Floor Statements

Statement Honoring Lucio E. Perez for Being Named 'Agriculturalist of the Year'

July 15, 2011

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of community member Lucio E. Perez for being named Agriculturalist of the Year by the Napa County Farm Bureau. Mr. Perez comes from a long history of working with Napa's bountiful soil. His grandfather, Mr. Lucio D. Perez, emigrated from Mexico and settled in the Napa Valley in the early 1930s and worked as an agricultural laborer. In 1935, the L. Perez & Sons Family Estates began growing wine grapes. The business was passed to his son Ezequiel, and later to his grandson Lucio, or as he is known throughout the valley, "Cio."

Issues:Energy & EnvironmentWine & Agriculture

Statement Honoring Jimmy Smith for His Service as Chairman of the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

July 13, 2011

Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jimmy Smith, chairman of the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (NCIRWMP) Policy Review Panel for 7 years, honoring his dedication to, and his achievements toward, healthy North Coast communities and ecosystems.

Issues:Energy & Environment

Statement Honoring the Retirement of Napa Resident Dennis Sisto

July 12, 2011

Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dennis Sisto on the occasion of his retirement as President and Chief Executive Officer of Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa County, California. Dennis' leadership will be truly missed by his colleagues, health care providers throughout the Napa Valley, and all of us in the community who have received superlative medical care from Queen of the Valley during his tenure.

Issues:Health Care

Statement in Support of Banning Expanded Training Activities in the Navys Northwest Training Range Complex

July 8, 2011

Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I submit a copy of an amendment that I had hoped to introduce during the debate of H.R. 2219, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2012. However, I have learned that this important amendment would have been subject to a point of order and not be made in order.

Issues:Energy & EnvironmentDefense

Statement Honoring the 100th Birthday of the Boyes Hot Springs Post Office

June 15, 2011

Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague, Representative Lynn Woolsey, to honor the 100th birthday of an important community institution, the Boyes Hot Springs Post Office. On July 8, 1911, the Sonoma Index Tribune reported that "A.D. Graham of Graham's Cash Store received the appointment as post master of Boyes Springs. Located at his store."

Issues:Jobs & Economy

Statement Honoring the Life of Allan Alfred Voigt

June 3, 2011

Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Allan Alfred Voigt, a truly remarkable Renaissance man who passed away May 13, 2011. Al Voigt was a scientist who held several patents, an artist, a community leader, a loving and devoted husband to his wife, Judith, a caring and inspiring father to his children, Che and Shanta, and doting grandfather to Logan Allan and Katherine Annabelle.

Issues:Defense

Statement Honoring Leroy Edward Hart of Napa County, California

May 26, 2011

Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of community member Lee Hart, for his outstanding work in Napa County, California. Mr. Hart was born in San Francisco in 1940 and moved to Yountville at the age of 3. He is the great-grandson of a Yountville pioneer, Mr. Mathias Van de Leur, who was a Napa County Supervisor and a mason who built the St. Helena Catholic Church, several stone bridges and the Manor House at Stagg's Leap Winery.

Issues:Energy & EnvironmentVeterans

Statement in Support of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011

May 12, 2011

Floor Statements

As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis, and Counterintelligence, I'm pleased that we were able to work through our differences to bring a stronger and now bipartisan Intelligence authorization bill to the floor today.

H.R. 754 will support critical U.S. intelligence capabilities by increasing resources for our country's counterterrorism efforts while also providing needed flexibility to the Central Intelligence Agency to hire the analysts that it needs.

Issues:Defense

Statement Opposing Expanded Drilling Off Californias North Coast

May 11, 2011

Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, according to this bill's drafters, the legislation would not require leasing permits in the northern California planning area, which is the coastline of my district. My amendment merely makes that clear.

Drilling on the north coast of California is a disastrous idea, and the legislation must be clear that it is not acceptable to drill off California's north coast. Because this amendment is a clarification of the legislation's intent, there is no cost associated with it.

Issues:Energy & Environment

Statement Honoring the Life of Jess Stonestreet Jackson

May 10, 2011

Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise with both pride and sadness today with my colleague, Lynn Woolsey, to honor one of Sonoma County's pioneering leaders. Jess Stonestreet Jackson passed away April 12, 2011, at his home in Geyserville, California. From the wine industry to local philanthropy, Jess Jackson touched lives across the North Bay, and he was admired and respected for his devotion to our region.

Issues:Wine & Agriculture