[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 74 (Friday, June 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E998-E999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   A TRIBUTE TO CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER PRO TEM FRED KEELEY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 2002

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, California 
State Assembly Speaker pro Tem Fred Keeley. In his years of service to 
the communities of the Central Coast and throughout California, he has 
earned a reputation for professionalism, and the ability to fairly 
balance competing interests and find common ground between them. His 
legacy of tireless work has been an inspiration to me, his colleagues 
in the California State Assembly, and many others.
  Fred Keeley holds an unwavering conviction that Californians need, 
and deserve, a clean

[[Page E999]]

and well-protected environment, and that it is not necessary to 
threaten or damage the environment to meet the energy needs of 
Californians. Fred has been a strong advocate of energy conservation 
and efficiency programs, in addition to developing programs to 
encourage households to generate their own electricity with renewable 
energy. In March 2000, Fred's bond measure, Proposition 12, the Safe 
Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond 
Act was passed. In drafting the Marine Life Management Act, Fred 
brought together sport and commercial fishermen, environmentalists, and 
scientists to address the question of how to be good stewards of our 
ocean resources.
  Fred Keeley understands that the greatest of all of California's 
resources are its people, and that state, federal, and local 
governments should do all they can to invest in these people by 
investing in their education. The Central Coast is home to excellent 
institutions of higher education, many of which have formed 
partnerships with the research facilities located around the Monterey 
Bay. One of the ways Fred is helping college students and their 
communities is by addressing the need for student housing. Fred also 
works on behalf of younger students through his efforts to create a 
high school in Watsonville, and on behalf of our youngest students, 
through his efforts to improve availability of funding for the Healthy 
Start program.
  Term limits will force Fred Keeley to leave the California State 
Assembly, and his talent and vision will be sorely missed. However, I 
know that he will continue an active contributor to the communities of 
Central Coast, as he did in his years as a Member of the Santa Cruz 
County Board of Supervisors, and as my Chief of Staff when I served in 
the California State Assembly. I am proud to call Fred Keeley a friend, 
and happy to honor him for his commitment to public service.

                          ____________________