[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 6 (Friday, January 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E47]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DAVID R. WHITMER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 10, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor David 
Whitmer upon his retirement as Agriculture Commissioner and Sealer of 
Weights and Measures for Napa County. I thank Mr. Whitmer for his 
thirty-three years of dedicated service to the people of Napa County, 
during which time his support for agriculture in Napa Valley and the 
State of California is both admirable and deserving of recognition.
  Mr. Whitmer was born and raised in Napa Valley. He attended Napa 
Valley College before transferring to California State University, 
Chico, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He returned 
to Napa, where he served the county for thirty-three years, including 
five four-year terms as Agriculture Commissioner.
  As Agriculture Commissioner, Mr. Whitmer worked to protect local 
crops from invasive species, including the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, 
a major carrier of Pierce's disease. When the European Grapevine Moth 
was discovered in Napa County in 2009, Mr. Whitmer worked with state, 
federal and international partners to detect, treat and quarantine the 
threat. For his efforts, he was awarded the first-ever ``Special 
Achievement-Manager Award'' from the California Agriculture 
Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA). During his years of 
service, Mr. Whitmer took on a leadership role with CACASA, where he 
served as both President and as Chair of the Pesticide Regulatory 
Affairs Committee and the Legislation Committee. Now that he has 
retired, Mr. Whitmer plans to work with Circles USA, a national 
campaign to combat poverty.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we honor and thank 
Mr. Whitmer for his invaluable service to the County of Napa. David 
Whitmer's unyielding dedication to protecting and promoting agriculture 
in Napa Valley is greatly appreciated by the entire Napa community and 
we wish him a most enjoyable retirement.

                          ____________________