[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 168 (Friday, October 13, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E968-E969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING MR. MICHAEL BOWERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 13, 2023

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I rise today to recognize Mr. 
Michael Bowers as he is awarded the inaugural Lifetime Achievement 
Award from the African American Network of Kern County. Mr. Bowers is a 
Central Valley native, having spent the majority of his childhood and 
professional career in Bakersfield. He attended Texas Southern 
University and graduated with a degree in political science in 2005. 
After graduation, Mr. Bowers returned to Bakersfield where he began his 
career at Making a Difference, a local non-profit organization. Mr. 
Bowers joined my team when I was elected to the California State 
Assembly in 2010, first serving as Deputy Field Director and later as 
Community Liaison. When I was elected to Congress in 2012, Mr. Bowers 
joined my district office as a Senior Field Representative. His 
knowledge of the issues facing the Central Valley and strong 
relationships with members of the community were invaluable during my 
first term in Congress. After departing my team, Mr. Bowers became the 
Deputy District Director for State Senator Andy Vidak.
  For over a decade, Mr. Bowers has partnered with local stakeholders 
on community engagement and economic development

[[Page E969]]

projects that prioritized the well-being of residents in the Central 
Valley. In 2018, Mr. Bowers joined Centric Healthcare, where he 
currently serves as the Vice President of Public Relations and 
Government Affairs. Over his career, Mr. Bowers has been incredibly 
involved in our community, including sitting on the boards of the 
Alzheimer's Association, Kern Health Systems, and the Kern Law 
Enforcement Foundation. He was also the Chairman of the Board of the 
Housing Authority of the County of Kern and helped the agency raise 
over $500,000 for the supportive living program, which provides low-
income families in Kern County with the opportunity to become first-
time home buyers. This year, Mr. Bowers was appointed Commissioner of 
the Kern County Civil Service Commission. Mr. Bowers has received 
numerous accolades recognizing his decades of service to the community. 
He has been recognized by the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 
Bakersfield Life Magazine, California Teachers Association, and other 
organizations for his decades of leadership, dedication, and advocacy 
for residents of Kern County.
  Mr. Speaker Pro Tempore, I ask my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives to join me in celebrating Mr. Michael Bowers as he is 
awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award and thanking him for his service 
to the people of the Central Valley.

                          ____________________