[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO JIM BECK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KEVIN McCARTHY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2016

  Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jim Beck, a 
resident and community leader from Bakersfield, California, on his 
retirement as the General Manager of the Kern County Water Agency. Over 
the past three decades with the Kern County Water Agency, Jim has been 
instrumental in the fight to ensure our community receives the water we 
need.
  Jim received both his Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree from the 
University of Pittsburgh. He joined the Kern County Water Agency nearly 
32 years ago, moving from an agency chemist to Manager of Improvement 
District No. 4 to Assistant General Manager. In January 2005, Jim 
became the General Manager, undertaking an extremely important role for 
Kern County in California's extremely challenging world of water.
  The Kern County Water Agency (KCWA) is the second-largest participant 
in the California State Water Project (SWP), with an annual allotment 
of about 1 million acre-feet of water that is delivered to 19 public 
water agencies through KCWA and provided to serve domestic and 
irrigation water supplies to families, farms, and businesses located in 
Kern County. As General Manager, Jim has fought hard to ensure that 
Kern County gets the water we deserve--the water that we contract and 
pay for.
  The position of General Manager of KCWA is not for the faint of 
heart. Jim has led the agency through the most recent and currently 
ongoing catastrophic drought in California--the worst on record. 
Federal and state laws and regulations have exacerbated drought 
conditions resulting in significant water supply reductions from the 
SWP and to Kern County. Notwithstanding Jim's soft-spoken and quiet 
demeanor, when it comes to water advocacy, Jim has been a vociferous 
and unwavering ally in efforts to reform these laws and regulations to 
help ensure our communities get the water they need.
  At my request, Jim travelled to Washington, D.C., to testify before 
the House Committee on Natural Resources on the importance of 
legislation to reform the laws and regulations that are making it 
impossible for the Kern County Water Agency to get its full water 
allocation off the SWP. And, with Jim's and his staff's expertise, 
legislation was drafted that united all the differing factions in 
California's complex water system (north and south, east and west, 
Federal and state) that passed the House in multiple Congresses.
  Recognizing the challenges on the SWP, Jim did not stand idly by as 
surface water supplies became more unreliable. As General Manager, he 
oversaw significant capital projects at the Kern County Water Agency, 
including water purification and conveyance infrastructure, to ensure 
the water that Kern County does receive either from the SWP or Mother 
Nature is not lost. In addition, as General Manager, Jim oversees one 
of the largest groundwater banks in California, which has been 
invaluable as the drought continues.
  Jim has been at the forefront of the fight for Kern County farmers 
and families. Drive up and down the Central Valley and you will see 
signs that say ``Food Grows Where Water Flows.'' The water that Jim and 
KCWA have gotten for Kern County, part of California's ``Salad Bowl,'' 
ensures that our community, state, and nation have access to healthy 
fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts and that the southern Central Valley 
continues to thrive.
  Jim exemplifies how one can serve their community with quiet 
fortitude and dedication over the years. Jim and I have been in the 
trenches together on California water, and I have enjoyed working with 
him and his no-nonsense style as we fought to protect Kern County 
water. After many years in public service, I know that Jim looks 
forward to spending more time with his wife, Diane, and two sons, 
Chandler and Braden. Jim will be missed in the world of Kern County and 
California water, but I salute his lifetime of service and on behalf of 
our county and state, I wish him the best as he begins this new chapter 
of his life.

                          ____________________