Mike Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cheryl Diehm upon her retirement as the District Representative in my Congressional office. Cheryl has been an integral member of my staff, both in the California State Senate and in Congress for the past twenty-six years. The unwavering dedication, loyalty and compassion she has displayed throughout these twenty-six years is both admirable and deserving of recognition. Cheryl came to work on my staff after my first campaign and has been the best person to work with, both in the State Senate and in Congress. In twenty-six years, there is no part of our district that Cheryl has not touched. From our offices in Vallejo to Napa to Santa Rosa, wherever I needed her to go, she went. No matter what office she was in, and no matter what her role in the office was, she made the office better and she made the community those offices served better. Cheryl is loyal, compassionate and committed to our office, our district and the institution of representative government. She knows that government has a responsibility to make sure things are fair and she's always working for what is best for the American people. When constituents called with problems, she solved them. She has helped countless constituents navigate everything from Medicare benefits to mortgage problems, and VA payments. She spearheaded our office's Military Service Academy nominations. She organized interviews, sorted through applications, and worked with liaison officers to help make sure that young people who wanted to serve our country had the opportunity to do so. Cheryl has an unrivaled political antenna, and she always took time to nurture and mentor young staff. She shared her skills and traits with the other people in our office and because of that, her service to our county and country will endure long past her retirement from our office. Cheryl is an asset to our district, a role model to our younger staff, and a best friend to me. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank Cheryl for her invaluable service and wish her a most enjoyable retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert C. Penny upon his retirement as the Veterans Service Officer for Lake County, California, after nearly twenty years working in the Lake County Veterans Service Office. I thank Mr. Penny for his years of dedicated service to Lake County's veterans as well as their dependents and survivors. His commitment to advocating on behalf of our nation's veterans is both admirable and deserving of recognition. A veteran himself, Mr. Penny served in the U.S. Navy between July, 1966, and January, 1969, before being disability retired due to injuries he sustained in combat while serving on a River Patrol Boat in Vietnam. For his service, Mr. Penny was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars, the Presidential Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm), the Combat Action Ribbon as well as a Purple Heart. Mr. Penny's career with the Lake County Veterans Service Office began in September of 1994, when he was brought in as an office assistant. While working in the office, Mr. Penny pursued a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Dominican University, which he received in 1997. It was then that Mr. Penny began to work full time in the Lake County Veterans Service Office, first as a Veterans Service Representative, and later as a Veterans Service Representative II, Assistant California Veterans Service Officer for Lake County and finally, as the Veterans Service Officer. His colleagues remember him as being not only extremely efficient, professional, and hard-working, but also as being unfailingly friendly and cheerful. Outside of his official duties, Mr. Penny never ceased to serve the veteran community. He is the co-host of a bi-monthly radio show that aims to inform veterans about the benefits they are eligible to receive and to discuss veterans' issues. Mr. Penny also serves as the elected Commander for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015 and the Educational Committee Chair for the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers. A tireless public servant, Robert Penny has volunteered extensively with his community's youth, through both the Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank Mr. Penny for his invaluable service to Lake County's veterans, their dependents, and survivors. Robert Penny's unyielding dedication to advocating on behalf of our veterans is greatly appreciated by the entire Lake County community and we wish him a most enjoyable retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly) for his help and persistence on this. As we have already discussed, Typhoon Haiyan has been absolutely devastating. It hurt a tremendous number of people and has hurt communities. We really need to do everything we can to make sure that Americans can do what we do so well, and that is help our allies and our friends. This bill does that. This bill, as the gentleman from Pennsylvania pointed out, is common sense. It has been done before. There is precedent. And this is a nation of our allies and our friends who are waiting for our help. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Swalwell), my friend and a great leader on this effort.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 3771. This bill allows taxpayers to treat charitable contributions in support of Typhoon Haiyan recovery efforts in the Philippines made between the date of enactment of this bill and April 15, 2014, as if they were made in the 2013 tax year. More than 4 months ago, on November 8, Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, killing 6,000 people, destroying more than 1 million homes, displacing 4 million people, and affecting 16 million people. Following this disaster, there was an outpouring of support for the people of the Philippines and from people around our country, including a number of folks in my district, particularly members of the Filipino American community, like Norma Placido, president of the Filipino Community of Solano County, and members of the Filipino American Chamber of Solano County. Many of my constituents have family members in the Philippines that were affected by this typhoon, and they are trying to do everything possible to help them rebuild. The United Nations-developed Strategic Response Plan, to coordinate and prioritize assistance, estimates that $788 million will be needed for humanitarian aid through November 2014. Sadly, only $369 million has been contributed to date. This bipartisan legislation, which I am proud to be part of with my colleague, Mr. Swalwell, from California, Representative Heck from Nevada, and Representative Issa from California will allow people to deduct qualifying charitable contributions made after the date of enactment of this bill and before the 15th of April on their 2013 tax returns. This will help incentivize charitable giving to the Philippine rebuilding efforts while the need is so great. Identical legislation has already been introduced and was passed unanimously by the Senate earlier this year. Our country's relationship with the Philippines runs very deep. In World War II, 57,000 military Philippine servicemembers and 900,000 Philippine civilians gave their lives in support of our Allied Forces. And the Manila American Cemetery holds 17,202 brave American and Filipino troops killed during World War II. The Philippines sent 7,500 combat troops to the Korean war and 2,000 troops to the Vietnam war. They sent 200 medical personnel to assist in the gulf war, and 60 medics, engineers, and other troops to assist in the Iraq war. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, they offered to send our country a 25-team member of aid workers, and the Philippines Red Cross donated money. And they are one of our closest allies in the war on terror. When tragedy strikes around the world, Americans don't sit on the sidelines; we help. Our allies in the Philippines are still working on their long-term rebuilding effort, and this bipartisan legislation will make sure that our committees are able to provide the help our friends need for this important phase of rebuilding. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor my good friend, Zelma Long, as she celebrates her 70th birthday. It is not uncommon to be knowledgeable about growing, producing and consuming wine in Napa and Sonoma Counties, but Ms. Long's fame and accomplishments elevate her far above the average. She and her then- husband Bob Long established Long Vineyards in my home town of St. Helena, which the two of them continue to operate today. Here she found her calling in viticulture and in producing some of the finest wines to come out of Napa and Sonoma. She first worked with the legendary Robert Mondavi as Chief Enologist at his winery in Napa County, before becoming Vice President of Business Development at Chandon Estates winery in Napa Valley. Ms. Long moved over to Sonoma County as Vice President and later President and CEO of Simi Winery in Healdsburg. At the time, she was the first woman to assume senior management of a California winery. Ms. Long was the first President of the Americana Vineyard Foundation and one of its founding members. This organization helped finance research in enology and viticulture. She was also a founding member of the American Viticulture and Enology Research Network. In 2000 she established her own international wine consulting business, with clients in California, Washington, Italy, France and Argentina. She and her husband, Dr. Phil Freese, are California joint venture partners in Vilafonte Vineyards in South Africa, the only South African winery to have been nominated twice for designation as ``New World Winery of the Year.'' She has been inducted into the James Beard Hall of Fame, named a California Wine Pioneer by Wine Spectator Foundation, selected to receive one of Italy's most prestigious wine awards, the MASI, and honored as Alumni of the Year by both Oregon State University, where she did her undergraduate work, and the University of California Davis, where she did her graduate work. While continuing to make global wines she finds the time to further her education at UC Davis in a Ph.D. program in Performance Studies and Native American Studies, which she began in the fall of 2009. Mr. Speaker, Zelma Long is a giant in the wine industry, a woman with a long list of accomplishments and a good friend. It is appropriate that we recognize and honor her today and wish her a very Happy 70th Birthday.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Saralee McClellan Kunde, who passed away on January 26, 2014, after 66 remarkable years. Saralee devoted her life to bettering the community and the people she so cherished. She was a tireless and passionate advocate for agriculture in Sonoma County. Raised on her family's dairy ranch, Saralee never wavered from promoting the agricultural legacy into which she was born. She was an impassioned supporter of 4-H and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) as well as of the Sonoma County Fair and the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. She was equally as dedicated to promoting the Russian River Valley as a premiere wine region. Together with her husband, Richard Kunde, Saralee owned and operated a 265-acre vineyard that produced wine grapes for renowned wineries in the Sonoma and Napa Valleys as well as across our Nation. Perhaps most admirable about the Kunde estate was the private park Saralee and Richard created. Once an overgrown field, the park known as ``Richard's Grove and Saralee's Vineyard,'' hosted countless community and charitable events. Aside from her work to promote Sonoma County Agriculture, one of the most poignant examples of Saralee's devotion to bettering her community are the thousands of daffodils she planted each year along the highways and back roads of Sonoma County. Her unwavering passion and dedication to the many causes and organizations she championed was an inspiration to all. And in turn, Saralee was beloved by all those who were fortunate enough to have known her. Saralee was inducted into the Sonoma County Farm Bureau Hall of Fame in 2013. She was honored as a Friend of Agriculture by the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, was awarded the Shining Star Award by the 4-H Foundation as well as with the Leadership in Agriculture Award by the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. Saralee was kind, magnetic and loving. Her zest for life and ``can- do'' attitude were contagious. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank Saralee McClellan Kunde for her life of service to a grateful community.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Master Sergeant Anthony Daniel Cutter upon his retirement from the United States Air Force. I thank him for his twenty years of dedicated and honorable service to our country. Sergeant Cutter was born and raised in Lake County, California. In December, 1993, he joined the United States Air Force. Throughout his career, Sergeant Cutter was stationed across the United States as well as overseas. He was deployed to South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Afghanistan. For his honorable service Sergeant Cutter received two Meritorious Service Medals, one upon his return from Afghanistan in 2011 and the other in Las Vegas in 2014. Throughout his years of service, Sergeant Cutter remained a dedicated husband and father to his four children. When home on leave, he generously volunteered his time to support Operation Tango Mike; an organization that aims to support fellow service men and women by sending care packages to troops stationed overseas. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank Sergeant Cutter for his invaluable service to our country. His twenty years of service with the United States Air Force is both admirable and deserving of recognition. On behalf of a grateful community, I wish him a most enjoyable retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of George W. Koch, who passed away on January 26, 2014, at the age of 87. Mr. Koch spent more than 50 years in Washington, DC. After 6 years as manager of the Washington, DC office of Sears, Roebuck & Co., he took over as President and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) in 1966. During his 24 years with the GMA, he transformed the organization into a leading industry advocacy group. Major efforts during his tenure included the adoption of the Universal Product Code in 1974 and the development of tamper-resistant packaging in 1982. Mr. Koch became known for his passion, his work ethic and his strong sense of morality. In the late 1970s, the Washington Afro-American honored Mr. Koch for his personal efforts to combat wage-skimming at the Congressional Country Club from its minority wait staff. After his retirement from the GMA, he became a partner at K&L Gates. He served on the Board of Directors for Borden Chemicals and Plastics, McCormick & Company, and the Watchdogs of the Treasury; the Advisory Council of the International Executive Service Corps; and the Board of Trustees for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. He also served as North American Counsel for the International Center for Companies of the Food Industry and as Congressional Advisor to the Transatlantic Policy Network. In May of 2013, the Grocery Manufacturers Association chose to honor Mr. Koch with the first-ever George W. Koch Leadership in Public Policy Award, for his decades of service to the organization. This award is now given out annually to exemplary individuals. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank George W. Koch for his years of service, his tireless advocacy, and his exceptional moral character.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. California is facing a severe statewide drought. It is having devastating impacts on families all across our State. This bill will only make things worse for many. It will jeopardize the drinking water for millions of Californians. In my district, families from Contra Costa and Solano Counties get their drinking water from the delta. This supply is already limited due to the extreme drought. This bill wants to pump that limited drinking water south. Doing this would flood the delta with seawater--and people can't drink seawater. That is why this amendment is so important. It simply says that this bill shall not harm the delta's very limited drinking water supply. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the amendment, and I thank the gentleman from Sacramento for bringing it to the floor.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this bill, a bill that would destroy jobs, does nothing to address the real problem, the drought, and ignores more than 20 years of established science. What does the bill do? Will this bill help alleviate the drought? No. Even if we pumped as much water as possible, Central Valley farmers still wouldn't have enough. There simply isn't enough water to go around. We are in an extreme drought, the worst in the last century. You can look at these photographs and see the snow pack last year versus the snow pack this year. We are in bad straits, and it is a drought. It is not a manmade problem, it is a drought. Will this bill kill jobs? Yes. The delta supports thousands of jobs in farming, fishing and tourism and has an economic output of more than $4 billion a year. This bill puts those jobs in jeopardy. Will this bill harm drinking water that millions of people rely on? Yes. When clean water is pumped south, the level of saltwater in the delta increases. People can't drink seawater. The entire State of California is in a drought. You saw it in today's USA Today. There are towns without water. There are more towns in line to lose all the water they have, and it is not due to a lack of pumping because of a ``little fish.'' It is due to the lack of snow and the lack of rain. Now, I know this is personal for many of my colleagues. It is personal for me, too. Many of the towns that I represent are running out of water. My home town is rationing water--65 gallons per person per day. It is a real, real serious problem. I understand the concerns of the Central Valley farmers. Ag is big in my district, too, and this drought is hurting my constituents, as well. Because of these dry conditions, grapevines will experience an early bud this year, and without water to protect the early bud from the frost, we have no crops--out of business. It is a drought that is causing the problem. Proponents of this bill say those who oppose it care more about fish than people. These comments cheapen the debate. They insult the intelligence of Californians and are not based on facts. As UC-Berkeley professor of agriculture and resource economics stated in the paper today, Michael Hanemann, he said that you can kill every fish in the delta and you still would have a real problem. Simply put, this bill is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to use this drought as an excuse to pump water from other users and to do so with zero regard for the people who depend on that water for their livelihoods. It would be more productive for this body to join in a rain dance on the floor today than to pass this bill. Our people--our constituents--deserve better than this politically driven bill. They deserve solutions. I ask for a ``no'' vote on the bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Suzanne Brangham, who has been named the City of Sonoma's 2014 Alcaldesa, or Honorary Mayor. The title ``Alcalde,'' or ``Alcaldessa'' when referring to a woman, is the Spanish word for ``Mayor.'' While the Alcalde was the primary civil authority during the Spanish colonial period in California, in modern times, it is an honorary title bestowed upon invaluable members of the community. Ms. Brangham has lived in Sonoma for 25 years, where she has given back to her community as both a businesswoman and philanthropist. She has founded a number of businesses in Sonoma, including the Ramekins Culinary School, the MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa, and the General's Daughter restaurant, which is located in a Victorian home built by the daughters of Mariano G. Vallejo, the Commander General of California and founder of the City of Sonoma. In addition to revitalizing Sonoma through her business ventures, she authored the bestselling book Housewise, which earned her national interviews and appearances on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and Oprah. Ms. Brangham is as equally dedicated to her philanthropic efforts as she is to her business ventures. Her efforts include promoting local arts--she has worked with the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, the Sebastiani Theatre Alliance, and the Sonoma International Film Festival--and helping the young people of Sonoma Valley through organizations such as Teen Safe Ride, the Mentoring Alliance, and the Sonoma Valley Boys & Girls Clubs. She has also served with the Sonoma Valley Hospital Coalition, the Sonoma Valley Fund, the Lyon Ranch Animal Rescue and Therapy Center as well as Pets Lifeline. Mr. Speaker, Suzanne Brangham is a beloved and vitally important member of the community and it is appropriate that we acknowledge her today as Sonoma's Alcaldesa for 2014.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, on January 27, 2014, I missed rollcall votes Nos. 24 and 25. My flight to Washington was delayed. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: Rollcall No: 24 ``aye.'' Rollcall No: 25 ``aye.''

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor David Whitmer upon his retirement as Agriculture Commissioner and Sealer of Weights and Measures for Napa County. I thank Mr. Whitmer for his thirty-three years of dedicated service to the people of Napa County, during which time his support for agriculture in Napa Valley and the State of California is both admirable and deserving of recognition. Mr. Whitmer was born and raised in Napa Valley. He attended Napa Valley College before transferring to California State University, Chico, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He returned to Napa, where he served the county for thirty-three years, including five four-year terms as Agriculture Commissioner. As Agriculture Commissioner, Mr. Whitmer worked to protect local crops from invasive species, including the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, a major carrier of Pierce's disease. When the European Grapevine Moth was discovered in Napa County in 2009, Mr. Whitmer worked with state, federal and international partners to detect, treat and quarantine the threat. For his efforts, he was awarded the first-ever ``Special Achievement-Manager Award'' from the California Agriculture Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA). During his years of service, Mr. Whitmer took on a leadership role with CACASA, where he served as both President and as Chair of the Pesticide Regulatory Affairs Committee and the Legislation Committee. Now that he has retired, Mr. Whitmer plans to work with Circles USA, a national campaign to combat poverty. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank Mr. Whitmer for his invaluable service to the County of Napa. David Whitmer's unyielding dedication to protecting and promoting agriculture in Napa Valley is greatly appreciated by the entire Napa community and we wish him a most enjoyable retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chief Mark McCormick, who is retiring after more than 20 years of service with the Santa Rosa Fire Department. Mark has been a member of the Santa Rosa Fire Department for more than 20 years, during which time he has served our community in a number of capacities. He has served as a Firefighter, Fire Captain, Fire Inspector as well as the Department's Deputy Fire Chief and City Fire Marshal. Mr. McCormick was appointed Fire Chief on September 1st, 2011. His long and storied career began 32 years ago when he served his country in the United States Air Force in Anchorage, Alaska. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, he began his post- military career in firefighting with both the City of Corona and the Orange County Fire Departments prior to moving to Santa Rosa in 1991. During his tenure with the SRFD Mark saw many successes, including the expansion of the department's service territory with the construction of Fire Station-10 and Station-11. In addition, Mr. McCormick was instrumental in the development of a funding plan for the relocation of Fire Station-5 to Fountaingrove Parkway, which is within a significant Wildland Urban Interface fire zone within the City. Mark also oversaw the implementation of a residential sprinkler ordinance as well as major improvements in public safety communications ensuring that all police and fire communications functioned in all buildings, large and small. These efforts are first hand proof that Chief McCormick's top priority was always the safety of his community. In addition to his work as a public servant, Mark is a former President of the Santa Rosa Firefighters, IAFF Local 1401 where he served on their Executive Board for eight years. In 2003, Mark was honored by labor and management as the Santa Rosa Firefighter of the Year. Mr. Speaker, Mark McCormick has spent more than two decades serving his country and community. It is appropriate that we honor him today for his public service and to wish him well upon his retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the Chief of Police for the City of Santa Rosa, California, Tom Schwedhelm, who is retiring after a 26-year career in law enforcement. Chief Schwedhelm worked as a cadet and then a correctional officer in the Sonoma County Jail prior to graduating from the Santa Rosa Training Center's Police Academy in 1983. In 1996, Tom Schwedhelm was promoted to Sergeant working with Sex Crimes & Family Violence investigations. He also had several collateral assignments: Special Response Unit Team Member and Team Leader; an Instructor in Use of Force, Chemical Agents, and Crowd Control; and an Ethics Facilitator. In 2002 he was promoted to Lieutenant and was promoted to Captain in 2004 as the Captain in charge of both the Field Services Division and the Special Services Division. In March 2009, he was appointed as the Acting Chief of Police; he was subsequently appointed as the official Chief of Police for the City of Santa Rosa on May 3, 2009. Chief Schwedhelm was instrumental in developing one of the first Victim Services Programs, and assisted in the implementation of CHOICES Grant Program, a community-wide effort to address gang violence in the community, as well as the Family Justice Center, the Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force and the Police Department Succession Planning. Chief Schwedhelm is a second generation law enforcement officer. He and his wife, Jackie, have lived in Santa Rosa for 22 years, where they have raised their two children. Mr. Speaker, Chief Schwedhelm has served the City of Santa Rosa well during his distinguished career. It is therefore appropriate that we commend him for his many years of public service and wish him well on his retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor William Francis upon his retirement as a District Attorney Investigator for the County of Napa. I thank Mr. Francis for his more than twenty- eight years of dedicated service to the people of Napa County, during which time his commitment to improving the safety and well-being of the Napa community is both admirable and deserving of recognition. Mr. Francis began his career in public service in 1981 as a reserve police officer with the City of St. Helena. He then went on to work as a Napa County Sherriff's Deputy in 1985 before beginning his career as an Assistant District Attorney Investigator for the County of Napa in 1997. Mr. Francis has also been involved with a wide variety of organizations dedicated to improving the wellbeing of the Napa community. He has been a member of the California Sexual Assault Investigator's Association, California Homicide Investigator's Association, Napa County Homicide Task Force, Tri County Investigator's Association, Western State's Livestock Investigator's Association, California Safe and Burglary Association, Governor's Rural Crime Prevention Task Force and the California Crime Prevention Officer's Association. He is currently a member of the California District Attorney Investigator's Association as well as the National Senior Pro- Rodeo Association. Notably, Mr. Francis won the 2010 Investigator of the Year award given by the California District Attorney Investigator's Association. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank Mr. Francis for his invaluable service to the County of Napa. William Francis' unyielding dedication to making Napa County a safer place to live, work and raise a family is greatly appreciated by the entire Napa community and we wish him a most enjoyable retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Napa Valley Education Foundation as they celebrate their 30th anniversary on December 7th, 2013, at their Annual Taste for Knowledge and Gala Fundraising Event. The Napa Valley Education Foundation (NVEF) deserves recognition for their tireless efforts over the past thirty years to improve the quality of education for all children within the Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD). Since its creation in 1983, the NVEF has demonstrated an admirable commitment to achieving its self-proclaimed vision to create ``great public schools that inspire all children to achieve their potential and become vital members of our community.'' In pursuit of realizing this vision, the NVEF has made significant improvements in the quality of education possible for all students in the NVUSD. Such improvements include the Teacher Grants Program, now known as the Spencer and Colton Grants, which was founded by the NVEF in 1983 and has raised a total of more than $1.5 million to fund the implementation of improved teaching strategies. Additionally, the NVEF has created The Music Connection, which brings music education and exposure to over 3,000 students, as well as the Campaign to Sustain Music, which has raised $85,000 annually over the past three years to sustain the NVUSD's music education programs. The NVEF has also created Tech Connection, a program to assist families in purchasing laptops for their children. Finally, the NVEF coordinates the Teacher of the Year Awards, which recognize and honor exceptional teachers within the NVUSD each year. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank the Napa Valley Education Foundation for their thirty years of unwavering commitment to improving the quality of education for every student within the Napa Valley Unified School District.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Ann C. Noble, an Emerita Professor, Sensory Scientist and Flavor Chemist from the Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis. I honor her today in conjunction with the American Society for Enology and Viticulture, which will be hosting an all day symposium in her honor on January 31, 2014. Over the course of her career, Dr. Noble's research has contributed greatly to the advancement of viticulture and enology. Some of her most notable research conducted while at U.C. Davis was the application of multivariate statistics to sensory data and the creation of a standardized language to describe wine, known as the Wine Aroma Wheel. In addition to this important research, Dr. Noble has also published over 150 papers and book chapters and has taught many students at U.C. Davis through her course, titled ``Wine Types and Sensory Evaluation''. For her work, Dr. Noble has been honored by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture, Decanter magazine, Women for Wine Sense and IntoWine.com. Significantly, Dr. Noble was the first female faculty hired into the Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis. As founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Wine Caucus, I am incredibly proud of, and grateful for, the contributions Dr. Noble has made to viticulture and enology in California. Mr. Speaker, it is therefore appropriate at this time that we acknowledge Dr. Noble for her significant and lasting contributions to the American Wine Industry.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, on December 2, 2013, I missed rollcall votes No. 612-614. My flight to Washington was delayed due to mechanical difficulties. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: Rollcall No: 612: ``aye''; Rollcall No: 613: ``aye''; Rollcall No: 614: ``nay.''

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Richard W. ``Dick'' Abbey, who, along with his law partners at Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery, is a recipient of the Sonoma County Bar Association's 2013 Career of Distinction Award. This is the highest honor presented by the Association and it is, indeed, well deserved. Mr. Abbey has been a member of the law firm of Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery since 1973. Over the course of those 40 years, he has specialized in real estate, commercial and corporate law as well as in financial institution litigation and transactions. In recent years he has focused on representing businesses within the wine industry. As a mediator, he has successfully achieved a number of simple and multi-party mediations that have involved a wide range of business and real estate matters. Mr. Abbey has consistently been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer. Super Lawyers is a rating service that selects outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Mr. Abbey has also been a member of the County Bar Association for 40 years and served a term as president of the organization. He has also been a Professor of Law at Empire College of Law in Santa Rosa, a member of both the State Bar of California and the American Bar Association, President and Member of the Board of the Sonoma County Family YMCA and a Member of the Board of the Redwood Empire Food Bank. Mr. Speaker, Richard ``Dick'' Abbey has been an outstanding attorney in Sonoma County for 40 years. He is respected and held in high esteem by his peers, which is reflected in this honor he has received from the Sonoma County Bar Association. It is therefore appropriate that we honor him today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor W. Barton Weitzenberg, who, along with his law partners at Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery, is a recipient of the Sonoma County Bar Association's 2013 Career of Distinction Award. This is the highest honor presented by the Association and it is, indeed, well deserved. Mr. Weitzenberg has been a practicing attorney in Sonoma County for 35 years and he, along with his law firm, has won more large recoveries for his clients than any other attorney in Sonoma County. Mr. Weitzenberg specializes in representing individuals in their claims against insurance companies and large corporations. For his work, Mr. Weitzenberg has consistently been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer. Super Lawyers is a rating service that selects outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. He is also recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America according to Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. A listing in Best Lawyers conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor. Mr. Weitzenberg has served as President of the Redwood Empire Trial Lawyers Association, the Sonoma County Trial Lawyers Association, the Consumer Attorneys of Sonoma County, the Richard Sangster Inn of American Inns of Court and has been a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is an instructor in Trial Advocacy with the Stanford School of Law and the Empire School of Law in Santa Rosa, California Mr. Weitzenberg's community involvement includes board membership on the Sonoma County YMCA, the Redwood Empire Blood Bank and the California Water Fowl Association. Mr. Speaker, Barton Weitzenberg has been an outstanding attorney in Sonoma County for 35 years. He is respected and held in high esteem by his peers as is reflected in the honor he has received from the Sonoma County Bar Association. It is therefore appropriate that we honor him today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Patrick W. Emery, who, along with his law partners at Abbey, Weitzenberg, Warren & Emery, is a recipient of the Sonoma County Bar Association's 2013 Career of Distinction Award. This is the highest honor presented by the Association and it is, indeed, well deserved. Mr. Emery has been a trial lawyer in Sonoma County for 38 years and is one of the leading plaintiff's attorneys in Northern California specializing in wrongful death, product failures, medical negligence and consumer class action litigation. He has won some of the largest jury verdicts ever awarded in Sonoma County. For his work, Mr. Emery has consistently been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer. Super Lawyers is a rating service that selects outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Mr. Emery has served as President of the Sonoma County Bar Association and as a Judge Pro Tem of the Sonoma County Superior Court. He is a frequent continuing education lecturer on civil litigation and has taught Trial Practice at Empire College of Law in Santa Rosa and currently teaches in the Trial Advocacy Workshop at Stanford Law School. Mr. Emery's community involvement includes service as the President of the Sonoma County Fair and the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County as well as the Chair of the Sonoma County Civil Service Commission. Mr. Speaker, Patrick Emery has been an outstanding attorney in Sonoma County for 38 years. He is respected and held in high esteem by his peers as is reflected in the honor he has received from the Sonoma County Bar Association. It is therefore appropriate that we honor him today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong support of our bipartisan amendment to require GAO to study the impacts of aquatic invasive species, and I thank the committee leadership for including it in the en bloc agreement. Aquatic invasives impose a challenge across our great country. Just to take one example, aquatic mussels such as quagga and zebra mussels have cost more than $5 billion since their introduction in the 1980s. Unfortunately, too often this important problem only receives attention after it is too late. This amendment would be proactive. It would require a timely report to find gaps in current efforts and minimize duplication of activities. Invasive species are a national problem with significant and expensive local implications. More than ever, we need knowledge and guidance on this issue.