David Valadao

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, today I had the opportunity and the honor to represent my district on the Senate side in a committee to talk about water, and it was to talk about the bill that we passed off this House floor just a few months ago back in June. Obviously, I was very excited to move that forward and excited to see the debate move forward. This is something that I think we need to talk about a little bit more here on the floor, not just in the Senate because I think people need to remember what we are talking about. I had this picture taken just last week in my district. When people say a picture is worth a thousand words, you look at this picture, and you try to think of just a few different words that this brings to mind. You see houses here in the background, but you obviously see shacks here. You see a child's stroller, a child's toy, cans of food, a box from one of our local food banks. These are people who are suffering today. This is in the United States of America. These are people who so many in this body claim to represent, so many in this body talk about, but when we see so many in this body sign letters, speak out in opposition to legislation that could help solve this problem, these people are suffering not because of a lack of the will to work but because we are facing a drought, and also because of legislation, because laws are in place that prevent us from delivering water to these communities. These are people who want to make a difference. A lot of them might be immigrants. Some of them probably are people born in this country, but they are people that want to achieve the American Dream. A couple weeks ago when the Pope was here, he said so many things that both sides agreed with and some things that both sides disagreed with, but what he said was that every man has the right to work, to earn an honest day's wage. These people are being denied that opportunity. Just beyond these shacks, you see homes. They look relatively new. You see a business here. You see trucks. Those are all people who have the ability to support themselves, but they are also people who right behind, in their own backyard, that don't have the ability to work that honest day's wage, to supply for their family, to buy new toys for their kids, to actually afford food that was grown and produced by their own hands. Some of these food products might even be from other countries. When we have that conversation here about helping the less fortunate, do we just throw money at a problem? Is that what Washington does? Is that what we expect to have here? Is that what builds a great society? Or is it people working hard, providing for their families, educating their next generation on what it is like to actually grow food, what it is actually like to put in a hard day's work, to inspire and actually show what it is to work hard and produce something for yourself? The pride that comes with earning that paycheck and purchasing that house or purchasing those vehicles or purchasing food for your family is what we want to provide for Americans. That is something that I think every single person--immigrant or American citizen by birth or who has been here for 20 generations, whatever it may be--wants to have, the opportunity to provide for their families and for a better life. When you look at this picture, it is insane that this is going on today. And when people sign and put their names on or trash legislation that can help solve this problem, I think it is an embarrassment for this House and for this country. There was water flowing through the delta that we had the opportunity to pump earlier this year. Would it have solved all of our problems? No, because we are in a drought. But there was still some water there. We missed out on that opportunity because of laws that are in place today. These people don't have to be in this position. These people don't have to live like this. Their children do not have to live in those shacks and play with their toys outside of their home. Think of what type of society allows this to happen, by allowing legislation or laws to take effect that have done nothing to actually protect the species they claim to protect, as that species continues to be in decline. We see what is going on here and how it does nothing for these people. We talk about the environment. Is this an environment to raise a family? How are these children going to be successful in school? I have got three young children of my own. I have nieces and nephews. I would never, ever want to see this happen to them, and I would never want them to see this happen to their friends. This is something that is happening today because of the laws that this building protects. And we have got to continue to fight and we have got to continue to work together so that we can deliver solutions that actually help these people have that American Dream, just like the rest of us want for our children. Today, at the end of my speech to a Senate committee, I invited the Senators to come take some time and meet with some of these folks or see what it is like to actually live like this. I extend that invite to every Member of this House, especially those who speak out in opposition to legislation that can help prevent things like this from happening. I want them to come, knock on these doors, and talk to these people and see what they want more than anything. Do they want a handout or do they want the ability to produce and to provide for their families and show their children what the next generation should do, which is work hard and help build that American Dream for all of us? I want every single person who speaks out in opposition to take a good, hard look at this and see what we have created in the United States unless we speak up and do what is right: pass legislation that can help solve this problem so we can deliver water for these families, for these farmers, for our communities, and do what is right for our Nation and do what is right for the American people.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mrs. Linda Hatfield for receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Cancer Society (ACS). Mrs. Hatfield was born on December 24, 1935. She grew up in the Central Valley of California and attended Lemoore High School. After completing her education, Mrs. Hatfield became a teacher and taught in Central Valley schools until her retirement. A lifelong Central Valley resident, Mrs. Hatfield currently resides in Hanford, California with her husband, Bill Hatfield. Together they have three children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. In 1982 while still teaching full-time, Mrs. Hatfield began volunteering for the ACS. Over the last three decades, she has dedicated her life to the organization, successfully recruited additional volunteers, and educated many on how to prevent and survive cancer. Mrs. Hatfield also served on the ACS Board of Directors and helped reopen the ACS office after it was shut down as an entirely volunteer-run location. A survivor herself, Mrs. Hatfield has gone above and beyond her duty as a volunteer and demonstrated her commitment to fighting cancer time and time again. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Mrs. Linda Hatfield on being honored with an American Cancer Society Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Tal Jimy Eslick for his service to my office and the 21st Congressional District of California over the past three years. Mr. Eslick was born in Spokane, Washington to parents Tal and Candice Eslick. After moving to Clovis, California as a child and attending Buchanan High School, Mr. Eslick went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Fresno in 2006. While attending Fresno State, he developed an interest in politics and began volunteering on local campaigns. He also spent a summer in Washington, D.C. as a Congressional intern. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Mr. Eslick began working for Congressman Devin Nunes as a Field Representative and, later, as District Director. In April of 2012, Mr. Eslick adopted a six-year old cat named Mason. On May 25, 2013, Mr. Eslick married Rachel Azevedo. They currently reside in Clovis, California. Mr. Eslick has been a member of my team since 2010, first as my Chief of Staff in the California State Assembly and now as my Chief of Staff in the United States House of Representatives. He brought a wealth of legislative experience and professionalism to my team and has been a very dependable and resourceful advisor and friend. Throughout his career, Mr. Eslick has been an invaluable asset to Team Valadao and the people of the Central Valley. In February 2015, Mr. Eslick returned to Fresno State in pursuit of a Master's in Business Administration for Executives. On September 27, 2015, Mr. Eslick's time in my office will come to an end. Mr. Eslick will be moving on to a new chapter of his life. While I know he is very excited about this opportunity, he will be greatly missed as a member of my team. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Tal Eslick for his public service to the people of the Central Valley and wishing him well in this next chapter of his life.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mrs. Helen Sullivan on being recognized as Agriculturist of the Year by the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce. In an effort to celebrate the agriculture industry that dominates the Central Valley and recognize individuals and organizations within the industry that truly make a difference, the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce hosts a Salute to Agriculture Banquet each year. On September 11, 2015, the Chamber will host its 21st Annual Salute to Agriculture. Mrs. Sullivan, whose relatives immigrated to the United States from Portugal and Croatia, was born on October 3, 1950 in Hanford, California. Born and raised on a family farm in Hanford, Mrs. Sullivan took over the family business in 1982 with her husband, Patrick. Over the years, Mrs. Sullivan has farmed multiple crops, including cotton, tomatoes, almonds, and walnuts. In addition to running her farm, Mrs. Sullivan serves as the Board Director for the Kings County Farm Bureau, sits on the board for the Participatory Learning on Agriculture and Nutrition through Technology (PLANT) Foundation, and participates in Citizens for California High Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA) and the Burris Park Foundation. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Mrs. Helen Sullivan on being honored as Agriculturist of the Year.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Kahn, Soares, and Conway, LLP (KSC) on being recognized as Ag Supporter of the Year by the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce. In an effort to celebrate the agriculture industry that dominates the Central Valley and recognize individuals and organizations within the industry that truly make a difference, the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce hosts a Salute to Agriculture Banquet each year. On September 11, 2015, the Chamber will host its 21st Annual Salute to Agriculture. Kahn, Soares, and Conway, LLP was established 35 three years ago in an effort to provide the agriculture industry with more effective legal representation. The firm, which is based in Hanford, California, is well-known for its work with agriculture-related cases, environmental and water law, labor relations, and legislative representation. Agriculture is the lifeblood of the Central Valley and the community is very fortunate to have a legal firm with such expertise and dedication at their disposal. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Kahn, Soares, and Conway, LLP for their service to the agriculture industry and congratulating them on being honored as Ag Supporter of the Year.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Steve Allen on his retirement after 28 years of dedicated service to the Selma Fire Department. Mr. Allen was born on April 18, 1961. He grew up in Fresno, California and attended local schools before going on to start his fire career as a volunteer firefighter for North Central Fire Department in May 1979. He completed his Emergency Medical Technician training and was hired by Jones Ambulance in 1981. On November 6, 1986, after completing paramedic school, Mr. Allen joined Selma Fire Department as one of Selma's first Firefighter/ Paramedics. He was promoted first to Fire Engineer in November 1993 and then to Captain in January 1996. Throughout his career, Mr. Allen worked tirelessly to protect people's lives from devastating fires, such as those in Los Angeles and the Oakland Hills Fire. Additionally, he took a special interest in investigating the causes of fires and was a member of the City of Selma's Arson Team for many years. After 28 years with the Selma Fire Department, Mr. Allen retired on May 27, 2015. The Selma community has been extremely fortunate to have a dedicated firefighter such as Mr. Allen to ensure the wellbeing of their community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Steve Allen for his 28 years of dedicated public service in Selma and congratulating him on his recent retirement.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. I thank my colleague from Texas for hosting this and allowing me the opportunity to speak. Madam Speaker, my background is, as many of you know and I spoke of many times, I am a farmer from California. One of the things that I have had the opportunity of--and sometimes not always the best opportunity, but I have had a lot of opportunities--is to deal with law enforcement; metal thieves, different folks breaking into houses and doing different types of things. I remember one specific night where we had a person trespassing, and I showed up and it was dark, 10, 11 at night. I drove up in the middle of the field, had no idea if there was someone behind me, someone coming up behind me or on the side of me. It was just a really scary feeling to think that I just drove up on this situation. How many people are out here? What are their intentions? Now, obviously, I called 911, and when the police showed up, they run into these situations on a daily basis. But the fear that I felt, knowing that there were people out there close to me who could have been there for a really, really bad reason, looking to do someone harm, is something that I just couldn't imagine doing on a daily basis. My wife and I are friends with some law enforcement folks in my district, people I grew up with, as my wife did as well. When you look back--and we have had dinners with these folks--and you talk to their spouse or you talk to their kids, you know that their husbands, their wives go into these situations on a daily basis. They have to run out there, jump into a situation where they know there is someone out there that could have a gun, could have a weapon, could look to do these people harm. They are the ones that we always call for backup. They are the ones that we always call when there is a desperate situation. And these people are the ones that are being threatened now, today. There are so many people out there that put so much into their work. But when you look at what our law enforcement does for us, every time we dial 911, every time we call for help, every time that we have got a situation that is out of our control, they are the people that step in, without any fear for their own lives, and step up and do what we need them to do. To see what has happened, especially now in Texas and other parts of the country, where these people are being ambushed, where our protectors, those who keep our families safe, are being attacked from behind, is just something that is unimaginable. The fact that we have got a group of Members here today, and I know so many more, stepping up and supporting those who do so much for us is something I am thrilled to be a part of, and it is an honor. So, again, I want to thank all of those who put on the badge and step up to protect us, each and every one of us all throughout the country. So again, thank you for what you do. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me this opportunity.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I, along with Congressman Nunes and Congressman Costa, rise today to congratulate Antonio ``Tony'' Campos for receiving the 2015 Ag One Community Salute. Mr. Campos was born and raised in Orondritz, Spain. At the age of seventeen, Mr. Campos immigrated to the United States. Although he was originally a sheepherder, he began farming Vineyards near Caruthers, California in collaboration with his brothers, Esteban and Fermin, four years after arriving in America. In 1971, they began growing almonds and launched Campos Brothers Farms. Throughout his life, Mr. Campos has been an active leader in the agricultural community and the Central Valley as a whole. He has served on the Almond Board of California, the Raisin Bargaining Association, the Raisin Administrative Committee, the National Farmers Organization, the California Bean Advisory Board, and the Fresno County Farm Bureau. Additionally, Mr. Campos has made a point of supporting charitable organizations throughout our community, such as Ag One, Valley Children's Hospital, Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno, Basque Cultural Center, Caruthers High School, and Jordan College. Today, Mr. Campos lives on the farm he established when he first came to America with his wife, Juliet, and their three children, Jeannine, Joseph, and Steven. Through their dedication, hard work, and commitment to family values, Campos Brothers Farms has grown to be an industry leader in almond production and processing. On Friday, July 31, 2015, Ag One will honor Mr. Campos as the 2015 Community Salute for his success as a local almond farmer and his commitment to serving his community. Mr. Speaker, we ask our colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join us in commending Antonio Campos for successfully pursuing the American Dream and congratulating him for being recognized as the 2015 Community Salute.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Cassie Welch for her service to my office and the 21 Congressional District of California over the past year. Ms. Welch was born in Savannah, Tennessee to Donnie and Marilyn Welch. After spending her youth in Savannah and completing her high school education, Ms. Welch attended the University of North Alabama, where she received a Bachelor's of Science in Biology, Mississippi State University, where she received a Master's of Science in Animal Nutrition, and the University of Idaho, where she received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Animal Physiology. After completing her education, Ms. Welch accepted a Fellowship in my Washington, D.C. office through the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Federation of Animal Science Societies. During her time in my office, she handled several legislative portfolios, including agriculture, animal rights, budget, housing, labor, natural resources, and social security. On August 21, 2015, Ms. Welch's time in my office will come to an end. Ms. Welch will be moving to Iowa to begin the next chapter of her life. While I know she is very excited about her upcoming journey, she will be greatly missed as a member of my team. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Cassie Welch for her public service to the people of the Central Valley and wishing her well in this next chapter of her life.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Jessica Butler for her service to my office and the 21st Congressional District of California over the past two and a half years. Ms. Butler was born in Wharton, Texas to Robert and Carol Butler and spent her youth in Bay City, Texas with her siblings, Sarah and Sam. After completing her high school education, Ms. Butler studied poultry science and food safety at Texas A&M University and Auburn University. After college, Jessica accepted a Fellowship with Congressman Devin Nunes through the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Federation of Animal Science Societies. Her work in Mr. Nunes' office led her to discover her passion for policy. After completing her fellowship, she joined my office as my Legislative Assistant and became one of the few individuals who can say they worked for every Portuguese Republican from California in the House of Representatives. During her time in my office, she handled several legislative portfolios, including agriculture, energy, healthcare, homeland security, immigration, trade, and water. Last year, she was promoted to Legislative Director and handled my work on the Appropriations committee. On August 1, 2015, Ms. Butler's time in my office will come to an end. Ms. Butler is returning to Texas, where she will marry Mr. Nathan Russell, a nuclear plant operator who has loved her since their freshman year of high school, on September 19, 2015. While I know her family will be happy to have her back in the Lone Star State, she will be greatly missed as a member of my team. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Jessica Butler for her public service to the people of the Central Valley and wishing her well in this next chapter of her life.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Tyler William Beck for his service to my office and to the people of California's 21st Congressional District. Tyler Beck was born in Salinas, California on September 14, 1991 to Mr. and Mrs. Steven and Alice Beck. Tyler and his two younger brothers, Zachary Beck and Benjamin Beck, grew up in Hanford, California, where they reside today. Prior to high school, Mr. Beck attended St. Rose McCarthy for his elementary and middle school education. In 2006, he began high school at Hanford High School, where he graduated in 2010. Following his primary education, Mr. Beck attended the College of the Sequoias Hanford as well as West Hills College Lemoore. Throughout his college education, Mr. Beck has served California's 21st Congressional District as an Administrative Assistant in my Hanford, California office. Mr. Beck's commitment to public service and strong ties to the community have made him an invaluable asset to my team. Friday, August 21, 2015 will be Mr. Beck's last day as a member of my staff. With a passion for agriculture and teaching, Mr. Beck will be attending Fresno State University. While I am proud of his academic ambition, Tyler will be greatly missed by my entire team. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Tyler Beck for his public service to the people of the Central Valley and wishing him the very best as he begins this exciting chapter of his life.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Alexis Joy Marie Hayes for her service to my office and to the people of the 21st Congressional District of California. Alexis Hayes was born and raised in Visalia, California to Mr. and Mrs. James and Kristin Hayes on February 5, 1994. Six years later, in 1999, Alexis was blessed with the birth of her sister, Rileey Hayes. Ms. Hayes attended Mountain View Elementary and Divisadero Middle School prior to attending Mt. Whitney High School, where she graduated in 2012. Following high school, Alexis began her general studies at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California. While in school, Ms. Hayes served as the President of the local College Republicans Chapter. Since high school, Ms. Hayes has been an active member of her community. From an early age, she has demonstrated a strong interest in politics and an unwavering commitment to public service. She has held positions as Office Manager for Valadao for Congress, Intern for Congressman Devin Nunes, and most recently, as a Constituent Services Representative in my Hanford, California office. Friday, July 31, 2015, will be Ms. Hayes last day as a member of my staff. In August, Ms. Hayes will begin attending the University of California, Berkeley. While I am proud of her academic achievements, she will be greatly missed as a member of my team. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Alexis Hayes for her public service to the people of the Central Valley and wishing her well as she begins the next chapter of her life.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin by thanking so many on both sides of the aisle who worked very hard on this legislation. We spent months working on this. We have crafted it throughout the beginning of this Congress, and it has been an important bill. It is going to continue to be an important bill. We look forward to seeing who has the courage to stand up and actually vote to help the folks of California. When we see the situation that is going on out there in the valley and we see the faces of these people standing in the food lines, the people who have worked so hard for so many years to help build farms, to help build businesses for their families and we see those farmworkers who have come and had the opportunity to put their kids through school. Many of them end up in really great places, some of them even in Congress, like myself. You see so many different opportunities that come from the valley. When we have a situation like we have today, where we have literally been cut off from water, we have had years in the past decade where we have had abundance of water and abundance of snowpack, and we still get a small fraction of the contracted amounts. Now, today, we are down to zero. When people speak of conservation, we have got to find a way to conserve water, we have got to find a way to save water, absolutely. We have done those things. We have implemented a lot of different programs, from drip irrigation, to change of crops, to even trying to breed better, more drought-tolerant crops. We have done what we can. We do it in our homes; we have done it in the way we live our lives, but at the end of the day, you can't conserve anything from zero because zero is nothing. There is nothing left. What it has done to our economy, what it has done to the people in the valley, what it has done to the Nation, what it has done to food costs across the Nation, when we look at all the different programs, when we are looking for a place to save money, food cost is having a huge impact on us all throughout the country. I ask for an ``aye'' vote.

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend from Wyoming, who has been a huge support on this legislation. I hear on the other side that there are no real solutions in this bill, real solutions that actually help deliver water; and that frustrates me to no end because there are a lot of solutions that have a lot of support. We also hear that this delta smelt has had no impact on pumping this water out of the delta, when the Bureau of Reclamation, through their own estimates, say about a million acre-feet annually is impacted between the Central Valley project and the State water project. That is a government agency that is doing the restricting and holding back the water that is telling us themselves. Then every year in the news, we hear another three fish were caught in the pumps. They are looking and counting, and they are already starting to figure out when they are going to turn the pumps off again so they can restrict the pumping of those fish. Then we hear this does not have an impact on farmworkers. Farmworkers aren't looking for your handouts. They are sick and tired of sitting at home and taking a check. They want to work. They want to produce. They want to walk into a grocery store with the money they earned and purchase the products that they were involved in growing. To them, that is a sign of the American dream. It is a sign of having the opportunity to produce and to be a productive member of society and to show their family and raise their family in an environment that allows them to grow with a little bit of respect and dignity for what they do. Now, as far as the solutions in this bill that they claim don't exist, reservoirs are a big deal. That is what holds water so that we can use it for later on in periods like now. We actually asked to streamline the process so we can get those approved quicker. We have asked to end the studies that have been going on for nearly 15 years. We are 13 years into it, and $150 million of taxpayer money has been spent studying these things to no end. We want to end that. I don't think that is unreasonable. The President seems to think it is, but I don't see how it possibly could be. We target predator species that are actually having an impact on the delta smelt. According to studies, you hear about 95 percent of those delta smelt and salmonoid are being consumed by these predator species. We offer a solution in order to take care of that problem. Real science, we asked for a layer of bureaucracy. My opponent or my friend from the other side seems to think it is a layer of bureaucracy, but we are asking for real science to be put in place to make sure that, when we decide to turn off these pumps to hurt the communities in the Central Valley, to put these people out of work, that real science is actually used; and we actually try to verify that things are actually accomplishing something when we turn these pumps off. As far as hearings, we have had hearings. We wanted those hearings in the valley. We took the request of our friends on the other side, and we had the hearing right there in Fresno in the heart of the problem so they can see for themselves what this is causing, what effect this is having in our communities. Like my friend from Wyoming mentioned, we had one person show up; and I would like to thank that gentleman for coming, Mr. Costa, and spending some time. It is his hometown, so he understands the issue well. This is something that we take very seriously. This bill is a comprehensive bill that covers a lot of different topics, but it also helps deliver real water. I don't know what the difference between wet water and dry water is, but we are looking to deliver real water to the valley. If this didn't deliver real water like they claim, what are they afraid of? What is the fear of this legislation passing if it doesn't deliver, in their own words? We are looking to get some water, helping our community and helping people get back to work and grow delicious, wonderful American food that we are very proud of.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. I thank the gentleman from Washington for his help with this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, a little bit on the history of the Valley and the area that I represent. It is an area filled with immigrants. When you look at my district and when you look at the people I represent, 80 percent of them are minorities. One of the reasons I feel that I had the opportunity to be elected and the honor of being able to represent that district is due to my own background. My dad came to this country in 1969 as a new immigrant. He didn't speak English as well as he should have, and still, to this day, he speaks with a very strong accent, as does my mom. When my dad started working in plants and trying to save money so that he could start his own farm someday and give us the opportunity to have the American Dream, he learned to speak Spanish while working alongside a lot of Hispanic folks. While working really hard and saving his money, he had the opportunity to save enough money to actually buy some cattle and work his way up to the point at which he actually owned some land. When we look at an opportunity for the American Dream, when we listen to people talk about the opportunity to be successful and protect the small business guy, I am that guy. I am the guy who had that opportunity because of my parents, because of their hard work. I have been in that struggle. I don't just represent them in Congress, I am that face. I am that person who had that opportunity because of that hard work. When we see the struggle and when someone claims to tell me or to tell us on our side what those struggles are really like and how this piece of legislation has an impact only for the largest of the large, when you raise the cost of water because you restrict the amount of water that we have delivered to the Valley, it hurts the smallest guy the most. Those people I represent, that 80 percent minority district, are seeing unemployment numbers as high as 50 percent because those farmers are not getting that water. Those food lines are starting to grow, lines that I stood in, where I helped serve food. It is food that was grown in other countries because we can no longer grow it in the Valley. These are all people that my friends across the aisle claim to represent, but they don't, because they don't have that background and they didn't have that opportunity to be there to work with them and to grow up in that life where they had to work before and after school like I did--drive a tractor, feed calves, and do all that different type of stuff--because that is what the American Dream is all about: working, saving your money, and having that opportunity. It is also about having government at their backs. But, right now government is making it more and more difficult for that little guy. Water has gotten so expensive because you have the large cities coming in and spending a bunch of money so that water is going right through the Valley to the southern portion. All we are asking for in this piece of legislation is for some common sense, common sense that says: ``Let's look at what science we are using.'' If we are going to protect a species, show me the evidence that meets and actually delivers the protection of species. We have lived through two decades of this, and now we are seeing that the endangered species they claim to want to protect is on the verge of annihilation, almost gone, extinct, after delivering almost no water. We have gotten an allocation over these past few years of zero percent. We are not asking for a lot of water. We are not asking to be taught how to conserve water. We have done that. We have reached that point. We are at zero. We have got zero water, and we have got high unemployment numbers. We have got people standing in line, asking for food and begging for help, when all they want to do is work an honest living and provide for their families and for their neighbors. We have seen too much suffering. It is getting old. We need to pass legislation. We need people who are sincere in this conversation to show up and show some courage and vote for this legislation.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, today, we have 10,000 known diseases, most of which are considered rare. However, we only have 500 cures for these diseases. Americans can do better than that, and today, we have that opportunity to do so. We have a bill that will be heard here on the floor today, the 21st Century Cures Act, which I am proud to be a cosponsor of and thrilled to see that we actually have an opportunity to help so many people with increased funding so that we can help find some cures, help people-- sometimes in our own family, people that we know, our friends--with some of the diseases and some of the things that we face. Finally, today, with all the negative press that we have got, we have an opportunity to actually do something to be proud of, something that actually makes a difference for people in our own community. Again, I ask that this House approve this bill.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues on the House floor today may not know that June is National Dairy Month. As a dairy farmer myself, I believe this month is a perfect opportunity to recognize how important the dairy industry is to the Central Valley. Not only are there dairy farms in all 50 States, but dairy is the number one agriculture business in 10 States, including Idaho, New York, and Wisconsin. However, my home State of California is the biggest dairy producer in the country and is responsible for 21.3 percent of the U.S. milk supply. My own district, California 21, produces the most dairy of any congressional district in the Nation. However, dairy isn't just important to farmers. Not only do Americans consume at least two cups of dairy products each and every day, but America's dairy industry is important to our Nation's agriculture market and our entire economy. Dairy farms across the country improve our national economy. The U.S. dairy industry creates an estimated $140 billion in economic output, $29 billion in household earnings, and is responsible for creating more than 900,000 jobs. So this summer when you stop for ice cream on a hot night or a bowl of cereal on a rushed morning, remember the hard-working Americans who brought dairy to your grocery store.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California for offering this very important amendment. When you look at what is going on in Central Valley, my hometown, and you hear stories--and I see for myself because I was there this past week--cities, houses, running out of water, wells going dry. There was a news article a couple of days ago about a city in my district named Lemoore where wells are going dry that supply homes there the south side of town. That is a frustrating situation. We fought for the last couple of years to bring legislation to the floor. We delivered it to the Senate a few times to help resolve this. What makes this more frustrating than anything is we have got a situation here where we could actually make a difference. There are studies here that prove that 95 percent of the fish that we are trying to protect are being eaten by species that we are doing nothing about. The tools are there. This is a simple amendment that actually helps deliver and force these agencies which should be looking out for the best interests of the people of the United States, it forces them to actually use every single tool in their toolbox to actually address the situation instead of wasting water. When I saw the story not too long ago about water being diverted or released in these pulse flows to trick some of our species to try to protect instead of actually doing something to make a difference, it is a waste of water that could have made a real difference for the people in my district, people who are unemployed. We are starting to see unemployment numbers again upwards of 50 percent in some of these communities, houses where they are actually delivering water by truck so they can bathe. This is a real dire situation. This amendment is a step in the right direction that actually allows these government agencies which, again, are supposed to take the interests of the American people at heart first to use all the tools in their toolbox. This is a good idea, this is a good amendment, and this really truly makes a difference. Again, thank you for this amendment, and I urge support.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Edna Ivans on her retirement after 48 years of working in the education system as a member of the West Hills Community College District Board of Trustees. Mrs. Ivans was raised in Delano, California before going on to attend the University of Southern California's Pharmacy School. While studying for her degree, she met her husband, Nick Ivans. They would go on to settle in Avenal, California. Beginning in June of 1967, Mrs. Ivans became an integral member of the West Hills Community College District (WHCCD) Board of Trustees. As the representative for Trustee Area 3, she was the force behind many projects that molded WHCCD into a successful, educational institution designed to serve the Central Valley's needs. WHCCD honored Mrs. Ivans for her work by naming the women's residence hall at the West Hills College Coalinga campus Edna L. Ivans Hall. After 48 years of advocating on behalf of students and teachers alike, Mrs. Ivans retired on April 6, 2015. Educators and students throughout the Central Valley of California have been extremely fortunate to have had someone as talented and dedicated as Mrs. Ivans working on their behalf to ensure a first rate education is within reach of everyone in the Central Valley. The Central Valley has benefitted greatly from her insight and perspective. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Edna Ivans for her 48 years of dedicated public service as a Trustee for the West Hills Community College District and congratulating her on her recent retirement.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Delbert Cederquist on his work as a school board trustee for the past 62 years. Mr. Cederquist was born and raised in Fresno, California. In 1950, after completing his education, he launched a vineyard in Easton, California and became a member of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. Mr. Cederquist is married to Denise Cederquist and has two children and three grandchildren. In 1953, Mr. Cederquist became involved in education for the first time as a board member for the University Colony School District. Since then, he has been involved on the boards of several local, state, and national education associations in a variety of different roles. Mr. Cederquist has been a member of the California School Boards Association (CSBA) since 1967. In addition to being a member of the Board of Directors, the Delegate Assembly, and several committees, Mr. Cederquist has also served as Conference Chairman and President. Currently, Mr. Cederquist is an active member of the Fresno County Board of Education. The Board has oversight over more than 190,000 students and 32 school districts throughout Fresno County. Mr. Cederquist was elected to Fresno County Board of Education for the first time in 1994 and is currently in his fifth term. Additionally, he has served as its President on three separate occasions. While education may not have been his professional trade, it became a lifelong passion for Mr. Cederquist. Due to his extensive experience and dedication, Mr. Cederquist is widely recognized for his knowledge, expertise, and commitment to education. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Delbert Cederquist for his 62 years of dedicated service to the students, teachers, and schools of the Central Valley and the State of California.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chief John Amoroso on his retirement after four years of dedicated service as the Chief of Police to the people of Avenal, California. Chief Amoroso was born on June 10, 1956 in San Francisco, California. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1974. He went on to attend the College of the Sequoias on a baseball scholarship, where he earned an Associate of Science Degree. In July 1976, Chief Amoroso married Susan Brown. The couple would go on to have two daughters, Amy and Melissa. Chief Amoroso started his distinguished law enforcement career in 1979 with the Hanford Police Department (HPD). He served with the department for nine years and earned the rank of Sergeant before being hired by the Kings County Sheriff's Office in 1988. In 1992, Chief Amoroso was awarded a Medal of Valor for his work in a SWAT mission that resulted in the arrest of a double homicide suspect. Chief Amoroso spent 21 years with the Kings County Sheriff's Office before retiring in December 2009. On April 1, 2010, the City of Avenal hired Chief Amoroso to establish Avenal's first police department. In addition to hiring officers, acquiring equipment, purchasing vehicles, and facilitating officer training, he designed the Ken Brown Public Safety Center where the Avenal Police Department is located. Chief Amoroso's work to establish the Avenal Police Department fully materialized on November 15, 2010 when the Avenal Police Department relieved the Kings County Sheriff's Office and assumed full responsibility for law enforcement in the City of Avenal. After dedicating his life to law enforcement, Chief Amoroso is retiring on April 10, 2015. Avenal and the entire Central Valley community have been extremely fortunate to have a dedicated law enforcement officer such as Chief Amoroso to ensure the wellbeing of their community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Chief John Amoroso for his thirty five years of dedicated law enforcement work in the Central Valley and congratulating him on his recent retirement from the Avenal Police Department.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I along with Mr. Costa rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of Nicholas J. Ivans, who passed away on February 15, 2015. Mr. Ivans was born in Hanford, California on February 17, 1924 to Peter Ivancovich and Danitza Ninkovich, immigrants from Boznia- Heregovina. He attended Hanford High and Visalia Junior College before he was drafted into the United States Armed Services during World War II. Mr. Ivans was a member of the H Company, 101st Regiment of the 26th Yankee Division and saw combat duty in France, Belgium, Luxemberg, Germany, Austria, and Czechoslavakia. After the war, Mr. Ivans returned to the United States and attended California State University, Fresno for his undergraduate degree and the University of Southern California's (USC) Pharmacy School for his graduate degree. While at USC, Mr. Ivans met Edna Logan. The two married in 1949 and would have three of their own children and five foster children. Mr. and Mrs. Ivans returned to the Central Valley after they received their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees. Not long after their return, Mr. Ivans purchased Tomer Drug Store in Avenal, California, launching his career as Avenal's community pharmacist. Throughout his life, Mr. Ivans was a dedicated member of his community. He was involved in the Avenal Rotary Club and the Avenal Chamber of Commerce, where he served multiple terms as President. He was responsible for several improvements and additions to Avenal, including house to house mail delivery in unincorporated communities, a lighting district in an area with no street lights, and a state prison. Mr. Ivans passed away just two days short of his 91st birthday on February 15, 2015. He touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and community. Mr. Speaker, we ask our colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join us in commemorating the life of Nicholas J. Ivans.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Nancy McDarment on her retirement after 40 years of working for the Tule River Tribe and its members. Ms. McDarment was born on March 2, 1947 to Joe Vera and Bonnie Kambick. She has been married to her husband, Willie McDarment, for over thirty years and is blessed with four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Around 1968, Ms. McDarment began her service to the Tule River Tribe in a position with the Tule River Indian Health Center. In September 1974, she went on to work for the Tule River Tribal Council, where she would spend the rest of her career in a variety of different positions. She began as a secretary for the Tule River Tribe, before going on to serve as the Contract and Grant Manager for many years with intermittent terms as both the Secretary of the Tule River Tribal Council and the Acting Tribal Administrator. After a final two year term as Secretary of the Council and forty years of service to the Tule River Tribe, Ms. McDarment is retiring. The Tule River Tribe has been extremely fortunate to have had someone as talented and dedicated as Ms. McDarment working on their behalf. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Nancy McDarment for her 40 years of dedicated service to the Tule River Tribe and congratulating her on her retirement.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Karl Kildow on his retirement after 38 years of working in the education industry as both an educator and an advocate. Mr. Kildow was born in San Diego, California and spent his youth in San Diego and Tustin, California. After completing his high school education, Mr. Kildow attended California State University Fullerton, where he received a degree in Social Science. After college, Mr. Kildow dedicated his life to the noble profession of teaching. His first teaching job was at Needles High School in Needles, California. While there, he taught English, mathematics, history, and physical education and coached the school's basketball team. In addition launching his career as an educator in Needles, he also met his wife Sandy there. Mr. Kildow settled in Visalia where he taught at Divisidero Middle School, Mt. Whitney High School, and Redwood High School teaching English, for 1 year, 18 years, and 8 years, respectively. During this time period he received an English credential and got involved in the Visalia Unified Teachers Association (VUTA) and the National Educators Association (NEA). He served as the President of the VUTA for 12 years and currently is an NEA Director. After 38 years of teaching and advocating on behalf of students and teachers alike, Mr. Kildow will be retiring later this year. Educators and students throughout the Central Valley of California have been extremely fortunate to have had someone as talented and dedicated as Mr. Kildow working on their behalf. Mr. Kildow touched the lives of countless individuals throughout his career. The Central Valley has benefitted greatly from his insight and perspective. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in commending Karl Kildow for his 38 years of dedicated public service as an educator in the Central Valley and congratulating him on his recent retirement.

Mr. VALADAO

Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative McSally. I had an opportunity to go to your home State a couple of weeks ago and spend some time with you on the border. I have spent quite a bit of time here in Washington over the last 2 years talking about immigration reform. I do believe that we have to fix the problem. We have to address the situation we have with immigration in general. But something that I learned a lot about on that trip which I knew before, until I really got to experience and see for myself, I didn't realize how bad the situation on the border was and what our border agents face on a day- to-day basis, with people coming in with tools that I happened to use in my shop when I am building stuff, saws and torches and different types of equipment, just to get through the fence. When you see the situation we have got with the types of drugs and the types of people crossing the border on a daily basis, it is truly a situation that has to be resolved and looked at in a totally different way. Chairman McCaul came up with a piece of legislation to address this, going along the whole border in a piece-by-piece manner. It looks at each part of the border and how it needs to be addressed. From that tour and the time I spent on the border, I got to see how important it was; from the California portion in San Diego and how people are getting across the border and the type of tunnels they are digging to the type of aircraft that people are flying, the drones that you can buy for a couple thousand bucks online; and even down to your part of the border where we got to see people cutting through the fence and actually making ramps and driving over barriers that weren't able to be cut; down to Texas to the Rio Grande when we traveled the river and saw what the situation was there, where people can hide and how narrow that area is. The bill that was introduced helps secure the border because it looks at each portion of the border separately and individually and addresses it as a problem in itself. It puts technology in those places where it can truly make a difference. That border with this legislation can actually be secured--as much as we possibly can. Then we can move on with the rest of what has to be done. Obviously, fixing our guest worker programs and fixing our visa programs and the type of legal immigration that we welcome in this country because this country was built on immigrants. But we want to make sure that we secure the border first. I am thrilled to be here and spend some time with you this evening talking about such an important issue. I appreciate the invitation.