[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMEMORATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF CRAFTON HILLS COLLEGE IN YUCAIPA, 
                               CALIFORNIA

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                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 
40th anniversary of one of the most dynamic centers of learning in my 
district: Crafton Hills College, in Yucaipa, California.
  I have spoken to my colleagues before about this fine community 
college. It has grown from an initial 881 students in 1972 to more than 
5,600 today. The faculty continues to expand, with more than 90 full-
time teachers and administrators. More than 150,000 students have 
expanded their education and found new job skills at Crafton.
  As many of my colleagues are aware, community colleges have become a 
haven for many of our fellow citizens who have lost jobs and are 
desperately seeking new skills to advance their place in our economy. 
Crafton Hills has certainly been one of those havens, offering more 
than 60 degrees and certificates ranging from Radiologic Technology to 
Internet Web Design. The college has maintained its high standards and 
student services despite facing its own budget cutbacks.
  In just the past few years, the campus has seen a number of wonderful 
additions. Even as they faced tough economic times, voters in our area 
approved a bond measure that paid to build a 60,000-square-foot 
Learning Resource Center, which now houses the library, a computer 
center, an art gallery and a tiered auditorium. The bond also paid for 
installation of a fabulous new swim center, which incorporates the 
competitive pool used in the 2004 Olympic trials in Long Beach, 
California. I was pleased to help arrange moving the pool to the 
campus.
  The campus will soon dedicate a seven-acre Solar Farm that will 
provide nearly all of the college's electrical needs, as well as taking 
a tremendous load off of the public electrical grid. All of these 
improvements are clear evidence that Crafton Hills College is laying 
the groundwork to be a top educational institution for decades to come.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to once again praise the college for its 
role in the San Bernardino Regional Emergency Training Center at the 
San Bernardino International Airport. Established with the support of 
the Federal Aviation Administration, the center has trained hundreds of 
firefighters from across the nation in how to handle commercial 
aircraft fires--with real-life scenarios set in the fuselage of a 
former jet-liner. I have no doubt that many lives will be saved in the 
future by firefighters who have learned their techniques here.
  Mr. Speaker, Crafton Hills College is a top example of the kind of 
center for higher education that will train our future workers, 
researchers and academics. Please join me in congratulating the 
college's administration, faculty and students for their efforts, and 
wish them success for the future.

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