Eric Swalwell

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 18th Annual Affordable Housing Week in Alameda County. Organized by East Bay Housing Organizations, a group of community leaders and affordable housing advocates, this period lasts from May 9 to May 18 and includes over 23 events are being held in ten cities across the East Bay, including in my district, to call attention to the need for affordable housing. The health and economic stability of our communities depend on the availability of quality and affordable homes. Many non-profit and community organizations are continuing to address this need by providing homes and shelter for those in need. I believe strongly in the importance of these organizations, which provide affordable housing to our most vulnerable populations, including seniors, veterans, low- income families, the homeless, and those with disabilities. We must ensure that these organizations have resources and support in order to meet these critical needs. Last November, I was proud to join with Habitat for Humanity to restore a house in Livermore for a local veteran buying a home for the first time. Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley prioritizes providing affordable housing opportunities for our veterans. I also want to recognize Eden Housing as an inspiring example of affordable housing. Their new development, Emerald Vista in Dublin, has won a Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award, given by the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. This award recognizes outstanding Low-Income Housing Tax Credit developments and honors the best in affordable rental housing. Housing for those in need is a community-wide effort, and I am proud to represent a district with so many leaders working to assist individuals in need of supportive and affordable housing. These efforts bring us closer to creating kind of sustainable communities that are essential to the diversity and prosperity of California.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exemplary scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, California. The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science has selected Dr. Jennifer Pett-Ridge to receive funding as part of the Department's Early Career Research Program (ECRP). Her project, entitled ``Microbial Carbon Transformations in Wet Tropical Soils: The Importance of Redox Fluctuations,'' was selected by the Office of Biological & Environmental Research. The ECRP is crucial to our ability to maintain American leadership in science. It was created to support the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and stimulates research careers in the disciplines supported by the DOE Office of Science. Dr. Pett-Ridge is the lead scientist of LLNL's Genomic Science Biofuels Scientific Focus Area and is a Deputy Group Leader of the Isotopic Signatures Group within LLNL's Chemical Sciences Division. She received her B.A. in biology and environmental studies and her M.S. in forest sciences from Yale. Her Ph.D. in soil microbial ecology from the University of California at Berkeley was earned in 2005. Awardees were selected from a large pool of university and national laboratory-based applicants. Selection was based on peer review by outside scientific experts. I am privileged to represent LLNL and its brilliant scientists like Dr. Pett-Ridge. Their hard work and skill are what keeps America secure and at the forefront of scientific innovation. I want to congratulate Dr. Pett-Ridge and wish her well in her work with ECRP.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exemplary scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, California. The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science has selected Dr. Todd Gamblin to receive funding as part of Department's Early Career Research Program (ECRP). His project, entitled ``Statistical Methods for Exascale Performance Modeling,'' was selected by the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research. The ECRP is crucial to our ability to maintain American leadership in science. It was created to support the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and stimulates research careers in the disciplines supported by the DOE Office of Science. Dr. Gamblin is a computer scientist in the Center for Applied Scientific Computing at LLNL and has been with the lab since 2008. He received a Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2009 and 2005. He received his B.A. in computer science and Japanese from Williams College in 2002. Awardees were selected from a large pool of university- and national laboratory-based applicants. Selection was based on peer review by outside scientific experts. I am privileged to represent LLNL and its brilliant scientists like Dr. Gamblin. Their hard work and skill are what keeps America secure and at the forefront of scientific innovation. I want to congratulate Dr. Gamblin and wish him well in his work with ECRP.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the last word. To the veterans who courageously served our country, we owe the best our nation can offer. I appreciate the opportunity to stand here with my colleagues, working in a bipartisan manner to pass H.R. 4486, the Military Construction and Veteran Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015. Thank you to Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop from the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs for your hard work in crafting this legislation. This bill, in part, provides funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and gives much needed support and resources to help the VA end the claims backlog. We owe our veterans every promise we've made, and unfortunately, we've not been living up to these promises. One of the pledges we make to our veterans is that, should they be injured during their service, we'll provide them with disability compensation to assist them as they transition home. While the VA is making strides to reduce the claims backlog, more needs to be done. Unfortunately, there remains a large claims backlog at many VA Regional Offices across the United States. At the Oakland Regional Office, which serves my constituents in the 15th Congressional District of California, over 58 percent of claims have been pending for over 125 days. These numbers are among the worst in the nation, with claims averaging over one full year to complete. As a former prosecutor I am well acquainted with phrase ``justice delayed is justice denied.'' In the case of the veterans' claims, delayed care is denied care. Unfortunately, since the retirement of Director Douglas Bragg in January, the Oakland Regional Office director position has been vacant. I led a bipartisan letter signed by 19 California Members of Congress to the VA urging it to swiftly reduce the backlog by hiring a new, supremely qualified director of the Oakland VA. Properly serving our veterans means listening to their concerns and taking action. I've hosted several veteran town halls, where veterans across the East Bay shared their stories and ongoing struggles regarding pending claims at the VA. My office is working hard to help every veteran in our district that needs assistance, but the problem goes beyond just one district, region, or state. That's why we're here today. We're working to ensure that we reach every veteran that needs assistance and hold the VA accountable for its slow claims process. Our veterans desperately need a VA that will provide both accurate and timely responses. It's what our veterans deserve, and I'll continue to push the VA to provide our veterans with the service and benefits they've earned. Not only is there a backlog in first-time claims, now the backlog for appeals is becoming a serious problem. I appreciate that language I supported along with other Members of the California delegation was included in the committee report on the bill to address this appeals backlog. It expresses our deep concern over this issue and encourages the Veterans Benefits Administration to take swift action to lower the wait time for appeals claims. Thanks again to the Chairman and Ranking Member for accepting this language. I'll continue working closely with my colleagues to ensure that the few that proudly served our country receive the benefits and care they earned.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, today I want to take this opportunity to recognize the Hayward Police Department, which was recently reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). This is an honor received by very few of the thousands of state and local law enforcement agencies across the country, and it is one that is well deserved. CALEA is a joint effort of major law enforcement executive associations. It seeks to improve the workings of public safety organizations, in part by offering its accreditation program. The program is voluntary, so public safety departments have to want to go through the process. I applaud Hayward Police Chief Diane Urban for being willing to take on the challenge. To be reaccredited, the Hayward Police Department had to meet a variety of standards. They were reviewed by independent assessors, which closely observed officers in action as well as spoke with community members. The Department passed with flying colors. The assessment summary noted that out of the applicable mandatory standards, it was not out of compliance with any of them. It added that the Department ``commits considerable resources to creating and maintaining community partnerships, and in return, enjoys equally considerable overwhelmingly positive community support and recognition.'' CALEA officials involved in the formal hearing at which the Department was reaccredited were equally laudatory. Lead CALEA Commissioner Richard Myers said that he had ``nothing but praise.'' As a former Alameda County prosecutor, I know Hayward faces a challenging law enforcement environment. That the Hayward Police Department is operating in such an environment makes its achievement all the more impressive. I want to congratulate Hayward Mayor Michael Sweeney, Police Chief Urban, and the entire Hayward Police Department on its success. Keep up the good work.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, the Coast Guard is facing difficult challenges related to maintenance and costs of its aging ships and aircrafts. In these difficult financial times, the Coast Guard should examine the potential cost savings resulting from the use of laser peening technology, which may help to strengthen parts and extend the life of the Coast Guard's assets. Developed as a result of work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and in conjunction with Curtiss-Wright Metal Improvement Company, laser peening uses laser beam impacts to strengthen metal four times deeper than conventional shot peening, resulting in increased resistance to fatigue and erosion driven failures. In ships, such as those used by the Coast Guard, erosion and cracking can occur in metals due to environmental and repeated stresses. These problems can cause damage to key metal components of ships such as propellers, rudders, ship hulls near propellers, control valves, pumps, and impellers. Without replacing or strengthening these important ship components, this damage can potentially lead to the part's unexpected failure. With a Coast Guard fleet stretched well beyond its estimated lifetime, the Coast Guard should examine the benefits of laser peening as a way to reduce costs and enhance the life of its ships. Laser peening has been proven in both commercial and military settings. For example, in the commercial sector, laser peening has been used by Rolls-Royce to repair and strengthen cracked engine blades for airplanes. From its success with Rolls-Royce, in 2003 Curtiss-Wright became the first specialized laser peening repair station for commercial aviation to be approved by Federal Aviation Administration. Within the military, laser peening has been used by both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force to increase lifetime of aircraft components and save money on maintenance. These successful commercial and military applications have helped reduce costs by strengthening and extending the life of critical components. In past years, the House has gone on record in support of laser peening as a means for saving money on future repairs. For example, the Armed Services Committee report accompanying H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 stated that: ``laser peening has achieved considerable success in commercial aerospace and power-generation applications, reducing costs by enabling improvements in the metal structure and mitigating high-cycle fatigue failures of a system, thus extending the system's lifetime.'' The Armed Services Committee further encouraged the Department of Defense ``to examine the potential cost savings that may be derived from adopting this technology broadly across the military services, but was concerned that some military departments have not fully explored the use of such technologies to reduce costs associated with problems of fatigue failure, stress corrosion cracking, and component shape corrections. The committee further encourages the Department to explore such technologies for use in aircraft engines to slow the rate of replacement of highly stressed components and parts.'' I suggest that the Coast Guard examine the potential cost savings that may be derived from adopting laser peening, which can be utilized to greatly reduce cracking and erosion. It could have wide benefits to Coast Guard vessels, fixed wing aircraft, and rotorcraft. The cost savings resulting from the use of laser peening could reduce the need for major structure rework, slow the rate of replacement of highly stressed components and parts, and provide a longer lifetime for Coast Guard assets.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of 23-year-old fallen Marine Lance Corporal Andrew Silva of Union City, California, who was tragically killed last week by a drunk driver just over 1 month after returning home from Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Silva was a 2009 graduate of James Logan High School, where he played football. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps Reserves, where he most recently served in a combat logistics battalion based in San Jose. In February, Lance Corporal Silva returned from a deployment to the Helmand province in Afghanistan, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Although his life was cut far too short by a heartbreaking tragedy, Corporal Silva and his service to the country was long, and he will be remembered by many. His work as a marine illustrates the heroism of the servicemembers across our country who are serving in the military to support freedom everywhere. Lance Corporal Silva is survived by his wife and his 2-year-old son. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. May Lance Corporal Silva rest in peace.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the work and achievements of a local Hayward veteran and businesswoman, Graciela Tiscareno-Sato. I was honored to meet with her yesterday in my office. Before coming to my office, Graciela was recognized by the White House as one of 10 Women Veteran Leader Champions of Change for the work of her Hayward business, the Gracefully Global Group. It produces books and educational materials highlighting the positive contributions of Latinos. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Graciela received an Air Force ROTC scholarship to attend the University of California Berkeley, where she obtained a degree in environmental design and architecture. Graciela then served 9 years on Active Duty in the Air Force as an officer, receiving the Air Medal for combat air operations during the Iraq war. Graciela is also a mom, and a fierce advocate for her oldest daughter, who has been blind since birth. I asked Graciela how she has accomplished so much for being so young. She gave me one word: tenacity. Graciela brings her heritage and experience to work writing educational books for children. One of her most recent bilingual books is titled ``Good Night Captain Mama,'' and it tells the story of a mother's service as a pilot in the Air Force, and it is the first bilingual children's book about a woman serving in the military. Graciela is also committed to bringing jobs and economic development to her hometown of Hayward. I look forward to working together with her to accomplish this goal. Graciela's story is truly one of resilience and determination, or, as she would put it, tenacity. Thank you, Graciela, for bringing positive examples of Latinos to schools and inspiring young students across the world. And congratulations on your much-deserved recognition by the White House. I am proud to represent Graciela Tiscareno-Sato: veteran, business owner, daughter of immigrants, mother. Your work is inspiring to the next generation of leaders who want to dream big and reach for the stars.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for leading the effort on your side of the aisle. Also, I would like to thank Congressman Thompson, my colleague from California, for helping move this through the House. I want to thank Chairman Camp, Ranking Member Levin, Majority Leader Cantor, and Democratic Leader Pelosi for helping me get this important bill to the floor. Also, I thank the lead cosponsors, Congressman Heck, as well as Congressman Issa, who joined Congressman Thompson and me in this effort, as well as Senator Hirono in the Senate for doing the important work over there. I rise today in support of H.R. 3771, the Philippines Charitable Giving Assistance Act, which would incentivize Americans to make charitable contributions to Typhoon Haiyan relief now. Last November, Typhoon Haiyan was a storm of truly destructive power. With sustained winds of almost 200 miles per hour, it was the strongest storm ever to make landfall, resulting in the devastating effects that necessitate our action today. Sadly, the results were catastrophic to the Philippines. According to that nation, 16 million people were affected, 4.1 million were displaced, and over 6,200 perished. Months after the disaster, help is still desperately needed. This includes a need for health care, food, clean water, and shelter. The United Nations developed a Strategic Response Plan to coordinate and prioritize assistance from U.N. agencies, nongovernmental organizations, other international entities, and the Philippine Government. The U.N. has said $788 million will be needed to accomplish the goals of the SRP through October 2014. Of that amount, only $369 million has been provided so far. Now, while I know Americans can and do help anyone in need, we have a special relationship, as my colleague from California pointed out, with the Philippines. Between 1898 and 1946, the Philippines was a part of the United States before becoming independent. There are today about 3.4 million Filipino Americans, including over 450,000 living in the San Francisco Bay area alone. My San Francisco Bay area congressional district has a rich and vibrant Filipino community, from groups like Filipino Advocates for Justice to leaders like Father Geoffrey Baraan, my friend and the pastor at St. Anne Catholic Church in Union City, as well as Linda Canlas of the New Haven Unified School District in the East Bay. Many of the Filipinos in my district, like many across the country, have friends or family still in the Philippines. That is why it is so important we do all we can to help. The values of our country call for us to care for people across the world. More often than not, that includes people we will never see or ever meet, but no one is invisible. And after Typhoon Haiyan, people in my district are asking what they can do to help. H.R. 3771 empowers them to help. As amended, it is a bipartisan bill that would provide a temporary incentive for Americans to contribute immediately to typhoon relief efforts. It would allow certain monetary charitable contributions made after the date the bill is signed and before April 15, which is in just a few weeks, to be treated as if they were made in 2013. Charitable contributions which qualify are monetary ones which are made to help persons in areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan and otherwise qualify as tax deductible donations. Qualifying contributions can thus be deducted on a person's 2013 taxes, which are covered by returns filed this year, as opposed to ones which are filed for the 2014 tax year. By lowering a person's 2013 tax bill, which is due this year, the bill provides an incentive to act now for typhoon relief. This is important because the sooner that the aid comes and is provided, the sooner our friends in the Philippines can recover. I should note that this is important in making a qualifying contribution. It doesn't matter if you have already filed your return this year. I encourage all Members to support this bill. The Senate already cleared legislation with identical text in S. 1821. It also agreed that, if H.R. 3771 passed in the same form, the bill before us automatically would pass the Senate and go right to the President's desk. When the bill is passed and signed into law, as I hope it will be, I further want to ask all Members and international aid organizations interested in Philippines relief to let people know about it as soon as possible. Time is of the essence. We will only have a few weeks for people to take advantage of this tax incentive, and we must do so so that we can continue to spread the word. The people of the Philippines are not alone as they rebuild their lives and their beautiful country. H.R. 3771 allows Americans to play an important role in this effort, an effort that we should all care about.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, for the Bay Area law enforcement community, few days are sadder and more tragically memorable than Saturday, March 21, 2009. It is a day that everyone in the community will always recall where they were when they heard the news. March 21 will always be remembered as the day that four brave police officers of the Oakland Police Department were killed in the line of duty, in service to the people they swore an oath to protect. I rise to recognize four men who died 5 years ago the same way they lived--as heroes. I rise to recognize Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin ``Erv'' Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege. We lost these officers on the same day at the hands of the same murderer, but we make sure today that they were not taken in vain and that this killer did not extinguish their memories. Sergeant Mark Dunakin was devoted to the East Bay. Raised in Pleasanton, he graduated from Chabot College in Hayward and served the Oakland Police Department for 18 years. He worked in the patrol division, the homicide unit, and the traffic operations section. He loved driving through the streets of Oakland on his Harley- Davidson, making sure the East Bay was safe. He was even a part of the Oakland Police Department's motorcycle drill team, which went all over the State of California. Not only was Sergeant Dunakin a terrific officer, he was a loving husband to his wife Angela, who also served as a Dublin police officer for the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. He was a father and a friend. He also was an avid sports fan, rooting for his Ohio State Buckeyes and Pittsburgh Steelers. Officer John Hege had been with the Oakland Police Department for 10 years. Before joining the force, he taught at Tennyson High School in Hayward. Even after he became a police officer, he continued to serve his community by working with kids as a high school baseball umpire. John always wanted to work as a motorcycle officer. A few months before his tragic murder, he reached that goal. A great neighbor and friend, John was willing to help someone in need. This continued even in death, for as an organ donor, his organs were used to save the lives of four other people. Sergeant Ervin Romans' life was full of service. For 9 years, he served our country and kept us safe as a distinguished member of the United States Marines. Erv continued his service with the Oakland Police Department, a dream job for him, for 13 years. He was a dedicated member of the SWAT team, always striving to improve and keep up with the latest training. In 1999, after helping residents escape a fire, he was awarded the Medal of Valor. Sergeant Dan Sakai spent his career serving the public. Following graduation from the University of California at Berkeley, he worked as a community service officer with the UC Berkeley Police Department. After 5 years there, he joined the Oakland Police Department in 2000. Described as a rising star, Dan quickly progressed in the Oakland Police Department, including serving as a patrol officer in the K9 unit and eventually as a SWAT team entry leader. It is not surprising that he was the valedictorian of his police academy class. Besides being a terrific member of the Oakland Police Department, Dan was devoted to his family and friends. As a resident of Castro Valley in the 15th Congressional District, he enjoyed all kinds of outdoor activities. It is hard to believe that it has already been 5 years since that fateful day when these four heroes were taken from us. I was working that day as an Alameda County prosecutor when we lost Mark, Erv, Dan, and John; and I, like so many, was shocked and shaken by the news. The magnitude of loss that the murder of these four officers caused was unmeasurable and hit everyone in the community. Equally unmeasurable was the community's response. In the hours and days after the news, the law enforcement community came together to support the families of the officers and the colleagues they served with. Immediately after the news, hundreds of Bay Area law enforcement community members held an informal vigil at the only place they knew to gather, The Warehouse, a grill around the corner from the Oakland Police Department. In the following days, the Oakland Police Officers' Association, with the support of brothers and sisters from neighboring Bay Area police agencies, grieved together and put on a funeral at the Oakland Arena worthy of the officers' bravery. I attended that funeral and was stunned to see officers from not just the Bay Area, but across the United States. I will never forget the Boston police officers who crossed the country to attend and lifted the spirits of the mourners. In the House Chamber today, representing the Police Officers' Association of California, is John Rudolph, President of the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Association. He is in town to support the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The following year, I had the opportunity to attend the 2010 Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., to witness each officer's name permanently placed on the marble wall with 19,000 other officers who have given their life across our country in service to the public. Their names are etched into that wall, their memories are deep in our mind, and their courage is stitched forever into our hearts. Mark, Erv, Dan, and John, you were taken too young, but forever we will remember your service.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize three finalists for the Intel Science Talent Search: Kathy Camenzind and Esha Maiti from California High School, and Emily Pang from Dougherty Valley High School, all from San Ramon, California in my congressional district. These bright high school students are among the forty finalists selected from over 1,800 entrants in the Intel Science Talent Search, which is a competition that challenges students to tackle difficult scientific questions. Entrants are judged on the originality and creativity of their science research projects. I am inspired by the passion Kathy, Esha, and Emily have shown for their science projects, which highlight not only their intellect, but also their drive and determination to help solve today's most difficult problems. Kathy researched and build inexpensive optical tweezers using a low power laser and generic microscope; Esha developed a mathematical simulator to predict the distribution of secondary tumors in cancer patients; and Emily researched immune protein receptors critical to the growth and suppression of tumors for cancer therapies. Kathy, Esha, and Emily's exceptional work show that we have the best and brightest among us in the East Bay. Congratualtions again to Kathy, Esha, and Emily. I hope you will continue your efforts, and I look forward to hearing about your future successes.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Each February during African American History Month, Americans come together to celebrate the important contributions of African Americans throughout the Nation. I am proud to share the remarkable story of one of my constituents, Hayward resident, Captain Leon ``Woodie'' Spears. Growing up near an airfield, young Woodie always dreamed of flying. After attending college, he was given the opportunity to achieve his dreams. Woodie was among the few selected to join other young African Americans in Alabama at the Tuskegee Airfield, where he was trained to fly. During training, Woodie overcame very tough odds, battling prejudice and racism, to earn his wings and the honor of serving with the Tuskegee Airmen. Following training, then-Lieutenant Spears was sent to Italy at the height of World War II, serving with the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group. Woodie's tensest moment came in March 1945, when his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire at 32,000 feet. He was forced to make an emergency landing in Germany, only to be taken prisoner later by the German Army. Later, Woodie was able to locate Russian forces and found his way back to safety. Captain Spears and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen proved themselves in battle abroad, but upon returning home, they faced another battle--the struggle for equality. Denied basic human dignity, they fought back. With like-minded citizens, they changed America for the better, and, of course, that fight, their struggle, still continues today. For their brave service during World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. Captain Spears was among those present to receive this prestigious honor. After Captain Spears' military career, he dedicated his life to public service, toured the country to share his military experiences during the time of segregation, and spoke up for equality for all. Although Captain Spears is no longer with us, we are reminded of the life motto he lived by: Dare to dream. Captain Spears is just one of many African Americans with a unique story that makes our country what it is today. The story of Captain Spears reminds us that the United States has come a long way, but that we still have a much longer way to go to truly reach equality for all. I will not rest until all Americans have an equal opportunity to achieve their dreams.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in, again, calling attention to our continued war on poverty, and I thank my colleague and neighbor in California, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, for leading this effort. This war is, however, but the latest chapter in a larger struggle that goes all the way back to the founding of our country. When we declared our independence in 1776, Thomas Jefferson helped define the purpose and the mission of this new country with his timeless words in that Declaration of Independence. He wrote: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They endeavored on what was called at the time a freedom experiment. It was this perfect idea that no longer should this British nobility system prevail where your destiny was often charted for you before you were even born based on where you were born or to whom you were born to. It was the idea that you should be able to decide your own independence, chart your own destiny. It was a perfect idea carried out by imperfect men. It wasn't extended to African Americans. It wasn't extended to women. Certain religious sects were left out. So we fought a civil war, ended slavery. We went through the suffragist movement, and women were given the right to vote. Eventually, entire classes of people--Catholics, the poor, and others who had been shut out--were now brought into American opportunity. Today, when I think about what are some of the final frontiers of freedom that have not yet been expanded, I think back to President Johnson. We are very grateful for President Johnson's declaration of the war on poverty. Fifty years ago, he stated that we are in a war on poverty, and we must fight for civil rights, and he signed legislation that marked the beginning of the end of the Jim Crow era. He also recognized it was time to give the poor a real chance to pursue their happiness. He hearkened back, just as I did, to our Nation's beginnings. President Johnson said that our Founders made a covenant with this new land and that it was conceived in justice. In his words, this ``justice was the promise that all who made the journey would share in the fruits of the land.'' So began a renewed effort in America to fight poverty, a renewed effort to give those who are poor the freedom to dream that they could be anything they want. We recognized that kids needed to be better prepared before they go to school, so we created the Head Start program. We recognized the critical importance of health and wellness, and so we created Medicare and Medicaid. But this freedom to dream has not yet been expanded across America. In fact, I see every day that there are still millions of children living in poverty, and just like every politician, when I see one of these young children in a schoolhouse, I ask them, What do you want to be when you grow up? After doing this a number of times, I realized, I should really ask them, Are you hungry? Are you cold? Are you safe? Because the opportunities around them--the crumbling buildings they are trying to learn in, the parents who are working at a minimum wage that is not a living wage--do not provide them with the tools that these children need to realize their opportunity. This leaves them no different than a child born in the 1700s under the British nobility system. The freedom to dream is no different, and they are no more able to dream beyond where they were born or whom they were born to. So our goal must be to continue to fight this war on poverty, to give every child across every schoolhouse in this country the freedom to dream. This means we must raise the minimum wage. We must extend unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed so that they can find a job and make sure they can reinforce the skills at home that their children are learning in the classroom. We will not rest on this issue until I can ask and every Member of this Congress can ask a child, What do you want to be when you grow up? And that child will be able to say, My country has given me the tools to be anything I want.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the life and legacy of Guy Emanuele Jr., an exceptional educator and school administrator from Fremont, California. Guy passed away on January 5, 2014, at the age of 83. Guy's long and distinguished career in education began in 1956 when he began teaching at Barnard Junior High School in Union City, California. In 1976, after 20 years of service as a teacher, school counselor, and administrator, he was hired as the superintendent of New Haven Unified School District--a position which he held until his retirement in 1998. During his tenure as superintendent, Guy was known for bringing leadership and stability to the school district. He also oversaw the expansion of the district, including the building of several new schools and an alternative school. Guy's commitment to students can be seen in his quote from a 2006 interview, during which Guy stated his goal was ``to educate the whole man, not just in science and language, but in music and athletics. That is part of developing a positive character, a good character.'' His commitment to the arts and athletics, as well as many other extra-curricular activities that promote students' academic involvement, is illustrated by James Logan High School's marching band and forensic team earning national recognition and its sports programs winning numerous Mission Valley Athletic League titles. After retiring in 1998, Guy was elected to two terms on the Fremont School Board. Because of his outstanding legacy of service, Union City named Guy Emanuele Jr. Elementary School in his honor. The communities of Union City and Fremont have lost an outstanding educator, but Guy leaves his school district and community better prepared to provide an excellent education to all students. I want to express my deepest condolences to Guy's wife, Kay Emanuele, daughters Rosalyn Reasor and Lisa Lockyer, sons Guy Emanuele III and Pete Emanuel, as well as his eight grandchildren. Guy will be dearly missed.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, due to a flight cancellation and airline delays, I was unable to be present for votes on Monday, January 27. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 24, regarding H.R. 2166, and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 25, regarding H.R. 3008.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, there is no person more worthy of respect and tribute than he or she who lays down their own life while working to protect others. Today it is with great sadness that I wish to honor Bay Area Rapid Transit Sergeant Thomas Smith, whose end of watch came too early when he was tragically killed on January 21 of this year. Sergeant Smith, known as Tommy to his family and friends, is from a law enforcement family that knows all too well the daily risks of wearing a badge and serving the community as a police officer. Sergeant Smith's wife, Kellie, also works as a police officer, as do his two brothers, Ed and Pat, and also his brother-in-law Todd. So aware were Sergeant Smith and his family of the personal danger they faced in their jobs that they had a rule of what they would say to each other whenever they would leave each other's company: Never say good-bye. You only tell each other, ``Be safe.'' But Sergeant Smith is not a hero because of how he died; he is a hero because of how he lived. On the job, Sergeant Smith worked honorably every day--not just the day that we lost him--to protect our community. Sergeant Smith cared most about his family, and nothing else was even a close second, as his own lieutenant described earlier last week. Sergeant Smith took every opportunity to spend time with whom he called his ``girls''--his wife, Kellie, and their 6-year-old daughter, Summer. May we always remember Sergeant Smith and how he lived so honorably for us. And may Sergeant Smith now watch over us from above, as he always did on Earth, to make sure that all of us can be safe.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Don Faught, as he completes his term serving as the 2013 President of the California Association of Realtors (CAR). For over 25 years, Don has worked in the real estate industry in California. A second generation real estate professional, Don is currently Vice President and Managing Broker at Alain Pinel Realtors located in Pleasanton, California, in my district. Don has been a member of the California Association of Realtors since 1987, and has served as a CAR Director since 1997. Before his term as CAR President in 2013, Don also served in leadership positions within the association, acting as President-Elect in 2012 and Treasurer in 2010 and 2011. Throughout his career, Don has been an active member of CAR, serving on numerous committees, including as chair of the Federal Issues Committee and chair of the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee. Don also has been involved in the real estate industry at the local and national levels. In 2000, Don served as President of the Bay East Association of Realtors, and was named Bay East's Outstanding Leader in both 2002 and 2008. A National Association of Realtors Director since 2002, Don currently serves as Chair of the Economic Issues and Commercial Real Estate Trends Forum and is a member the Strategic Planning Committee. Don has received designations as a Certified Residential Specialist, and is a graduate of the Realtor Institute. As CAR President, Don has worked to engage California Realtors and inspire them to get involved in their communities, taking action to ensure that the voice of the real estate industry is heard. During his term as President, Don has sought to reinforce the values of professionalism, ethics, and integrity within the industry. Mr. Speaker, Realtors are a critical part of every community, as they enable the American dream of home ownership. I want to recognize Don for his service to his community and his contributions to the real estate industry. I wish him the best of luck as he continues to serve the residents of the East Bay.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ken Mercer, the former mayor of Pleasanton, California, who died this past Monday at age 71. Ken devoted his life to public service in Pleasanton. He was elected to three terms on the Pleasanton City Council, serving from 1976 to 1986. Then he became the first person directly elected to serve as mayor, and held that position from 1986 to 1992. It is in part thanks to Ken's dedication that Pleasanton is the wonderful and vibrant community that it is today. His diligent efforts helped pave the way for the Hacienda Business Park and the Stoneridge Mall, among other developments. He also held various posts in the community, including with Pacific Bell and ValleyCare Health System. His enthusiastic devotion to Pleasanton serves as an inspiration. My condolences go out to Ken's daughter Shelley, son Chuck, brothers Ron and Norm, and his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He will be missed greatly.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 3824 to end the Republicans' refusal to extend unemployment benefits that protect 238,855, and counting, workers in my home State of California.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. As unbelievable as it may sound, it is estimated that 20.9 million people were victims of some form of forced labor, including trafficking, in 2012. Most of these victims, sadly, were women and children. While we may believe or hope to believe that this is happening across oceans, it is actually occurring rampantly across the East Bay. I saw this firsthand when I worked for 7 years as a prosecutor in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, mostly with victims who were, too often, young teenage girls. We cannot sit by as millions of people are exploited in this way-- denigrated, demeaned, and disparaged. It is in this month that we recommit ourselves to ending these horrors of slavery and human trafficking once and for all. My home county of Alameda, under the direction of District Attorney Nancy O'Malley, is doing its part. They run a coordinated effort called H.E.A.T. Watch to fight trafficking. In fact, District Attorney O'Malley recently announced a massive public relations campaign to draw attention to this issue and help victims. I have one of the posters, and I hope people will call (510) 645-9388 if they suspect trafficking is happening. With their hard work and that of people around the world, we can bring trafficking to an end.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend and long-time Castro Valley Resident, Mr. Craig Ragg. This month, Craig will complete his term serving as the 2013 President of the Bay East Association of Realtors, where he has also served on the Board of Directors since 2008 and as Treasurer in 2011. Craig has worked since 1977 as a Licensed Real Estate Agent, Broker, and Realtor. Throughout his career, Craig has been actively involved as a leader in the real estate profession, and he has always made time to invest in his community. A National Association of Realtors Leadership Academy Graduate, Craig is an active member of the real estate community at the national, state, and local level. Craig served as a member of the National Association of Realtors Committees on Land Use and Consumer Communication, as well as the California Association of Realtors Federal Committee, Taxation Committee, and Housing Affordability Fund Committee. Craig also has served on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Realtors since 2010. Over the course of his career, Craig often has been recognized for his efforts in the community. In 1990 and 2009, Craig was honored as Bay East Realtor of the Year. He also was the recipient of the John Deadrich Distinguished Service Award in 2006, and again in 2008. Craig also has honorably served his country. Craig served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972. Craig has served on the Eden Medical Foundation Board of Directors since 2004, and he spent 1988 to 1996 giving back to his community by serving on the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council. Mr. Speaker, Realtors are an important part of every community, as they enable the American dream of home ownership. I want to thank Craig for his service and his contributions to the East Bay. I wish him the best of luck as he continues to play an important role in the lives of East Bay residents.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, President Johnson declared in this Chamber the war on poverty, and this is one war that we must continue to wage. I want to thank my neighbor in Alameda County who represents Oakland and San Leandro and Alameda and Berkeley, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who is Congress' greatest champion today to continue fighting President Johnson's war on poverty, and I am grateful to have a mentor in Congresswoman Lee who has guided and helped me as I have worked to do my part. Since President Johnson's declaration, we have made real progress. Using an accurate measurement of who is poor in America shows we have cut the rate from 25.8 percent in 1967 to 16 percent in 2012, reducing by millions the number of Americans who are poor. Unfortunately, this war is not yet won. Almost 50 million Americans still live in poverty, including over 13 million children. In such an abundant society as ours, there is only one word to describe these stark facts, ``unconscionable,'' and we can do better. This Congress should make it a priority to help the poor, the economically downtrodden, and the jobless. Their path to economic opportunity still remains dim. But this Congress, the people in this House, can be their light. If we are going to win the war on poverty, there are many battles today that we must win: First, we should start by extending unemployment insurance now and not putting 1.3 million Americans out in the cold; Second, we need to raise our minimum wage so those working hard and trying to earn a living can actually do so; Third, we must fight harsh cuts to SNAP and Head Start to make sure everyone has equal opportunity. These are just a few of the small battles that we must win right now in the larger war on poverty. This is no time to turn back or to retreat. This is a time for a surge in our war against poverty. Millions of Americans, including children, are counting on us, and we must ask ourselves a few questions: Has this war been won? Has poverty been eradicated across America? And is our middle class built out? If the answer to any of these questions is ``no,'' then we know what we must continue to do. We must fight on, and we must keep fighting until we win the war on poverty.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I'm honored today to recognize legendary Livermore High School scorekeeper Pete Andersen, who sadly passed away on Sunday, December 29. He was 91. After emigrating from Denmark to the United States in 1922, Pete went to high school in Pleasanton and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon returning home from the war, Pete began keeping score at Livermore High School's sporting events. Pete had an impressive 60- year, 3,513-game tenure and built a reputation for dedication, knowledge, and a passion for sports. It's because of his dedication to our community that Pete was inducted into the first class of the Livermore High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. I would like to express my deepest condolences to Pete's wife, Margaret, his family, and friends. In talking about his sacrifice for 60 years to keep score for young athletes, he said: ``It was a nice place to go on a Friday night.'' Well, Friday nights in Livermore won't be the same without Pete. Pete will be missed dearly. His life is truly an inspiration to athletes, coaches, students, and the East Bay sporting community.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Mr. Speaker, earlier this evening, this Congress defied a rocky trajectory that has defined the past year of government shutdowns and starting with the fiscal cliff by passing a 2- year compromise budget deal. I worked with you, Mr. Speaker, and others in our bipartisan United Solutions Caucus to support this bipartisan compromise, knowing that it is not the deal that ideally I would want. It doesn't do enough to restore Head Start funding or NIH funding, but it is a compromise and it is a step forward. Now I am asking my colleagues in this Chamber, let's build on this momentum. Today I am ending a 24-hour fast for comprehensive immigration reform. I will end it in about one hour. Let's come back in January and do the right thing for the people in our country who are living in the shadows, the undocumented immigrants; and let's finally pass comprehensive immigration reform and build on the momentum we showed we can do tonight.

Mr. SWALWELL of California

Mr. SWALWELL of California. Thank you. And I do wish to thank Ms. Speier, my neighbor across the San Mateo Bridge, for hosting this Special Order hour on NIH funding. This is not the first time I have had the opportunity to work with Ms. Speier on these issues. In fact, in my short year in Congress, Ms. Speier has hosted a number of different roundtables, informal and formal, on the importance of NIH funding, and it is appropriate for her district, having the birthplace of the United States' biotechnology research. But it is also important that we want the biotech research to stay in the South San Francisco area, to stay in the East Bay area. And the folks in the district who are making advances that will hopefully bend the health care cost curves are counting on the United States Congress to keep NIH funding from being cut. And actually, it is my hope that we can increase it. The cuts to the NIH mean that there are fewer opportunities right now for biomedical research in the United States. It means that the decline in funding is meaning that there are more promising paths outside the United States for the promising minds who are putting their careers into this research. Faculty at top universities across the country are reporting cutting labor spending by 7 percent and operating with skeleton staffs, severely limiting job opportunities for any researcher that would want to go into this field. Over 50 percent of university scientists surveyed by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology said that they had a colleague who had lost their job or expects to soon because of sequester cuts to NIH funding. Also, in the United States, while we have been cutting funding, even before the sequester, other countries are increasing and expanding up their biomedical engineering sectors. A study this year found that nearly 20 percent of scientists are considering moving their careers abroad. I have worked in my first year in Congress to support the NIH, signing on to a letter circulated by Representative Roybal-Allard from southern California supporting the NIH behavioral and social science research. I also signed on to a letter supported by Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Bill Young supporting research at NIH, including through the BRAIN Initiative and, finally, signed on to a letter to the Appropriations Committee asking for support for funding of NIH. This afternoon, I distributed a letter to my colleagues in the bipartisan United Solutions Caucus, a freshman group of 30 Republican and Democratic freshmen Members, and we are asking them to support this new compromise budget, not because it does what we want, because I would like to see NIH funding go up, but because it will roll back some of the sequester cuts and restore some of the funding at NIH. In my district, Ms. Speier's district, and across California, scientists are counting on us to restore the NIH funding, to actually increase it with the long-term goal of using NIH funding--the technology and the research that we can put in to bend the health care cost curves. If we don't do that, we are going to continue to see the discretionary spending in the United States continue to contract, and nondiscretionary spending for Medicare costs and Medicaid costs will continue to rise and balloon unless we get a hold by putting funding and research dollars into what can control these diseases and ailments that people in our districts are suffering from. And that only happens by putting research dollars into NIH. So, again, I want to thank the gentlelady across the San Mateo bridge for her leadership on this issue.