Jackie Speier

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I was unfortunately unable to cast a vote on rollcall No. 44 and rollcall No. 45 on February 15, 2013. On rollcall No. 44 I would have voted ``nay.'' H.R. 273 would extend the current pay freeze for federal workers by another nine months. Continued freezes, budget cuts to agencies, and ideological attacks on federal workers undermine the federal government's ability to recruit and hire a talented and high-skilled workforce while bringing us no closer to a responsible approach to deficit reduction. The men and women who have dedicated their careers to public service already have made sacrifices in pay and benefits totaling more than $100 billion to help reduce our nation's debt. On rollcall No. 45, H. Res. 65 condemning the Government of North Korea for its flagrant and repeated violations of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, for its repeated provocations that threaten international peace and stability, and for its February 12, 2013, test of a nuclear device, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon, we're going to spend the hour talking about gun violence prevention, and in particular, how the National Rifle Association has systematically unwound laws that have already been on the books. Last night, the President referenced the fact that since the horrific deaths at Sandy Hook there have been a thousand more people that have died due to gun violence. It is not good enough to wear a green ribbon in support of the Sandy Hook families and think you have done enough. Times have changed, and the polling that's been done is overwhelming in support of sensible gun violence prevention laws. Let's be clear at the outset--the Heller decision by the U.S. Supreme Court has made it very clear: Every American has a right to own a gun for recreational purposes or to have a gun in their home for purposes of safety, and that is not going to change. We embrace that decision, we support it. But we also support safe laws around the use of guns. So let us begin by looking at this, a Quinnipiac survey done very recently. Ninety-two percent support background checks for all gun purchases, including 91 percent of gun-owning households; 89 percent support closing the gun show loophole by requiring background checks for all gun purchases; 69 percent support banning the sale of semi- automatic, military-style assault weapons; 68 percent support banning the sale of large-capacity ammunition magazines; and 81 percent favor prohibiting high-risk individuals from having guns, including those convicted of serious crime as juveniles or convicted of violating domestic violence restraining orders. So Frank Luntz, the Republican pollster, polled NRA members and non- NRA members who were gun owners, and what did they find out there? There they found out that 85 percent of gun owners and 87 percent of NRA members believe Second Amendment rights and gun safety laws can coexist. That's what we're talking about. Eighty-seven percent of gun owners and 74 percent of NRA members support requiring background checks of anyone buying a gun. We're talking about that right now. But in a couple of minutes, I'm going to show you how that has changed among the leadership in the NRA. Fifty-three percent of gun owners and 57 percent of the NRA members mistakenly believe that everyone has to pass a background check. Eighty percent of gun owners, 79 percent of NRA members, support requiring background checks of gun retailer employees. Eighty percent of gun owners and 71 percent of NRA members support barring people on the terror watch list from buying guns. It's a surprise to most people that they can in fact buy guns. All right. Let's move on. Let's talk about the CEO of the National Rifle Association. What did he say in 1999? In 1999, after the Columbine shootings, when so many children lost their lives at Columbine High School, he said: We think it's reasonable to provide mandatory instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show, no loopholes anywhere for anyone. That's what he said. What did he say after 20 children and six adults lost their lives in Newtown at Sandy Hook? In 2013, he says, at a Senate hearing, when Senator Leahy asked: You do not support background checks in all instances at gun shows? Mr. LaPierre said: We do not because the fact is the law right now is a failure the way it's working. None of it makes any sense in the real world. Well, we are living in the real world, and the real world would suggest to everyone that a commonsense law is to have a universal background check for everyone. Let's look at the next time we saw a flip-flop by Mr. Wayne LaPierre. Again, the point here being that the NRA leadership does not reflect the NRA membership. In 1999, after Columbine, he says: We believe in absolutely gun-free, zero tolerance, totally safe schools. That means no guns in America's schools, period. On ``Meet the Press'' just a few weeks ago, Mr. LaPierre said: If it's crazy to call for armed officers in our schools to protect our children, then call me crazy. I think the American people think it's crazy not to do it. It's the one thing that would keep people safe. The point here, colleagues, is that the public, NRA members and gun- owning families in this country believe in commonsense reforms, and we owe it to them. We owe it to them to vote on these commonsense bills that will not restrict anyone's ability to own a gun for self- protection or to own a gun for recreation, but will take these assault weapons that are military weapons that are invented for one reason and one reason only, and that is to tear the hell out of anything they come in contact with. As one law enforcement officer said very recently: The energy in an assault weapon bullet will tear open a brick wall. You don't need that to go hunting, and you don't need that to protect yourself in your home. I yield to the gentlewoman from New York, Carolyn Maloney.

Ms. SPEIER. It's now my pleasure to yield time to my good, good, good friend and colleague from California, Barbara Lee, who has been an outspoken advocate for gun violence prevention for decades.

Ms. SPEIER. Thank you to the gentlelady from California. We now are joined by the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano), who has been a voice for mental health reform in this country for decades. I yield such time as she may consume.

Ms. SPEIER. I thank the gentlelady from California. I now welcome our new colleague from California, a colleague who I have served in the State legislature with for many years, Congressman Alan Lowenthal.

Ms. SPEIER. I thank the gentleman from California for his thoughtful remarks. And I want to thank each and every one of you who has participated in this Special Order. It's something that we must do week after week so that our message gets out to the American people and so that they truly understand what has happened in this country over the last 20 years that has taken away so many commonsense laws that were on the books to provide the kind of safe and sane laws to make sure that everyone who owns a gun has it appropriately and everyone who shouldn't own a gun, doesn't have a gun. This is our to-do list: Pass the universal background check, pass a ban on large magazines, pass an assault weapon ban, crack down on gun trafficking, remove the handcuffs on law enforcement, remove the gag order on gun safety research, keep illegal and unwanted guns off the street, invest in gun safety technology R&D, close the holes in our mental health system, and take steps to enhance school safety. Someone said: Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do something. It will be hard, but the time is now. You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you. These are the words of our own Gabby Giffords in the Senate just a couple of weeks ago. It still sends shivers up and down my spine. Gabby almost lost her life. We owe it to Gabby, we owe it to the 26 people who lost their lives in Newtown, the countless people who lost their lives in Aurora and Columbine, and the 32 people each and ever day in this country who lose their lives to gun violence. We owe it to the American people. Let's act. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER. I thank you for your extraordinarily sound comments on this issue. As you were talking about courage, I remember recently having an opportunity to listen to a family from Newtown who lost a child, who said to me and to others: You're just a bunch of talking heads. Can't you two groups get together and do what's right? With that, let me yield to the Member of Congress who represents that extraordinary community and who has done so much to help them heal from what has been a devastating impact on not just everyone in the country but particularly those families in Newtown, Ms. Esty.

Ms. SPEIER. I thank the gentlelady from New York for making it clear that we are talking about safe and sane, commonsense laws on the books, and I am honored to be a cosponsor of her bill. I want to just take a minute and go through a timeline of what has happened under the NRA's leadership in terms of the unraveling of laws that have been on the books but, because of the NRA's leadership, they have been unraveled. Let's start with the very first one. Between 1980 and 1987, the number of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents was slashed by 21 percent, from 1,500 to 1,180, and the number of inspectors dropped from 655 to 626. What was happening during that period of time? During that period of time, there were more and more dealers. So why would the NRA be so interested in reducing the staffing of the ATF? In 1986, the Firearm Owners' Protection Act was passed-- again, sponsored by the NRA. It set a high burden of proof to prosecute violations of Federal gun laws. It limited ATF inspections to once a year, and it weakened the penalty. It allowed unlicensed individuals to sell their firearms as a hobby, avoiding meaningful regulations, thus leading to an increase in gun shows. What does that mean when you have to establish a standard that is so high that you end up not revoking any firearm dealer's license? Well, willfully--not knowingly but willfully--violating gun safety laws is the standard that is now on the books. It's an extraordinarily high standard, and the loopholes that were created allowed for dealers to hand off their businesses, even when they had these horrendous violations, to relatives or to convert their inventory of guns into a ``personal collection,'' which they then could sell because it was now a hobby, without doing background checks. Let me give you one example. An example is Sandy Abrams. He was a member of the NRA board of directors. He was cited with over 900 violations of Federal firearm laws at his shop, Valley Gun, and 483 crime guns were traced to his shop. This is an NRA board member who violated the laws 900 times, and 483 crime guns were traced to his shop. What did the NRA do? The NRA, in a subsequent bill, banned the tracing of crime guns. What happened to him? The only power that ATF had was to revoke his license. So what did they do? No criminal charges were ever brought. Abrams transferred hundreds of his firearms to his personal collection, despite the revocation of his license, and faced charges of illegally selling those guns from his personal collection. As I mentioned earlier, in 1986, the Firearm Owners' Protection Act limited these inspections and weakened penalties. We then moved on to the Dickey amendment in 1996. What did the Dickey amendment do? The Dickey amendment held that the CDC could no longer conduct public health research. Now, why would the NRA be so concerned about research going on? Because when you do research, you can link it, and it can create the opportunity for public policy decisions that are, in fact, thoughtful. Then came the famous Tiahrt amendments in 2004 that placed restrictions on law enforcement, limited access to crime gun tracing data and required approval--background checks--of 24 hours only. That amendment said that if you're going to do a background check, you can only have that document in place for 24 hours, and then it has to be destroyed. So, to the point made by our colleague from New York about what are called ``straw purchasers,'' how would you even know there was a straw purchaser if you had to destroy that record in 24 hours? Then in 2004 came the assault weapons ban, which was sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein. The chair then of the Judiciary Committee, our good Vice President, was also the shepherd of that bill. In 2005, Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, this was heralded by the NRA as being their biggest get ever because that particular bill became law, and it protects gun manufacturers from civil liability suits--the only industry in this country that is not subject to civil liability suits for dangerous equipment and the like. The Sandy Hook families that are looking at trying to bring actions right now are stymied because this law is in place. There's no protection for auto manufacturers if they have unsafe products, but we've given carte blanche protection to gun manufacturers. And in 2005, the U.S. PATRIOT Act, what did we do there? Well, then the NRA decided that, you know what, that ATF Director shouldn't just be appointed; it should be confirmed by the Senate. So in the PATRIOT Act, they got an amendment that provides that the ATF Director must be confirmed by the Senate. And guess what happens? There hasn't been an ATF Director confirmed in 7 years because of the control that they exhibit. And then in 2005, ironically, George W. Bush does something his father didn't even do. His father, George H.W. Bush, by executive order, banned the importation of guns in this country, particularly the assault weapons. When President Clinton came into power, he, by executive order, expanded that importation ban to include high-capacity magazines. George W. Bush comes in as President, and he lifts the ban on the importation of assault weapons. And between 2009 and 2012, we've had 99 gun safety laws rolled back at the State level. That's what the NRA is doing. I now yield to my colleague from Rhode Island for his comments.

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, can I inquire as to how much time we have left?

Ms. SPEIER. Thank you to the gentlelady from New York for her always powerful comments. Now we're joined by the gentlewoman from New York, Carolyn Maloney, who has just introduced a bill co-authored by Democrats and Republicans that deals with the trafficking of guns.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I mistakenly voted ``no'' on the Motion to Recommit on H.R. 6684, the Spending Reduction Act of 2012. I support the Motion to Recommit, which would require that, within 30 days of the enactment of the bill, the Secretary of Health and Human Services publish on the Internet information regarding raised beneficiary costs and provider cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for each Congressional district in the United States. The Motion would also prohibit the major integrated oil companies from claiming certain tax benefits: the domestic production activities deduction, ``Last-in, First-out'' accounting, and the intangible drilling and development cost deduction.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Ginny Silva Jaquith, a close friend, former colleague and remarkable public servant who is retiring today from serving an interim term on the Pacifica City Council. When the city needed her, Ginny stepped up to the plate and brought her professionalism and experience to the council. In the 30 plus years I have known Ginny, she has always risen to the occasion. Ginny is no stranger to the Pacifica City Council. She served on it from 1980-1992, including three terms as mayor. The highlights from her tenure were the creation of the city's best known event, the Pacifica Fog Fest, and the Community Center, both of which greatly enhanced the wonderful sense of community in Pacifica. Ginny served on the Pacifica Coast Fog Fest founding board from 1985 to 1992 and after she left the council, she was on the Fog Fest Organizing Group from 2000-2010. She worked closely with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to acquire Sweeney Ridge, a spectacular hiking area of ridges and ravines between Pacifica and San Bruno that slope down to the San Francisco Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. She helped turn the Sanchez Art Center into reality. The city worked closely with local artists and residents to purchase an abandoned elementary school and transform it into the invaluable art and educational center it is now. Ginny was also instrumental in the establishment of the Redevelopment Agency in Rockaway Beach and a Commercial Development Task Force and Plan. She served on the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury and on the Pacifica Task Force for Sharp Park Golf Course. Today she continues to give her time and energy to the Board of Directors of Pacificans Care, the Rotary Club of Pacifica, the Presidio Golf Club and the City of Pacifica Beautification Task Force. Ginny was born in Gustine, California and grew up in the Sunnyvale, Cupertino area. She earned her BS in Recreation from San Jose State University, her MS in Recreation Administration from San Francisco State University, and her EdD in Education from the University of San Francisco. She taught in SFSU's Recreation and Leisure Department for 27 years, was the department chair for three years and is a Professor Emerita. She and her husband Robin of 38 years live on Pedro Point. In her spare time she enjoys the arts, playing golf, cooking and traveling. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Dr. Ginny Jaquith for her past and continuing service to the residents of Pacifica. Her tireless commitment and dedication have made this beloved coastal town a better and more beautiful place for everyone.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise to pay my respect and to honor Representative Cleaver. I am one of those many Members of the House who each week waits for that letter from Congressman Cleaver. In each of these letters, he tells a life lesson, typically one to inspire us to be more hopeful, to be more willing to look at the issue from someone else's perspective, to be more compassionate, to be more loving. So I, too, share in his commitment to making this place a more responsive environment for all, and I thank Mr. Cleaver for his great leadership as the chair of the CBC over the last year. Mr. Speaker, I now would like to turn to my prepared remarks for this morning. I would like to read you some song lyrics that Air Force Technical Sergeant Jennifer Smith found on her government computer at Shaw Air Force Base. The lyrics of the song are called the ``The S&M Man,'' and they go like this: Who can take a machete, whack off all her limbs, Throw her in the ocean, and watch her try to swim? The S&M Man. Jennifer Smith reported this song and other sexually explicit documents to her superiors in the Air Force. ``The S&M Man'' is offensive, it's hostile, but to her male colleagues and superiors, the song is just tradition, a tradition that is alive and well, celebrated in song, patches, coins, offensive pictures, behavior, and the tacit approval of commanding officers. A military tradition of demeaning women is not only sickening, but contrary to the fundamental principles of an institution founded in respect and honor and in discipline. It undermines our military's readiness and cohesion. Simply put, it gravely damages the military. This is the 24th time that I have come to the floor to share the story of a servicemember, either man or woman, who has been raped, sexually assaulted, or harassed by fellow servicemembers. By the Department of Defense's own records and estimates, there are 19,000 rapes and sexual assaults each year in the military, and the VA reports that half a million veterans are affected by military sexual trauma. Still, fewer than 14 percent of these victims actually report the crimes. And why is that? It is because so few are prosecuted--fewer than 9 percent--and a minuscule number end in conviction. Air Force Sergeant Jennifer Smith has been subjected to this toxic culture for nearly two decades. She finally had enough. She filed a lawsuit; and in her lawsuit, she chronicles 17 years of abuse and a toxic culture--from 1995 until the present time--a culture that speaks of repulsive and destructive behavior by servicemembers and the tacit approval of their commanders. Jennifer Smith joined the Air Force 17 years ago, when she was just 18 years of age. Her career has been filled with promotions and with medals and commendations by her commanding officers. She is one of the soldiers whom we so highly regard in the military. She has a record of astonishing accomplishments. In many of the commendations, she has been told that she is a ``gifted mentor'' who ``goes above and beyond'' and to ``promote her now.'' Her career has also been filled with sexual harassment, assaults, and complacency--or worse--from her commanding officers. During her five deployments in Iraq, Kuwait, Korea, and Germany, Sergeant Smith has endured assault by a master sergeant, who pushed her into a room, dropped his pants, and tried to force himself on her; harassment by a vice commander, who told her to relax and take her top off during a meeting; constant exposure to pornographic material and sexually explicit flight songs; and an attempted rape she was too scared to report. Sergeant Smith endured sexual harassment and a hostile work environment for 13 years when she decided to speak up. It's time for all of us to speak up. It's time for all of us to expect from the military what we expect from the private sector--no hostile work environment. She found pornographic materials in her squadron that included two ``Doofer'' books and magazines that were in her shared office. She reported them, but nothing was done. Later that year, approximately two months after Technical Sergeant Smith had deployed to Iraq, she was assaulted outside of the gym. A man grabbed her from behind and physically dragged her to a dark place behind the building. The man pushed her up against the wall and groped her. He had his arm under her neck, lifting her feet off the ground. He said, ``I could kill you right now . . . and no one is going to miss you.'' Technical Sergeant Smith was able to break free, and ran away as fast as she could. She went to work the next day and did not say anything about it because she feared retaliation and harassment. This is happening now--in January 2012, Technical Sergeant Smith was back from Iraq at Shaw Air Base to manage pilot training. Whenever she checked her computer, she was bombarded with sexually hostile documents and videos. She reported the offensive material. Nothing was done. In response to news coverage Sergeant Smith's formal complaint, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh ordered a service-wide sweep of workspaces and public areas for images, calendars and other materials that objectify women. This sweep is inadequate, or worse. It appears to be a response to bad press rather than an aggressive tool to root out and expose this toxic culture. The sweep which began on Wednesday, December 5th, provides a twelve- day window for it to be completed after a very public notification. This window and public notification intentionally or unintentionally provides service members the time to hide the content, and the opportunity for commanding officers to not find anything. Why did the Air Force tip off service members that the sweep was taking place? Commanding officers who performed the sweep also had an incentive not to find anything because it would reflect poorly on the command climate they are charged with maintaining. This sweep also did not include individual desks, cabinet drawers, lockers, or military issued computer hard drives, where much of the content in the Smith complaint was stored. Describing the need for a sweep, General Welsh explained, ``In my view, all this stuff is connected. If we're going to get serious about things like sexual assault, we have to get serious about an environment that could lead to sexual harassment. In some ways, this stuff can all be linked.'' I agree with General Welsh. It's time to get serious about sexual assault in the military, but this must include credible and effective oversight actions to counter the culture that permits and fosters systemic harassment, assault, and rape. And even with effective sweeps, it won't be as easy as taking down a calendar or deleting a computer file. Ending the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military will require a reboot of the military justice system, and addressing commander influence in these all too common cases. We owe Jennifer Smith and her many colleagues subjected to this gross harassment better. We don't tolerate it in the private sector.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson upon her retirement from the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. While on the board, Supervisor Gibson initiated the East Palo Alto Crime Reduction Task Force, a collaborative effort between law enforcement and community groups. This effort successfully reinforced the accomplishments of her city service and led to the adoption of additional measures to reduce violence. Today, this task force stresses four strategies to create a healthier East Palo Alto: Prevention, Intervention, Enforcement, Sustainability. These are all strategies championed by Rose Jacobs Gibson and they include the activities of community clean ups, gang intervention, a Police Activities League, and a re-entry program for ex-offenders. East Palo Alto is a healthier place for all residents thanks to Rose Jacobs Gibson and her leadership. Supervisor Gibson also continued her efforts to reduce crime by helping to create the Domestic Violence Council. The council is a permanent instrument to educate policymakers in our county about this critically important subject. She co-chaired the first Women's Criminal Justice Summit, a forum that identified many ways that existing resources could be used to improve the outcomes of our criminal justice system. She is a strong advocate for programs that prepare incarcerated women to lead independent, productive lives once they re-enter the community. Supervisor Gibson sits on the board of the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust (HEART) of San Mateo County and is a policy leader in the development of affordable housing within our community. HEART has assisted in developing nearly every major affordable housing development in our county since its founding. Supervisor Gibson was instrumental in designing San Mateo County's housing element and can always be counted upon to advocate for the elemental right to decent housing for every human being. Public health has always been a significant part of Supervisor Gibson's agenda. She initiated a countywide summit on health disparities, an event that led to the creation of several health- focused task forces. The task forces, in turn, identified strategies to reduce childhood obesity and drug and alcohol abuse. As one example of a brick-and-mortar impact in our community, the Ravenswood Family Health Clinic was founded in East Palo Alto as a result of a team of advocates, including most notably Supervisor Gibson. This facility is a linchpin in community healthcare in East Palo Alto. Rose also served on the East Palo Alto City Council from 1992 to 1999. She was Mayor in 1995 and 1996. She and her many allies in the community were instrumental in reducing the crime rate and in helping to restore community faith in law enforcement. While on the city council, Rose Jacobs Gibson supported the shutdown of a toxic chemical plant and as a member of the Board of Supervisors she demanded an investigation of toxic contaminants in our county parks. She regularly worked with our transportation agency to improve public transit for her district's residents and she worked as a member of a team of community leaders to secure funding and approvals for school improvements throughout her district. Rose Jacobs Gibson will be remembered fondly in San Mateo County as a leader who was eloquent and forceful, gracious and principled, visionary and practical. San Mateo County has been the beneficiary of Supervisor Gibson's public service at so many levels and in so many ways that it is difficult to sum up the achievements of a lifetime in a single recitation of her accomplishments. I respectfully end these comments with a simple observation about Rose Jacobs Gibson: She has left her mark, and generations yet to come will live better lives because of her service.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Christine Krolik, retiring Hillsborough city council member, former mayor, and tireless advocate for our public schools and many community organizations. Christine moved to Hillsborough in 1995 with her husband Jeff and two sons, John and Billy. She immediately immersed herself in work to improve the public school system by advocating for smaller class sizes. She combined two of her outstanding talents in this effort: singing and fundraising. While she co-chaired the Scrip Committee from 1996-2000, she launched the Scripettes singers to promote sales. The four Scripettes performed jazzy versions of holiday songs including ``Jingle Bell Rock,'' ``Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'' and ``Swingin' at Santa's Place.'' Today the group calls itself Swing Set and continues to delight people at civic functions from singing the National Anthem at Giants' games to warming up the crowd at Hillsborough's Light Up the Town celebrations. Christine's boundless energy has been successfully put to use as co- chair of Hillsborough Concourse events in 2001, co-chair of the Measure B campaign to benefit Hillsborough's public schools in 2002, and the Citizens Communication Advisory Committee appointed by the mayor to help the city council and town staff to communicate with residents about issues affecting the town, also in 2002. Christine was first elected to the city council in 2004. From 2006- 2008, she served as vice mayor, and from 2008-2010 she served as mayor. During her 2010 term, she oversaw Hillsborough's Centennial, a flawlessly orchestrated celebration featuring marching bands, floats and vintage cars, and the dedication of Centennial Park. That year Christine was appropriately honored for her countless contributions as Hillsborough Citizen of the Year. Christine is a firm believer that a strong sense of community is vital in a city and improves quality of life. While mayor, she embarked on an ambitious agenda to develop a Hillsborough emergency preparedness program, the Hillsborough Neighborhood Network, an outdoor movie night, adult classes at Town Hall and the first ever Hillsborough Memorial Day Parade. Her remarkable contributions to the Town have been matched by her generous support of many important community organizations. Christine serves as president and board member of Innvision/Shelter Network providing transitional housing to homeless families, veterans and single adults. She is past president and present board member of Hillbarn Theatre providing valuable cultural programming in the county. A native of Philadelphia, Christine earned her BA in Theater from Arcadia University, and she is a graduate of the conservatory at Circle-in-the-Square School of Theatre in New York. She is an accomplished actress in amateur productions and has played memorable roles such as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls and Dolly in Hello, Dolly. The vitality, creativity and enthusiasm that Christine has brought to the city council for eight years will certainly be missed. She has created a standard of community engagement which will be an inspiration to her successors. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor one of the finest local elected officials of San Mateo County, Christine Krolik. I am honored to call her one of my best friends. She has dedicated herself to the betterment of her fellow residents and our beautiful town. At a white elephant Christmas party a year ago, Christine fought for a superman costume--a fitting symbol of a person who has committed her life to helping other survive and thrive.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my friend and true visionary Bruce Bodaken, who many years ago brought his passion to expand health insurance coverage to all Americans to Blue Shield of California. Bruce is now retiring after a remarkable ten-year tenure of outstanding service as Chairman, President and CEO of Blue Shield. Bruce is not your typical health plan CEO. In fact, I was prepared not to like him when we first met more than ten years ago. He has a Masters degree in philosophy and was teaching that subject at the University of Colorado when he shifted his career to health care. The man who will take over Bruce's role in January 2013, Paul Markovich, currently COO of Blue Shield, calls him their ``resident philosopher.'' Under Bruce's leadership, Blue Shield became one of the fastest growing health plans in California, with a total membership today of 3.3 million and 4,800 employees. In 2002, Bruce was the first health plan CEO in the country to propose a plan for universal coverage. His plan became a template for the Affordable Care Act enacted by Congress in 2010. I share Bruce's belief that health care is a right, not a privilege. Bruce launched the Blue Shield of California Foundation which has given over $150 million in grants during the last five years to support community clinics, children's health initiatives, domestic violence programs, leadership training and policy research. It was named one of the country's 20 most generous corporate foundations by BusinessWeek in 2010. In a remarkable move, Bruce oversaw the company's precedent setting step to cap profits at two percent of revenue and return the differences to its customers. Last year that difference amounted to almost $500 million. Bruce also serves on the board and executive committee of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the BlueCross and BlueShield Association board. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Value & Science-Driven Health Care and serves on the board of directors of the California Business Roundtable, WageWorks, and the University of California, Berkeley's Health Services Management Program. He joined Blue Shield in 1994 as president and chief operating officer. Previously, he served as senior vice president and associate chief operating officer of FHP International Corporation in Southern California. A native of Iowa, Bruce earned his BA from Colorado State University and his MA from the University of Colorado, both in philosophy. Bruce says that his education has deeply influenced his career and world perspective. When he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Francisco Business Times this year, he said that his training in philosophy, logic, communications and thinking about big questions had an application particularly in a world that was changing to a new model of health care. In his retirement, Bruce is looking forward to dedicating more time to his family and friends and his favorite past time--tennis. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Bruce Bodaken, a compassionate leader, big thinker and tireless advocate. His fight to cover all the uninsured isn't over and hasn't always been easy, but he will not give up. His commitment reminds me of something his most inspirational icon, Nelson Mandela, once said: ``When the water starts boiling, it is foolish to turn off the heat.''

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Thomas Kasten who has served on the Hillsborough City Council for twelve years, including two terms as mayor. The residents of our town are very fortunate to have benefitted from the expertise and leadership of such an outstanding businessman and manager. Tom, first elected to the city council in 2000, is currently the mayor and police commissioner. He balanced the budget both years and left the town in good financial condition. With his leadership skills he was able to calm a heated controversy about increased garbage and water rates that brought out large and vocal groups of residents. He also oversaw the approval of the largest capital expenditure plan in the town's history to replace a substantial portion of the 100-year old sewer system. During his first term as mayor from 2004-2006, Tom had to deal with the town's fight over MacMansions replacing smaller ranch homes. He established the Zoning Study Committee and included leaders from both sides of the controversy to develop adjustments to the building code. Tom also chaired the board of directors of the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) of San Mateo County and is now the vice chair of its legislative committee. He sits on the board of directors of the Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo County (HEART) and serves on its nominating and by laws committees. Previously, he was on the board of the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance. In 2007, Tom was the chair of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation Policy Advisory Committee for San Mateo County and is currently chairing its policy committee. Tom honed his business skills during his 34-year long career at Levi Strauss & Co., where he was the president of the youthwear, men's jeans, and womenswear divisions. In addition, he served as executive vice president of new business development in which capacity he took the company private after 14 years as a public company. Tom was responsible for all information technology for Levi Strauss United States. Today, he continues his connection to Levis Strauss & Co. and serves on the Investment Committee. Tom has lectured at some of our finest universities, including Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA and San Francisco State University, and he has been a keynote speaker at countless business conferences in the United States and abroad. He is also a frequent guest on television and radio and has been quoted in magazines such as Fortune and Fast Company. Computerworld Magazine named Tom one of the ``Premier 100 Information Technology Leader in the U.S.'' in 2000. Tom is very active in the Jewish community and volunteers his time and expertise with the Jewish Community Federation of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Jewish Home Foundation. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Tom received his BS and MBA in Marketing from the University of California at Berkeley. Tom and his wife, Kendra, have lived in Hillsborough 28 years. They have two children, Jeffrey and Alyssa. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Thomas Kasten who has tirelessly devoted his time and energy to the residents of Hillsborough.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor James Nantell. He has served for 40 years in the public sector, twelve of them as the City Manager for the City of Burlingame. A gifted community leader, there isn't a street corner in Burlingame that doesn't have his fingerprints on it. Jim became city manager of Burlingame in November of 2000 and my time is too short to list all of his accomplishments. At the top of that list is the merger of the fire departments of Burlingame and Hillsborough to form the Central County Fire Department in 2004. The two cities share staff, training and equipment to protect their citizens while reducing cost. For the past 15 years Jim has been a champion of shared services and he currently chairs the Shared Services Initiative of the San Mateo County City Managers Association. Much of Jim's work has resulted in very visible improvements in Burlingame. For example he facilitated the upgrade to the Burlingame Avenue train station, oversaw the approval of the Mills-Peninsula Medical Center and the Peninsula Humane Society Center for Compassion, obtained federal stimulus funds for street resurfacing projects, developed the Burlingame Avenue streetscape concept plan, obtained a designation of Burlingame as a ``Tree City USA'' for a 31st consecutive year, and implemented the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian crossing bridge over U.S. Highway 101. Over the last ten years, Jim has overseen the rehabilitation of some 40 miles of the 100-year-old water and sewer pipeline system in Burlingame and the construction of a 1.5 million gallon retention basin at the waste water treatment plant. Jim has also brought many wonderful celebrations to Burlingame. In 2008, he worked closely with local officials and community members to put on nine flawless Centennial events. Residents can thank him for the annual pet parade and employee Halloween costume contest. Before Jim brought his energy and talent to Burlingame, he served the City of San Mateo for 28 years. He started as assistant recreation center director in 1973 and within a year became the director. From 1975-76 he was the supervisor for athletics and outdoor recreation. From 1976-81 he served as the administrative director of athletics, aquatics, outdoor recreation and community relations. The following four years Jim was the superintendent of recreation and human services. From 1985-90 he served as assistant city manager and from 1990-2000 as deputy city manager and the interim fire chief from 1995-96. Jim has been a board member of the San Mateo Rotary Club, the Lesley Foundation, the Strategic Planning Committee for the Peninsula Family YMCA, and Our Lady of Angels men's club. His career clearly demonstrates his passion for recreation and outdoor activities. In his spare time, he has helped coordinate many foot races, including the Bay to Breakers race, the Giants Run to Home Plate, the San Francisco Zoo Run, and the San Francisco Marathon. Jim, a Wisconsin native, graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He earned his M.S. in Parks and Recreation Administration from San Francisco State University. He attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2000. Jim married his college sweetheart Christine 42 years ago. They are the proud parents of four children--Maddie, Michael, Ashley and Erin-- and grandparents of three grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor James Nantell for his outstanding and storied service to San Mateo County. His contributions will continue to benefit residents for decades to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Peter James DeJarnatt for his 16 years of service on the Pacifica City Council, four of them as mayor. Pete has been a tireless champion of the environment and Pacifica residents and visitors can thank him for many of the trails and much of the open space that allow all of us to enjoy the beautiful coast. Pete was first elected to the city council in 1996. During his tenure, he always aimed to achieve a balance between development and the quality of life of residents. His work and partnership with the Pacifica Land Trust were vital in the transfers of Mori Point, the San Pedro Headland parcel and Cattle Hill to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Pete was instrumental in championing major improvements to Linda Mar Beach, a popular surf spot. Ample parking, hiking and biking trails have turned it into a true multipurpose area, attracting tourists and locals alike. He also helped create flood protection for lower Linda Mar as well as a new estuary for San Pedro Creek. The San Pedro Creek Control Project included rerouting the lower creek, placing gravel to provide steelhead spawning beds, and creating new wetlands. The solar power projects on top of the wastewater treatment plant and the community center are in part due to Pete's outstanding work. As an advocate of the arts and civic engagement, Pete played an important part in creating the Sanchez Art Center, the farmers market, additional senior housing, the skateboard park and the new police station. He has been a long-time supporter of Pacifica's library system and the resource center. Pete, a native San Franciscan, graduated from Terra Nova High School and attended the College of San Mateo. He and his long time partner Dianne Devin live in Pacifica. In his spare time, Peter loves to garden, hike, camp, dive and read. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Peter DeJarnatt on the day of his retirement as mayor of Pacifica. He has dedicated his life to his community and public service and has never tired of improving the lives of residents of this coastal gem.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Chief Robert Louis Lotti, II for his 30 years of service at the Belmont and Colma Police Departments. Robert Lotti started his law enforcement career in 1984 as an officer with the Belmont Police Department. Three years later he was assigned to the traffic division as a motorcycle officer. In 1990, he was promoted to sergeant and served as a SWAT team member, team leader, and tactical commander. In 1997 and 2000 he completed two assignments as acting commander. In 2000, he was assigned as detective sergeant to the investigations bureau. After protecting the residents of Belmont for 18 years, Sergeant Lotti moved to the Colma Police Department where he was hired as first commander. Within less than a year, he was promoted to chief in May of 2003. Chief Lotti's dedication, commitment and professionalism are reflected in his many accomplishments, and awards. He is a founding member and architect of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office regional SWAT Team, a weaponless defense instructor, Academy instructor, and inner perspectives facilitator. From 2003-2012 he served on the San Mateo County Police Chief's and Sheriff Association--in 2009 as president. Since 2005 he has been on the Board of Directors of the North Peninsula Food Pantry. He also served the San Mateo County Gang Task Force, the Academy Advisory Board, and the Realignment Committee. In 1987, the Peninsula Council of Lions honored him with the Police Heroism Award and in 1996, he received a commendation from the Belmont Police Department. During his tenure, Chief Lotti has worked on many homicide investigations, fatal accidents, even a pipe bombing case, but he says the most rewarding part of the job is helping people in need and giving back to the community--both out in the field and at the station. He has been a mentor to his fellow officers who appreciate his optimism and great sense of humor. He has volunteered as a little league umpire and sits on the board of directors for the North County Food Pantry and Dining Center of Daly City. Chief Lotti, a lifetime resident of San Mateo County, was born in San Mateo, grew up in San Bruno, attended Terra Nova High School in Pacifica, and received his AA from Skyline College in 1982. He earned his BS in Human Services Administration and MPA in Public Administration from the College of Notre Dame in 1992 and 1997 respectively. In his well deserved retirement, Chief Lotti is looking forward to spending more time with his wife of 26 years, Karen, and their four children. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Chief Robert Louis Lotti, II on the occasion of his retirement after making our Peninsula communities and residents safer for three decades.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a rare and special occasion for 45 individuals who went to grammar school together 43 years ago. It is nothing short of remarkable that two thirds of the Holy Angels Class of 1969 will gather on this day of November 10, 2012 to reminisce and exaggerate old stories. The Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus taught at Holy Angels, a Catholic school founded in 1952. The Class of 1969 consisted of 45 students: Donna Abrahamsohn, Charlene Behnke, Robert Bernie, Kevin Chapot (deceased 2010), Raymond Ciardella, Shirley Conti, Richard Delgado, Mary Dillon, John Gallagher, Robert Gerughty, Randy Golobic, Susan Gomez, Joseph Gordon, Kathleen Griffin, Dennis Harvey, Stephen Haught, Loretta Kelly, Patricia Kerns, Catherine Lapachet, Carole Lindsey, Patrick McLoughlin, James McCarthy, Maura Moran, Paul Nannini, Bruce Olmanson, Thomas O'Shea, Mary Pinelli, George Putkey, Elizabeth Randall, Timothy Rea, Marie Antoinette Rodriguez, Mary Rushka, Kimberly Seitz, Debra Sola, Terrie Sottile, Marialena Spadaro, George Tinetti, Barbara Trapp, Robert Trapp, Linda Tricerri, Peter Woolery, Nina Varni, Thomas York, David Zanini, and Loretta Zolezzi. By today's standards, a class of 45 is unheard of, but the Holy Angels students assert that it didn't harm any of them in their later lives. They moved on to careers in teaching, public safety, law enforcement, the military, the medical field, and more. Many of them stayed right here in the Colma and Daly City area, home to Holy Angels. The class of 1969 was the first second grade class to celebrate their First Holy Communion in 1963, a year after Holy Angels church was built. All of the teachers at the school were nuns, except for Miss Sandy Sheffield--unanimously voted everyone's favorite teacher in the 4th grade for her innovative and fun teaching style. Until Miss Sheffield brought in a pinata, most students had never seen one. Another teacher bringing fond memories to the students is Miss Whitney who taught all the dance routines for the annual May Day festivities. Each class performed a variety of folk dances on this popular day of games and raffles. Back in the day, the TV show ``The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'' brought out the best in a group of Holy Angel girls portraying themselves as secret agents. They would pass around secret messages in an empty Chapstick container and they would reveal the locations of dangerous enemy agents via walkie talkies. The Class of 1969 refuses to disclose whether one of the class members later joined the CIA. Life at Holy Angels wasn't all fun and games. In 1963, televisions were not part of the regular classroom, but when President Kennedy was assassinated, the nuns brought in TVs so that the students could witness the funeral. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor the Holy Angels Class of 1969 which reminds all of us of the ties that hold us together as members of our community and country.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Warren Heckman who has spent his life serving our community and sharing his passion for music with those around him. As a teacher and band instructor, Mr. Heckman brought the joy of music to hundreds of students for more than thirty years. He started teaching at South San Francisco High School in 1950, and created the Blue Knights, a jazz ensemble that won countless awards and put South San Francisco High School's music program on the map. The Blue Knights were one of the first high school jazz ensembles and paved the way for similar programs around the country. This jazz group is still part of South San Francisco High School's music program today. Mr. Heckman's passion for music spread to his students, many of whom have remained in touch with him. In 2006, 180 former Blue Knights from around the country gathered together for a reunion. Many of them continue to play music, both recreationally and professionally, a testament to Mr. Heckman's influence on his pupils at such a transformative age. In 1958, Mr. Heckman received his Master's degree from San Francisco State University. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music in 1949 and a teaching credential in 1950 from the University of California-Berkeley where he met his wife, Marie, who has since passed away. During World War II, Mr. Heckman served his country in the United States Navy. He entered the Navy in 1943 one month after graduating from high school. He attended college in Missouri for 18 months, then transferred to midshipman school at Cornell University where he received his commission in May 1945. He attended Fire Control School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway CV-41. As a Fire Control Officer he spent one year on board the Midway until he was honorably discharged in July of 1946. For many years, Mr. Heckman participated in community organizations, including a long tenure as a member of the South San Francisco Elks Lodge. In addition, he helped create the School Personnel Credit Union and led that organization for 17 years, contributing as a board member, secretary and president. After retiring, Mr. Heckman began a successful business tuning pianos. At 87, Mr. Heckman continues to play the trombone with a group of local musicians. Mr. Heckman believes that music is a lifetime adventure, and he's been playing the trombone since he was 7 or 8 years old. Family has always been an important part of Mr. Heckman's life. He enjoys spending time with his son, Mark, and his daughter-in-law, Kathy, who live locally. His twin daughters, Patty and Tina, both live in Gridley, California. Mr. Heckman is also the proud grandfather of David, Sean, Kelly and JW, and the great-grandfather of James. Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor the outstanding service of Warren Heckman to the city of South San Francisco and the whole of San Mateo County. He was a role model for other teachers, a beacon for his students, and he will be remembered as an exceptional human being for many years to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Rotary Club of Pacifica on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Rotary International brings together business and professional leaders to help build peace and goodwill in the world, and the Pacifica club fulfills Rotary's admirable mission of ``Service above Self.'' The Rotary Club of Pacifica equips students with the skills and resources to thrive and become contributing members of society. Scholarships and underwriting coaching for student loans help students and their families afford college. Other projects spark curiosity and motivation in young people including the Dictionary Project, which involves distributing dictionaries to every third grader in the Pacifica School District. Likewise, Rotary Club-sponsored career days teach middle school students about vocations and professions, sparking curiosity and motivation at a young age. The newly built Rotary Plaza, a beautiful public space in Pacifica, represents the Rotary Club of Pacifica's commitment to service. Rotary Plaza was created in partnership with local arts organizations, businesses and public offices to celebrate the Club's 50th anniversary. This project provides an essential outdoor space for people to gather, talk and connect with others. In addition, Pacifica's Rotary Club does whatever is needed to beautify and improve the community--from painting the public library, to landscaping the Boys and Girls Club. The club holds annual food drives, provides financial aid to single-parent families and assists in rescue operations from flooding in lower Linda Mar. The Rotary Club of Pacifica creates an essential social safety net for needy families. The Club's reach even extends beyond the close perimeters of Pacifica--to Pakistan, where it provides vocational training for Afghan refugees. It makes microcredit loans to women with families in Ecuador, Guatemala and Colombia. Because of the Rotary International's persistence, polio will soon be eradicated from the world, and the Rotary Club of Pacifica has consistently participated in this important global mission. Mr. Speaker, it is right to honor the Rotary Club of Pacifica on this day, October 12, 2012, for 50 years of outstanding service and to wish the members the best for the next 50 years.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Reverend Dr. Larry Wayne Ellis for his 25 years of service and inspiration as senior pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church in San Mateo. Dr. Ellis understands the power of the written and spoken word. He has authored six books, including Trust, The Congregation Driven Ministry and The Uncommon Book of Prayers. He was also selected to contribute to the Oxford Sermons Volume II. His soothing voice fills his parish and the airwaves of KFAX-AM and KMEL-FM radio on a regular basis. His radio ministry ``Teach the Word'' is broadcast daily on KFAX and the ``Dr. Larry Show'' is broadcast monthly on KMEL. Dr. Ellis started as the pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church in September 1987 and has grown and revitalized his congregation ever since. Originally from Clarksville, Tennessee, he earned his bachelor's degree from Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. He moved to California and received his Master of Divinity degree from Golden Gate Theological Seminary and his Masters Degree in Counseling from the College of Notre Dame. In 1995, he topped off his education with a Doctorate of Ministry from the Northern Baptists Theological Seminary in Illinois. Dr. Ellis continues his lifelong commitment to religious education. He currently serves as vice president and professor at Southern Marin Bible Institute and an adjunct professor at Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley. In 1999, he was selected as president of Bay Area Baptist Congress Christian Education and in 2002 served as vice president of the California State Congress of Christian Education. He was president of California State Baptist Congress of Christian Education from 2005 until 2010. He is on the board of directors of The National Baptist Congress of Christian Education. Members of Dr. Ellis' congregation describe him as a teacher and encourager who lives by example--or as he puts it, ``I am my message. I have to model my ministry.'' A few years ago, a veteran joined the church after some 10 years in the military. She had drifted into a life of drugs and hopelessness. Dr. Ellis encouraged and mentored her to turn her life around. She cleaned up, moved into transitional housing the church had purchased and went to school to earn her BA and Masters degrees. Today she is a double homeowner and mentors children and members of the Pilgrim Baptist congregation. In addition to preaching, teaching and encouraging, Dr. Ellis is always looking for ways to stay engaged with our community outside the church. He founded C.H.O.I.C.E.S., a drug information and referral nonprofit agency and became president and CEO of the Pilgrim Organization, Inc., a youth through senior nonprofit organization. Our community has recognized his invaluable contributions. He received the Hero of Health Award from the African American Community Advisory Board, the Pastoral Excellence Award from Samford University, and he was inducted into the San Mateo Library Wall of Fame. Dr. Ellis is married to Vanderler Hines-Ellis and is the proud father of Tawana, Justin and Austin. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Reverend Dr. Larry W. Ellis who has touched thousands of lives and lifted the spirits of the residents of San Mateo, California and throughout the world.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Michael Garb for his 20 years of service as the CEO and board member of StarVista, an outstanding non-profit organization in San Mateo County that transforms the lives of children, youths, adults and families. Michael embraces StarVista's philosophy that building strong and healthy communities begins with helping each individual to develop his or her own path to personal growth. The organization serves over 34,000 residents of San Mateo County every year, providing counseling, prevention, early intervention and education resources. Michael was named Chief Executive Officer of StarVista in May 2008. He served on the board of directors for two decades, long before Youth and Family Assistance and Family and Community Enrichment Services merged in 2003 to become StarVista--a process he oversaw. The merger revitalized the organization, broadened its services, increased awareness of its programs, strengthened its branding, and increased both collaboration with other agencies and revenue. In short, more people now benefit from better services. Under Michael's leadership the Bridge to Success Initiative was launched to expand programs for early childhood, family and youth. StarVista and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation brought together 20 partners, including school districts, preschools, non-profits, agencies, and the San Mateo County Office of Education, to help children in eight school districts. The Youth Development Initiative, launched in 2011, has attracted diverse groups of youth and adults who learn to make their voices heard and become strong and contributing members of the community. Jewish Family and Children's Services incorporated their Early Childhood Mental Health Programs into StarVista's array of services in 2012 to improve childcare and healthy childhood development. StarVista's Women's Enrichment Center program was the first outside program to be selected to work with the County AOD and Mental Health departments to implement electronic medical records software that will eventually be used throughout the county. Michael was born in Newark, New Jersey. He earned his BA in accounting from Bloomfield College. He was on the school board of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School for eight years, two of them as president, on the 2-1-1 Steering Committee, the Community Health Reform Advocacy Committee, the Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council, and the Belle Haven Community School Executive Team. In his well deserved retirement, Michael is looking forward to spending more time with wife of 44 years, Judy, their daughter Mindy Shelton and son Dave Garb and their four grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Michael Garb who has turned StarVista into a smooth-running and highly respected agency that touches young and old lives every day. San Mateo County is a better place for all of us because of Michael's vision, work and commitment to our community.