Mike Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Corporal Ritzie Tolentino, whom I have named a Public Safety Hero of the Year in Solano County, California. Mr. Tolentino has dedicated himself to public service and our community since he graduated from the Napa Valley Police Academy in 2002. After graduation, Mr. Tolentino worked for the St. Helena Police Department until 2006. In 2006, Mr. Tolentino made a lateral move to the Vallejo Police Department and in 2010 joined the Richmond Police Department. Mr. Tolentino returned to the Vallejo Police Department in 2011 and has continued to serve our community since then. In November of 2018, Mr. Tolentino was promoted to the rank of Corporal. He has served as Patrol, Kaiser and SWAT, and is a Force Operations Instructor as well. On August 29, 2018, Mr. Tolentino showed his deep commitment to public safety when he helped a suicidal man and convinced him not to jump from an overpass and to instead receive mental health treatment. Mr. Tolentino talked with the distressed man and built the rapport necessary to make progress in this situation. When members of the Vallejo Police Department's Hostage Negotiation Team arrived, they saw Mr. Tolentino's connection with the man and progress in diffusing the situation. Mr. Tolentino talked and negotiated with the man for several hours until he agreed to climb back onto the overpass and get treatment from Solano County Mental Health Services. Mr. Tolentino's calm demeanor, patience and professionalism helped to save a life that day. Madam Speaker, we thank Corporal Ritzie Tolentino for his dedication. For this reason, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Senior Deputy Steven Lombardi, whom I have named a Public Safety Hero of the Year in Napa County, California. Mr. Lombardi has provided 28 years of exceptional public service to the people of Napa County and acted with true heroism on March 9, 2018. Mr. Lombardi is an honorable community member and public servant who does not hesitate to help and protect others. On March 9, 2018 Mr. Lombardi responded to an active shooter call at the Pathway Home on the grounds of the Yountville Veteran's Home. Backup units were still minutes away when Mr. Lombardi entered the facility alone with the goal of locating and containing the heavily armed shooter. Mr. Lombardi knew the danger he was putting himself in, but rushed inside the building anyway and made contact with the suspect. Mr. Lombardi engaged him with gunfire to prevent the shooter from harming others. The suspect returned fire and narrowly missed hitting Mr. Lombardi. Mr. Lombardi remained inside the facility for over eight minutes until other responding units arrived on the scene. He selflessly put his life in danger to prevent the shooter from causing more harm and pain upon others. Mr. Lombardi is known for his compassion, tireless work ethic and staunch commitment to law enforcement and the people of Napa County. Mr. Lombardi has served with the Napa County Sheriff's office for 28 years. He has served as a range master, Mounted Posse Coordinator, Administrative Deputy, Patrol and Yountville Patrol during his tenure with the Sheriff's office. In addition, Mr. Lombardi is a member of the Napa Valley Horsemen's Association and the Skyline Riders, which he helped found. Madam Speaker, we thank Senior Deputy Steven Lombardi for his dedication. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor CAL FIRE Fire Captain Richard Lawler, whom I have named a Public Safety Hero of the Year in Lake County, California. Mr. Lawler is from Huntington Beach, California. He began his career in public service in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Operation Desert Storm. Mr. Lawler then joined the United States Forest Service's firefighting team. He worked on Hot Shot Crews and fire engines in southern California until he was assigned to the Mendocino National Forest. In 2008 Mr. Lawler joined the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). He spent three years serving at Parlin Fork Camp, three years at Konocti Camp and two years at Kelsey Cobb Station. For the last three years he has been assigned to Clearlake Oaks Station. For over twenty years, Mr. Lawler has been a member of the Northshore Fire Protection District. He is a senior member of the Water Rescue and SCUBA Dive Team that serves Lake County and is a firefighter and paramedic for the district. He is also a member of the Lakeport Fire Protection District. Mr. Lawler is also a certified paramedic, rescue diver, and Haz-Mat technician. Mr. Lawler is committed to public service and dedicated to protecting our community from the ever-present threat of fires. During the Tubbs Fire in 2017, Mr. Lawler was part of a small group that worked to prevent the fire from crossing Calistoga Road, stopping additional damage to Sonoma County. He was then reassigned to the Napa County portion of the fire. He joined the leadership and they worked to stop the fire's advancement towards Lake County. When the Pawnee Fire broke out in 2018, Mr. Lawler raced to keep the fire from spreading into Colusa County in just a few hours. He was also active in the response to the Ranch and River Fires. He was part of the initial attack against the fires and still helps property owners fix their damaged fencing. Madam Speaker, we thank Mr. Lawler for his dedication. For this reason, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable Elona Porter, whom I have named a Public Safety Hero of the Year in Lake County, California. Ms. Porter was born in Landstuhl, Germany and currently resides in Lake County, California. She holds an Associate of Science Degree in Administration of Justice. Ms. Porter began her career with the Lake County Sheriff's Office as a Records Technician, became Evidence Technician, and was then promoted as the supervisor of that unit. She is also the department's lead crime scene investigator. Over her nearly two-decade tenure with the Lake County Sheriff's Office, Ms. Porter has worked on many high-level investigations, including sexual assaults, homicides, and burglaries. While these investigations are typically carried out by sworn deputies or police officers, Ms. Porter presides over these responsibilities at the Lake County Sheriff's Office because of her skill. Her work has led to the successful conclusion of many investigations and the administration of justice, that has in turn led to a degree of closure for the victims' family members. Ms. Porter is one of California's top authorities on crime scene investigation and has been recognized by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Ms. Porter is continually striving to improve her skills as well as help the next generation of crime scene investigators. She has attended trainings on crime scene reconstruction and scene logistics, crime scene photography, and the FBI's Field Evidence Response course, among others. She teaches crime scene investigation classes to police officers and investigators across California. Ms. Porter also regularly gives presentations to Lake County high school and middle school students, Boy and Girl Scouts, college classes, and Sheriff's Citizen's Academy students. Madam Speaker, we thank Ms. Porter for her dedication. For this reason, it is fitting and proper that we honor her here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Fire Captain Steve Becker, whom I have named a Public Safety Hero of the Year in Napa County, California. Mr. Becker was born in Auburn, California, moved to Napa as a young child, and has lived in Yountville for the past twenty years. He took general education courses and received EMT and Law Enforcement certifications from Napa Valley College. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Administration, with a focus in Programming and Leadership. Mr. Becker began his career in 1990 as a Reserve Firefighter with the Napa Fire Department. From 1991 to 1996 he served in other fire departments as well. He worked for the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Fire Department, Cal Poly Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office. In 1996 Mr. Becker became a Professional Firefighter in the Napa Fire Department. He was appointed as a Department Shift Inspector/Investigator in 2001 and in 2010 was promoted to be a Department Captain. Throughout his life Mr. Becker has remained focused on public service and safety and the greater good of our community. After a Napa student caught on fire from a flame jetting incident at a science camp in the summer of 2018, Mr. Becker became determined to prevent such instances from occurring. He devoted much of his time to researching flame jetting and has become a passionate advocate for flame arrestors and H.R. 806, which would require compliant flame mitigation devices to be used on portable fuel containers for flammable liquid fuels. Madam Speaker, we thank Steve Becker for his dedication. For this reason, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Corporal Ryan Baillie, whom I have named a Public Safety Hero of the Year in Contra Costa County. Mr. Baillie was born in the Bay Area and has shown a penchant for public service since he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America. He was a Merit Badge Counselor and an Eagle Scout, the highest honor in the Boy Scouts of America, before beginning his career in law enforcement. Mr. Baillie joined the Martinez Police Department as a Cadet in 2004. In 2007, he became a Police Assistant and a Reserve Police Officer. He was sworn in as a full-time Police Officer in 2008 and has many roles within the Department since then. He has worked as a patrolman, detective, and a corporal. His collateral duties have included Hostage Negotiator and Explorer Advisor and he has been a member of the Patrol Rifle Team, Bicycle Patrol Unit, Off-Road Motorcycle Team and Honor Guard. As a detective, Mr. Baillie works tirelessly to bring offenders to justice so victims can begin to heal. Mr. Baillie came across a March 2012 report of a woman detailing her kidnapping and forced sexual servitude. He dedicated three years to leading an investigation into the woman's claims. Mr. Baillie's investigation led him to additional victims and he uncovered what is considered Contra Costa County's worst human trafficking case. Mr. Baillie listened to many hours of recorded conversations from the perpetrator's time in jail on gun charges and persuaded some of the additional victims of the perpetrator of the trafficking ring to cooperate. In no small part because of his diligence and methodical approach to the case, the perpetrator was charged on 40 felony charges and sentenced to 180 years to life in prison. Madam Speaker, we thank Ryan Baillie for his dedication. For this reason, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Emergency Medical Technician Daniela Flores, whom I have named a Public Safety Hero of the Year in Solano County, California. Ms. Flores was born in Santiago, Chile and immigrated with her family to Vallejo, California when she was five years old. She was raised in Vallejo and has been a member of our community for the past nineteen years. When Ms. Flores was fifteen, she found out she was undocumented. She had hoped to get a job and begin to earn her own money, but was unable to because of her documentation status. After she graduated from Vallejo High School, she began taking classes at Napa Valley College. When the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program began accepting applications in 2012, Ms. Flores applied for a work permit through it, but was unsure of the career she wanted to, or could, pursue. She knew she wanted to find a path where she could help people, so she enrolled in an emergency first responder class. Emergency medicine quickly became Ms. Flores' passion. She took emergency medical technician classes and in February of 2019 graduated from the Napa Valley College Paramedic Program. Ms. Flores is dedicated to emergency medicine and committed to our community. She was deployed to assist with the fires in Napa, Lake and Butte Counties last year. During her fourteen-day deployment, Ms. Flores evacuated hospitals, residences and nursing facilities. No task was too small for her. She did everything within her power to help residents and caregivers affected by the fire. She thrived in the high stress environment and used the uncertainty to drive her forward. Madam Speaker, we thank Daniela Flores for her dedication. For this reason, it is fitting and proper that we honor her here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fire Captain Dave Woods, whom I have named a Public Safety Hero of the Year in Contra Costa County, California. Mr. Woods was born in Pasadena, California and raised in nearby Glendale. In March of 1999 Mr. Woods joined the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and has been heavily involved since. He is trained and certified as a Strike Team Leader and Fire Line Paramedic to assist on Strike Team assignments. Strike Teams consist of highly trained wildland firefighters, who are prepared to respond to wildland fires anywhere in the state with little support. They carry enough food and supplies to fight fires in the wilderness for multiple days and are essential in cutting off fires before they destroy population centers. Mr. Woods was assigned as a Strike Team Leader to the Thomas Fire that burned much of southern California in December of 2017. Mr. Woods also shares his knowledge and skills with others as a Wildland Firefighting Instructor. Mr. Woods works in Contra Costa County Fire Protection District's busiest battalion. However, he does not let the fast pace prohibit his development as a leader within the battalion and Fire Protection District. For the past twenty years he has spent at the Fire Protection District, Mr. Woods has shown unrelenting commitment to serving the people of Contra Costa County and protecting our community and state from wildfires. Madam Speaker, we thank Dave Woods for his dedication. For this reason, it is fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Santa Rosa Fire Captain Don Ricci, whom I have named a Public Safety Hero of the Year in Sonoma County, California. Mr. Ricci is a Sonoma County native. He graduated from Montgomery High School and attended the Santa Rosa Safety Center, a department at the Santa Rosa Junior College. He began his career in public service in 1992 when he joined the Bennet Valley Fire Protection District. Mr. Ricci served in that department as a firefighter, engineer and lieutenant. In 1998, he joined the Santa Rosa Fire Department as a firefighter-paramedic. In 2002 Mr. Ricci was promoted to Engineer and in 2004, to Fire Captain. He also serves as a lead instructor for the Live Burn Cadre and as a paramedic Field Training Officer. Additionally, he is a Tactical Paramedic on Henry 1 (the Sonoma County Sheriff's helicopter) and the SWAT Team in the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department. On January 22, 2018, Mr. Ricci displayed the utmost dedication to public service and fire safety. He was on Medic Engine 5 when it was dispatched to an odor investigation that was revealed to be a working structure fire. Mr. Ricci upgraded the assignment and instructed his team to launch a defensive fire attack. As he gathered intelligence around the property, a house, he saw a neighbor trying to rescue an elderly woman from a small window. After he realized he was unable to rescue the resident from outside the structure, and knowing the window was too small to enter with a self-contained breathing apparatus, he removed the apparatus and entered the smoke-filled building. Mr. Ricci first evacuated the resident out of the small window he had entered. He then evacuated the resident's dog. Because of his courage and swift action, Mr. Ricci prevented a tragic loss of life in our community. Madam Speaker, we thank Fire Captain Don Ricci for his dedication. For this reason, it is fitting and proper that we honor him today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. David Stanley as Napa Valley Medical Society's Professor Emeritus of the year. Dr. Stanley has provided outstanding medical care to our communities throughout Napa and Solano Counties and has been a mentor to many people in the medical community. Dr. Stanley earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Redlands and then attended Stanford University Medical School. While at Stanford he co-authored several scientific publications. He interned and completed his residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. While at Baylor he was the chief resident in medicine at Ben Taub General Hospital. Dr. Stanley also completed a fellowship in endocrinology at Baylor College of Medicine's Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Dr. Stanley started practicing medicine in Napa County in 1977. He has held many positions at Queen of the Valley Medical Center, including chief of the hospital medical staff and chairman of the Department of Medicine. In 1989, he served as president of the Napa County Medical Society. Dr. Stanley joined the Permanente Medical Group in 1993. He has worked in hospital medicine, adult primary care and endocrinology at Kaiser Vallejo Medical Center and at the Napa medical offices. For more than five years, Dr. Stanley has been the chief of adult and family medicine at the Napa Kaiser offices. Dr. Stanley has dedicated his career to providing the highest quality of medical care to our community. In addition, he has been a lecturer and educator to other medical professionals in our area. Madam Speaker, Dr. Stanley is a model community member who has dedicated his career to helping others. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor Dr. David Stanley here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Napa Valley Vintners on the 75th anniversary of its founding. The Napa Valley Vintners is an important association in our community. Since its formation in 1944, the institution has supported an exchange of ideas and worked to elevate the status of Napa Valley wines. Napa Valley Vintners has grown from seven founders to an organization that represents over 550 wineries in Napa County. The Napa Valley Vintners has provided more than $185 million in support to Napa County non-profit organizations since 1981 through its annual fundraiser, Auction Napa Valley. The members of the organization have worked tirelessly for more than seven decades to protect the integrity of the Napa Valley name and have advocated for those who earn the right to carry its prestigious name on their labels. It is the Napa Valley Vintners mission to promote, protect, and enhance Napa Valley, which they have honored. The Napa Valley Vintners has been recognized on local, state, federal and international stages as a premiere trade organization and a commanding leader in the global wine industry. The Napa Valley Vintners is committed to environmental stewardship in our community. It is a founding member of the Napa Green program and received the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) in 2018. With this highest statewide honor of environmental leadership, the Napa Valley Vintners have proven their commitment to the cultivation of our community. Madam Speaker, the Napa Valley Vintners is an essential institution in Napa Valley and in the wine community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor the association on the 75th anniversary of its founding.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable Stephen Owen Hedstrom on his retirement from the bench after forty-two years of exceptional and diligent public service to the people of Lake County, California. Judge Hedstrom was born in Oak Park, Illinois and graduated from Salesian High School in Richmond, California in 1966. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1970 from the University of San Fransisco and a Juris Doctorate from the Hastings College of Law at the University of California in 1974. Judge Hedstrom began his career in 1975 as a private practice attorney and contract public defender in Lakeport. In 1976 he became the Deputy District Attorney in Lake County, a position he held until 1986. From 1987 to 1999 Judge Hedstrom served as the District Attorney of Lake County. In 2001, Judge Hedstrom was appointed Lake County Superior Court Judge, a position in which he has served since. Throughout his career, Judge Hedstrom has remained humble and focused on public service and the greater good. Additionally, he has spent his free time giving back to our community. He coached Little League and youth soccer teams, was active in his local Lions Club chapter and was a member of his local Peace Officers Association while he served as a District Attorney. Madam Speaker, Judge Hedstrom is a model public servant who has dedicated his career to public service. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor Stephen Hedstrom here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Chair, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the chair of the subcommittee, and I thank him for all of his help.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Chair, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I rise in support of amendment No. 8, which provides an additional $50 million in community development funds for the 2017 federally declared disasters. In October 2017, my district experienced, at that time, the most devastating fires in the history of California. The October 2017 wildfires devastated nearly 300,000 acres in California, destroyed some 7,000 homes, caused billions of dollars in damage, burned to the ground many businesses, and, most sadly, took the lives of 44 people. In response to these fires, Congress enacted legislation that delivered California Community Development Block Grant disaster relief funding to address unmet needs and mitigation against future disasters. As communities in my district continue the long and hard process of rebuilding, we are finding that the unmet needs are greater than the Federal relief provided. Local inspections of residences damaged or destroyed in the October 17 fires indicate that FEMA's individual assistance inspection process significantly underestimated the number of homes damaged or destroyed in Santa Rosa, one of the cities in my district, by a difference of nearly 2,900 homes. Because the FEMA IA data may have informed HUD's initial allocation to the State of California, this leaves some communities in California, including Santa Rosa, with considerable unmet need for homeowners who are rebuilding. In terms of public infrastructure, California's CDBG-DR action plan allocates 3 percent, at a total of $3.5 million for the entire State, to aid unmet need for public infrastructure. However, Santa Rosa alone has significantly greater needs for recovery of public infrastructure with its projected local cost share for the repair of the damage infrastructure over $11 million. In addition to the local match requirement for FEMA public assistance projects, there are several large infrastructure projects needed due to the 17 wildfires, including street repairs, street tree removal, repair to the sidewalks in one particular area, and restoration to neighborhood parks. The estimated cost for these projects is more than $20 million. My amendment aims to help close this gap by providing the additional moneys in community development funds for the 2017 federally declared disasters. Continued support from the Federal Government is essential as residents seek to rebuild and my district continues its long-term recovery. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to my colleague from California (Mrs. Torres).

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Chair, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I appreciate the opportunity to speak in support of my proposed amendment. Over the past 2 years communities across my district and throughout the State of California have been devastated by some of the biggest, deadliest, and most damaging wildfires in history. These disasters have catastrophic consequences for our agricultural communities. Wildfires can and do incinerate entire fields of crops, but they also pose a threat of smoke contamination, exposure to high levels of smoke which damages crops beyond repair. While smoke damage can affect a range of crops, wine grapes are particularly vulnerable. I have heard from dozens of my constituents who are facing the loss of their crop as their grapes are rejected due to this smoke damage. I want to thank the Appropriations Committee and their staff for working with me to ensure that grape growers like those in my district are supported. However, many wine grape growers do not discover smoke damage until after removing their fruit from the vine. These growers sustain heavy losses and deserve support. They should not be penalized simply because the damage to their grapes was discovered after the harvest. My amendment would clarify that assistance offered under H.R. 268 is available to growers who discover smoke damage after removing their grapes from the vine. This situation is tragic and far too common, and this clarification is needed to ensure that growers like those in my district receive the support that they deserve. Madam Chair, I want to reiterate my thanks to the Appropriations Committee and their staff, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairwoman for yielding and for all that she is doing to end the Trump shutdown and open up our government, but I rise today to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished chairwoman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, in regard to a commitment made between the two of us. My district and the State of California were, once again, ravaged by devastating and historic fires. In my own district, the Mendocino complex fire burned a combined total of 460,000 acres, making it the largest physical fire in California history. As a result, a major disaster declaration was announced for Lake County, which, sadly, has been rocked with fires for the past several years. California also experienced the deadliest and most destructive fire in our State's history with the Camp fire, which, tragically, took the lives of more than 60 people. The town of Paradise, which was home to almost 27,000 people, was near completely destroyed, and more than 12,000 structures were burnt to the ground. In addition, our State experienced other devastating fires, and they continue. We need the continued support from the Federal Government because it is essential as residents seek to rebuild and California begins long-term recovery. In response to these devastating disasters, I offered a bipartisan amendment with Representatives LaMalfa, Lieu, Calvert, Garamendi, Huffman, and 19 other bipartisan cosponsors from our State. This amendment provided much-needed relief to the State of California and local entities by increasing to 90 percent the Federal cost-share for debris removal and emergency assistance for the 2018 wildfires. The substance of this amendment has been supported by both the Speaker and the majority leader and is consistent with the relief generously provided in the 113th Congress. The distinguished chairwoman and I have discussed this amendment and the importance of Congress providing this much-needed relief to the State of California and all affected communities impacted by these wildfires.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairwoman and the bipartisan coauthors of this bill. I look forward to working with her and appreciate her help.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chris Coursey for his four years of service on the Santa Rosa City Council as Council Member and Mayor. The son of a military officer, Mr. Coursey grew up in many states across the United States. After he graduated from the University of Northern Colorado, Mr. Coursey moved to Santa Rosa, California. Prior to his service on the Santa Rosa City Council, Mr. Coursey had been a writer at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat for many years and was a spokesman for the SMART commuter rail system. Mr. Coursey was elected to the Santa Rosa City Council in 2014 and served as Vice Mayor in 2015. He has served as Mayor since 2016. During his tenure as Mayor, Mr. Coursey oversaw the annexation of Roseland and the reunification of Old Courthouse Square. Mr. Coursey led our community in the immediate aftermath of the October 2017 wildfires that devastated Santa Rosa. He dedicated many long days to the rebuilding process. He also saw the city begin to address the needs of the homeless and housing crises. Additionally, Mr. Coursey has held many committee positions during his term on the Santa Rosa City Council. He has served on Ad Hoc Rent Subcommittee, the Economic Development Subcommittee, the Violence Prevention Partnership Policy Subcommittee, the Long Term Financial Policy Subcommittee and the Courthouse Square Advisory Committee. Mr. Speaker, Chris Coursey is an admirable leader who is dedicated to serving our community. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chief Michael Donovan's forty-two years of service in California Law Enforcement. Chief Donovan was born in Oceanside, California in 1961 and has dedicated his life to public service. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources Management and his Master's Degree in Business Administration in 1989, both from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. His commitment to public service and law enforcement has made all the communities he has served, including our community of Napa, California, a safer and better place to live. Over the course of his career, Chief Donovan has served in many different law enforcement capacities. He was a police officer at the Sierra Madre Police Department, an Investigator at the Baldwin Park Police Department and the Assistant Chief Investigator, and later Chief Investigator, at the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office. Since 2011, Chief Donovan has served as the Chief Investigator at the Napa County District Attorney's Office. Chief Donovan is active in the law enforcement community. He currently sits on the California District Attorney Investigators' Association Board of Directors as the Treasurer and Chair of the Training Committee. He also serves on the California District Attorneys' Association Legislative Committee. Additionally, Chief Donovan is an active member in the local Napa Rotary Club and volunteers at many Rotary Club sponsored events. Chief Donovan has remained dedicated and motivated throughout his long career in law enforcement and public service. He is always willing to take on difficult projects and help others in the office. He draws on his depth of knowledge and experience in his profession to help others in his field. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. You know, here we go again. We started this session with a terrible tax bill that was written in the dark of night, not one single hearing, not one single expert witness, an unpaid-for $2.3 trillion tax cut. We find out after it is passed that it is fraught with problems. Now we are going to end the session with another tax bill, not quite as fiscally irresponsible as the first, but $100 billion unpaid for-- again, no hearings, no expert witnesses. Why in the world do you think this one is not going to be fraught with problems? This is the height of irresponsibility and just one more example of the Republicans' borrow-and-spend philosophy and practice. Once again, I am sure we are going to hear from our friends on the other side that now that we have done this, now that we have charged all this money to future generations, we are going to have to come back and put on our fiscally responsible hat and cut Medicare and cut Social Security. This is shameful, and it is irresponsible. If that is not bad enough, now, in this bill, you are going to try to provide false hope to people who were victimized from natural disasters all across the country, from hurricanes, tornados, fires. You know this bill is not going anyplace. The Senate is not going to take up this bill. So you are providing false hope to folks who really need our help right now. Mr. Speaker, revictimizing people who were terribly hurt during these disasters, it is shameful; it is irresponsible; and I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize BMC Racing for their success in the 2018 Tour de France. BMC Racing is headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, in my district. Headed by former American cyclist Jim Ochowicz, who serves as President and team manager, the team sent six cyclists to the Tour this year, including Tejay van Garderen of Tacoma, Washington. At the 2018 Tour de France, BMC proved its abilities once again at the highest levels of competition in the cycling world. The team finished eighth overall in the 2018 Tour de France, emerged victorious in the Stage 3 Team Time Trial, and earned seven yellow jerseys--along with five stage victories. Individual team members also did well: Greg Van Avermaat stood in first place for eight consecutive stages, while Damiano Caruso finished in 20th place overall. The BMC organization regularly trains in Santa Rosa and the wine country area. They are also active in the community. Their ``Cycle with Champions'' ride is done in conjunction with Team Swift, a local youth cycling organization, and many organization officials have ties to the Santa Rosa region. BMC has a history of producing champion cyclists, and once again displayed their resilience and dedication in 2018. At the finish line, Damiano Caruso summed up the overall morale of the team, saying, ``At the end of three weeks, I can say that my experience was positive.'' Mr. Speaker, BMC Racing has deep roots in the Santa Rosa community, and continues to inspire generations of young cyclists. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor the cyclists and owners on their accomplishment in this year's Tour de France.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Kaaren Ann Stasko on her retirement after twenty years of service as an Office Technician for the Fire Marshal's Office of CalFire. Ms. Stasko was born in Oakland, California on March 21, 1942. As a child, she attended schools in Crockett, California. Ms. Stasko was the first in her family to graduate from college. She took classes part- time while working full-time to earn an Associate's Degree at the age of fifty-seven. Ms. Stasko has been a dedicated volunteer in our community since she was a child. In her youth, she was an active Camp Fire Girl, as well as a Counselor in Training Camp Gold Hollow. When her children were in high school, she supported the Napa High School Band and Choir as a bingo runner and a shuttle driver at Sonoma Raceway, and continues to do so. Ms. Stasko is deeply involved with CalFire and its community. In addition to working as an Office Technician for the past twenty years, she has volunteered with CalFire in many capacities. She is the Chair of the Napa County Firefighter's Dinner, a member of the Administrative Fire Services Section of CalChiefs, and a Napa County CalFire Volunteer in Prevention. Ms. Stasko was also a frequent volunteer at the California State Fair at Camp Smokey, worked the fireworks on the Fourth of July and volunteered at the CalFire Crab Feed. Among her friends, family and coworkers, Ms. Stasko is known for going the extra mile. She is dedicated and hardworking and always willing to help those in need. When two members of the fire department were diagnosed with cancer, Ms. Stasko frequently took them to lunch and supported and encouraged them and their families through the difficult time. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Stasko is an admirable member of our community and spends much of her time volunteering to help those around her. It is therefore fitting and proper that we honor Ms. Kaaren Ann Stasko here today.