Mike Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I came down to the floor to speak about this bill because it's incredibly important to jobs in America, jobs in my district, jobs across this country. My good friend, the ranking member, Mr. Camp--and I say ``good friend'' because we work together on a lot of things in a bipartisan manner and are able to accomplish a lot--mentioned that what's happening today is what's important to Americans, and what's happening today is important to this bill. Right outside of my district, Sacramento International Airport was able to get $480 million worth of bonding authority because of the AMT provision that's in this bill, and they were able to put that into that airport reconstruction/renovation that they're doing, a $1.1 billion total job that created 1,200 jobs in that immediate area. It gave us the type of infrastructure and public airport facility that will go on to create jobs today and tomorrow and on into the future. It's very, very important. The Build America Bonds part of this bill is extremely important. There were two areas in my district that relied on this. It has created jobs, and it has improved the area. The Napa County school system was able to use $22 million worth of Build America Bonds to do important work in the schools, renovating the classrooms, expanding the campuses to be able to have a good spot for students to be able to learn, creating jobs today as they go forward. UC Davis, University of California, Davis, in my district, they were able to use Build America Bonds to create $48 million worth of expansion, renovation and deferred maintenance on that campus. They have done everything from deferred maintenance to the expansion of the physical sciences building, creating jobs and improving the campus and the infrastructure for many generations to take advantage of.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. So today when this bill is up, say ``yes'' to American jobs, say ``yes'' to important American infrastructure and say ``no'' to the tax dodge that would preclude us from being able to put good jobs on the forefront today.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Celia Kupersmith, who is resigning after 11 years of service as General Manager of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District in Northern California. A native Texan, Celia Kupersmith attended Southwest Texas State University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Planning, followed by a Master's Degree in Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the Bridge District in 1999, Ms. Kupersmith served as Executive Director of the Regional Transportation Commission in Reno, Nevada. As General Manager, Celia Kupersmith has led an organization that comprises the landmark Golden Gate Bridge and two public transit systems, including a network of almost 200 buses and five ferries serving the North Bay Area and San Francisco County. Under her direction, approximately 825 employees serve more than 50 million Bridge and transit customers, as well as six million tourists each year. During her tenure, Ms. Kupersmith moved the Bridge District forward in many ways, including leading efforts to seismically retrofit the Bridge, now two-thirds complete; enhance overall security of the Bridge; transform Golden Gate Ferry services into an expeditious 30 minute crossing; lead the introduction of new technology including FasTrak and TransLink; and improve internal business operations and long-term financial stability. Celia Kupersmith has also been active in various professional organizations including serving as Chair of the American Public Transportation Association and on various committees of the International Bridge, Tunnel, and Turnpike Association. She has been a member of the Mineta Transportation Institute's Board of Directors, the Transit Cooperative Research Project Selection Committee, and the National Transportation Institute's Advisory Board. Ms. Kupersmith leaves the Bridge District to pursue a new career as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sound Transit in the Seattle, Washington area where she will oversee the construction and operation of commuter and light rail systems, as well as a regional commuter bus service. Madam Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor Celia Kupersmith for her extraordinary contributions to the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway, and Transportation District. I thank Ms. Kupersmith for her service and join her colleagues in wishing her continued success in her new career.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Robert Steinhauer, who is being honored as the Napa County Farm Bureau's 2010 Agriculturalist of the Year. Mr. Steinhauer and his family have a long and storied history in California agriculture. He first found his way to the Napa Valley in 1971, serving as Vineyard Manager for Napa Valley Vineyard Company. In 1979, he joined Beringer Blass Wine Estates and served as senior vice president of vineyard operations for over 25 years. During his tenure, he was responsible for farming operations on over 10,400 acres of vineyards in five counties. He also managed grape purchases from over 400 growers for one of the Napa Valley's legendary wine companies. Today he is president and part owner of Wineland Consulting and is still a farmer; he owns 20 acres of raisin vineyards in Fresno. Mr. Steinhauer's 2010 Agriculturalist of the Year Award is one of many he has earned during his distinguished career. He was the recipient of the 1983 Foremost McKesson California Vintner Award, 1978 Fresno State Viticulture Alumni Award, Copia 2004 Winegrower of the Year Award, 2005 Wine Integrity Award and the 2008 Merit Award from the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. Robert is known as one of the kindest and most generous people in the industry. His legacy will be carried on by his daughter Anne, who continues the family agricultural tradition with the Napa Valley Vintners Association. This honor is long overdue and I am fortunate to be able to call Mr. Steinhauer a friend. Madam Speaker and colleagues, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize my dear friend Robert Steinhauer for his countless contributions to California agriculture. The Napa Valley and the entire agricultural community owe him an enormous debt of gratitude. He is a true giant in the industry. I join his wife Verna, daughter Anne and son Erik in wishing him continued success and fulfillment.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend Kathryn Winter on the occasion of her retirement as executive director of Fair Housing Napa Valley in Napa County, California. Kathryn's leadership will be truly missed by her colleagues, the people of Napa County, and all of the organizations around Northern California that heavily relied on her immense knowledge and experience in public service. Mrs. Winter is a native San Franciscan who graduated from Lowell High School. She received her bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley and her masters from Stanford University. Mrs. Winter has dedicated her life to serving her community. She began her career of public service as an English instructor on the Navajo and Hopi Indian reservations, Napa Valley College and Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, California. Prior to her current position, she served honorably as a town councilmember in Yountville, California and as a Napa County supervisor. She also brought her talents to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. In her 6\1/2\ years as executive director of Fair Housing Napa Valley, she has worked tirelessly to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equal housing opportunity for all people through leadership, education, conciliation, outreach, advocacy and enforcement. Under Kathryn's leadership, Fair Housing Napa Valley emerged as a powerhouse in the local non-profit community. She raised over $1.8 million, expanded the program from one to five staff members, doubled caseload and tripled revenues. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize Kathryn Winter for her many years of service to Napa County, California, and to thank her for her many contributions to our community. I know she will continue to make the Napa Valley a better place during this next phase of her life. I join her husband Mick, her daughter Joanna and our colleagues in wishing her the best as she moves on to future challenges.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, on July 1, 2010, I was unavoidably unable to cast my vote for rollcall 416 due to an important meeting with a constituent. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Lynn Woolsey, to honor and pay tribute to Frank Kappeler, one of eight surviving members of ``Doolittle's Raiders'' who passed away Wednesday, June 23, 2010, in Santa Rosa, California at the age of 96. Lieutenant Colonel Kappeler was one of 79 U.S. Army Corps aviators who volunteered to fly the daring bombing mission over Japan four months after the surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. Sixteen B-25 bombers and the men aboard launched from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific on April 18, 1942, and headed for Japan, knowing that they did not have enough fuel to return and even if they could get back, the large bombers were not able to land on the American carriers. Lt. Col. Kappeler was the navigator on the No. 11 plane and was forced to bail out over China when the plane's engines stopped at 11,000 feet. Chinese partisans helped Lt. Col. Kappeler and his crew mates escape capture by Japanese forces. He eventually escaped from China and spent the rest of WWII in the European theater, where he flew 53 combat missions. He retired from the Air Force in 1966 as a Lieutenant Colonel. The Doolittle Raid was a significant episode in the war in the Pacific because it demonstrated to both the American and Japanese people that Japan was not invincible and that American forces could and would strike the Japanese homeland. All of the planes participating in the raid were lost and 11 crewmen were killed or captured. Lt. Col Kappeler is survived by his wife of 53 years, Betty Kappeler, his daughter, Francia Kappeler, and three grandchildren, all of Santa Rosa, California. Madam Speaker, Lt. Col. Frank Kappeler is a true American hero who served his country with great distinction. It is therefore appropriate that we honor him today and send our condolences to his family.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, on June 8, 2010, I was unavoidably unable to cast my votes for rollcall 337 and rollcall 338 due to a delayed flight. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker I rise today to recognize Randy Collins who is retiring after 30 years in fire services in California, the last seven of which have been as Chief of the Healdsburg Fire Department. Chief Collins began his career in 1980 as a volunteer with the Arcata Fire Protection District while attending Humboldt State University. Upon graduation, he moved to San Jose and began work in the electronics industry and joined the Campbell Fire Department as a reserve fire fighter. He became a full-time fire fighter in 1987 when he joined the Healdsburg Fire Department. He moved up through the ranks from Fire Captain and Fire Engineer to Fire Marshall until he was named Chief in 2003. While at Healdsburg, Chief Collins established the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, began a local fire academy to improve the skills and training for reserve staff, increased full-time staff and worked with neighborhood groups to develop fire safety counsels. Chief Collins actively participated in the community as a member of the Healdsburg Kiwanis Club, St. Paul's Church and North County Community Services. In addition to his BA degree in Industrial Arts from Humboldt State University, Chief Collins holds an AA degree in Fire Science from Mission College in Santa Clara, California. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy and holds several advanced fire science degrees. After retirement, Chief Collins plans to spend more time with his wife and two children and pursue his hobbies of kayaking, woodworking and hiking the great mountain peaks of the west. Madam Speaker, Chief Collins has a distinguished 30-year public safety career and it is therefore appropriate that we acknowledge and honor him today and thank him for his service.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join the Roots of Motive Power and the Mendocino County Museum as they celebrate a rare achievement, the 100th birthday of an operating steam locomotive, the 1910 Baldwin Locomotive Works Mason County Logging #7. I would also like to recognize the 25th anniversary of Roots of Motive Power. The story of Mason County Logging #7 mirrors the history of logging in the Pacific Northwest. Logging locomotives were designed especially for their girth and flexibility to operate on spurs penetrating steep hillsides and deep canyons with their valuable loads. Locomotive #7 started out with the Black Hills and Northwestern Railroad, a subsidiary of Mason County Logging Company, operating in the dense Douglas fir forests near the Washington State capital of Olympia. It remained in Washington for 80 years. A workhorse for more than 40 years, it stood idle for 45 years and may have been lost forever to scrap metal. In 1984, however, with foresight Willits resident Chris Baldo began years of negotiations that culminated with his purchase of No. 7 in 1990. The old locomotive was placed on a lowbed and trucked to Mr. Baldo's Willits Redwood Company yard, arriving on September 24, 1990. Preservationists like Mr. Baldo are not daunted by such a task as restoring what was at the time a rusty, nearly forgotten antique and bringing it back to life. His perseverance, tenacity and dogged determination turned the steam powered locomotive into a piece of living history. It took 11 years from Mr. Baldo's original purchase for No. 7 to complete restoration back in Washington until its return to California. In 2001, after a brief stint pulling Sierra Railroad coaches outside of Oakdale, California, No. 7 was moved back to Willits to its new home at Roots of Motive Power adjacent to the Mendocino County Museum in time for the Roots' Steam Festival on September 8 and 9. The completion of a two-thirds mile track allows the engine to let off steam on special occasions. As we commemorate the significance of this locomotive, one of only a few hundred left in the United States, I also salute the Roots of Motive Power, an organization associated with the Mendocino County Museum and ``dedicated to the preservation, restoration and operation of logging and railroad equipment representative of California's North Coast Region from the 1850s until the present.'' With more than 300 members Roots of Motive Power produces The Highline, a beautiful magazine-like newsletter and educational events. They also hold ``steam-ups'' four times a year, one of which will celebrate the 100th birthday of No. 7. Madam Speaker, it's not often we pause to recognize a restored steam engine but the 1910 Mason County Logging No. 7 and the dedication of those who wanted to preserve its historical significance for the enjoyment of future generations deserve our praise. In addition, I am proud to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Roots of Motive Power in Willits, California, the ``heart of the redwoods'' for their dedication and long lasting contributions to preserving the best of times gone by.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, on May 18, 2010, I was unavoidably unable to cast my votes for Rollcall 273, Rollcall 274 and Rollcall 275. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Susan Jones, who is retiring after serving 31 years in California law enforcement, the last 8 of which have been as the Chief of the Healdsburg Police Department. Chief Jones has always been a trail blazer. She was one of the first sworn female police officers in the State, serving first as a Deputy Sheriff in Kern County upon her discharge from the United States Air Force. She was with the Concord Police Department for 17 years, achieving the rank of Lieutenant and serving as district commander. From there she assumed the chief's position in Healdsburg, at that time only the fifth woman in the State to become a police chief and the first female police chief in Sonoma County. Chief Jones brought community-oriented policing and a problem-solving philosophy to Healdsburg. She adopted a geographic based team policing policy that greatly reduced crime in problem areas in the city. She helped diversify the force by hiring more women and minorities so that the department more closely reflected the community. During her tenure, she also developed a downtown foot patrol, school resource officers, an after school program and the police K9 program. As a result of her programs, crime was reduced from 12 to 20 percent in all categories in Healdsburg. She has served on the board of directors for the California Police Chiefs' Association for the past 5 years, where she co-chaired the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Committee and chaired the Pension Reform Committee and the Small Agency Committee. She has also served variously as president, vice president, and treasurer of the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs' Association during the 8 years she has lived in Sonoma County. She and her partner, Toni Lisoni, intend to remain in Healdsburg, where she will continue to be involved in the community. She is now president-elect of the Sunrise Rotary Club and will continue to play saxophone in the Healdsburg Community Band. Madam Speaker, Chief Jones has served her country in the United States Air Force and various communities throughout California in her long and distinguished career in law enforcement. It is appropriate that we commend her for her many years of public service and wish her well on her retirement.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Stephen A. Bouch who will be retiring as Court Executive Officer of the Napa Superior Court. Stephen's leadership will be truly missed by his co-workers, the people of Napa County, and the countless of people nationwide that relied on his extensive knowledge of the criminal justice system. Mr. Bouch began his distinguished career as a jury commissioner/law librarian in the Superior Court of Santa Cruz County in California. He was soon promoted to assistant Superior Court administrator in San Mateo County, California. From there he launched his 4 decade career as the Court Administrator for the Superior Courts of Spokane, Washington and the Superior Court of Monterey County, California. Due to his passion and perseverance, Mr. Bouch became the first non-judge, trial court administrator in Idaho's history. More success followed when he was appointed to the position of deputy administrative director for the State of Alaska court system. He returned to California where he served at the state level working as a special consultant to the state's Judicial Council, Administrative Office of the Courts. In 2001 he was appointed as the Napa Superior Court executive officer. Mr. Bouch's career and personal contributions are innumerable. As a court administrator in California, he assisted in the design and implementation of a countywide integrated criminal justice system. As the court executive officer he created an award winning public website which provides information on services that local non-profits offer. The website is instrumental for family court litigants and it is available to all Napa County residents. Mr. Bouch also administered domestic and juvenile relations divisions of trial courts in California and Idaho. Mr. Bouch also spent 6 years working as a senior staff associate for the National Center for State Courts, where he shared his extensive knowledge with varying sized jurisdictions throughout the United States and abroad. His administrative work was recognized when he received the Toll Fellowship from the National Council of State Governments in Lexington, Kentucky. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize Stephen A. Bouch for his many years of service to Napa, California, and to thank him for his many contributions on behalf of our country and his community. I join his wife Jan, and his children, David, Michael and Christopher, and our colleagues in wishing him the best as he enters this new phase of his life.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleague, Representative Lynn Woolsey, to honor a friend and community leader, Judge Arnold, Arnie, Rosenfield. Judge Rosenfield is retiring after a distinguished career marked by his commitment to children and families and his foresight in establishing successful programs to serve them. Born in Connecticut, Arnie Rosenfield attended Vanderbilt University, where he earned his J.D. in 1971. That same year he married Phyllis Ann Rubins, and the couple has two children, Jessica and Asa. Judge Rosenfield began his career as a Deputy District Attorney in San Luis Obispo County, CA, where he demonstrated early on his passion to serve those not always well-represented in the justice system. He handled one of the first large successful consumer protections trials in California, and in 1977, after taking the same position in Sonoma County, he established a Consumer Protection Unit. He later opened a private practice and served as the first Commissioner of Sonoma County Superior Court before being elected Superior Court Judge in 1984, a position he held until his retirement on December 31, 2009. The majority of Judge Rosenfield's cases involved the juvenile court, and he was always a strong advocate for children at risk for emotional trauma. In 1996 he initiated the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Sonoma County, which advocates for the needs of abused children caught up in the justice system. He instigated the development of the Redwood Children's Center for easing the process of interviewing and examining these children and has been a supporter of Social Advocates for Youth, the Valley of the Moon Foundation, Jewish Children and Family Services, and the Parent Education Project of Sonoma County. He also served on the Advisory Committee on Juvenile & Family Law for the California Judicial Council. ``I have been very involved in my career in trying to make the court system work better for kids and families who find themselves caught up in it,'' he says. Judge Rosenfield was also a strong proponent of restorative justice, an approach in which offenders work with the victims and the community for repair of the harm they have done. He used these techniques, especially for kids, before there was an actual movement and became a leader in the field as well as an instructor at Sonoma State University, Empire Law School, and California Judicial College. For his work, Judge Rosenfield has received numerous awards including Juvenile Court Judge of the Year by the California Judges Association and the 2009 Rex Sater Award from the Sonoma County Bar Association for Excellence in Family Law. Madam Speaker, Judge Arnold Rosenfield has provided Sonoma County with a legacy of innovative programs and, more importantly, an example of what passionate leadership can accomplish. ``It's my belief that for the most part what we do to kids and families here in the justice system continues to be destructive,'' he says, ``and I've spent my time trying to make it more constructive. I try to care about the families that I see and am very gratified to see lives turn around.'' Thank you, Judge Rosenfield, for the many lives you have turned around and for showing us what can be done in the name of justice.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the civic accomplishments of Wilburn ``Webb'' Brown, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. As an exemplary citizen his service has benefitted the ruggedly beautiful Mendocino County in northern California where he has lived his entire life. His contributions are long lasting and statewide. Born in Ukiah on May 7, 1910, he grew up on ranches leased by his parents in Hopland and Talmage. He moved to Potter Valley in 1943 and began raising dairy cattle when there were 14 dairies in this picturesque community where he still resides. A retired rancher, Webb Brown was a longtime Mendocino County Assessor, an elected position he held from 1955 through 1977. He was President of the California Assessors Association in 1963. As head of its legislative program, Webb Brown was responsible for 12 major bills dealing with tax assessment and passed by the State legislature. He is renowned for creation of property-tax practices favoring the preservation of farmland and open space. He was a leader on passing a timber yield tax that required owners of woodlands to pay taxes only on trees they harvested. In 1965 he played a statewide leadership role in the passage of the Williamson Act of 1965, which greatly limited what farmers and ranchers had to pay in property taxes as long as they kept their land undeveloped. Upon his retirement from the Assessor's office he was honored as ``one of the State of California's highest respected assessors.'' He is known for his willingness to meet problems head on and his courage in making unpopular decisions as well as his fair application of state tax laws to everyone. He also served on the Mendocino Air Management District Hearing Board, the Potter Valley Board of Education, the Ukiah Unified School Board and he was the Chair of the Save the College Committee for Mendocino College. He is committed to improving the quality of education and the hiring of capable teachers as well as seeking competitive salaries for teachers. In 1980 he was awarded the Distinguished Citizen Award by Mendocino College for helping establish the college. In addition to his community service and ranching skill, Webb Brown is known for being a loving husband, father, stepfather and grandfather. He has four children, three stepchildren, 18 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews who will join the celebration of his 100th birthday. Madam Speaker and colleagues, Webb Brown has earned the admiration and respect of his peers, his community and his family. He is a friend and a mentor in Mendocino County and his legacy is long lasting. For these reasons, it is appropriate that we honor Wilburn ``Webb'' Brown.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Rich Grosberg of University of California, Davis. Dr. Rich Grosberg is the 2010 recipient of the UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement. This $40,000 prize, first awarded in 1987, is believed to be the largest undergraduate teaching award in the nation. The prize is awarded to recognize scholars who are successful not only in their research, but convey their excitement and love of scholarship to students they teach. Over time, many UC Davis donors--including members of the Davis Chancellor's Club, alumni and trustees and trustees emeriti of the UC Davis Foundation--have made philanthropic contributions to support the prize. The winner is selected based on the recommendations of other professors, research peers, representatives from the UC Davis Foundation Board of Trustees and students. As a Professor of Evolution and Ecology, questions matter to Rick Grosberg--and he carries out his research on evolution and family conflict in a manner that seeks to show his students that science is not just about mastering a body of knowledge, but also about asking the right questions and challenging authority. Upon learning he was this year's recipient, Grosberg said he was ``deeply honored'' to be receiving the award, adding, ``I owe a huge debt to my teachers and mentors, who challenged and inspired me throughout my education, my family and my students--all of them--who continue to challenge, inspire and teach me every day.'' Having to explain scientific concepts to a hall full of students also helps him ask better questions in his research, Grosberg said. ``I'm a much more incisive researcher as a result of teaching.'' As an undergraduate at UC Santa Cruz, Grosberg did not initially consider biology as a profession. He considered majoring in English. ``I just assumed that being a scientist reflected the way I'd been taught science: It was received knowledge, a fact-finding mission.'' Then he took Cowell Biology, an eclectic course on the history of biology and the personalities who created the field. ``It showed me that biology is about people who step outside their culture and society and ask novel questions, and the best example is Charles Darwin,'' Grosberg said. ``That turned me on to biology.'' His research deals with conflict and cooperation between living things, usually marine invertebrates. ``Sometimes we help each other and sometimes we kill each other, and there are good evolutionary reasons for both,'' he said. The evolution of altruism is an old problem in evolutionary biology. Why should one animal expend effort and energy to help another, instead of conserving resources so they can leave the most descendants? The answer, in most cases, is that animals share many of their genes with close relatives. By helping a sibling who shares half your genes, you can still have a genetic impact on the next generation. On the other hand, relatives can also come into conflict. Those conflicts might be between individuals, between the sexes, between siblings, between generations and sometimes all those at once. Grosberg earned his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1982 and spent a year at the University of Padua, Italy, as a NATO postdoctoral fellow. He joined UC Davis as an assistant professor in what was then the Department of Zoology in 1983. ``Professor Grosberg understands the value to our undergraduates of the hands-on research experience and, as a mentor, he is deeply committed to ensuring our students' success,'' said Chancellor Linda Katehi. ``That mindset is one that we place a very high value on at UC Davis and it is at the very heart of the UC Davis Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement.'' Ken Burtis, Dean of the College of Biological Sciences, said, ``Professor Grosberg has a truly extraordinary passion and talent for teaching, whether mentoring small groups of students exploring the interface between math and biology or delivering the fundamentals of biology to hundreds of students through his highly-praised lectures. He exemplifies the best that UC Davis has to offer.'' ``Enthusiastic'' is the term that comes up again and again in student evaluations of Grosberg's classes, along with ``energetic'' and ``entertaining.'' His teaching ranges from the team-taught ``Introduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology and Evolution,'' which teaches about 2,000 students a year, to the CLIMB, Collaborative Learning at the Interface of Mathematics and Biology, training program, which includes just seven or eight students. ``He made me want to learn more,'' one student wrote of Grosberg's introductory evolution class last year. ``The best instructor I have had so far at UCD,'' wrote another. Among professional honors, Grosberg was awarded the Division of Biological Sciences Teaching Award in 2000 and the UC Davis Academic Senate's Distinguished Teaching Award in 2002. In 2004, he was president of the American Society of Naturalists. He has served as an adviser to The Nature Conservancy, the American Farmland Trust and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He is an elected fellow of the California Academy of Sciences and former director of the UC Davis Center for Population Biology. At this time, it is appropriate to recognize and acknowledge Dr. Grosberg for his years of exemplary work as a scholar and educator, and congratulate him on receiving this well deserved award. His commitment to inspiring and educating students has been unwavering, and he deserves our collective recognition and thanks.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Blue Lake, Humboldt County, California. Founded in 1877 by French pioneer Clement Chartin as a resort area popular for its sunny climate along the majestic Mad River, it was named for its once notable lake created by a record flood, now a small freshwater marsh of about 3.5 acres. Known today as the city ``Where the Sunshine and the Sea Air Meet,'' Blue Lake remains a popular destination for its excellent river fishing and swimming. The City of Blue Lake borders the historic ancestral Native American lands of the Wiyot Tribe, today represented by the Blue Lake Rancheria. Blue Lake once played a pivotal role in the robust logging industry and is the site of the historic Macintosh Lumber Mill. Since its closure in the 1970s, the city has adapted and evolved in its entrepreneurial spirit to attract a number of thriving, locally-owned businesses serving the North Coast and beyond. Today, the city is home to important businesses and organizations such as the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theater founded in 1974, Mad River Brewery founded in 1989, Mad River Grange, Blue Lake Family Resource Center, Wah-nika Women's Club, and Blue Lake Chamber of Commerce, among others. Blue Lake will celebrate this centennial anniversary with two days of festivities in the spirit of the era including theater, an historic homes tour, and the filling of a time capsule. The vibrant people, culture, and surrounding landscape make Blue Lake a wonderful place to live and visit. Madam Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize the City of Blue Lake, California on the occasion of its 100th anniversary of incorporation.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, on April 16th, 2010, Calpine's Geothermal Visitors Center in Middletown, California, will be dedicated as the Cartwright Geothermal Visitors Center, in honor of Calpine founder and pioneer Peter Cartwright. I am proud to rise today to recognize Peter Cartwright and thank him for his decades of ingenuity and service to the cause of renewable energy technology. Mr. Cartwright graduated from Princeton University with a B.S. in Geological Engineering and went on to receive his Masters in Civil Engineering from Columbia University. After serving in the Navy, he spent nearly 20 years at General Electric before founding Calpine in 1984. Calpine has since grown to become one of the largest independent power companies in the United States and is North America's largest producer of clean, renewable geothermal power. The Calpine Geysers is a portfolio of 19 geothermal power plants which supply approximately 750 kilowatts of reliable base load electricity to northern California's power grid. Mr. Cartwright is widely known for his vision, dedication and commitment to the energy industry, receiving more honors for his work than can be recited here. In 1999, he was awarded the Geothermal Pioneer Award by the Geothermal Resources Council. In 2000, he was named Man of the Year by the Power Association of Northern California and as one of the 100 most influential leaders in the gas and electric industry. In 2004, Scientific American named Mr. Cartwright Business Leader of the Year and Calpine was recognized as a Clean Air Champion by the New York League of Conservation Voters. Mr. Cartwright has also been very active in community and business organizations. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club Foundation for years. He is also Symphony Chair of the Symphony Silicon Valley Governing Board. In the past, he served on the California Chamber of Commerce California Business Round Table as well as the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group. In addition, Mr. Cartwright was instrumental to Calpine's annual support of the American Lung Association's Asthma walks. Madam Speaker and colleagues, it is my distinct pleasure to recognize Peter Cartwright for his years of excellence and to congratulate him on this honor. I join his wife, June, his four children, two grandchildren and our colleagues in wishing him continued success and fulfillment.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Lynn Woolsey, to honor the life and memory of Hugh Codding, who helped shape and define Sonoma County over the course of the 92 years he was with us. He was a legend in his lifetime; a home builder, commercial developer, banker, city councilman, civic leader and philanthropist, who during the construction boom years of the 1950s and '60s, changed the face of the county forever. He built his first home in the 1930s and honed construction skills in the Seabees in World War II and brought those skills home with him. He leveraged his $400 discharge pay into a construction project and with profits earned from that endeavor and a small bank loan, he built one of the first shopping centers in the state, the first of several he would eventually build in the county. As much as he was a builder and developer, he was also a showman. He earned Time magazine's designation as the wunderkind of the post-war boom by building an entire house in three hours and 18 minutes and a church in five hours and 16 minutes. He gave back generously to his community, helping fund and sustain both the Luther Burbank (now Wells Fargo) Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa and the Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park. There was scarcely a non-profit organization in the county that did not experience his generosity, whether it was the 4-H Club, the Earl Baum Center for the Blind, the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation, the Sonoma County Community Foundation, the Children's Health Network, Artstart, the Southwest Community Health Clinic, Planned Parenthood, the Blood Bank of the Redwoods, the Green Music Center, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, the Jewish Community Free Clinic, the Council on Aging, the Sonoma County Museum or the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Rosa, and many more. He is survived by his wife Connie; former wife Elizabeth Mulkey; son George David Codding; granddaughters Alexis Codding, Lois Codding, Lisa Codding Chodrick and Terra Saxton and his stepchildren Brian Baker, Pamela Reed, Lisa Malapit, Melinda Bailey, and Bradley Baker. Madam Speaker, Hugh Codding was an influential and respected resident of Sonoma County who will be greatly missed. It is therefore appropriate that we acknowledge him today and honor his memory.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of George Greeott, who in his 100th year in Sonoma County, California, has made innumerable contributions to his community and has unquestionably left his mark on the history of this part of my district. He has earned many titles, Sonoma County's Renaissance Man--farmer, inventor, artist, blacksmith, school board member, collector of Native American artifacts, horseshoe champion, loving husband and devoted father--and the Duke of (the Town of) Windsor in 2007 among them. Mr. Greeott was born in Santa Rosa, the county seat of Sonoma County, on April 30, 1910, the son of Italian immigrants. He began ranching with his father in the Chalk Hill Valley in 1928 and raised prunes, apples and grapes, as well as sheep and horses over the following 70 years. He met and married his wife Isabel Sicco, the daughter of a local chicken farmer, in the 1930s and together they had four children. Mr. Greeott owned several patents that made ranching life easier for his family and his neighbors. His ``Fence-Tight'' helped crimp and tighten wire fencing and was a big seller in the Thorson Tool Company catalogue. One of his non-farming inventions, the ``Greeott Grabber,'' helped him win numerous horseshoe tournaments before he retired from competition at the age of 93, while he was still on top. His unique metal sculptures and woodcarvings are permanently housed in the Windsor Museum, for which he established the Windsor Historical Society Endowment Fund. His collections of Pomo Indian artifacts and vintage tools and bottles used in the early days of the wine industry have been donated to other museums throughout Sonoma County. Madam Speaker, George Greeott is loved and respected by his community, who will help him celebrate his 100th birthday. It is appropriate that we send our best wishes to this truly remarkable man.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, to recognize and honor Hanna Boys Center, which has been providing a home and education to students in Northern California for 60 years. The school began as an experimental program for neglected and troubled boys in 1944 in Menlo Park, south of San Francisco. The 25 original students were referred to the new school by social service agencies and parish priests. The demand quickly outweighed the physical resources of the small school and after a very successful speaking tour, enough funds were raised to purchase 157 acres in the Sonoma Valley, the school's home today. By 1949, classrooms, an administration building, a chapel, gymnasium, swimming pool and one residence hall had been completed. The first students entered the Sonoma Valley campus by the end of that year. Today 109 boys ages 13 to 18 call the campus home. Although Hanna students come to the school from throughout the country, most are from our combined Congressional districts. Many are from troubled homes. There is a fully accredited high school on campus and all students can participate in woodshop, choir, soccer, baseball, track and basketball. Football is provided at nearby Sonoma Valley High School. Thirty-four Hanna graduates are currently serving in the military. Graduates include very successful businessmen and civic leaders or simply men who live quiet lives of contribution and contentment. Only three directors have piloted the school in its 60-year history, founder Monsignor O'Connor for 23 years, Father James Pulskamp for 12 years and Father John Crews for the past 25 years, a testament itself to the loyalty the school inspires. Madam Speaker, Hanna Boys Center changes lives. It has been a stabilizing influence on hundreds of young men who have passed through its doors. It is therefore, appropriate that we honor the school for 60 years of dedicated service to our community.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this important jobs bill in general, and two provisions in particular. The SBA provision makes a change to the Tax Code to encourage private investment in the Small Business Investment Company program, which in turn will help small businesses hire more employees. The extension of the AMT exemption for private activity bonds is critically important to creating jobs and growing our economy. Bonds have been one of the economic recovery efforts' biggest successes, and they are responsible for creating jobs and funding important projects in nearly every State in our country. One example can be seen at the Sacramento International Airport in my district. They sold bonds to complete their terminal renovation. This money was directly responsible for preserving 1,200 construction jobs and generating over $1 billion in the surrounding community. We must do everything we can to put Americans back to work. Today's jobs bill is paid for. Today's job bill is paid for and is one more way to spur economic development.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I have worked for access to quality, affordable health care from day one of my very first campaign, and every day since. Today, with passage of this bill, we will be closer to that important goal than ever before. When the President signs this bill into law, insurance companies won't be able to drop your coverage if you get sick. Kids won't be denied coverage because of preexisting conditions. Young adults will be able to stay on their parents' policy until they are 26. Small business owners will be eligible for a tax credit. Seniors will see the Medicare doughnut hole start to close, and preventive care will be covered without copay. The bill is paid for and will reduce our debt. In my district, 63,000 uninsured residents will have access to coverage, and it will save my district $70 million in uncompensated care costs. This bill is a great start toward health care reform and will help millions of Americans afford quality health care.

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, on March 12, 2010, I was unavoidably unable to cast my votes for rollcall 109, rollcall 110 and rollcall 111. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. THOMPSON of California

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Representative Lynn Woolsey, to honor Alcalde Niels Chew, who was bestowed the title of honorary mayor of the City of Sonoma because of his commitment to his community and its citizens. The naming of an Alcalde, which means ``magistrate'' or ``mayor'' in Spanish, is a tradition that began in 1975 as a way to acknowledge the citizen of the year. Niels is best known for his generosity, humility and his unwavering dedication to the causes he believes in, which is why he was selected from a long list of candidates. According to Niels, his father is responsible for instilling in him the value of service. ``During the Depression, no one in need ever came to our house and left empty handed,'' he said. Niels embraces quite a history of community service to the City of Sonoma, dating back to 1984 when he and his wife Susan first moved to Sonoma. Since then, Niels has graciously shared his warehouse with many area non-profits who have stored their food and clothing donations in his facility. As owner of Dowling Miner Magnets until 2004, he provided opportunities to Becoming Independent to train and support people with developmental disabilities. Currently, Niels serves on the board of the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation, Operation Youth, and the Sonoma Overnight Shelter. He was formerly the president of Kiwanis of Sonoma Plaza and trustee of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District. One of his most notable and impactful service endeavors has been his continuous support of the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance as a dedicated mentor and founding board member. He is even credited with starting the organization because he added the organization's executive director to his payroll at Dowling Magnets so she could kick-off the mentoring program. As a result of his initial investment, what began as a 10 hour weekly commitment at Flowery School blossomed into an organization that has been successfully connecting caring adults with at-risk students for more than 12 years. ``He has a heart the size of a continent, especially where kids are concerned,'' said Ms. Kathy Witkowicki, Executive Director of the Mentoring Alliance. ``We could never put a value on all that he has contributed to the Mentoring Alliance over the years, because it's priceless.'' Madam Speaker, Niels Chew's commitment to service is a powerful example of the positive difference one person can make. We are thankful for the charitable contributions made by this humble and thoughtful leader and philanthropist and we wish him continued prosperity as he spends time with his children and grandchildren.