David Valadao

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions and service of Darrel Fettig with United Airlines. After forty-four years of service and nearly three decades of helping travelers visit our nation's capital, Darrel is retiring this week. Darrel was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, to Matt and Agnes Fettig, one of nine children. He left Bismarck at 18 and went to ``airline'' school. His first job was with a regional airline as a ramp agent in Peoria. In 1978, he went to work for the pre-paid desk for Continental Airlines in Denver, and then he moved to Salt Lake City. Darrel skied as much as he could in-between shifts and still has lasting friendships from the seven years he spent in Salt Lake City. Darrel then came to DCA on a temporary position as a trainer for Continental Airlines. He liked D.C. so much he applied for and got a job as a customer service agent at DCA. Following his time at DCA, Darrel went to the city ticket office in Washington, D.C. for about 10 years, and he was recruited to join the Continental Airlines' Government Affairs team in 1995. Darrel's service spanned major events such as the September 11 attacks, a merger with United Airlines, and global repatriation flight efforts at the start of the 2020 COVID Pandemic. Throughout his tenure, Darrel has assisted thousands of travelers in Washington, D.C. ensuring the best travel experience between Washington and home each week or assisting with travel changes and challenges--all with a smile and wonderful customer service. Darrel met his husband Joe working for the airline and they have been together for nearly 30 years. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Darrel Fettig for his dedication to the greater travel community and wishing him a happy retirement.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Maria Elena Grijalva as she receives the Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award from the National Kidney Foundation. Maria's advocacy began 36 years ago, when her own kidneys began to fail, and she found herself in need of a donor. Her brother, John Arriola, volunteered to become a donor without hesitation. While the average life expectancy for someone living with a kidney transplant is between 12 and 20 years, Maria has been going strong with her transplant for 36 years--a testament to Maria's resiliency that she has displayed throughout all aspects of her life. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney disease in the United States. Each year, the NKF considers the efforts of advocates like Maria, and patients who work on behalf of others, recognizing the one advocate who best exemplifies the work of longtime advocate Celeste Castillo Lee. This year, Maria was selected as the recipient of the Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award for her decades of dedication and commitment to advocating for patient-centered care and empowerment. Today, Maria and John work together to help others facing the same situation they faced over 30 years ago. Maria also devotes many of her efforts to educating Native Americans and farmworkers in the agricultural communities in California to raise awareness among high-risk populations about kidney health, disease, and prevention measures. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in honoring Maria Elena Grijalva as she receives the Celeste Castillo Lee Patient Engagement Award from the National Kidney Foundation.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. George Gibbs who passed away on March 4, 2023, at his home in Yucca Valley with his children and grandchildren surrounding him. He was 88 years old. The son of William and Mabel Gibbs, he was born Jan. 7, 1935, in Queens, New York. He lived in California for 55 years. Mr. Gibbs graduated from college at Emporia State in Kansas. He was in the Marine Corps for 22 years, serving two tours in Vietnam and retired as a major. A real estate broker for 45 years, Mr. Gibbs was the owner of Glen Realty and a past president of the Board of Realtors in Yucca Valley. He enjoyed running, spending time with family and friends, football, and horse racing. He was admired by family and friends and was always willing to help anyone in need. Mr. Gibbs is survived by son George Russell Gibbs, daughter Gigi Gibbs, grandson Brandon Will, granddaughter Stephanie Will, granddaughter Julianna McClay, grandson Jack Melvin, and granddaughter Rachel Gibbs. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life of Mr. George Gibbs. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Madam Chair, this administration's regulatory assault on American energy production has been devastating for my constituents in the Central Valley. Every week, I hear from my neighbors, friends, and constituents about the skyrocketing price of monthly energy bills. Over the summer, people in California were paying over $6 per gallon for gas. It is unacceptable that even though America has some of the greatest energy resources of any nation in the world, my constituents are having trouble putting gas in their tanks and food on their tables. That is why I am proud to support the Lower Energy Costs Act, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same. This bill will cut red tape and allow us to increase our supply of safe, clean, and affordable energy. I am proud that language from my bill, the NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act, is included in this bill. This makes the approval of new energy projects easier by allowing the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to use previously conducted environmental assessments for similar projects. This is a commonsense reform that removes one of the many layers of bureaucratic red tape in our permitting process. This bill is full of the same types of policies that streamline our energy production to increase our supply of clean, affordable energy. I want to respond to some of the opponents of this bill. My Democratic colleagues claim that this legislation is harmful to our environment. This is just not true. America has some of the strictest environmental standards of any nation in the world. When we produce energy here, we do it cleaner and safer than countries we would be importing it from. Something important to remember is that decreasing domestic production does not reduce the demand for energy. Reducing our ability to produce oil and gas in the U.S. just increases our reliance on foreign countries for these imports. That means instead of using clean energy we produce here and creating good-paying American jobs in the process, we are reliant on imports from countries like Russia and Venezuela that are not held to the same environmental standards we have here in the U.S. If your argument is that you want to reduce emissions, then increasing U.S. energy production is how you do it. Despite wishes from the President and the far left, we cannot abandon traditional energy sources like oil and gas. While we as a country should continue to develop and pursue other energy sources, we will still need oil and gas for a long time. Why not produce it here in the U.S.? I support an all-of-the-above approach to energy production and use, but that does not mean immediately transitioning to 100 percent renewable fuels. Until alternative energy sources are more reliable, we will continue to need transitional fuels. If my Democratic colleagues cared about the environment as much as they say they do, then supporting the increased production of clean and reliable American-made energy should be a no-brainer. Passing the Lower Energy Costs Act is a critical step to lowering prices, creating good-paying jobs, and strengthening our national security. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two schools in the Delano Joint Union High School District (DJUHSD), which were recently selected as Exemplary Dual Enrollment Awardees by the California Department of Education. Since 1911, the Delano Joint Union High School District has been committed to the academic excellence of students in the Central Valley. The district is one of the highest achieving in the state and focuses on preparing their students with the skills they need to be successful in a variety of careers. In addition to strong academics, DJUHSD provides their students with outstanding athletic and performing and visual arts programs. Delano High School and Robert F. Kennedy High School were both designated as Exemplary Dual Enrollment Schools and will hold the prestigious title for two years. The California Department of Education's Exemplary Dual Enrollment program award was started to recognize school districts who provide successful dual credit opportunities to students, allowing them to receive college credits while still in high school. DJUHSD was selected as an awardee based on the demonstrated excellence of their dual enrollment program, which is provided through a partnership with Bakersfield College. The district was one of nine districts to receive the award. The district's dual enrollment program offers students an opportunity to advance their education in a variety of different fields. Dual enrollment credits also provide students with a financial incentive, by allowing them to earn college credit without paying for the college course. The program's success has been made possible by the many teachers, counselors, and faculty across the district, whose contributions have helped to advance and expand the program to play a vital role in the Central Valley education system. The education heroes in our school districts are forging the next generation of industry leaders in our state. I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Delano Joint Union High School District for receiving the California Department of Education's inaugural Exemplary Dual Enrollment Award.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the McFarland Unified School District (MUSD) for being one of nine districts selected as an Exemplary Dual Enrollment Awardee. Formed in 1889, McFarland Unified School District was one of the first school districts established in the Central Valley. Since its founding, MUSD has provided students with a safe academic environment where they are equipped with the skills and tools necessary to succeed. This year, the California Department of Education's Exemplary Dual Enrollment program award was started to recognize school districts who provide successful dual credit opportunities to students, allowing them to receive college credits while still in high school. McFarland Unified School District was selected as an awardee based on the demonstrated excellence of their dual enrollment program, which is provided through a partnership with Bakersfield College. MUSD was one of nine districts to receive the award, as their dual enrollment programs are currently helping hundreds of students in the Central Valley get a head start on their college education and careers. MUSD's dual enrollment program gives students the opportunity to advance their education is a variety of different fields such as business, education, agriculture, photography, public health, industrial technology, and Spanish. The many teachers, counselors, and faculty across MUSD who have helped to advance and expand the program play a vital role in helping to make students' dreams come true and are creating the next generation of industry leaders across the Central Valley. I ask all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring McFarland Unified School District as they received the California Department of Education's inaugural Exemplary Dual Enrollment award.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, this week, California is preparing for more atmospheric rivers that are bringing much-needed rain to our State. This is welcome news to the Central Valley farmers who have suffered through the last 3 years of exceptional drought. While I am grateful for this rain, and I know my fellow farmers are, as well, we have all seen this situation before. Eventually this rain will stop. That is why it is critical to capture and store as much of this rain as physically possible so we don't put ourselves in this type of situation with another man-made water shortage again. Extreme environmentalists and Sacramento bureaucrats have grossly mismanaged our water with complex and contradictory laws and regulations that control how much we are able to pump and what storage projects we are able to move forward with. While I am grateful for the Governor for his temporary relief that he pushed for a few weeks back, we cannot let this water go to waste. We must maximize what can be moved at all times through the delta and invest in water storage infrastructure and conveyance projects so we can capture and store this critical resource. Thousands of livelihoods and the future of agriculture production in California and countless Americans we feed depend on it.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of Temple Beth El, a religious organization in Bakersfield, as they celebrate their 75th anniversary. Founded in 1947, Temple Beth El was created to help Central Valley residents embrace a lifetime of Jewish fulfillment--through faith, culture, and community. That same year, they inaugurated their first Rabbi and installed a religious school for children. Since its founding, Temple Beth El has been an inclusive and welcoming space for people of all backgrounds to explore and maintain their spiritual and emotional connection to Judaism. Temple Beth El is a place where all are welcomed--whether they were born Jewish or found Judaism later in life. The teachings provided can open the door to a lifetime of Jewish fulfillment and commitment. The members of Temple Beth El have dedicated their lives to promoting Jewish ideas and beliefs through education and community. In December 2007, Temple Beth El opened its Torah Learning Center, which offered 8 new classrooms to teach students about Judaism and Jewish heritage. In addition to its wide range of classes, the Temple Beth El Beginning Learning Center serves as a preschool and daycare for its members and their children. For decades, Temple Beth El has played a vital role in the Jewish community throughout the Central Valley, particularly in Bakersfield. Through their religious services and education centers, they have created a safe environment for the Bakersfield Jewish community to come together. I ask all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Temple Beth El as it celebrates its 75-year anniversary.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Jacob Francesco-Peter Dunklin for his service to my office and the 22nd Congressional District of California over the past decade. Mr. Dunklin was born in Fresno, California to parents Marianne and Jerome R. Dunklin, M.D. Growing up in the Central Valley with his brother and sister, Joseph and Kristina, Mr. Dunklin enjoyed being active and challenging himself academically as he played varsity tennis while attending San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. Following his graduation in 2014, Jacob attended American University. During his time at American University, Jacob developed a strong interest in politics. In March 2020, Mr. Dunklin graduated from American with his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. Shortly after graduation, Jacob returned to California's Central Valley to follow his passion of politics. Mr. Dunklin began his political career by quickly securing a position in my campaign office. Jacob has been a member of my team since 2014, first serving as campaign intern and most recently, as Legislative Assistant in Washington, D.C. His thoughtful approach to crafting public policy combined with his expansive legislative knowledge made Mr. Dunklin an invaluable member of my team and a true public servant to the people of California's Central Valley. Outside of work. Jacob enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and tennis, riding his lilac bicycle, and heli-skiing. This February, Mr. Dunklin's time in my office came to an end as he moved on to a new role with Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina. While I am excited for Jacob to begin this new chapter, he will be greatly missed as a member of my team. Knowing Mr. Dunklin, his character and work ethic, I have no doubt he will achieve many great things in his future. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Jacob Dunklin for his public service to the people of the Central Valley and wishing him the very best in this next chapter of his life.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, last night, the President had a real opportunity to put partisanship aside and speak to all Americans, not just Democrats or Republicans, but to all Americans. Instead of sending a unifying message, we heard even more divisive rhetoric from the President. There were a lot of people who were here willing to work with him across the aisle to get good things done for our people and our constituents all across the country, and I consider myself one of them. But the President makes it very difficult to do this when he continues to push lies about Republicans and our policies. My constituents in the Central Valley are struggling to put food on their table and gas in their tanks because of this administration. Unfortunately, the President failed to take accountability for many problems Americans across the country are experiencing under his failed leadership, from the rising cost of energy to the fentanyl coming across our open border. One issue that hits home for me in particular was what President Biden said last night about energy. During his address, the President told the Nation that under his watch, energy bills and gas prices are going down. This is not true for my constituents. Over the last few years, my office has received countless calls from people whose natural gas bills have tripled due to the high price of natural gas in California. These are the same people who over the summer were paying over $6 a gallon to drive to work or to take their kids to school. These energy prices are crushing working-class families in my community and across the country. In my district, the oil and gas industry is critical, not just for energy production but for the entire community. The industry is responsible for billions of dollars in State and local tax revenue that funds vital community services like public schools, hospitals, and law enforcement. Kern County is the leading energy provider for the State of California and the number seven oil-producing county in the Nation. Yesterday, my guest to the President's address was Chad Hathaway. Chad owns and operates an independent oil company in Bakersfield and knows firsthand just how disastrous the energy policies of this administration have been. Energy producers like Chad not only provide resources to California but the entire country. We have the resources right here in our own back yard, and we can and should be using them. While we as a country should continue to develop and pursue other sources of energy, we cannot abandon traditional energy sources like the President made clear last night that he wants to do. The Biden administration's energy policies are destroying affordable energy, high-paying jobs, and energy security for our Central Valley families. There are a lot more stories to share about the impacts of this administration's policies, and tonight, House Republicans have reserved some time to respond to the President's address last night in this Chamber and to discuss some of the problems currently facing our country and the Republican vision for addressing them. I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson), my good friend.

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments. The gentleman from South Carolina made a great point. We know that history has happened in this building over the years, and this floor has been used since 1848. I don't know if I have ever seen a crowd respond like they did last night, but I think it was an appropriate response, being that the President, for the first time in I think in my ninth or tenth time attending one of these said something that he knew was false about an entire party. It was unfortunate to see. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for his comments. I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), who I had the honor of doing a little shooting with in the last few weeks down there; had a great time.

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, we have run out of speakers, but just closing comments here. I have been here for a few years, and I have had the opportunity to watch a lot of Presidents speak. In those years that I have been here, I have had some tough votes, I have watched some--I have made some tough comments. But what I saw yesterday was a disappointment in my view. To see a President get up and say some of the things he said, to attack an entire party when he knows there are people in this group here that are willing to work with him to actually help the American people, try to solve the problems that our folks need us to solve for them; it was frustrating. That was why I took the opportunity to be here today. I am always looking for those opportunities to work with whichever President it may be; if it was President Obama or President Trump or now President Biden. There are always places we can work together. We have got a lot of things that need to be resolved for the American people. What I saw last night was an opportunity that was missed by this President and, hopefully, he will be able to make that up, and we can get to work for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, over the last few weeks, California has experienced severe storms that brought much-needed water to our State. If you thought that meant water shortages in California were over, you would be wrong. Since October of last year, California has flushed over 6.4 million acre-feet of water out to the ocean. That is 2 trillion gallons. This is extremely frustrating for the Central Valley farmers who are fallowing their fields and the communities that are running out of water for daily use in their homes and businesses. The pumps that are in place to deliver water to farms, homes, and businesses aren't allowed to run at their full capacity due to environmental regulations. If we had increased flexibility on these pumping regulations to account for real-time conditions, we could have captured 84,000 more acre-feet of water during the 2 weeks of storms. Increasing flexibility in how we operate these pumps, as well as investing in critical water storage infrastructure and conveyance projects, will allow us to maximize what can be stored for these flow events and make us more resilient for drought. Every drop of water is critical to my constituents in Central Valley.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) for their dedicated work on behalf of families across the Central Valley. Since its founding in 1965, Self-Help Enterprises has been critical in providing underserved and low-income families across the Central Valley with services like housing, infrastructure development, and drought relief. While their services have impacted the lives of over 65,000 people across the Valley, their work to provide drought relief to families has been truly remarkable. Over the past two decades, California has experienced devastating drought conditions. This has not only had an impact on Central Valley farmers and producers but on families across the region--particularly low-income families. Through their Tanks and Hauled Water Program, SHE has worked tirelessly to provide water access and well maintenance to over 1,800 families across the nine counties in the San Joaquin Valley. Not only have they delivered over 50 million gallons of water to households and small communities, but they have also installed over 700 new temporary tank systems to individual households, as well as several temporary Community tank installations. The work done by Self-Help Enterprises has been important for so many of our neighbors throughout the Valley. For decades, Valley families have been forced to deal with uncertainty when it comes to accessing clean and reliable drinking water. Organizations like SHE and their Tanks and Hauled Water Program are critical to ensuring all families across the Valley, whether in a big city or a small rural community, have access to a clean and reliable water supply. I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the incredible work of Self-Help Enterprises.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Temple Theater in Hanford, California. Built in 1922, the Temple Theater was originally constructed for $3,500 with the intent to serve as a school for the Chinese community in Hanford. Know originally as the Chinese Center for Knowledge, local children from Hanford's Chinese district would attend additional schooling here to learn about Chinese history, language. and culture. The school would exist from 1922 until the late 1940s. In 1963, Audrey Leibold and other members of the community formed the Kings Players-- an organization dedicated to promoting community theater in the Central Valley. The only issue was that at that time, Hanford did not have any community theaters that could serve as permanent theater locations. With the temple that housed the Chinese Center for Knowledge now vacant for over a decade, The Kings Players decided to purchase the building and turned it into the Temple Theater--which has served as the group's permanent home ever since. Whether it be as a school for our local Chinese community or a theatre to promote local art, the building now known as the Temple Theatre has been an integral part of the Hanford community for a hundred years. Today, The Kings Players offer four shows each year at the theatre, bringing the Valley community together through the arts. I ask all of my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the centennial anniversary of Hanford's Temple Theatre.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the long and distinguished career of a truly honorable public servant, Fresno County Sheriff, Margaret A. Mims. Sheriff Mims has been a fixture in the Fresno County community for decades, serving as a peace officer for over 25 years. During her tenure, she has held the roles of Deputy Sheriff Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Sheriff, and finally Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner, a position she has held since 2006. Sheriff Mims has led the Fresno County Sheriffs Department with distinction and honor for over 15 years and has been recognized by numerous organizations, universities, and community groups for her leadership. During her time as Sheriff, she has received the 31st Assembly District Woman of the Year Award, been named a ``100 Stars for 100 Years'' by the Fresno City College Centennial Alumna, received the Girls Scout's Woman Inspiring Girls Award, and has been named a Distinguished Alumni at both Fresno City College and National University. These are just some of the many recognitions and awards she has received throughout her career and are a true testament to her impact on our community. I want to personally state how thankful I am for the dedicated service of Sheriff Mims. Her courage, leadership, and commitment are truly inspiring, and I consider it an honor and a privilege to have worked with her and her office for so many years. I urge all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring such a distinguished member of our Central Valley community, Sheriff Margaret M. Mims.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mrs. Colleen Curtis on her retirement as Chief Executive Officer of United Health Centers of San Joaquin Valley. Founded in 1971, United Health Centers (UHC) has become one of the largest and most important healthcare providers in the Central Valley. Rural communities like many of those found in the Valley are often overlooked when it comes to accessing health services. UHC plays a critical role in ensuring those in rural and underserved communities receive the healthcare they deserve. Mrs. Curtis has been with UHC for 20 years, beginning her career in 2002. In 2009, she became the organization's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and helped to expand UHC's presence in the Central Valley. Throughout her 14 years as CEO, the organization continued to grow, expanding the number of centers to 28 across the Valley. Today, UHC provides medical services for over 165,000 patients through its over 1,000 employees, and last year completed nearly 1,000,000 patient visits. Mrs. Curtis has consistently demonstrated her professionalism, dedication, and competency as an executive throughout her time leading UHC. She has been a constant source of stability and leadership, helping to guide the organization through unstable economic times and a global pandemic--all while continuing to expand and improve services for Central Valley residents. Her colleagues have described Mrs. Curtis as a ``powerhouse in the healthcare industry'' and I could not agree more. I ask all of my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Mrs. Colleen Curtis on her 20 years of success at United Health Centers and wishing her a happy and well-earned retirement.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Michelle Roman for her 11 years of service on the Kingsburg City Council and congratulate her on her retirement. A lifelong California resident, Mrs. Roman moved her family to Kingsburg in 1999. It was after her move that she truly discovered her passion for helping her community. As her children grew older and the encouragement of her friends and family members grew stronger, she decided to run for City Council to give the children and families of Kingsburg a voice in the local government. Mrs. Roman has now been on the Kingsburg City Council for over a decade, passionately advocating for her community. Not only has she represented her district, but she has also served as both the Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor of Kingsburg--the first woman to hold either position. In her role as Mayor of Kingsburg, Mrs. Roman served as the public face of Kingsburg, presided over City Council meetings, and continually fought to improve her community in any way she could. Under her leadership, Kingsburg has seen incredible development. From building the city's first skateboard park to founding the Kingsburg Youth Council, to helping enact city policies that attract businesses to her community, Mrs. Roman has played a key role in improving the lives of Kingsburg residents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was an essential liaison between State and County officials and helped to secure grants that saved local businesses as well as a vaccination clinic that helped to save many lives. Mrs. Roman has been a true public servant for her community and has repeatedly demonstrated her commitment to making Kingsburg a safe, prosperous, and welcoming place to call home. I wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement. I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Mrs. Michelle Roman for all she has accomplished during her 11 years of service to the City of Kingsburg.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Warden Kelly Santoro for her 30 years of service to the Central Valley community and congratulate her on her well-earned retirement. Just like many in her family before her, Mrs. Santoro knew she wanted to dedicate her career to serving the state of California. She began her career in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in 1993 as a correctional officer at Centinela State Prison. Throughout her decorated career, she held crucial positions in the California Prison system ranging from Correctional Counselor to Associate Warden. In 2012, Mrs. Santoro was named the Chief Deputy Warden of the Wasco State Prison Reception Center. In this role, she displayed incredible professionalism and competence as she oversaw over 5,000 inmates and nearly 1,500 members of staff. Her work in running the day-to-day in this role impressed her colleagues and would lead her to be named the acting Warden of the North Kern State Prison in 2015. In August of 2016, she would officially be named Warden of North Kern State Prison-- a role she held until her retirement this year. Not only has Mrs. Santoro served her community through the State's Correctional Department, but she has also been a leader in the Central Valley through her philanthropic work. She and the North Kern State Prison raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities such as the Ronald McDonald House, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Women's Shelter, and many others. For 30 years, Mrs. Santoro has been an incredible example of the dedication, professionalism, and selflessness that encompass the values of the Central Valley community. I ask all of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Mrs. Kelly Marie Santoro for her 30 years of service to our community and congratulate her on a well-earned retirement.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of the Westlands Water District on their 70th Anniversary. Located on the west side of Fresno and Kings Counties, the Westlands Water District is home to some of the most fertile and productive farmland on the planet. On September 8, 1952, per the request of farmers on the westside of the San Joaquin Valley, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors officially announced the creation of the Westlands Water District. Initially, the district encompassed approximately 400,000 acres of land. After merging with West Plains Water District in 1965 and purchasing Broadview Water District in 2007, the district reached its current size of approximately 615,000 acres. On average, the district and its farmers provide for over 35,000 jobs and generate over $4.7 billion in economic activity each year. One distinct aspect of the Westlands Water District is that it remains one of the only water districts in the world that distributes irrigation water exclusively through a highly efficient system of pressurized pipe. With approximately 1,100 miles of buried pipe throughout the district, they are able to track every drop of surface water delivered in the district--from the moment the water enters the system to the moment it reaches the field. Additionally, the district and its farmers have invested millions of dollars each year in its water infrastructure system so the system can continue serving all of the district's water users for future generations. For seven decades, even while battling droughts, unpredictable climates, and changing regulations, the farmers within the Westlands Water District have been leaders in implementing cutting-edge water conservation technologies and efficient irrigation practices through their hard work, innovative technologies, and commitment to continuous improvements. The district and its farmers have been, and will continue to be, an essential part of developing a robust water infrastructure throughout the Central Valley. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the achievements of the Westlands Water District on their 70th Anniversary.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Art Chianello for his 20 years of service to the City of Bakersfield and congratulate him on his retirement. Mr. Chianello started his career in the city of Bakersfield working as an Engineer in the Design Division of the Public Works Department. He quickly rose the ranks to become the Manager of the Bakersfield Water Resources Department. In this position, Mr. Chianello oversaw the River and Agricultural Water and Domestic Water divisions. His duties included administrating the regulation, distribution, water banking, and recordkeeping operations on the Kern River, as well as monitoring the city's domestic water system. Mr. Chianello's work ensured that over 143,000 residents and local businesses in Bakersfield had access to clean drinking water. One of Mr. Chianello's proudest professional accomplishments occurred during his work as a wastewater manager in the Bakersfield Public Works Department. There, he played an instrumental role in the predesign, design, and construction of a project that aimed to double the treatment plant capacity of the city's wastewater plant. Mr. Chianello's dedication and hard work allowed the department to complete the project on-time and on-budget. This passion to serve his community honorably only grew throughout his career. For 20 years, Mr. Art Chianello has been an exemplary public servant. His leadership, ability to work collaboratively, and desire to help others have been essential to securing successful outcomes for the Bakersfield Water Resources Department and for all the residents of the City of Bakersfield. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the career of Mr. Art Chianello and wishing him the best in retirement.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Francisco Castillon for receiving the National Association of Community Health Center's Lifetime Achievement Award. As a migrant and seasonal farmworker for over 12 years throughout his youth, Mr. Castillon experienced the challenges in accessing healthcare firsthand. As a result, his career has been centered on delivering high-quality medical, dental, behavioral, and other services to the medically underserved, especially the poor, the voiceless, and farmworkers and their families. For over 30 years, Mr. Castillon has worked for Community and Migrant Health Centers (C/MHC) as CEO, Deputy Director, Program Manager and Consultant. In addition, Mr. Castillon served as the President and CEO of the California Health Federation, representing over 300 health centers throughout California. Furthermore, he was also the Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), which is based out of Washington D.C. and represents over 1,500 C/MHCs. Since 2010, Mr. Francisco Castillon has served as CEO of Omni Family Health, a growing network of state-of-the-art health centers located throughout Kern, Kings, Tulare, and Fresno counties. During Mr. Castillon's time as CEO, Omni has expanded from 12 health centers to 38, more than doubling the number of patients served. Mr. Castillon continues to lead Omni's growth, with plans to open future locations in Kern and Fresno Counties. Serving the medically underserved individuals and families in our communities has been Mr. Castillon's lifelong passion. Mr. Castillon is a mission-driven executive, well respected among his peers and within the communities he has served. One of the keys to his success is a firm commitment to managing C/MHCs with honesty, integrity, and transparency. He is one of very few executives within the C/MHC movement that has earned five national awards for his contributions and accomplishments in serving these vulnerable groups. For these reasons, Mr. Castillon was the perfect candidate to be honored by the NACHC with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his achievements, dedication, and contributions to the community health center movement. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the achievements of Mr. Francisco Castillon and congratulating him on receiving the NACHC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Tony Azevedo, the recipient of the 2022 Greater King's County Chamber of Commerce Agriculturalist of the Year award. For generations, the Azevedo family has been involved in the Central Valley agricultural community across both Kings and Tulare counties. That trend has continued because of Mr. Azevedo, as he has been a farmer in the Central Valley for most of his adult life. Before he had even graduated college, Mr. Azevedo had already begun his first agricultural company--a commercial spraying business, which is still being operated to this day. That passion for the agricultural industry has only grown throughout his life. Mr. Azevedo is not only a dedicated farmer, but he is also heavily involved in advocating on behalf of the Central Valley Ag community. He has served on the board of the California Water Alliance--an advocacy organization focused on uniting water leaders in the community to achieve equitable and reliable water supplies from Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Additionally, he currently serves on several local irrigation district boards--doing all he can to achieve reliable water for Valley farmers. For Mr. Azevedo and his family, farming is not simply a job or a way to earn a paycheck, but it is a way of life. Their family operations have faced droughts, bad harvests, constantly changing environmental regulations and unreliable water supplies for years. Through it all, Mr. Azevedo has learned to adapt to changing circumstances, and always find a way to keep his farms alive and well. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Mr. Tony Azevedo for being named Agriculturalist of the Year. I cannot think of a more deserving recipient.