[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 171 (Thursday, October 1, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E913-E914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING SENATOR BILL MONNING

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 1, 2020

  Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I ride today to honor Bill Monning, the 
retiring Senator representing the 17th Senate District of California, 
for his career in advocacy and public service and his commitment to 
serving the people of the central coast of California. His leadership 
has improved the lives of many, and I am honored to acknowledge this 
legacy today.
  Senator Monning was born in Culver City, California, in 1951 and 
raised in Pasadena. After finishing high school at Flintridge 
Preparatory School, where he excelled as an athlete, Monning attended 
college at the University of California, Berkeley. Following his 
graduation, he attained his Juris Doctorate from the University of San 
Francisco. His time spent in the Bay Area in the 1970s led him to 
commit himself to a career of advocating for and serving others.
  After passing the California Bar Examination, Senator Monning worked 
as an attorney protecting the rights of migrant farm workers

[[Page E914]]

at the United Farm Workers of America and the Migrant Farm Worker 
Project at California Rural Legal Assistance. Monning served as the 
Director of the Salvadoran Medical Relief Fund from 1982 through 1987 
and was the Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Prize winning 
organization International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War 
from 1987 through 1991. Monning then went on to serve as a professor at 
the Monterey College of Law and Monterey Institute of International 
Studies and president and co-founder of Global Majority, Inc., an 
organization committed to education, training and advocacy in the field 
of non-violent conflict resolution.
  Senator Monning's service in the California State Legislature began 
with his election as Assemblymember for the 27th Assembly District, 
representing parts of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties 
from 2008 to 2012. In 2012, he was elected Senator of the 17th Senate 
District, which includes all of San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties 
and portions of Monterey and Santa Clara counties. He was reelected in 
2016 and served as Senate Majority Leader from 2015 through 2018. 
Currently, Monning serves as Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Rules 
and is a member of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the Senate 
Committees on Budget, Health, Judiciary, Natural Resources and Water, 
and Rules. He also represents the Senate on the California Air 
Resources Board. Throughout his time as a legislator, he has been a 
leader in protecting natural resources and the environment, improving 
the health of all Californians, and serving veterans.
  As Senator Monning prepares to celebrate his retirement, I am proud 
to commend him on his lifetime of serving others. I have no doubt he 
will enjoy spending this time with his wife, Dr. Dana T. Kent, his two 
children, and three grandchildren. On behalf of Central Coast 
residents, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Senator Bill 
Monning for his public service and wishing him a long and healthy 
retirement.

                          ____________________