[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H343-H344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CRISIS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND GUN VIOLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.

[[Page H344]]

  

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, we know that we have a crisis of mental 
health across America, and it impacts gun violence, homelessness, and 
so many other factors. One in five U.S. adults live with mental 
illness. One in seven in California.
  As a result of the pandemic, more Americans have felt alone, scared, 
and depressed. In my district there is a severe lack of access to 
mental health in culturally and linguistically challenged areas, 
especially in southeast Fresno.
  In response, we secured $1.5 million to provide expanded mental 
health and recovery services. That is not enough. We need to do much 
more throughout the valley and throughout our country.
  The lack of investment in mental health services and resources has 
also fueled a rise in homelessness, as we know, and gun violence in our 
country. Not even 1 month into 2023, we have had 39 mass shootings that 
have taken place in America. From Monterey Park in California, Half 
Moon Bay, to Goshen, California, all three in our State, we have been 
torn apart by senseless gun violence.
  Americans have offered thoughts and prayers. Those are good but not 
enough. We need further action on gun reform and mental health support. 
It is critical.
  As the chair of the Crime Survivors and Justice Caucus, I am 
advocating that we build on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act by 
hiring more mental health providers, strengthening access to treatment, 
and expanding resources to our youth. It is very necessary today with 
our young people.
  To all my fellow Americans, it is okay not to be okay. It is okay to 
ask for help and dial 988. Let's break the stigma and try to save 
lives.


                        Floods and Water Storage

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, most are aware that in California we seem 
to have extreme floods and extreme droughts. Certainly, that has been 
proven true in the last month.
  Last week, I met with local, State, and Federal California water 
leaders to discuss our efforts to divert flood control and improve 
groundwater recharge.
  Recent storms have dumped over 32 trillion, with a t, gallons of 
water in California, and the weather forecasters are anticipating that 
in February we will have more rain.
  We need to be better prepared to avoid what happened in Planada, 
California where over half of the community was flooded and farmworkers 
and others lost their homes. A grammar school was literally inundated 
and now the 300 students are being taught at a middle school.
  More needs to be done to deal with the displaced farmworkers and the 
impacts to farmers.
  I am working with Governor Newsom and the White House to streamline 
the process to divert floodwater and increase water storage. It is 
absolutely necessary with climate change and other factors we are 
dealing with.
  We have secured some funding to begin to fix our infrastructure. It 
is time we get these projects permitted and shovels in the ground. 
Let's get to work.


                    USDA Funding for Dairy Producers

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, California is also the number one 
agriculture State in the Nation. Dairy producers are a key part of that 
production. They are feeling the pinch of the pandemic, an unsteady 
market, and increases in feed and input costs, which impact the bottom 
line.
  From milk to cheese that we all enjoy, dairy producers have been 
working tirelessly to put food on America's dinner table. California 
produces over 20 percent of all the milk in America.
  I am proud to announce that I, along with some of my Republican and 
Democratic colleagues, have worked with Secretary Vilsack to secure 
$100 million in additional aid to support the dairy producers 
recovering from the impacts of COVID-19.
  As the leading dairy-producing State in the Union, this funding will 
help California dairy farmers so they can continue to produce and 
deliver the most nutritious products around the world.

                              {time}  1045


                   Honoring the Career of Kerri Donis

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, today I honor careers of individuals who 
make a difference, such as the career of Kerri Donis.
  Madam Speaker, I want to honor Chief Kerri Donis for 27 years of her 
fearless leadership and courageous service to the Fresno Fire 
Department. Kerri is the first woman to hold the position as the 
department's chief in a country where only 4 percent of the 
firefighters are women.
  Under her leadership, the department has grown to 402 personnel for 
the city of Fresno. She has created programs like Girls Empowerment 
Camp which introduces fire service careers for young women.
  Chief Donis will be remembered for her selfless acts and for 
consistently putting safety for her firefighters and the community 
above all else.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Chief Kerri Donis on 
her retirement.

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