Mike Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill. A new poll today suggests that the 9-9-9 campaign theme of the new Republican Presidential front-runner is starting to gain traction. And it appears that the majority has taken a page from the Cain playbook with their 10-10-10 program, because this is the 10th month without a jobs bill on the floor, the 10th time we've put polarizing social issues and attacks on women's health before job creation and economic security, and the 10th attempt at repealing parts or all of the Affordable Care Act. This bill creates no jobs, it doesn't help the economy, and it inserts the government smack in the middle of people's health care decisions. I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill and urge the majority to get to work helping the economy and creating jobs.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to place my statement in the Record.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. As we see more and more flower farms and greenhouses closing all over California, this reminds us of the last time we did business with Colombia. This agreement is anti-family business and it's anti-American jobs. I urge a ``no'' vote on the Colombia trade bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Colombia trade bill. Trade agreements must be balanced, facilitating reciprocal two-way trade between nations. It's absolutely necessary that we also take into consideration small, family-owned, domestic industries that are sensitive to cheap foreign imports. Unfortunately, the Colombia trade bill falls flat in accomplishing these goals. For more than 20 years, Colombia has benefited from the duty-free access to the U.S. market under the Andean Trade Preference Act. At the same time, some Colombian industries have received big government subsidies from the Colombian Government, and oftentimes our own U.S. foreign aid dollars benefit them. These policies have slowly eroded one of California's most unique and innovative industries. California is home to the vast majority of domestic cut-flower growers in the United States of America. They account for more than 10,000 jobs across our State and represent hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity every year. Because of these failed trade policies, Colombia now has a stranglehold on 75 percent of the U.S. cut-flower market, creating a marketplace dominated by cheap foreign flowers, produced with cheap, unregulated labor. This puts our small family-owned businesses at an extreme disadvantage. You can't tell me that it's cheaper to import flowers from Colombia than it is to grow them in our own backyard. I drive through northern California on a very regular basis and see collapsed, dilapidated, and unused greenhouses littering the small towns and rural communities of California. It's clear this industry has taken a major hit over the last few decades due to this flawed trade policy.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mrs. Pamela Ann Cochrane, a resident and servant of the County of Lake for over three decades and among the most cherished and appreciated members of her community. Mrs. Cochrane has been a public servant for 40 years, beginning her career of service in Lake County as an accountant in the Auditor- Controller's Office in 1980. Since that time her responsibilities and contributions have only increased. She became a supervising accountant in 1988, was promoted to Chief Deputy Auditor-Controller in 1994, served as Interim County Clerk/Auditor-Controller in 1998, and was successfully elected by the citizens of Lake County to the post of County Clerk/Auditor-Controller in 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010. Always a leader who valued versatility and adaptability among her staffers, Mrs. Cochrane made good on her campaign promise to ``cross train all employees of the Auditor-Controller's Office,'' and is regarded by many of her colleagues and peers as an outstanding boss and coworker, and a great friend. She has always been quick to champion the accomplishments of her staff and department, which has won awards for excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officer's Association and the State Controller's Office. Mrs. Cochrane is also a model citizen and an enduring participant in a number of community organizations and groups. She is treasurer and a long-time member of the Lake County Hospice Board of Directors, a very active member of the Lakeport Rotary Club, a proud mother of three and grandmother of four. Therefore, Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I believe it is appropriate at this time that we commend and applaud the tremendous contributions that my friend, Mrs. Cochrane, has made to the County of Lake and her fellow members of that community. We wish to extend to her our deepest gratitude and best wishes for many years of happy retirement with her husband, James.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Kim Clymire, Public Services Director for the County of Lake where he has lived and worked as a public servant for more than 30 years. In his time working for Lake County, Mr. Clymire has spearheaded a number of groundbreaking projects and has been a member or leader of several community groups focused on improving the quality of public resources enjoyed by the residents of the region. He was a founding member of the Lake County Land Trust Board of Directors, was a Board member, 1986-1990, and President, 1990, of the California Park and Recreation Society District 1. In his terminal position as Public Services Director, Mr. Clymire has been in charge of the county's Parks and Recreation program, the county's Integrated Waste Management program, the county's Museums and the Buildings and Grounds Division. For several years he was in charge of the county's Office of Emergency Services, OES, and managed OES operations during several natural disasters. Mr. Clymire was also in charge of the county's Visitor Information Center for three years. Mr. Clymire has been very successful in writing grant proposals through which funding has been obtained to develop new parks and other county facilities. He was instrumental in the acquisition and development of several new county parks during his career, including the Kelseyville Community Park, Upper Lake Community Park, Clearlake Oaks Nylander Park, Hammond Park in Nice, Lower Lake Park, and the 107- acre nature preserve known as the Middletown Trailside Park. He was also heavily involved in the acquisition of 1,520 acres of land on Mt. Konocti which will be preserved for future generations. The new Mt. Konocti Park will be opening to the public on September 24, 2011, shortly before Mr. Clymire's retirement on October 3. Known widely and in high esteem by his friends, colleagues and other members of the community--especially for his friendly nature and good sense of humor--Mr. Clymire has made an impressive and indelible contribution to the landscape of Lake County and to the lives of the people who live there. He is deserving of our praise and gratitude, without reservation. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time for us to congratulate, thank and applaud Mr. Clymire for his remarkable career of public service. We wish him and his wife, Olga, much happiness and fortune in their retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Charles Krug Winery, Napa Valley's oldest and most historic winemaking establishment, and among the region's most highly acclaimed and admired firms. Charles Krug will be celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and in so doing will salute the century and a half of rich traditions and extraordinary wines cultivated under the esteemed brand. In its long, storied history, Charles Krug has played host to and benefitted greatly from the hard work and immense accomplishments of some of the most famous and brilliant Wine Country luminaries. Among them were founder Charles Krug himself, Robert Mondavi, proprietor Peter Mondavi, Sr., and the current winemakers, brothers Peter, Jr., and Marc Mondavi. Today, the winery produces a line of super-premium and reserve wines, all made with estate-grown, sustainably farmed fruit from each of Napa Valley's esteemed sub-appellations: St. Helena, Cameros, Howell Mountain and Yountville. Charles Krug was the first outfit in the Napa Valley to implement a handful of revolutionary techniques and technologies including the use of the cider press in 1858, the differentiation of product labels by vintage and varietal, the use of glass-lined tanks and the use of French oak barrels in 1963. The winery's estate vineyards have also been the sites of some historic innovations in the field of viticulture. Krug was the first vintner to purchase and develop vineyard land in the Howell Mountain area of Napa Valley. Peter Mondavi, Sr., avoided a costly replanting of the winery's vineyards when he bucked industry and rejected recommendations to plant the AXR1 rootstock, which was later found to be vulnerable to industry-ravaging phylloxera damage. More impressive still, he was among the first vintners to develop vineyards in and around Carneros, demonstrating that Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot wines made from the grapes of this sub-appellation could reach high standards of quality. Though Charles Krug Winery emerged as an early leader in the Napa Valley wine community, the company's commitment to serving the greater needs of the industry has always been a constant. Krug founded the St. Helena Viticultural Society in 1875, and assisted shortly thereafter with the establishment of the Napa and Sonoma Wine Company, a collaborative effort between producers to improve the quality of wine shipped to the East Coast. Today, after a century and a half's worth of work, the Charles Krug brand retains its place as one of the premier winemaking establishments in the Napa Valley region with a portfolio of wines that compete with the highest ranks of the national and international arenas. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time for us to congratulate and applaud the proprietors and staff of Charles Krug Winery for their outstanding and ongoing work, embodying and representing some of the best that Napa Valley and California have to offer. We wish them all much success in the future.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) at the University of California, Davis. ITS-Davis is the world's leading university research center on sustainable transportation. Through research, education, outreach, and the use of advanced models and analytical techniques, the Institute develops business and public- policy strategies for a healthy transportation future. When ITS-Davis was established in 1991, alternative fuels and vehicles were nowhere near commercial reality. California's Zero Emission Vehicle mandate had just been adopted. Hybrid cars were the stuff of dreams. Founding director Dr. Daniel Sperling, a UC Davis engineering professor, wanted to build an academic institute where several academic worlds--engineering, social science and public policy--would merge; where modelers and lab technicians shared ideas with consumer-behavior and marketing experts; and where academia engaged with industry and government to craft creative real-world solutions to help transport people and goods to make the world a better place. Today, the Institute is the world's leading university center on sustainable transportation. It has more than 60 affiliated faculty and researchers, 125 graduate students, and $12 million in annual research funding. ITS-Davis has redefined transportation research with its unique multidisciplinary approach encompassing transportation technology, fuels, basic science, human behavior and public policy. At the core of ITS-Davis' success are its strong partnerships with the automobile and energy industries; governments here and abroad; and the environmental community. Together they integrate research with university and public education, for the benefit of all of us. The Institute has been an innovative and inspirational leader in helping California and the nation envision, develop and implement pioneering public activities that unite transportation stakeholders in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Those include: California's Assembly Bill 1493, which required rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light-duty trucks (2002); the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32), which set goals to cut emissions statewide to 1990 levels by 2020; the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (2007); the Sustainable Communities Planning Act (SB 375), intended to reduce the vehicle miles an average family travels (2008); the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Research Roadmap (2011); and the U.S. Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which is now nearing completion. Throughout, the Institute has been an essential partner to our federal agencies, working on cleaner systems, fuels and vehicles with scientists and policy planners at the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Energy and Agriculture, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We also benefit from the Institute's work as forum leader and collaboration builder. Earlier this month, ITS-Davis hosted the 13th biennial Asilomar Conference for the U.S. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. This is the highest-caliber international conference dedicated to transportation-sector energy issues. The Asilomar meeting exemplifies how the Institute's inclusive approach creates the basis for constructive long-term dialogue. Our country's transportation future shows great promise, in part because of what ITS-Davis has accomplished over the past 20 years. After 100 years of reliance on the internal combustion engine, today we see hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles everywhere, with plug-in electric vehicles coming up fast. On the horizon are vehicles powered by biofuels, electric batteries and hydrogen; intelligently planned cities where walking replaces driving; and transit networks that let us travel between communities quickly and cleanly. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time for us to congratulate and thank the faculty, students, staff and supporters of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis, who have done so much to ensure that our transportation options are sustainable and secure. We wish them continued success in their second 20 years.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 1892, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, as amended by the manager's amendment. As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis, and Counterintelligence, I am pleased that we were able to work together to bring a bipartisan Intelligence authorization bill to the floor today. H.R. 1892 will support critical U.S. intelligence capabilities by strengthening funding for our intelligence collection programs, enhancing counterintelligence efforts, and improving upon critical training operations vital to the future of the intelligence community. This legislation also includes two provisions that I authored. The first provision requires the Director of National Intelligence to compile a threat assessment of foreign drug traffickers that are increasingly turning to public lands in the United States to further their operations. Last year alone, over 3 million marijuana plants were eradicated on 62 of our national forests. The effect of these illegal drugs' growth has been profound, leading to unacceptable levels of violence and the devastation of our environment and our natural resources. Our public lands have been taken away from us. This is wrong, and it must be stopped. This threat assessment will examine the ability of law enforcement and the intelligence community to gather, process, and share critical intelligence information regarding the presence of foreign drug traffickers on our Federal public lands. This coordination between the intelligence community and local law enforcement is extremely important. The second provision that I authored requires the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency to provide Congress with a full report on the events surrounding the May 2011 Osama bin Laden raid. This record, once complete, will provide an official account of a critical point in our country's history. We are all proud of the intelligence community's extraordinary effort in carrying out the bin Laden operation. I believe it is necessary that we never forget what actually happened in the raid and to be able to recognize the amazing contribution of the intelligence community and this important success. The historical significance of this mission cannot be understated. That's why we must make a determined effort to document and preserve all that went into this operation so that in the future the history books will be accurate and complete. I would like to just take a moment to thank my friend, a former committee colleague of ours, Representative Eshoo, for her work on this important part of the bill. Madam Chair, our intelligence community must be prepared for any and all threats. While Osama bin Laden may no longer pose a direct threat to our country's safety and security, the remaining elements of al Qaeda and other emerging terrorist organizations are more determined than ever. It is critical for Congress to pass an Intelligence authorization that furthers our national security, which I believe this bill, with a manager's amendment, will do. This legislation is necessary, will enhance the capabilities of the intelligence community, specifically our counterterrorism efforts, and will make our Nation stronger. I urge my colleagues to support the amended bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life, civic accomplishments and exemplary public service of Jere Melo, city council member and former mayor of the City of Fort Bragg on the Mendocino Coast. Jere Melo, 69, a personal friend of mine who was tragically murdered on August 27, 2011, leaves a bigger than life swath throughout this beautiful coastal town. Born and raised in Mount Shasta in northwestern California, Jere Melo received a degree in forestry from the University of California at Berkeley in 1964. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army and served in South Korea and completed six years as a commander in the Army Reserves. In 1966 he moved to Fort Bragg where he worked in the local lumber mill. A much admired and loved father, brother, uncle, and devoted husband, Jere was married to the love of his life, Madeleine, for twenty-four years. Jere Melo is known for using his personable skills to get things done in a cooperative way while all the while pursuing renewable methods to keep jobs in the forests. With his affable nature, ready smile and indefatigable energy, Jere Melo was a gentle giant of a man who used multiple approaches to listening to all sides and resolving problems, thus gaining the respect of many facets of the community. Jere was the mayor of Fort Bragg from 2000 until 2004 and on the city council for the past 15 years. In addition he has served on the Planning Commission, the Public Safety Committee, the Fire Protection Agency, the League of California Cities and was a leader of the Coastal Cities Issues Group. For many years, Jere, known as the ``grill master'' coordinated the cooks for the World's Largest Salmon Barbecue, a benefit for salmon restoration. In 2002, he was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Redwood Region Logging Conference for his decades of work in and on behalf of the timber industry. Among his crowning achievements was spearheading the fundraising for the new Timberwolf High School stadium. He was an instrumental and valuable supporter of the Fort Bragg Fire Department. And he delighted animal lovers with his support and work for the local dog park and the animal shelter. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, Jere Melo has earned the admiration and respect of his peers, his community and his family. A gentleman, a forester, a facilitator and someone who easily worked with differing viewpoints, Jere embodied what every citizen wishes from a political representative. He was a friend and colleague whose legacy and contributions are long lasting not only in Fort Bragg but throughout the Northern California coast and timber country. For these reasons, it is appropriate that we honor an extraordinary citizen, Jere Melo.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Mrs. Jennifer Castelazo, a truly remarkable person who has been chosen to be the Napa County Teacher of the Year for 2012. Mrs. Castelazo has always had a profound love for teaching and it is clearly visible with her students. She has been teaching Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, and Advanced Placement Chemistry at Vintage High School since 1998. Born in Massachusetts but raised in Livermore, California, she obtained an undergraduate degree in microbiology and her Master's of Science in food science and nutrition at California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo. She is a credentialed teacher in Physical and Life Science. Throughout her teaching career, Mrs. Castelazo has volunteered for leadership positions on her campus, including twice participating on Western Association of Schools and Colleges leadership teams and serving as the 9th grade House lead teacher. She has supported student enrichment activities, serving as advisor to the Adventure Club, the GREEN Club, and senior class. Mrs. Castelazo has also led student sports, coaching Junior Varsity Girls' Soccer, Boys' Varsity Tennis and teaching the foreign exchange student summer program physical education course. Mrs. Castelazo has been married for 15 years to Mark Castelazo. She is the mother of 12-year-old Maddie, 9-year-old Connor, and 7-year-old Ethan, and is often seen coaching her daughter's soccer games on Saturday mornings. Mrs. Castelazo makes herself available to all students to ensure they are achieving their highest potential and works to ignite a passion for the sciences. She is a natural teacher and a leader among her peers. It is therefore appropriate that we honor her at this time for her service to Napa students and the community.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Debbe Hartridge and Ira Blatt, two extraordinary citizens of Humboldt County, California, who have dedicated their lives to public service. The husband and wife team are being honored by the Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee as 2011 Citizens of the Year for one of our nation's most precious rights--participation in the political system. Their commitment to the general health and welfare of the community and to the preservation of our liberty is worthy of appreciation and recognition. Mrs. Hartridge is director of information, education and public affairs for Six Rivers Planned Parenthood, where she has worked for the past 20 years. She has served as President of the Humboldt County Integrated Waste Task Force, as an elected member of the Humboldt County Board of Education, and as President and Chair of the Education Committee for the Six Rivers Planned Parenthood Board of Directors. Mrs. Hartridge's work on reproductive rights has been honored with the Planned Parenthood Federation Affiliate Excellence Award for Education programs in 2000 and by the Association of Planned Parenthood Leaders in Education Award for Courage and Creativity in 2002. Mr. Blatt is an attorney-at-law who opened a private practice law firm in 1974, serving primarily injured workers and disabled individuals. He received awards from the California Bar Association and the Humboldt County Bar Association for his pro-bono work. Mr. Blatt served 16 years as an elected board member for Arcata Elementary School District, and on the board of Redwood Legal Assistance for 25 years. He was Board President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness for four years beginning in 2000, and remains an active member. He has also served as a member of the Arcata Economic Development Board. These outstanding individuals have been vital contributors to the Humboldt County community for years. Mrs. Hartridge has four daughters, and the couple share four grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize Debbe Hartridge and Ira Blatt for their unwavering compassion and for their contribution to the ideals and traditions that have made America a nation of hope and achievement.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of community member Dr. Robert L. Moore for his 16 years of work with Clinic Ole, in Napa, California. Dr. Moore studied at the University of California-Berkeley, where he majored in biochemistry. He later went on to earn a Master's degree in Public Health from Columbia University and a Medical degree from the University of California San Francisco Medical School. In 1995, two years after graduating medical school, he joined Clinic Ole, a small non-profit clinic which served 4,000 patients a year at the time. In 1998, Dr. Moore was given the position of Medical Director and the clinic had expanded its capacity to serve 15,000 patients annually. Since then, Clinic Ole has continued to experience rapid growth due to Dr. Moore's leadership and tireless commitment to provide compassionate and high quality health care. He was the driving force behind the clinic's implementation of electronic health records and the re-engineering of patient visits, which allows the clinic to provide same-day or same-week appointments for all patients, which now number more than 22,000 each year. Dr. Moore has served on the Board of Directors of Healthy Moms and Babies, and is the Medical Director for Redwood Community Health Coalition, a coalition of community health centers across northern California. Over the years, his passion for community health has led him to win several awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Napa County Hispanic Network in 2008 and the Hero Award from the California Primary Care Association in 2009. Dr. Moore is being recognized for his many achievements in providing high quality health care to Napa County residents, and for his role as a dedicated teacher and mentor to the Clinic Ole staff. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we acknowledge Dr. Robert L. Moore for his 16 years of devoted service to the Napa Valley Community.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleague, Lynn Woolsey, to recognize and honor J Vineyards and Winery of Healdsburg, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. J was conceived and developed by Judy Jordan, an exuberant, fiercely independent 25-year-old who saw an opening in Sonoma County's wine landscape for a high quality, all-American sparkling wine brand. It was a lofty goal for a product that was first made in an old, ramshackle prune processing barn that routinely flooded when the nearby Russian River overflowed. From those humble beginnings, J sparkling wines have become some of the finest in the world. The winery's J Vintage Brut is a fixture on high profile wine lists and top hotels around the world. Queen Elizabeth sipped J at the White House. Mikhail Gorbachev spoke of world peace with a glass of J in his hand, and J sparkling wines were the official celebratory bubbles of the Academy Awards Governors Ball for 4 consecutive years. To produce this remarkable wine, Ms. Jordan and her team rely on ten distinctive vineyard estate properties located throughout the Russian River Valley Appellation. These vineyards have at least 20 different soil profiles, with each vineyard displaying a different soil type and distinctive microclimate. This diversity allows J winemakers to coax the best flavor characteristics from each vineyard. Ms. Jordan also came to the realization that her vineyards would also be ideal for producing site-specific, cool-climate Russian River Valley varietal wines such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris in addition to her sparkling wines. These wines were added to the portfolio and have become immensely popular products. J's ten estate wines will be ``Certified Sustainable'' in 2012 by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. After a number of energy savings initiatives were implemented throughout the winery, J was named a ``Green Winery'' in 2010. One of the first wineries to offer food and wine pairings to visitors in the ``Bubble Room,'' J was also named ``Best Winery Tasting Room'' by Sunset Magazine in 2009. Mr. Speaker, from its humble beginnings, J Vineyards and Winery has become an international success story and one of the linchpins of the Sonoma County wine industry. It is therefore appropriate that we honor them today on their Silver Anniversary.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleague, Lynn Woolsey, to honor the Sonoma County Indian Health Project on its 40th anniversary, celebrated August 19, 2011. Sonoma County Indian Health Project was founded in 1971 to provide health care to the Native American population residing in Sonoma County. Since its establishment, the Indian Health Project has grown considerably, serving evident unmet needs in our community and leading to its move into the large, modern health care facility it occupies today. Through its relationship with the California Area Indian Health Service, the Sonoma County Indian Health Project assists in serving not only a large Native American population, but also a non-Indian population lacking sufficient access to care. Hundreds of families and individuals from communities across our region seek care at the facility each year, from traditional medical or dental treatment to nutritional consultation or transportation services for those in isolated areas. Supported by the Cloverdale, Dry Creek, Lytton, Graton, Manchester- Point Area, and Stewarts Point Rancherias, the Indian Health Project also puts an emphasis on providing its services in a manner that respects and contributes to Indian culture. It is a symbol of the strength and determination of our Native American community and a proud part of what makes our region unique. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join us in thanking the Sonoma County Indian Health Project for its longstanding contributions to the health and welfare of Sonoma County, and in wishing the organization many more years of success.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of retiring California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Bunger, for his outstanding service in Napa County, California. Mr. Bunger was born on Travis Air Force Base in 1959. He attended Napa Valley College and Cavalry Chapel Bible School, and later obtained his Federal Aviation Administration Pilot's Certificate and graduated from the California Highway Patrol Academy. Mr. Bunger has been a dedicated member of the California Highway Patrol for 29 years, 24 of which he served in Napa County. He has also been honored with the position of CHP Flight Officer Golden Gate Division Air Operations Unit with the Napa County Airport and served as the Public Affairs Officer for the highway patrol from 1995 to 2001. Having grown up in Napa, Mr. Bunger has a deep sense of community and has chosen to get involved in projects which would improve the lives of Napa citizens. One of these projects was a program called ``Every 15 Minutes,'' which simulates alcohol-related driving accidents and their aftermath at high schools throughout the state. His other projects include ``Lights for Life,'' a sobriety challenge, ``CHiP's for Kids,'' a Christmas toy drive, a high school driving program at Sears Point Raceway, and a Child SafetySeat Program. Mr. Bunger is well known in the Napa Valley community for his wit and sharp sense of humor. He is fortunate enough to be surrounded by his loving family and life-long friends. He and his wife of 26 years, Laura, currently reside in Napa. Their two children Rebekah, age 20, and Joel, age 18, are both currently attending college. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we acknowledge Mark Bunger for his decades of devoted service to the Napa Valley community on this day.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, together with my colleague, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, to recognize Sandy Covall- Alves, who is retiring after three decades in the emergency management field. Throughout her 30 years of service, including 16 as Emergency Manager for Sonoma County's Fire and Emergency Services Department and the Sonoma County Operational Area, she dedicated herself to making sure that people in her charge were safe and received the resources they needed in the wake of natural disasters. During her tenure in Sonoma County, Ms. Covall-Alves coordinated the response, recovery and mitigation efforts for the 1995-1999 and 2006 winter storms and floods, the 1996 Cavedale fire and the 1998 Rio Nido debris flow. In total, she oversaw the implementation of 14 local emergency proclamations, 12 Emergency Operations Center activations, 8 gubernatorial proclamations and 6 events that were designated by the President to be national disasters. Ms. Covall-Alves was also the guiding force in establishing, implementing and coordinating emergency programs for the country, its cities and special districts. Her commitment to improving emergency management did not stop at the county line. She is a founding member and current Chair of the California Operational Area Coalition (COAC), a forum for information exchange and advocacy on emergency management issues. The coalition's mission is to enhance closer cooperation and collaboration with its members and with the State Emergency Management Agency. Ms. Covall-Alves began her career in emergency management as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Department. After developing disaster recovery plans for private businesses, she returned to public service with the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services and from there was deployed to the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Southern California as part of the state's mutual aid program. She joined the Sonoma County Office of Emergency Services in 1995 and quickly became an integral part of the county's response and recovery team. Our offices appreciated working with her, knowing that she was the consummate professional who could use all of her connections to develop a coordinated response. Mr. Speaker, Sandy Covall-Alves has had a long and distinguished career in serving and protecting the people of the State of California. We wish her well in her retirement as she enjoys time with her husband, Ron Alves, and their three special pets, Beesley, Mowse and Wilson.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, the amendment before us today corrects a terrible flaw in the underlying bill, a provision that prohibits the endangered species from being listed as endangered. This provision is so bad that it would be funny but for the dangerous effect it would have on imperiled species on the brink of extinction and struggling to survive. The previous speaker was eloquent in his discussion about the bald eagle. Let's think about what would have happened had this measure been law 44 years ago. The American bald eagle, our national bird and symbol, would be gone. In the 1960s, there were less than 450 nesting pairs of bald eagles. But thanks to the Endangered Species Act, this national symbol was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. And now there are nearly 10,000 nesting pair of bald eagles. Maybe some of my colleagues side with those who wanted our national bird to be a turkey. But I think I speak for most Americans when I say that I am proud that we saved this national treasure, the American bald eagle, from extinction. Had this rider been the law of the land in 1979, the American alligator would most likely be gone. But because of the ESA protections, the American alligator population has grown to more than 2 million and continues to thrive, helping local economies throughout the southeast. The Aleutian goose is another example of the success of the Endangered Species Act. Back in 1967, there were no more than a few hundred of these birds. But thanks to the ESA, the Aleutian goose was fully recovered and successfully delisted in 2001, with a population of more than 100,000 birds in 2008. So successful was the ESA recovery effort that the Aleutian goose is not only thriving, but also being hunted in my district. Just this past hunting season alone, 1,700 acres of land were made available to hunters by the California Department of Fish and Game, not only pleasing the hunters, but helping the local economy as well. Other animals that have made a tremendous recovery while listed under the Endangered Species Act include the California condor, the black- footed ferret, and the whooping crane. And of great importance to my district, we are seeing signs of healthy recovery for ESA-listed salmon. This impacts other fishing States as well. Ironically, this deeply flawed provision does allow funding for the Fish and Wildlife Service to delist recovered species under the act. However, you can't remove protections for recovered species unless they are listed as endangered in the first place and a successful recovery plan is implemented. This measure puts the cart before the horse. Our bipartisan amendment, which is supported by more than 60 organizations, would strike this extreme provision. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of this Earth and prevent the extinction of wildlife, plants, and fish. The sad truth is that once we lose a species, we will never get it back. That's why we need to allow for science-based policies and recovery plans for imperiled species instead of allowing politics to drive listing decisions and activities. I recognize that some of my colleagues have strong objections to the Endangered Species Act. But placing a spending rider on this year's Interior appropriation bill is not the answer. If real reform is needed, then let's have an honest debate in the authorizing committee to look at what is working and what's not working under the Endangered Species Act. And let's fix it. That's a far wiser course than including an extreme policy change that goes back on America's promise to protect our most vulnerable animals and plants and would not be supported by the American public. I ask that we support the Dicks amendment, this bipartisan amendment, and make sure that we take this extreme policy out of the underlying bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

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

Mr. THOMPSON of California. I suggest we do it in the authorizing bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. I thank the gentleman.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Remember, you are very well aware of the salmon issue and how there have been a number of attempts over the matter of water that, if they had been successful, had it not been for the Endangered Species Act, there wouldn't be any fish, because without water, as you know, there are no fish.