Jackie Speier

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, my friend, my colleague, my co-chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus. I rise tonight in honor of Women's History Month and the heroic, trailblazing women of our military, who have risked their lives for our country in the advancement of women's equity and equality. Women have been on the front lines fighting for America's values and freedom since the founding of our Nation. Our foremothers blazed a trail for women like Loretta Walsh, who, in 1917, as America teetered on the brink of entering World War I, heard and answered the call to serve. Loretta became the first woman to enlist in the U.S. military in a position other than nursing and was our first female chief petty officer. I also want to recognize Captain Kristen Griest and Lieutenant Shaye Haver, the first women to graduate from the Army Ranger School; Marcella Hayes, America's first Black female fighter pilot; and Mary Edward Walker, the first female U.S. Army surgeon who served in the Civil War and the only woman to receive the Presidential Medal of Honor. The strength and courage of these women and so many more like them reinforces what we already know: There is nothing women cannot do. When women are in positions of leadership, our country is in better hands. I believe that this is especially true in our military. I honor General Ann E. Dunwoody, our Nation's first female four-star general; Admiral Michelle Howard, the Navy's first female four-star admiral and first African American to command a U.S. naval ship; and Air Force General Laura Richardson, the first female commander of a combatant command. These women have served our Nation honorably. They now must open new doors for a generation of women to fulfill their dreams to serve our country under safe conditions, free from sexual assault and harassment. All of these women warriors volunteered for duty and risked their lives while fighting rampant misogyny, including attacks from talking heads on national TV--who have never served our country--and racism for the women of color. Their unflinching courage has paved the way for thousands of women serving in our Armed Forces today. Our military is stronger and this country is safer because women serve. We honor these military women's achievements today on the House floor. May we never forget their sacrifice, duty, and dedication. May they elevate a new generation of women in the military, free from bias, racial discrimination, and sexual assault.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, the gun violence epidemic has robbed us of our loved ones; our safety in schools, our places of worship and public spaces; and our children. It has ravaged our communities across America and touched the Halls of Congress. It is also very personal to me. I am one of the few Members on this floor who has been a victim of gun violence, and we know what this is all about. This is all about making sure felons don't get guns. It is making sure that those who are mentally ill don't get guns. And it is making sure that those who have committed domestic violence don't get guns. That is all this bill is doing. But what my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are doing is bowing to the NRA that contributes to their campaigns and kissing the rings of those who are the gun manufacturers who contribute to the NRA anywhere from $10 to $60 million over the course of 5 years. That is what this is all about. The American people want to be safe, and we are going to make them safe.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sandra Lee Fewer as she departs the San Francisco Board of Supervisors after serving for four years, and after serving for a total of 12 years in elective office in San Francisco. The city is losing a tremendous advocate for small businesses, working families and struggling residents. Sandra Fewer and her husband, John, have lived in the Richmond District of San Francisco for over 50 years. They have three children, Sara, Colleen, and Rory and the family has deep roots in the community. Her husband spent 35 years on the police force and retired from the Richmond District station. Her children attended public schools and Sandra spent those early years as a PTA President for 12 terms. She also participated in school site councils, teacher appreciation days and organized numerous school events. As her participation in the community grew, so too did the recognition that she was a natural leader. She was elected to the Board of Education in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. In 2014, she served as Board President. There is so much about Sandra that can be summed up in a single word: Heart. For example, from 2001 to 2009 she served as the Executive Director of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth. This organization advocates for young people across multiple issues impacting them in San Francisco, and before many major policymaking bodies. Homelessness, closing the school achievement gap, and hunger were just a few of the causes she and student advocates took up. She was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2016, took office in 2017, and became the first female to represent her district. As a Supervisor, Sandra was described by a local business owner as an outstanding advocate for small businesses. This observation was made before the pandemic. Now, as she walks through the Richmond, she can see struggling small restaurants and stores that are boarded up. Recently, San Francisco offered these companies loans and grants, which Sandra supported. One Richmond, an organization that she created, encourages residents to shop locally. It also encourages neighbors to help neighbors by volunteering in the community. Its motto is, ``Have you done your One Richmond thing today?'' Sandra takes seriously her job of helping those who need the most help. For example, she successfully pushed to obtain a state grant to create a nonprofit affordable housing developer that will someday build needed housing in her district. She supported creation of a public bank by the City of San Francisco in order to provide banking services and economic development to communities ignored by traditional banks. She supported Proposition E that will facilitate the building of affordable housing and housing for educators throughout San Francisco. 65% of her constituents are renters and she's offered them protections through her votes on the board and through these difficult times of the pandemic. Long after her term in office, her legacy of offering aid to those in need will produce results for those she served. She indicates that when she leaves office she will garden and renew her friendships, many ``on hold'' due to her board duties these past three years. Gardening will join meditating as a hobby that she enjoys more frequently with John. Soon, this woman of Washington High School, City College, Golden Gate University, and the fictional but illustrious Richmond District School of Hard Knocks, from which she graduated magna cum laude, will leave the public stage. She departs having earned decades of well wishes built from a lifetime of community service. On her website, she stated that as a Supervisor she would be a caretaker for the residents of the Richmond District. She also noted that she understood that elective office is a trust. She amply demonstrated both during her time on the board. Madam Speaker, I salute San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer upon her departure. We may someday see her on Clement Street in one of the small shops or restaurants, and we'll wonder what she's doing. Make no mistake. Whatever her more obvious activity is at that moment, Sandra's broader purpose will be as it always has been: To remain a member of her community and a friend to all of goodwill.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the President of the San Francisco of Supervisors Norman Yee who is departing the Board of Supervisors after eight years, and after serving a prior eight years as a commissioner on the San Francisco Board of Education. Norman is a native San Franciscan and was raised in Chinatown. From an early age, he worked at a Noe Valley grocery store owned by his parents. He graduated from Galileo Academy of Science and Technology, then attended City College, and finally matriculated to the University of California at Berkeley, graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering. He also holds a MA in Education from San Francisco State University. Norman Yee is an activist and leader. He taught ESL and citizenship classes at City College from 1984 to 1994, and for 18 years was the executive director for Wu Yee Children's Service, an advocacy group supporting child services in San Francisco. He was elected as a commissioner of the school district in 2004 and served as its president during his second term. In 2012, he was elected to serve on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. In this role, he sponsored or cosponsored 780 pieces of legislation, many of citywide significance that also went to the ballot. For example, in 2016 he cosponsored Proposition W which made City College free for all city residents. In 2018, he cosponsored Proposition C to fund universal childcare. Both measures passed because San Franciscans deeply appreciate education. For his district, he secured more funding for parks, negotiated with neighbors to allow local businesses to expand, opposed short-term illegal rentals by AirBnB, pushed for lower speed limits on dangerous streets, and led efforts to boost funding for senior programs. He spearheaded creation of the city's Early Head Start program, the Asian Parent Education Network, the San Francisco Child Care Providers Association, and the Chinatown Beacon Center. He remains a board member of the San Francisco Child Care Providers Association. Last year, Norman Yee was elected president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He is fair in setting agendas and works collaboratively with colleagues. He is also a leader. An example is the new housing being developed in his district at the Balboa reservoir. Rents in San Francisco have declined during the pandemic, but the long-term trend is sharply upward. The reservoir site is adjacent to the main campus of City College, a treasure within my district that I proudly support. Proposals for housing stretch back to the 1960's. A year before he was tragically taken from us, I personally spoke to Mayor Ed Lee about placing housing at this site. However, it's hard to build when the public is divided. Supervisor Yee rolled up his sleeves to create a proposal acceptable to most and of enduring service to low income residents of San Francisco. Over time, many thousands will be served. 1,100 units of housing will be built, 50 percent affordable, and 150 units will be dedicated to City College faculty and staff. As our nation struggles to come to grips with systemic racism and abuses by some on police forces, Supervisor Yee recently placed onto the ballot a measure to change the way in which San Francisco staffs its police force. An existing city charter provision required San Francisco to have 1,971 full-time duty officers on the force. In November, San Francisco voters abolished this provision. This will allow the board, the police and community to talk about how the department will be staffed. 71 percent of the city's voters agreed with Norman Yee that this change is needed to move the community forward. Supervisor Yee is a gentleman and a thoughtful public servant. I've known some elected officials who light up a room by destructively setting off verbal fireworks in a tightly crowded auditorium. Norman simply tells it like it is. This reassures his constituents that he's not present at the meeting for adulation from the crowd but for the hard work that produces progress. Madam Speaker, as Supervisor Yee exits public service, he will be remembered as the man everyone could have over for dinner because he's so earnest and so interesting. Now that he's leaving, his wife Cathy and their two children Karissa and Chandra may see him for a few more dinners. We thank them for their service, as well, because they also sacrificed for the community's best interests during his time in elective office. We will see Norman on the streets of Westwood, his neighborhood, and perhaps in city hall from time to time. We will also remember him as the man who understood every corner of his beloved San Francisco because he earned the friendship of people throughout this great city.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great local leader in my district, Shawn Christianson, as she leaves the Hillsborough Town Council after eight years. She is departing public life after a quarter century of volunteer and elective service to her community. She will be deeply missed. Shawn Christianson is brilliant, honest, upbeat, and leaves a whirlwind in her wake as she moves through life. She brought her boundless energy and positive attitude to an extraordinary number of activities, all while working full time in a San Francisco legal practice, where she is now a partner, I might also point out she raised two children, Spencer and Conor, at the same time. For over 14 years before being named Citizen of the Year in 2010, Shawn served on the North School Site Council and on the North Parent Group Executive Board. She was President of the Association of Parent Groups and then became Vice President of the Hillsborough Schools Foundation. In 2001/02, she was part of a small group of persons who led a successful effort to pass school bonds. Even after her children graduated, she remained committed to the schools and in 2005 was elected to the school board, serving four years including one as board president. In her role, she was instrumental in the design and reconstruction of four schools. As if working full time as a bankruptcy attorney and raising two children were not enough, Shawn also advised the Bay Area Women's and Children's Center, an agency serving children in families with little or no income. At one point she was on the board of directors of a local children's museum, and on the Cal Berkeley Parents Board. To top off her frenetic pace, she coached a mock trial team at her son's high school. These activities were in the days when ``Zoom'' was a description of speed and not shorthand for pandemic reality. Just imagine the number of hours spent by Shawn in study and advocacy as she met--in a group at countless points on the map--to uphold these commitments. Her husband, Philip McLeod, might be forgiven if he thought he'd married a Ferrari instead of a loving wife, mother and formidable attorney. Shawn was elected to the Hillsborough city council in 2012 and has served continuously since, including as Mayor since 2018 (her second time as Mayor), and Vice Mayor from 2016 to 2018. When presiding during council meetings, she handled difficult matters with grace and tact, seeking consensus despite the passions of the moment. We know Shawn as a voice of reason, but as she wields the gavel during a tense meeting her pitch is authoritative because she always comes prepared. Woe be to advocates who try to gloss over weaknesses in a proposal hoping that no one will notice. Shawn Christianson reads footnotes. She'll notice. Like the residents she serves, Shawn is dedicated to maintaining the natural beauty of Hillsborough, its small-town atmosphere, preserving its architectural heritage and maintaining strong finances. Despite upheavals in our nation's economy, Hillsborough's budget is balanced each year and its long-term fiscal outlook is bright. As a partner in the Buchalter law firm, Shawn focuses her practice on insolvency, receiverships, and complex litigation with an emphasis on technology related issues. She's argued at both the trial level and at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Her list of professional accomplishments takes up a full page of small type, but includes serving for two terms on the Board of Directors and as a Director-At- Large of the International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation and as both the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Bar Association of San Francisco's Commercial Law and Bankruptcy section. Shawn is a trained mediator and has been a Resolution Advocate on the Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution Panel. With one notable exception, I can think of no one in the country who seems to enjoy going through bankruptcy. With Shawn on your team, I can think of no one better to be at your side. Madam Speaker, in our modern economy, billions are made through the construction of fictional heroes of boundless powers proving themselves through unending challenges. Shawn Christianson is the real deal. As she retires to private and professional life, we thank her for a generation of contributions on our behalf. If you turn off the electricity to the world of a fictional hero, it fades to black. If you remove Shawn Christianson from public life, her accomplishments will live for decades. I thank Shawn for her friendship and outstanding example. In a democracy, there is no higher compliment than to say that you made a difference. She certainly did and we--her friends and neighbors--are forever in her debt.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Adam Eisen who served on the Half Moon Bay City Council for four years, the last year as Mayor. Mayor Eisen is one of the most energetic and optimistic public servants with whom I've had the honor to work. When Adam ran for city council in 2016, he would have never imagined the challenges the year 2020 would present him while he was mayor of this beautiful coastal town of 13,000. He had to respond to a global pandemic not seen in a century, the resulting economic downturn, devastating wildfires ravaging California communities, and a national social justice movement demanding racial equity. Adam was a regular presence on weekly county briefings that included more than 200 public officials from school districts, cities, the county, the state and the federal government. In weekly newsletters, Adam relayed much of that information about Covid-19 to residents, from case numbers to testing to business closures, school closures and beach closures. In the early days of the pandemic during the stay at home order, the entire county of San Mateo flocked to the coast to get away and get outside. Local beaches and parking lots resembled Times Square during New Year's Eve. Safety concerns motivated Adam to initiate a five mile from home shelter in place order for the county. As an avid surfer and outdoors enthusiast, this was counterintuitive, but Adam saw it as a necessary tool to slow community spread of the deadly virus. In mid-August, lightening struck, literally. More than 14,000 lightening strikes set off a series of 650 wildfires, eventually burning over two million acres in California. One of the fires, the CZU Lightening Complex, burned in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, Adam rose to the occasion and responded to this disaster on top of the Covid disaster. He coordinated with other officials to assure emergency vehicles had access to hotspots. He set up Smith Field to assist evacuated fire victims. Adam was drawn to public service by three broad and ambitious goals. He wanted community members to be involved, he wanted to engage a younger constituency, and he wanted to have the most qualified staff work for the city. Shortly after Adam and his wife Katherine moved to Half Moon Bay from Connecticut, a tractor ran into a bridge that he used to bike to his mother's house. The damaged bridge was demolished and his path to his mom's was gone. He attended multiple council meetings lobbying to fix the bridge. With his typical optimism, he later told the local newspaper: ``The bridge did get fixed; it just took a few years and it's fantastic.'' As a devoted father of two young children, Kaleb, 12 and Ezra, 9, Adam wanted to make sure young families and younger people were represented on the council. He created an open channel of communication and made sure their voices were heard. During his tenure on the council, Adam and his colleagues completed updates of Half Moon Bay's Local Coastal Plan and the General Plan with a great deal of community input. Both plans will impact the area for the next two to three decades. He was also deeply involved in the hiring of a new city manager and city attorney. Adam worked on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan to set standards and guidelines for new and existing parks. He helped revise the City's contract with local horseback riding stable operators to keep beaches accessible for riding yet free of horse manure so that all visitors can enjoy them. He was instrumental in banning single use plastic and flavored tobacco to keep our environment and our children safer. The pandemic-induced economic downturn required quick and decisive action to keep Half Moon Bay solvent. To increase city revenue, Adam helped initiate Measure U, a ballot initiative increasing transient occupancy taxes, which passed by over 70%. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in honoring Adam Eisen who served the residents of Half Moon Bay for four years that feel like a lifetime. He is leaving the council, but I am certain his next chapter will be filled with adventure and with contributions that will benefit everyone on the coastside. It's been my honor to serve with him.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker and members, I rise today to recognize Catherine Carlton, known as ``Cat'' by her community, for her eight years of service on the city council of Menlo Park. It's been a remarkable time for this native of Tarrant County, Texas, who eventually made her way west to lead her dynamic community astride San Francisco Bay. Catherine graduated with a Bachelors in Rhetoric and Public Communications from Tulane University and received her MBA at the Cass Business School in London where she was president of her class and graduated with Deans Honors. She worked in Hong Kong for 10 years for, among others, Equant and for a company that she founded and managed-- Search Bank. During her global business career, she has worked at eight different companies. Menlo Park is a community of 35,000. Its daytime population swells by thousands as high technology employees stream into globally competitive businesses, including Facebook. After moving to town, Catherine became immersed in her new community. Catherine was appointed to the parks and recreation commission in 2009 and served until elected to the city council in 2012. She joined as the Great Recession and its impact on city finances ebbed. In 2012, local measure K passed. It increased the hotel occupancy tax. Ultimately, these revenues and others made possible upgrades to the city's parks and libraries, among several other worthy initiatives supported by Catherine. With the explosive expansion of Facebook and other high technology companies, Catherine and her colleagues were repeatedly called upon to guide the community's growth so that it did not overwhelm residents. For example, when a major project at Willow Road and Highway 101 commenced, Catherine and the council tried to ensure that it concluded as quickly as possible. It was a huge thread-the-needle project with long lines of cars slowly snaking in various directions over many months. While the end result is a great interchange, Catherine spent many hours of council time listening to nearby neighbors. She and her colleagues worked hard to reduce negative impacts when possible. During her time on the council, Catherine represented Menlo Park on twelve regional committees or agencies. These included the Peninsula Clean Energy Authority, C/CAG, the Airport Community Roundtable, and an ad hoc council committees on parking. She is a passionate advocate for local businesses. Now, with the pandemic restricting many downtown merchants, Catherine and her colleagues are adapting Menlo Park so that dining in downtown streets is possible. Pedestrians and bicyclists (walking their bikes) support restaurants and merchants. We often hear the expression, ``Out of the frying pan, into the fire.'' It would be simple to describe sitting on the Menlo Park council from 2012 to the present in those terms given the yin and yang of long-running explosive job growth followed by pandemic-induced restrictions. However, this would be an incomplete picture. Many wonderful things happened over the past eight years under Cat's leadership and guidance. The city is revitalized with longtime vacant lots on the El Camino Real sporting new office buildings. Parks are refreshed, the libraries upgraded, and long-needed infrastructure investments were made. Crime-- never a significant problem in Menlo Park--remains low. Issues related to community-wide planning were dealt with. The city's schools remain strong and its families treasure the environment, including its bayfront park and tree canopied streets. A mother of two young children, Catherine and George, Cat helped run her daughter's Girl Scout troop and volunteered with AYSO. She was the vice president of her homeowner's association and served on the board of the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She volunteered as an after-school tutor. Her volunteer work for the Junior League led to her support of Project Read, Foster Families and HIP Housing. She was a board member and past president of the Las Lomitas Education Foundation. She worked with state legislators on legislation to address human trafficking and domestic violence. In all, she served as a volunteer with over nine nonprofits or associations dealing with local and state subjects touching youth, women, and quality-of-life issues. Catherine Carlton has played an important role in all of these achievements. Now she, husband Robert Ridenour, and their children will have more time together. This is likely welcomed by everyone in the family after years of her intense dedication to neighbors and to the future of the community that she loves. I was honored to know and to work with Catherine Carlton, and I wish her all the best in the years ahead.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Deirdre Martin as she departs from the Pacifica City Council where she served for four years, the last year as mayor. Serving as mayor of a small town is never an easy task, but it's particularly challenging during a pandemic not seen in a century. Deirdre took her responsibility to keep the residents of Pacifica safe very seriously and did a remarkable job keeping them informed with regular updates, FAQs and informational videos. Running for city council takes true dedication to public service. Council members are paid a token amount of $400 a month and put in long hours of meetings, calls, events, and research, often while holding a full-time job. That is true in Deirdre's case who is a senior IT project manager with the Pasha Group, a transportation and logistics management company based in Marin County. Additionally, she is raising two young children. How she found time to volunteer and serve on the council is a wonder and a testament to her passion to help others. During her time on the council, Deirdre has accomplished much, and much of it has been informed by her environmental and social activism. She was instrumental in making Pacifica the first city in the county to ban single use plastic and in officially recognizing it as a ``Tree City USA'' under the Arbor Day Foundation. Her efforts helped Pacifica receive a grant to make the new Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan a reality. Deirdre served for two years each on the Peninsula Clean Energy Board of Directors, the Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee, the C/CAG Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Emergency Preparation Committee. She also worked closely with her colleagues and the community on the Local Coastal Plan and the General Plan of the city. A strong opponent of offshore drilling, she helped implement language that divests the city from the fossil fuel industry. While working on environmental issues on the council, Deirdre still found time to continue her long membership in the Pacific Beach Coalition and she maintained her role as the site captain for Sharp Park Beach. I truly admire her commitment to clean air, clean water and our fight against climate change. I imagine that the last thing she ever imagined doing is to close down beaches during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep residents and visitors safe. Deirdre is an avid advocate for government transparency, justice and equity. She has stood up for the rights of minority populations and immigrants. Motivated by the Black Lives Matter marches in protest of the killing of George Floyd this summer, she signed on to the Obama Foundation ``My Brother's Keeper'' Mayoral Pledge and has collaborated closely with the Pacifica Police Department and community members to create a non-biased, non-racist environment. Pacifica, a beautiful beach town of about 40,000, has faced fiscal challenges. The Great Recession of 2007, a series of El Nino storms in 2016 and the current COVID-19 pandemic have taken a toll on the city budget. Deirdre, along with her colleagues, have worked hard to bring new revenue to the city. A short-term rental tax and a sales tax for marijuana is estimated to increase city revenue by more than $850,000. Madam Speaker, as Deirdre Martin is retiring from the Pacifica City Council, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking her for her service to the residents of Pacifica and San Mateo County. She will now have fewer Zoom calls to attend and will be able to spend more time with her husband Kai Martin and their two daughters Nova and Astra. However, I am certain she will remain active and engaged in pursuit of social and environmental justice for all. It has been my honor to serve with her.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jess ``Jay'' Benton as he departs the Hillsborough Town Council. Jay is deeply committed to serving his country and his community. During the Vietnam War, Jay served as an officer on the USS Lowe, a destroyer escort. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California and is a big Trojans fan. He currently serves on the Board of Leaders at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. He worked for 35 years for ABM Industries and retired as the Chief Operating Officer. In 2003, he was appointed Co-Chairman of the Expert Review Committee for the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency and in 2004 he was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the California Performance Review Commission. For several years he also served on the Town of Hillsborough's financial advisory board which, as a practical matter, offers the expert advice of global financial investors to the city council. Prior to public service, his volunteer work included serving on the Board of Directors of the YMCA of San Francisco, as Chairman, and on the boards of Broadway by the Bay and the Hillsborough Schools Foundation. Clearly, Jay Benton is a man who relishes the challenge of responsibility. His leap into the role of officeholder occurred when he was appointed to the city council in 2008 and solidified when he was elected in 2010. Since then, he's served three terms and as Mayor from December 2012 to December 2014. He's also been Hillsborough's member on the Central County Fire Board, serving as Chairman in 2010 through 2011. Jay joined the council with a willingness to learn everything, a determination to probe staff reports and to deliver for the residents of Hillsborough. I have heard how Jay saved the town $1 million on a computer system purchase by challenging the cost. Jay became the city's expert on water issues when he was appointed to a local agency charged with serving the interests of Peninsula cities receiving water from San Francisco's Hetch Hetchy system. Hillsborough owns its own water system but is reliant on the Hetch Hetchy system for water. There have been a few droughts and numerous public policy challenges, including an expensive capital improvement program, during Jay's tenure. He is described as having a ``passion'' for water. He is quick to point out opportunities to operate better and always well prepared for the agency's meetings. Twice per year, Hillsborough's civic leadership gathers to compare notes and to coordinate. Present are leaders from public and private schools, the town, nonprofits and civic organizations of various types, and interested citizens. The convocation is known as the Hillsborough Community Roundtable and its purpose is to let everyone know about the plans for civic events and government services for the next six months. Jay Benton has presided over this semi-annual meeting and won accolades from all involved because he is both a good listener and, not surprisingly, a good leader. Jay Benton is the devoted husband of Ann and they have been married since October 7, 1967. They have five children: Bill (Susan), Tom (Jane), Jim (Mari), Jenny, and Andy (Morgan). Jay also has ten grandchildren. On December 13, 2020, the day before he steps down from the city council, Jay will turn 80 years old, yet another example of age not being a liability in public life. Madam Speaker, Jay Benton will leave with the city's finances strong, its capital stock well maintained, its spirits high despite the challenge of the current pandemic, and the future of the community well charted for many years to come. In Jay, the town has a leader who stood the test of time. His neighbors, friends and constituents wish Jay, in the hopeful language of naval adventurers, fair winds and following seas. It has been my privilege to serve with Jay Benton, a great local leader.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding service of Mark Olbert as he departs the San Carlos City Council after nine years as a councilmember, two of them as Mayor. Mark also served 10 years on the local school board. For a man who moved to San Carlos in 1997, he's spent a remarkable 19 of those 23 years in local elected office. Mark was raised in Dobbs Ferry, New York and obtained his bachelors in cell and molecular biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and his MBA from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College. He went to work as a finance executive in the oil and gas industry and then transitioned to the world of biotechnology. After great success at Amgen, Mark moved to San Carlos to grab other brass rings in the world of biotechnology. Ultimately, he was able to retire early to dedicate his life to his family and to public service. When he and his wife, Barbara McHugh, sought a Bay Area community in which to raise their family they selected San Carlos because of its high-quality schools. Both Mark and Barbara plunged into volunteering to raise money for the schools and were ultimately honored for their leadership by the San Carlos Education Foundation. In the midst of his career, and while raising Arthur and Caroline, the couple's two children, Mark ran for the school board. He succeeded in his first effort and was reelected. During his 10 years as a trustee, he successfully advocated to reform the district's special education program and grappled with the fragile finances of the district. For decades, civic leaders had opined that, in San Carlos, school parcel taxes and bond measures would fail. As a trustee, Mark had a different opinion. He and a core group led successful efforts to pass several tax or bond measures, thereby stabilizing finances and putting the district on a path to rejuvenate its schools. While on the school board, it was his work with the city that sparked his interest in the city council. He saw a need for more parks for a growing population, more housing, and greater transparency in local government. He ran for the city council in 2011, came in first, and was later re-elected. Mark and most of his council colleagues tried but were ultimately unable to obtain more land to expand city parks. He always maintained, however, that the city council had done its job by providing residents with a choice about their quality of life. In recent years, he successfully advocated for San Carlos to become a ``welcoming city'' to send a message of hope as immigrants came under attack. Homeowners have a friend in Mark as the city adopted a proposal to help pay for otherwise expensive sidewalk repairs. Along with his colleagues, he regularly supported thoughtful budgeting that generated surpluses. Housing is Mark's constant concern. He asks important questions about whether the city has zoned enough land for housing in order to avoid the displacement of vulnerable residents as commercial development accelerates. He is passionate about equal economic opportunity and the need to find affordable housing for teachers, public safety personnel, store clerks, and all others who struggle to pay high rents in San Carlos. Mark started a blog when he joined the school board and continued as a councilmember. Recent council topics on his site, ``Making Your Mark,'' include: ``Reflections: Paranoia, Tribalism, Politics''; and, ``Even in the City of Good Living, Racism is Not Patriotism!'' His retirement may spare the public from another blog rumored to be in the works: ``Quantum Theory and Time Travel: New Adventures in Parenting During A Pandemic.'' His blog's style is a blend of The New York Times Magazine, Scientific American, and Mad Magazine. Mark Olbert is honest, thoughtful, and dogged in asking questions and getting answers. He seeks the long-term welfare of the entire community. He is brilliant and has a wonderful sense of humor. While ``public servant'' is a title that others may view as pedestrian, he treasures it as much as a rare gem. It has been my great honor and privilege to serve with Mark Olbert. He represents the best in public service. I will miss him on the council. Let me invoke an amended phrase from a renowned science fiction philosopher, Yoda: Mark, May the Force of Public Opinion Always Be With You.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rod Hsiao as he leaves the San Mateo County Board of Education after 14 years of service to the public. Rod is an outstanding public servant and he will be missed by those who follow his work on the board. Rod Hsiao strongly supports inclusivity. While working in Washington, D.C., he cofounded CAPAL, a 31-year-old nonprofit for students interested in public policy. He is the founder of nonprofit InPlay which combats the loss of educational progress that occurs amongst children during the summer break. InPlay provides a single point where parents can go to sign up children for free or low-cost summer education and recreational activities. He worked with the U.S. Small Business Administration's Council on Underserved Communities and has served on the boards of various nonprofits. He was the co-founder of a local group encouraging Asian and Pacific Islanders to participate in elective office. The county board of education hears appeals from parents denied inter-district transfers by their district of residence. These are emotional moments when parents are hoping to have their children attend a different school. Rod asks probing questions to determine if there is any legal rational for the transfer to be granted. He looks to the best interests of students and works hard to balance the interests of the home district with the student's needs. Granting a charter to a proposed charter school is one of the more fraught activities of the county board of education. The issue only arises when the district in which the school is proposed to be established has denied the application. Again, Rod seeks to improve public education through many avenues, including charter schools. These choices sometimes generate friction with one or more vocal groups, but he tries to ensure that the underserved communities of San Mateo County have access to the best possible education. One example of ensuring access to high quality education is the countywide program known as The Big Lift. It is an initiative that grew out of a group in which Rod participated. The goal is to ensure that San Mateo County students are proficient in reading by the third grade. Rod served on the Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council and worked with its successor agency as part of a team to design and launch The Big Lift. Although the pandemic has created obstacles, the program remains strong. Jones Gulch is the beloved outdoor education program offered by the San Mateo County Office of Education, operating for generations. It's been said that, in some instances, students arrive with their grandmothers who once went to Jones Gulch back when the grandmother was a middle school student. The camp is owned by the YMCA and operated in cooperation with the County Office of Education. In recent years, Rod is credited with maintaining the relationship and with strengthening the program by finding ways to do camp upgrades after decades of use. He has pushed hard to build housing at the site so that staff can fulfill their duties without having to sometimes sleep on the floor of the camp office. Rod is a graduate of Oberlin College with a BA in Economics, and holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard. Aside from his achievements in education, he has also consulted to global companies and founded or worked for nonprofits that promote entrepreneurship and inclusivity. After nearly a decade and a half in a position of educational leadership, Rod will now be able to spend more time with his wife, Linda, and sons Anthony and Timothy. He has burned the midnight oil on many occasions, and they will likely welcome him home on a more regular schedule. However, I know that Rod Hsiao will also remain active in public affairs in San Mateo County. An advocate is relentless by nature whether or not in elective office. I expect that Rod will remain engaged in creating educational opportunity and in encouraging participation by all segments of San Mateo County. We thank him for years of effort dedicated to building an America of which we may all be proud.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my dear friend and colleague Rich Garbarino: retiring from the city council of South San Francisco after 18 years and after a total of 38 years of service to the people of South San Francisco. Rich has been a steady voice of progress and leadership in the city. Councilmember Garbarino sat on the parks commission for 18 years which resulted in new parks being developed throughout the city including Summit, Orange and Cypress parks that were constructed or thoroughly renovated. Initial work on Centennial Way, a lengthy trail built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the city, began while Rich was a commissioner. Construction concluded years later after he joined the council. He was an enthusiastic advocate over all these years. Trail construction costs were entirely defrayed through donations. When Rich began in public service, the east side of the city consisted of giant, abandoned steel mills worthy of any devastated war zone. As he completes his service, South San Francisco has become the biotechnology capital of the world. The steel mills were long ago swept aside to be replaced by Genentech's sprawling campuses of billions of dollars of investment and those of many other companies. One is presently researching the aging process with the hope of defeating it, while another is tackling sickle cell anemia. A third grows specialized mosquitoes aimed at stopping the spread of Dengue fever. A fourth is farming inside a warehouse using vertical fields, robots and artificial intelligence to produce vegetables that are so tasty they fly off the shelves at supermarkets. Rich Garbarino and his colleagues encouraged tens of billions of dollars in investment in the east side through their welcoming messages to the biotechnology industry. This was transformational. During his time in office, Rich worked hard in our State Capitol to represent other cities through the League of California Cities. He explained the need for local control over zoning and has long supported housing along the transit corridors of South San Francisco. Hundreds of apartments and condominiums have been created in just the past few years, most located along the rail and bus lines that lace South San Francisco. He was a big supporter of Measure W, a \1/2\ cent sales tax approved by voters. As these industries and housing spring up in South San Francisco, the need for more police and a new municipal center featuring a police station and library became apparent. It's paid for in part by Measure W. Over just the past 20 years, Rich Garbarino took on nearly 40 different community service commitments including serving on the public safety policy committee, President of the League of California Cities, a member of ad hoc committees on gun control and gang violence, president of his neighborhood homeowner's association, and serving as an advisor to the president of San Francisco State University. Some respond to a call for volunteers as if a recent shoulder separation prevented them from raising their hand. Rich has persistent muscle spasms that compel his hand to fly upward. Rich and his wife Elaine have three children, Gina, Rich Jr. and Andrea, and eight grandchildren. He is a quintessential family man, a great father and grandfather. This is also how he views his city. In Rich's eyes, every resident of South San Francisco is part of a big family, and their needs are his passion. Some men see a city and mourn what has passed. Rich Garbarino sees his city and wonders about all that will someday come to pass. He's proud that the cure to cancer will likely be discovered in South San Francisco. He marvels that housing now being built is just the start of what's planned. He knows the downtown is on the crux of a revival and that residents will grow safer in the future as they work towards their common good. Madam Speaker, while the city's residents will no longer have Rich Garbarino to watch over their best interests, they have the path that he helped lay down to carry them into the future. Godspeed to the pathbreakers, and to their leader in chief, Rich Garbarino, a man who devoted his years in office to create a tomorrow for all.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Karyl Matsumoto as she completes her remarkable service on the South San Francisco city council. She served a record 23 years, including four terms as Mayor. When you do the math, Karyl has been on the council for nearly \2/3\ of her years as a resident of South San Francisco. One has to ask if she ever had a moment to simply take a leisurely walk along the bayfront. South San Francisco has changed remarkably since Karyl joined the council. Its population grew by 10,000 to a total of 68,000. In the Oyster Point area, biotechnology powerhouse Genentech and sister companies are rapidly replacing traditional uses such as warehouses, food factories, airline-related businesses and transportation enterprises. The Caltrain station is moving and apartments are being constructed by the hundreds within walking distance of this location and the city's BART station. The city has also become more diverse, with approximately \1/3\ of its residents being of either Asian or Latino descent. Karyl has contributed to many of these changes. For example, she has served for over a decade on boards of the county's transportation authority and Samtrans, the provider of bus services and management of the local train service. In South San Francisco, she strongly advocated for moving the train station. Her years as a Samtrans director are among her proudest achievements. She sought to build the bus service into one that takes care of San Mateo County's wage earners, while also adapting the system to offer new express service, such as the pre-COVID line from Foster City to San Francisco. It costs a lot to live in San Mateo County. Average rent in South San Francisco is $3,000 per month. Karyl Matsumoto realized that it was impossible for many to survive if they had to earn $120,000 per year or more just to pay rent and avoid debt. She was the first on her council to propose an increase of the minimum wage to $15 per hour starting January 1, 2021, and her colleagues adopted that proposal. She also championed affordable housing and balancing jobs with housing in order to protect lower-income residents. During the course of her multi-decade-long public service career, Karyl Matsumoto has served on over 30 community groups and boards of nonprofits. Examples include the Peninsula Family YMCA, the San Mateo County Japanese American Citizens League, the Skyline College President's Council Advisory Board, and the United Way Community Impact Committee. She also founded the city's youth commission. She worked for our esteemed colleague Congresswoman Anna Eshoo when Congresswoman Eshoo served on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, and for former State Senator Quentin Kopp. She co-founded the South San Francisco Community Outreach Program to bring together residents, businesses and advocacy groups on behalf of seniors, residents with special needs and other vulnerable residents. As a councilwoman, Karyl Matsumoto was fiscally conservative and supported building the city's tax base to provide funds for such largescale community efforts as the new 911 and police operations center. She also serves as one of two liaisons with the school district and on the Caltrain Modernization committee, keeping an eye on the progress of a $2 billion electrification project for our regional train system. As she makes her case to colleagues, Karyl is known for saying, ``Ergo,'' and if she forgets someone's name while making a point you might hear her say ``Whosewhatis'' as a placeholder. These endearing mannerisms signal that a significant point is about to be made because Karyl doesn't let anything--even a momentary mind freeze--get in the way of the public's interest. Madam Speaker, I can say without fear of contradiction that Karyl Matsumoto has made a tremendous difference in South San Francisco and throughout the county. We know her as an eager public servant who has a vast knowledge of the history of her city and of public policy. When she leaves, decades of perspective will go with her. All of us in the community thank her for a job well done and hope she can relax and leave the hard work of civic policymaking to others. After decades at the wheel, Karyl is getting off the bus. Her final stop, a stop called ``success,'' is just beyond the bus door.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Terri Cook, an outstanding public servant, as she retires from her position as City Clerk for the City of Belmont. Terri was elected as clerk in 2002 and served as an elected official until this year when the position transitioned to an appointed one. City clerks are an integral part of the operation of a city. Clerks must keep accurate records of city council meetings and votes as well as minutes and votes from numerous commissions and advisory boards. The outcome of lawsuits over city actions sometimes hinges on accurate records, as does the eligibility of the city for federal and state funding. Elections to the city council or to other elected positions are operated by the clerk's office, and Terri enjoys serving as an authority for new candidates. Terri has many other responsibilities as a clerk. She was the liaison to the group that created the Veteran's Memorial in Twin Pines Park, and she helped her friend, the late councilmember Eric Reed, fulfill this dream of a memorial before his own untimely passing. She took over the annual veteran's recognition and has been its lead ever since. She also worked with the city to adopt the 101st Airborne Division, I-327th Infantry C Company based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Among other activities, she helped ship nonperishable goods to these troops during overseas deployments. Terri's family has lived in Belmont since 1931 and her priorities both as a candidate and volunteer reflect her love of the city. Her career in public service spans a remarkable 37 years as she served as an administrative assistant in the San Carlos schools, as a member of the Belmont Planning Commission from 1993 to 1997, and then as a Belmont City Council member from 1997 to 2002. She was mayor in 1999. As a civic activist she opposed construction of a massive, double- deck overpass at the intersection of the El Camino and Ralston Avenue, and supported preservation of Twin Pines Park. In her volunteer work she served as an open space task force member, a member of the board of the Belmont Park Boosters, an historical society member, as an advisor to the schools on facility renovation, and as a member of her homeowner's association. When she ran for the city council, this lifelong resident focused on quality of life issues. One priority was clearly stated in her candidate's statement: traffic, traffic, traffic. To relieve congestion, she supported a grade separation at the Caltrain tracks and Ralston Avenue, a project that subsequently came to pass, and the need to protect parks and open spaces. She also supported rebuilding a fire station, developing a town hall format for council meetings so that the public could interact with the council in a more productive manner, and a revision of the city's sign ordinance to reduce visual clutter. As a planning commissioner and city council member, she supported the renovation or creation of many tax-generating businesses such as a local auto dealership, a new grocery store, approval of several hotels, and the maintenance of Belmont's small-town atmosphere. While I was a member of the state legislature, Terri would sometimes call. I always took the call and often heeded her insightful advice. Madam Speaker, Terri Cook looks upon the community as her family and her dedication to the city and its future is legendary. We wish her well in the years ahead. All who love a community eventually get to pass along the reins of leadership to the next generation. As Terri Cook does so, she will leave her community in good order and with much of her imprint upon its features. She will long be remembered and admired by all of us. This fond remembrance is a lasting testament to a remarkable local leader.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Wayne Lee as he leaves the city council of Millbrae after serving nine years. He also served as Mayor for two terms in 2013-2014 and 2018-2019. Wayne began public service in Millbrae by serving on the planning commission for six years. Millbrae is a town of 23,000 located across the freeway from San Francisco International Airport. Its steep hillsides hold lush trees and capture the morning fog as it spills in from the Pacific Ocean. The city boasts outstanding schools that attract families from throughout the region. People also move to Millbrae to partake in youth sports and numerous annual festivals. These new residents mix easily with longtime residents and both create a vibrant civic life. Wayne Lee began public service in Millbrae as an adult, but he was no stranger to helping the public. At the age of 13, he joined the civil air patrol, an auxiliary of the United States Air Force, and ultimately rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel. While living in the nearby community of Pacifica, he was appointed to the youth commission and worked hard to create the Pacifica Youth Center. After outstanding work as a student at City College in San Francisco, Wayne graduated with a bachelor's in chemical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. He then began his career as an environmental engineer in both the public and private sectors. His goal was to assist companies in the avoidance of environmental pollution. He was very successful and retired after 28 years in the field. As a father to Nicholas, Wayne was very active in Millbrae schools. He is the founding President of the Millbrae Education Foundation and was President of the PTA and active on the school site council. He organized the Millbrae Dog Park committee that eventually led to the creation of a special place where dogs can bring their humans so that these humans can be relieved of pandemic-induced boredom. Numerous sightings of smiles peeking out from under masks confirm that humans have benefitted immensely from Wayne's work. He is also an active member of the Millbrae Lion's Club and helped to supervise the Leos, a youth affiliate. As a city councilmember, Wayne's priorities include the promotion of the city's business climate and youth-oriented programs. He is also deeply involved in promoting the city's public works projects, and housing is a significant priority for Wayne. He sincerely believes the city should do more to create housing for all income groups. Wayne's work influences our region via his positions on the Executive Boards of the Association of Bay Area Governments, Peninsula Clean Energy, and the Asian Pacific Islanders Caucus. He is also a mentor to future civic leaders. Millbrae will lose one of its biggest boosters when Wayne Lee leaves public life. He is deeply committed to ensuring that his city is diverse and a welcoming community for young and old alike. When the time comes to select a mascot for Millbrae, I'd nominate Wayne's smile. It signifies everything that is good about the city and announces that friendship is just a moment away for anyone who wishes to make this community on the Peninsula a better place for all. We all wish Wayne Lee a wonderful future in this remarkable city next to San Francisco Bay. It has been an honor to serve with him.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Larry Moody as he concludes his service on the city council of East Palo Alto, and after 14 years of service to the community as both a trustee of the school district and councilmember. Larry grew up in Hartford, Connecticut, and was the youngest of eight children. He was an.enterprising young man rising early to deliver the Hartford Courant newspaper and later becoming student body president at his high school in both his junior and senior years. He lettered in three sports and captained the New England Championship Basketball Team. He matriculated to Trinity College, with a major in political science, and later joined the U.S. Air Force. In 1993, he came to East Palo Alto and immersed himself in ministry and youth sports. By 2006, as an established leader, he ran for the school board and was elected. He and other trustees immediately concluded that progress evaluations would include everyone, not just the students. That year, the district had the highest gain in achievement scores in its history. Larry also brought Menlo Park Presbyterian Church into the Ravenswood Education Foundation and contributions soared. In 2012, he ran for the city council. The city is a diverse community in the heart of Silicon Valley fill with an extremely hard-working population. Median household income is about 50 percent of San Mateo County's. The city's tax base supports a police department, community development, public works and other activities but there is no formal parks and recreation department. Violence within the community needed to be curbed. Larry wanted his city to offer the kinds of safety and services routinely provided to residents of surrounding communities. Developing the tax base was critical. To overcome a development moratorium, Councilman Moody spearheaded a critical effort to obtain water from two neighboring communities. To curb violence, he supported, among many efforts, community-based organizations to reach out to areas in town that were hotspots, a domestic violence program at the police department, and increasing the number and pay of the city's hard-pressed police force. Crime trended sharply downward. As the city became safer, major employers noticed. For example, Amazon established a large facility in the community, annually contributing nearly $500,000 in property taxes to the city's general fund. Steady increases in all tax revenues meant that a dream of Larry's, summer youth programs, commenced. Youth development programs, including those through former President Obama's My Brother's Keeper program, are a high priority for Larry. Housing remains a major challenge. As a councilmember, Larry supported the establishment of the local homeless shelter, Project WeHope, the creation of a recreational vehicle parking program, the development of hundreds of new units on city-owned lands and at the site of existing affordable housing. Some of these projects happened in part because he and his council colleagues insisted that Facebook contribute $20 million to meet the community's needs. When he learned that countywide money was available for senior housing, Larry led the city in securing those funds as a down payment on a project along University Avenue which was decades in the making. When $80,000 was identified for housing renovation purposes, Larry and a local non-profit leader developed a program of weatherization of apartments for low-income residents. As he often says, capital improvements are not sexy, but they are needed. While on the council, he strongly supported the creation of a pedestrian/bike bridge over Highway 101, linking west side residents to the city's grocery and shopping areas on the east side. New storm water pipes down Bay Road and new wells for drinking water began during his council service. Larry Moody led other council members regionally as the President of the Peninsula Chapter of the League of California Cities, and served on the statewide organization's committee on parks and recreation. At my request, he graciously agreed to serve on a regional body that made important recommendations to the FAA regarding intrusive noise impacts on East Palo Alto and surrounding communities. Madam Speaker, we know Larry Moody as a coach, community leader, elected leader, and booster of all things East Palo Alto but, ultimately, we know him as a man with unbounded faith in the potential of human beings. Give this man a single ray of hope for the future and he produces a blinding day of possibilities. As he steps down from the city council, his wife Lisa, their four sons Larry Jr., Tyler, Isiah and Cameron, will once again have Larry home each night. We thank them for their patience as he served, but their gain is our loss. Let us salute Larry Moody for his service to us all. He will long be remembered as the man who led with a smile and an enormous heart.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Laura Davis upon her retirement from the San Bruno City Council after three years of service. Serving on the council of a small city is never easy, but doing so during a global pandemic not seen in a century is almost unimaginable. Yet, Laura and her colleagues used and created tools and mechanisms that made San Bruno residents as safe and supported as possible. Laura's hard work and dedication are a testament to her commitment to her community. While on the council, Laura served on the Utilities Committee, the Traffic Safety & Parking Commission, the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Airport Land Use Committee, the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency and the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance. These complex issues require a lot of knowledge, research and consideration and Laura always took the time to do her homework. In her day job, Laura is the Customer Relations Manager at California Water Service company where she has worked for 20 years. She brought extensive expertise on water issues to the council. Laura also served on the Recreation and Aquatics Center Advisory Committee which is tasked with supporting the construction of a new Recreation and Aquatics Center in San Bruno City Park. This project will be a tangible symbol of the community spirit of San Bruno residents. After the fatal and devastating explosion of a Pacific Gas & Electric Company gas pipeline in 2010, the community voted on how to best spend a restitution settlement with PG&E of $70 million. It was agreed that all residents of San Bruno should benefit from the settlement and a new pool was voted the highest priority. It is that spirit of resilience and solidarity that defines San Bruno's character. Laura also isn't a newcomer to public service. Prior to the council, she served on the San Bruno Crime Prevention Committee and on the Parks & Recreation Commission. She served on the committee that planned the spectacular Centennial celebration of San Bruno in 2014, three years before being elected to the council. An avid outdoors and sports enthusiast, she has coached numerous softball, basketball and soccer teams in San Bruno. She founded ``Friends Helping Friends'' through St. Robert's Parish and raised $100,000 to help those in need of medical treatment with their expenses. After Laura survived her own battle with cancer, she served as a committee member of a Relay for Life fundraiser and she organized a community Superhero Day for two boys fighting cancer. It is obvious from these activities that Laura Davis deeply cares about others and has a profound desire to improve their lives. St. Robert's Church named her Woman of the Year. Laura was born in San Francisco but raised in San Bruno. She worked in the family business, Roma Delicatessen, which she credits with teaching her the importance of hard work, community and giving back. Laura graduated from Capuchino High School and then attended the College of San Mateo and San Francisco State University. Before working for Cal Water, she was the General Manager for Palace Press International for 10 years. Laura has been married to her husband Jim Davis for 29 years. They have two children, Ryan and Sarah. Madam Speaker please join me in honoring Laura Davis for her service to San Bruno residents. We are very fortunate to have such a talented and caring woman as a community leader who will undoubtedly stay active and engaged.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time and for his outstanding leadership, patience, and perseverance. I also thank Ranking Member Thornberry for his many years of distinguished service to our Nation, both in the military and in Congress. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the committee, Mr. Kelly; also the committee staff, Craig, David, Hannah; and my personal staff, Josh, Brian, and Luke. Before I speak about the conference agreement, I feel like I must speak about the Fort Hood Independent Review, which was ordered after Specialist Vanessa Guillen's murder. This is the report. It is being released in a matter of 3 minutes by the Secretary of the Army. I won't go into details, but I will say that it is a damning expose of a system at Fort Hood that does a shameful disservice to the sacrifices of our servicemembers and their families. The report makes clear what I have been saying since before I was on the Armed Services Committee, that the Army sexual assault and harassment response has failed, that servicemembers are afraid to report, believe they will not be taken seriously and will be retaliated against, and that major systemic changes are needed, including greater independence from the chain of command for handling sexual assault and harassment. Any parent reading this report would have to ask themselves: Is my son or daughter safe in the military? This bill is not perfect. Important provisions on sexual assault and domestic violence were left out. But this conference agreement would make progress, including a new confidential reporting option for sexual harassment and a provision to ensure that servicemembers who report sexual assault are not disciplined for related minor infractions. It also includes a pay raise for servicemembers, long-overdue provisions to promote racial and gender equity within the armed services, including goals for accessions and promotions of persons of color and women, as well as the creation of a new deputy inspector general for diversity and inclusion that will investigate White supremacists' activities by servicemembers. Additionally, the bill expands support for childcare and provides for exceptional family member services. Therefore, I will be voting for the bill, and I hope my colleagues will join me in this. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to recognize that this is just the beginning. We have more to do. More lives are lost and must be accounted for.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dennis McBride as he leaves the Board of Education of the Redwood City Elementary School District after serving 17 years. This brief introduction of Dennis does not begin to do him justice. Let me offer you the image of the Energizer Bunny, unceasingly banging on a drum and looking a bit cool at the same time. This is Dennis. Let me also acknowledge that this might be the only time that comments in the Congressional Record refer to a Certified Public Accountant as ``cool.'' The word fits Dennis. He began his love affair with education as a parent volunteer with the cooperative preschools in which his two children were students. He then hopped to the nearby elementary school where he became active in the site council and organized field trips, such as when he took a class to visit a leading computer manufacturer. He served on the site councils of every school attended by his two children. While some parents coach soccer, Dennis coached other parents and teachers in how to solve problems, raise funds, helped teachers, and did so much more. That's a drum-banging, cool dad. As a CPA, Dennis volunteered his professional talents for numerous parcel tax and bond measures. The funds raised built classrooms throughout the elementary and high school districts and sustained the curriculum to the best degree possible despite economic circumstances. It is estimated that over 25,000 pre-K through eighth grade students, and additional high school and community college students, were benefitted by Dennis' work. In the buildings created, in the music programs sustained, in the special education students aided, and in dozens of other ways large and small, Dennis created a legacy that will last for at least two generations. Dennis has always been unassuming in his collaborative ventures with other school district trustees from around the county, but many eventually made their way to Dennis as they sought answers to tough financial and personnel issues. For years he's been a leader within the San Mateo County School Boards Association, going so far as to find new leaders for recognition through the association's annual Kent Award. How much energy does this man exude? Well, ask yourself, how many school district trustees visit nighttime staff to see how they are holding up? How many trustees show up in the morning at dangerous intersections to witness what parents are worried about? How many trustees visit every school in the district, check out cafeterias, write handwritten thank you notes to teachers, staff and parents? Many would show up at school events when invited, but how many are known on campuses where middle schoolers call out their names? This is Redwood City's public servant, Dennis McBride. Not content to contribute to his community solely through its schools, Dennis served as the treasurer or board member or both for multiple community organizations including the Police Activities League, the workforce housing committee of the school board, and on the board overseeing faculty/staff housing for the San Mateo County Community College District. He's also served on the education advisory committees of two members of the state legislature and as treasurer for the Sequoia Awards, a community scholarship program recognizing low income high school students with big college or technical education dreams. Dennis McBride's contributions don't end with education. From 2006 to 2013, he served as treasurer for the Santa Clara University Law School Board of the Northern California Innocence Project and on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula. In all those cartoonish ads for batteries, some of the other bunnies run out of juice but the Energizer Bunny keeps going. In contrast, I think even the Energizer Bunny would give up before Dennis McBride. It has been my privilege and honor to serve with Dennis. We are sorry to see him go, and so sad that his drum will not be beating for us again. We wish Dennis, his wife, Lori, and his sons Cory and Casey much happiness in the coming years. Madam Speaker, a one-man band has now retired from public life, but the beat goes on because everyone wants to make Dennis proud as they follow his lead, his laughter, and his kind heart.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Shelly Masur as she departs from the city council of Redwood City. When coupled with her 10 years of service as a trustee of the Redwood City School District, she has served constituents for a remarkable 15 years. When coupled with her related professional endeavors over even more years, it's fair to say that it's been an extremely productive chapter of her life. Shelly has a distinguished career in education as an advocate. For the past five years, she led the nonprofit Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation. Under her leadership the organization hosted its first STEM symposium for 3,000 educators focused on diversifying the STEM pipeline, partnered with the California Department of Education by serving as a fiscal agent for grants secured by the department, created forums focused on standards implementation, and otherwise supported educational reform efforts throughout California. However, it was her service as a trustee of the school board that is her enduring contribution to education. Serving on a school board in California is not for the faint of heart. In one year the district had to cut its budget by 20 percent. Shelly did her duty, but she went further. She and her colleagues educated voters about the importance of the district, and ultimately a modest parcel tax of $67 passed, followed by a renewal at $85. These measures strengthened district finances enormously. The district is composed of 6700 pre-K to 8th grade students from around the globe. According to the district, Hispanic/Latino students make up the largest ethnic group at 68 percent. Twenty-two percent of students are white, 6 percent are Asian/Pacific Islander, and 1 percent are African-American. Shelly always insisted that the programming for these students be first-rate, including but not limited to such important offerings as accelerated learning, developmental bilingual education, dual language immersion in Spanish, a gifted and talented education (GATE) program, Mandarin immersion and a program in music and the performing arts. Advocating for equal opportunity for a high-quality education for every student is both a personal and professional passion of Shelly Masur. In 2013, her advocacy was noted by the influential Silicon Valley Business Journal which named her one of the ``100 Women of Influence'' in Silicon Valley. She recently ended her term as board president of Redwood City 2020, a public-private partnership engaging 800 plus community members to support the future of the school district and broader community development. As a city councilmember, Shelly was equally passionate about the need for more housing and often endured strong opposition to building housing for all. For example, a proposal to allow more affordable accessory dwelling units was slated for major downscaling until Shelly developed a compromise that gained six out of seven votes on the council. A property owner near an affordable housing development filed suit to prevent its construction. Shelly and her colleagues fought the suit and ultimately the nonprofit sponsor was able to develop 20 affordable for-purchase new homes for very low and low income residents. In the past eight years, including five when Shelly served on the council, Redwood City, with a population of 79,000 residents, added over 4,000 new housing units. Presently, over 500 affordable units are either approved or under construction. Shelly Masur's professional experience includes extensive nonprofit work through seven youth and teen organizations including Teen Talk, the Adolescent Health Collaborative, the John Gardner Center at Stanford, and the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation. Her husband, Josh, and her three children, Julia, Jacob and Noah, have also contributed to this remarkable woman's efforts, enduring countless hours without Shelly as she attended multiple late night meetings and forums over 21 years of personal and professional responsibilities. We thank them for their contribution to us all. Madam Speaker, there are many who talk about public service, but few who bear the price and produce such widespread acclaim for their unwavering support of the public's best interests. Whether working on adolescent health, housing, parks and recreation, kindergarten or city infrastructure investments, Shelly Masur demonstrated a knack for getting the job done. Unlike some in public life, her record is real. Our community appreciates her brilliance, insightfulness and honesty. If we've learned anything in 2020, public officials of this caliber are needed to make democracy strong. Fortunately, in Shelly Masur, we have a pillar of democracy. We can truly say, ``Thank you, Shelly. Job well done.''

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Redwood City councilmember and former mayor Ian Bain as he leaves the city council after 17 years of continuous service, and nearly 18 years in all. It's been an extraordinary time of change for his city, and Ian helped shape much of the transformation. In the past decade, Redwood City grew by nearly 10,000 persons, or 12 percent, and by nearly 21 percent since Ian first sat as a councilmember in the late 1990's. Twenty-first century buildings have replaced their 20th century predecessors, and in at least one instance a 19th century home was moved to a new location as acres of new construction commenced. Locals noted that crows fled the area while cranes--aerial cranes with steel swinging from cables--were spotted throughout downtown. Ian Bain was a councilmember who cautioned colleagues that major change is hard on longtime residents. He was right. While the city rushed to meet the demands for office space related to the economic boom, and for housing that would temper skyrocketing rents, Ian noted that the effort was falling short for renters. As developers asked for approvals, Ian insisted that the developments work for all city residents. Today, with the city and our nation in pandemic slow motion, it outwardly appears that pressure to grow is less. In fact, it's only delayed. Some of the solutions to our pandemic are being developed by rapidly growing companies located in Redwood City and throughout San Mateo County. These companies will need offices for researchers and housing for them and their families. On one Superbowl Sunday, I stood with Ian Bain on a levee in the middle of an inland sea, with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, as Ian and I argued against housing being built in the bay. Regrettably, the agency decided to abandon its protection of the waters of the United States. The United States District Court subsequently found EPA's action in violation of the law. Ian has been steadfast in his opposition to filling San Francisco Bay. As a member of the revenue and finance committee, he fought to ensure that expansion of Redwood City is accompanied by prudent city financing. The city has unfunded pension liabilities and Ian is quick to note that its infrastructure needs major renovations. For both environmental and fiscal reasons, Ian led the city's effort to reduce its use of electricity by 22 percent and of natural gas by 34 percent. Homeowners in Friendly Acres and residents in mobile home parks on the east side of Highway 101 have Ian to thank, in part, as the city closes in on a solution to regular flooding in their areas. Throughout Redwood City, you see humorous signs advising you to slow down and to consider the cost of a traffic ticket. You'll notice new stop signs and physical changes to historically dangerous intersections. If you trip over a crack in a defective sidewalk, don't blame Ian. He fought very hard for repairs. Ian is a lover of all things pedestrian and bicycle friendly. He served as a board member of the Sequoia Awards where he and others annually provide tens of thousands of dollars to high achieving, socially active young people going to college. In a prior career, he helped find jobs for adults with disabilities and he is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. His council responsibilities include service on the personnel committee, transportation and mobility committee, and regional boards including Peninsula Clean Energy and the C/CAG bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee. Ian Bain is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and has a Bachelor's in Political Science. He is married to Robbie Moffat. They live in the Woodside Plaza area of Redwood City. Madam Speaker, Ian Bain has been an outstanding leader in Redwood City for close to two decades and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him. His community is losing a longtime civic leader and an activist. I wish him well and know that his talents will always be directed toward helping the city that he loves.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding service of Janet Borgens, departing member of the city council of Redwood City. She leaves the council after five years of service and after more than ten years on the city's planning commission. The community owes her a tremendous debt for the countless hours she has served. Janet grew up a few miles away in East Palo Alto where she went to local elementary, middle and high schools. In 1969, she moved to Redwood City and put down roots in part by buying a hair salon. As a single mother, she needed the flexibility of owning her own shop and setting her own hours. I first got to know Janet when she came to my office in the state legislature to advocate on behalf of cosmetologists. She has always been a consumer advocate and her efforts on behalf of clients improved the health and safety of both clients and practitioners. As the owner of a small business, she also became aware of the impact of city government on local establishments. Ultimately, she was selected to serve on the Redwood City Senior Affairs commission, the Housing and Human Concerns committee and the planning commission. Through these positions of progressively greater responsibility she came to understand the needs of various populations of her community. Redwood City is a thriving city of 86,000 persons located 15 miles south of San Francisco Airport and a few minutes north of Facebook. Within the city's boundaries are the headquarters of Oracle and Box.com, many pharmaceutical companies, and the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative. Redwood City is also the county seat of San Mateo County, hosting the county government center, jail and numerous other county agencies. Downtown has exploded in population during this past decade as employers seek to locate near its heavily utilized train and bus lines. 48 percent of adults age 25 and older have a college degree, and housing costs reflect this high-earning cohort. Median rental costs are $2,100 per month for an apartment, necessitating an annual income of at least $76,000. Officially, 10 percent of the population lives in poverty but since the official poverty level is not reflective of reality in Redwood City, the actual population living in poverty is likely greater. Non- college educated adults working in the service sector and recent immigrants often struggle to make ends meet. The hallmark of Janet's service is her consistent advocacy on behalf of wage-earning families who struggle with the cost of living in the city. She's been outspoken about her support for affordable housing, repeatedly voting to allow affordable developments in the community. In recent council discussions about establishing a safe site for recreational vehicle living, Janet wanted to be sure that fines for failing to heed the city's overnight parking ordinance were not ruinous. Her work on the Bayfront Canal is a special example of her concern for low income residents. I've visited the Redwood City trailer parks, filled with wage-earning families and retirees, that are flooded almost every year because the canal overflows. This project was not fully funded but Janet and the city kept at it, eventually raising the money needed to fix the problem. She will leave office just as permits allowing construction may be issued. Through her council duties, she currently serves on the San Francisco Airport Community Roundtable, various Caltrain-related committees, and she is an active CERT trainer. Her commitment to the community is truly noteworthy. For 20 years, she led the American Cancer Society's Wig Bank, work which earned her honors. She has long worked with the homeless by packing and distributing meals, collecting clothing, and by working with the Salvation Army. She raises funds for college scholarships and is an active member of the Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club. Madam Speaker, after five years on the city council and decades of service to the community, Janet is now leaving public life. She and her husband Milt, a former police officer, will have additional time to spend with their three children and four grandchildren. Her neighborhood of Friendly Acres has many remaining challenges, but residents will always have an advocate because her love of Redwood City is genuine and unwavering. Even out of the public eye, Janet Borgens will remain in service to the public and its future. It has been my honor to serve with her.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Catherine Mahanpour for her service as she departs the city council of Foster City and the board of directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District. As she leaves office, a dignified voice for neighborhoods and a high quality of life is departing. Catherine graduated from the University of Maine in 1990 with high distinction and a B.A. in Political Science. Five years later she matriculated to Golden Gate University School of Law and attained her degree in 1998. She was licensed to practice in 1999. She served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater on multiple occasions since, and as a member of the Advisory Board of the California State Bar of the East Bay. Since 2013, she has been a court appointed special advocate for foster children in San Mateo County. When she ran for election in 2015, Catherine stressed the need to prevent the ``overgrowth'' of Foster City and the deleterious impacts of traffic on the quality of life of residents. She called for a pause in housing construction and a dialogue with regional agencies to find choices about population growth that met the sensibilities of the neighborhoods she hoped to represent. She also called for a different tone in council meetings, urging respect for differing opinions during council meetings. She supported a local school bond and promised to watch over the funds should voters approve the measure. During her service on the council, she was chair of the C/CAG legislative committee, the city's representative to the mosquito abatement district, and served on the county's longrange planning committee and the Silicon Valley Recovery Roundtable for COVID-19 Response. She was the driving force for the council's new Code of Conduct, adopted on November 2, 2020. She helped change the agenda- setting process and brought transparency to the process of setting agenda topics. Foster City is laced with beautiful lagoons that are the responsibility of the city. Dangerous accidents can also happen on these waterways and Catherine encouraged the creation of a safety outreach campaign to prevent deaths and injuries. She also advocated that Foster City become an ``age-friendly'' city and progress was made in 2020 with an application submitted to AARP/WHO in November. When the creation of the countywide electricity aggregation joint powers authority (JPA) was considered, she was a strong advocate. This JPA results in 98 percent of city households and businesses receiving cleaner electricity at lower prices, saving nearly $1 million annually for city residents. The JPA will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity usage by 85 percent when compared to 2016. Importantly, Catherine and her colleagues approved the construction of an improved levee, and city residents responded with an affirmative vote of 80 percent. Construction of this project began this year. As the pandemic hit, Catherine and her colleagues on the city council hit back. They approved $10,000 grants to fifty small businesses to assist with rent payments and negotiated an additional year of reduced rent for many elderly, low income, residents at Fosters Landing when those residents would otherwise be forced to move during the pandemic. Catherine and her colleagues also approved a $10,000 grant to the San Mateo Foster City Education Foundation to assist families with the cost of hot spots for distance learning, and an additional $10,000 grant to the school district for its free meal program. A $5,000 grant was made to The Foster City Village to assist senior residents of the community. Catherine is a collaborative councilmember, and she has much to be proud of in these and other accomplishments during this tremendous time of challenge. Foster City is a wonderful place to live and to raise a family. As Catherine Mahanpour departs her position of leadership, she leaves a legacy of progress. Despite the trials of our times due to the pandemic, the city is fiscally strong and prepared for its future. Catherine shares in the credit for meeting the test of a century. Public service is the shared sacrifice of a family. We wish her and her family many joyful years to come, and many warm memories of the time when Catherine was leading the community during times of optimism and times of trouble, but in any event always toward a better tomorrow.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor John Patrick Mullins, who is retiring as Assistant City Manager and who served the town of Hillsborough, California, for more than 17 years in various roles. To all of those roles, he applied exemplary commitment and passion, always resulting in improvements for the town and its residents. If there was a job Hillsborough needed to get done, John was the man to ask. John started his public service in February of 2003 as Building Inspector I, working closely with homeowners and contractors to ensure safety and adherence to building codes. In 2004, he was promoted to Building Inspector II and in 2006 to Chief Building Official. In that role, John demonstrated remarkable leadership and mentorship passing on his passion for service and his superb knowledge of the town. He was instrumental in streamlining the permitting process and improving the image of the building division. He developed a model Green Building Ordinance and was the master architect of a customer relations management system that made communication and access to information easy and effective. Frequently serving in interim positions, John always bridged transitions and helped out where he was needed. He was the Acting Public Works Director, Interim Assistant City Manager and Acting City Manager. No matter his position, he approached it with enthusiasm and injected a sense of collaboration and team spirit. John came to public service from the building trades. He graduated from Skyline College with an Associate's Degree in Building Technology and began his career as a carpenter, plumber and electrician in 1977. He worked in residential and commercial construction until 1995, when the City of South San Francisco hired him to coordinate the aircraft noise insulation program. I speak from personal experience in my Congressional Office when I say that solving the problem of airplane noise and its detrimental impact on human health is not an easy task. John fully immersed himself in the issue and subsequently served as a Combination Building Inspector for South San Francisco's Fire/Economic and Community Development Building Division. It is obvious from his work history that John is a hands-on guy and knows how to turn ideas into tangible objects. In his free time, he volunteers his talent and time to Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together Peninsula and, very fortunate for Hillsborough, the Beautification Foundation. He has been instrumental in building and maintaining more than 145 parks, parklets and medians, including Harvest Garden, Town Hall campus, the Veterans Memorial, the police station, two fire stations and five school sites. He is also an outstanding event organizer working behind the scenes to make everything go smoothly. He has worked on signature events such as Geri Lane Halloween, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Light Up the Town and the Centennial Celebration. Other areas in which John has extensive knowledge are emergency preparedness, safety and technology. That has made him an invaluable asset to the town and prepared town staff for any emergency. In his capacity as Assistant City Manager, he served as the town's risk manager handling insurance and claims with the IJPA-PLAN and providing safety programs. He managed the town's information technology program by finalizing the IT Strategic Plan, implementing the council chamber upgrade, security and hardware improvements, updating the website and improving connectivity in different departments. John also served on regional committees including the Airport Noise Committee and SAMCAT, and he supported sustainability projects related to solar and lighting and community concerns such as pesticides, leaf blowers, right of way issues and park use regulations. In his well-deserved retirement, John is looking forward to enjoying more time with his wife Melissa and their daughters Lauren and Kailey. We thank them for sharing him with the residents of Hillsborough, who have greatly benefited from his expertise, dedication and hard work. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing John Patrick Mullins, an outstanding public servant who I have admired and whose contributions will continue to shine and reflect the welcoming and innovative character of our town. I am confident we will see his familiar face at many parades, picnic and parties for years to come.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a loss for our country, but the grief is particularly acute for women and girls. We've lost the greatest feminist icon of our time who used her legal talents to lift us up and fought for a world that recognized our equal stature and dignity. Her fame sort of crept up on her. Her tiny frame belied her judicial might. She had a soft voice but was a megaphone in her words. She was a rock of righteousness and boasted rock solid abs from her planks and exercise regimen. She also became a fashionista icon as she donned collar necklaces and black lace gloves. As women members of Congress, our paths would have been even tougher had it not been for Justice Ginsburg's brilliant legal strategy that built a foundation for our equality in the law. She turned the personal sex discrimination she endured into a life's mission to overcome. Imagine being told by the dean of the law school at Harvard that she was taking a man's seat! After serving on both Harvard and Columbia's law reviews and graduating first in her class, she couldn't get a clerkship or an associate job at a New York law firm. She went on to teach as a professor of law at Rutgers and discrimination struck again--she found out she was making less than a male colleague of equal standing. When she complained, she was told that he had a wife and two kids and she had a husband in a big law firm in New York City. She was going to file an EEOC complaint until the law school relented. She argued 300 gender discrimination cases in her career later practicing law. She challenged bogus laws that claimed to protect women but in fact discriminated against them, stating, ``The pedestal upon which women have been placed has all too often, upon closer inspection, been revealed as a cage.'' In her work on the bench she declared women should not be discriminated against, denied control of our bodies, and deserved equal pay for equal work. The fact that we cannot honor this titan properly because Republicans refuse to honor her dying wish adds further insult to our collective injury. Their desire to destroy the ACA and rip away health care from 135 million Americans with preexisting conditions is greater than their sense of decency. Their thirst to pack the court with four Justices selected by Presidents who lost the popular vote is anything but just. Her fervent wish, our fervent wish may be denied but no one can deny the notorious RBG her due, her greatness, her iconic presence in the Supreme Court hall of fame. Someday, her fervent wish of nine women Justices will be a reality. And so, we rise up. We fight for RBG's legacy and the just world she envisioned. It's time for us all to be notorious.