[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN HONOR OF HENRY MELLO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2004

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I rise today in honor of a 
good friend and outstanding public servant, former California State 
Senator Henry Mello. Henry passed away on September 4, 2004, but will 
always be remembered for his dedication to the communities of the 
Central Coast. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, but 
his legacy will live on in many ways.
  The son of Portuguese immigrants, Henry was born in 1924 in the rural 
community of Watsonville, where his mother's family had been farming 
apples since 1874. He had an eye for business and left Hartnell College 
after one year to work with his family on the apple farms. At the age 
of 29 Henry founded John C. Mello and Sons Cold Storage and ran it for 
twenty years before selling it to Del Mar Food Products in 1973. By 
this time Henry had found his true calling: public service.
  In 1966 Henry officially began his political career with his election 
to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. He was not afraid of 
politically charged issues, and in 1972 composed a motion disapproving 
the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. Because of his 
dedication to his constituents and his commitment to the Monterey Bay 
area, he was elected to the California State Assembly, serving from 
1976 to 1980. Henry was then elected to the State Senate, rising 
quickly to prominent positions, including the majority whip from 1981 
to 1992 and the majority leader from 1992 until he left the legislature 
in 1996.
  While in the legislature, Senator Mello was an ardent supporter of 
many vital segments of our population, especially senior citizens. 
Senator Mello authored legislation to enact the first programs focusing 
on Alzheimer's-Respite Care, Adult Day Health Care and the Multipurpose 
Senior Services Programs. He founded the Senior Legislature and passed 
legislation to combat elder abuse. In the twenty years that Senator 
Mello served in the legislature, he authored more than 120 bills on 
aging and long-term care that have become the law of the land in 
California.
  However, Henry's service and advocacy extended far beyond just one 
subject. He was also a strong supporter of our ocean's health, 
authoring legislation to protect fisheries, working to keep off-shore 
oil away from California's coastline, and petitioning for the Monterey 
Bay National Marine Sanctuary. He has created many lasting legacies on 
the Central Coast, including Wilder Ranch and Grey Whale State Parks, 
which are enjoyed by thousands of people each year. He also supported 
the creation of the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 
at the University of California, Santa Cruz, which has made tremendous 
strides in organic and sustainable farming practices worldwide.

  When Fort Ord was slated to be closed by the U.S. Army, Senator Mello 
introduced legislation to create the Fort Ord Reuse Authority to help 
the state and the region handle the largest base closure in U.S. 
history. He was also proactive in transferring this area into civilian 
use, and helped create the California State University, Monterey Bay on 
the former base. He was a co-author of the Mello-Roos Act of 1982, 
which provided funding for education and other public projects through 
tax-exempt bonds. Following the Loma Prieta earthquake, Henry secured a 
temporary sales tax increase to help the devastated communities of the 
Central Coast, a measure which proved to be invaluable to the local 
governments in their efforts to rebuild. In his hometown, he is perhaps 
best known to the general public for helping to raise funds to rebuild 
the performing arts center in Watsonville after it was destroyed in the 
earthquake. It was opened in 1994 as the Henry J. Mello Center for the 
Performing Arts, which was particularly fitting because Senator Mello 
was known for contributing his musical talents on the piano for many 
state and local functions.
  Mr. Speaker, Henry Mello was the consummate public servant and master 
of the art of compromise. His legacy to the State of California is felt 
through the landmark legislation that he passed as well as through 
those whose lives he touched personally. Many of us in the California 
Congressional Delegation worked closely with Henry throughout our 
public service careers, and we all wish to extend our deepest 
sympathies to his wife, Helen, and his sons Stephen, John, Michael and 
Timothy.

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