee, a liaison to the Burlingame Elementary Schools Committee and the Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for C/CAG. She also served as a city delegate to the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Peninsula Cities Consortium on High Speed Rail and the San Mateo County Rail Corridor Partnership. Additionally, Cathy was a member of the Central County Fire Joint Powers Authority for six years, two of them as the chair. While fulfilling her many duties on the council, Cathy still found the time and energy to give back to the community and volunteer for the Teen Facilities Committee, the Washington School Site Council, the St. Paul's Nursery School, and the Burlingame Historical Society. She became treasurer of the historical society in 2000 and oversaw the publishing of Burlingame Centennial 1908-2008, a book that sold over 1800 copies and helped fund the opening of the Burlingame History Museum and the Train Depot. Before Cathy joined the city council, she was the manager and assistant vice president of Bay View Bank in Burlingame. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. A lifetime resident of the San Francisco Peninsula, Cathy and her family have lived in Burlingame for over 20 years. In her retirement, she looks forward to spending more time with her husband Joe and their two boys, AJ and Nick. She will continue her involvement with the historical society. The Burlingame City Council is losing a member who will be missed for her can-do attitude, warm demeanor and dependability. However, I have no doubt that Cathy will find ways to apply her talents and continue to share them with the residents of Burlingame. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Cathy Baylock for her outstanding public service. She leaves big shoes to fill and her mark on Burlingame that will last for years to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Pam Frisella, one of the finest and most selfless public servants I know. Pam is retiring today as the mayor of Foster City and has served on the city council for eight years. She was vice mayor in 2007 and mayor in 2008. For Foster City, Pam's departure is not simply a retirement. It's the equivalent of watching a ship raise its anchor. Pam has been that anchor of security throughout many exciting and challenging times in the city. In 1998, Pam graduated from a leadership program sponsored by several Bay Area cities. The class helped her focus on how to best apply her talents and her dedication to community service. She saw that she could be highly effective by playing an active role in city government. She joined the city council in 2006, two years before the global recession hit. Always a fiscally-prudent person, Pam worked hard with her colleagues to close the budget gap that was created by the recession. Foster City, although built relatively recently, also has a large infrastructure in constant need of maintenance, repair and replacement. This is expensive, but Pam is dedicated to maintaining the quality of life that residents expect. In part due to Pam's efforts, the city this year will likely cure its structural deficit and its infrastructure investments have been wise and timely. The center of Foster City is in flux. Pam joined with her colleagues to identify the needs of the community and to envision mixed uses for this area. She supported an updating to the business license fee, the city's land use elements, and supported city efforts to conserve water and to improve the reliability of the city's water system. Pam is a strong supporter of affordable housing and served on the board of the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust. Because community service is in her blood, she has volunteered for 20 years for Samaritan House which serves low income families and individuals in San Mateo County. Samaritan House named her volunteer of the year in 1995. In 1999, Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter awarded her the same honor. Pam is also giving prison ministry at San Quentin Prison. She is an ambassador for the Foster City Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Rotary Club. As you can tell from this description, Pam Frisella is a spark plug, igniting others into action and setting an exhausting pace of volunteer and civic engagement. Pam has been a county and regional leader. Over the years she has served as Foster' City's representative to the Association of Bay Area Governments, the City County Association of Governments, the Emergency Services Council, the joint powers board of the countywide library system, and as liaison to the high school district. Pam was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. After attending Western Michigan, she worked for General Motors and then moved to New York City for a career change. Pam moved to California in 1969 and in 1977 to Foster City, a city she came to love. Pam and I share a painful life experience that initially connected us and cemented our friendship. We both lost a husband while pregnant. Pam's late husband was a baseball player and they moved around the country a lot. They were at spring training with the Milwaukee Brewers when he was killed in an accident on New Year's Day 1977 in Arizona. He was originally from San Mateo and Pam decided to move out here to find a home. She was 30 years old, pregnant and had a three-year-old son, Jason. Three days after she arrived in Foster City, her son Daniel was born. The community welcomed and embraced them and she found what she had hoped for--a home. Pam coached Little League for eight years and was on the American Youth Soccer Organization Board of Directors for five years. She deserves much credit for the development and construction of Sea Cloud Park, the beautiful home of the Foster City Little League. In 2005, Pam was inducted to the Sports Wall of Fame at Sea Cloud Park. Pam was also the chair for the committee that reconstructed Serra High School's baseball field named after her late husband, Danny Frisella Memorial Field. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Pam Frisella on this day of her retirement. Her strength to overcome adversity, her generosity and her drive have benefitted every resident of Foster City. Her contributions will always be part of the fabric of her beloved home town.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Brandt Grotte, who is retiring after eight years of service on the San Mateo City Council, two of them as mayor. Brandt has been a tireless advocate for environmental sustainability. He began his advocacy on the Planning Commission, where he served for five years, including one year each as chair and vice-chair. Brandt has many uncommon characteristics. For example, his hand is always going up when the question is asked, ``Would anyone like to . . .'' During his years on the council, Brandt Grotte served on the sustainability advisory committee, the Measure C committee that resulted in strengthening police and fire services, and he was the city's representative to the City/County Association of Governments. Brandt lives on the city's east side and knows the challenges that confront those neighborhoods. He took the lead in convincing his neighbors to assess themselves to fix serious flooding issues. He is passionate about his neighborhood, and thousands of homes were removed from the flood plain as a result of his leadership. Aside from homes no longer being threatened with flooding, these neighbors were relieved of the costs of paying for flood insurance. Even before he joined the city council, Brandt was active in neighborhood issues, starting in 1989. He is a founding member of the Shoreview-Parkside Neighborhood Association and president of the San Mateo United Homeowners Association. He is also a member of numerous committees, task forces and organizations, among them the Citizens Committee on Social Service Providers, the Bay Meadows Foundation, the City of San Mateo Citizens' Academy, and the Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Program. Clearly Brandt Grotte has a heart that is as big as the entire city of San Mateo, and he is universally viewed as a sincere, caring leader. Brandt was born in 1956 and grew up in communities all over the United States and abroad because his father was in the Air Force. It was this early international experience that he credits with teaching him sensitivity to other cultures, a skill that has served him well when developing policies and obtaining consensus in the diverse communities of San Mateo. Brandt attended Leland High School in San Jose and then earned his BA in Aquatic Biology from UC Santa Barbara in 1979. He received his Masters degree in Environmental Management from USF in 1996. He works as a global environmental safety and health manager in the electronics industry. Brandt is married to Kathy Shields and has two stepsons, Aaron and Kyle. In his spare time he enjoys reading. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Brandt Grotte for his outstanding service to the residents of San Mateo. In Brandt we have the personification of the adage that still waters run deep. His strategic thinking and consensus-building skills will be missed, but his smile will always be present as he continues in other roles throughout our community.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Pedro Gonzalez, the mayor of South San Francisco, for his twelve years of service on the city council. Pedro has been a tireless advocate to improve the quality of life for all residents of South San Francisco where he has lived for 43 years. I am honored to call him a colleague and dear friend. His proudest accomplishment during his tenure on the city council was to help establish ferry service to South San Francisco. The modern, state of the art terminal opened the doors to faster and scenic commutes for Bay Area residents and visitors. Additionally, Pedro played an active role in long list of projects, including the BART Linear Park master plan, the expansions of the Community Learning Center and the pre-school program in Westborough Park, the implementation of the loan art program at Orange Memorial Park, the development of a 100 space child care facility, the Oyster Point overcrossing and hook ramp project, the Terrabay sound wall design project, the Lindenville-Colma Creek rehabilitation project, the adoption of a green food packaging ordinance, and the implementations of a neighborhood response team and a BLS ambulance service. From this incomplete list of accomplishments you can see Pedro's love for the outdoors and parks. He started his public service on the Parks and Recreation Commission in 1987. He served as the chairman in 1992 and continued to be on the commission until 1995. He was instrumental in the expansion and renovation of Bur i Bur i Park, the development of a master plan for all recreational facilities in South City and the renovation and improvements of Orange Memorial Park. Pedro came to the United States from Mexico in 1954. While living in Los Angeles, he became a U.S. citizen in 1967. Three years later he moved to South San Francisco. He worked in the meat business and managed a music store in San Francisco until he retired in 1996. Pedro is deeply woven into the fabric of South San Francisco. You will see him at every official or social function, be it the ribbon cutting for the ferry terminal, the grand opening of the South San Francisco BART station or the Chestnut Creek senior housing facility, the ground breaking of the Gateway YMCA child care facility, Concert in the Park, Bay Trail Clean Up or the Centennial celebrations in 2008. No matter where he goes, he listens to residents looking for ways to help--always with a soft smile and a twinkle in his eyes. You will be hard pressed to find an elected official who takes his responsibilities as seriously as Pedro does. He has supported countless local programs such as the Grand Avenue Library Leery Apprender, a Spanish-language story time, League of Women Voter' Spanish language ballot workshops, Youth Government Day, the 50th anniversary of the Boys and Girls Club of North San Mateo County, and the South San Francisco School District Positive Attendance Campaign. He even hosted his own show on PEN TV titled El Mundo Latino de Pedro Gonzalez. Pedro has been married to his wife Eldie for 55 years. They raised their three children, Prudencia, Silverio and Sara, in South San Francisco. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Pedro Gonzalez for his outstanding service and his lasting contributions to the city of South San Francisco. In his well deserved retirement, I have no doubt that residents will continue to see him at many official and social events, and to hold him closely in their hearts.