[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 142 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5217-H5219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1115
                      CALIFORNIA LEADS THE NATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bean of Florida). Under the Speaker's 
announced policy of January 9, 2023, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Kiley) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority 
leader.
  Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, the United States Census Bureau has just 
announced that California once again leads the Nation in poverty. It 
has the highest poverty rate, according to the widely accepted 
supplemental measure, of any State in the country: 15.4 percent.
  The Public Policy Institute of California, when you expand this 
definition to include those living at or near poverty, estimates the 
number to be at 31.1 percent. To put that in perspective, an adult with 
one child living in San Francisco, one study found, would have to work 
22 hours a day, 7 days a week just to cover basic living expenses.
  This is significant not only because it means life is more difficult 
than it needs to be for millions of people in our State but also 
because our Governor, Gavin Newsom, has said that California is a model 
for the Nation. Another Californian, Vice President Kamala Harris, has 
said that California is a role model for what can be done around the 
country.
  Newsom even recently put out a press release titled: ``10 Ways 
California Leads the Nation.'' That is the title of his press release: 
``10 Ways California Leads the Nation.''
  The items on this list range from the meaninglessly vague, like 
belonging and unity, to the downright farcical, like transportation, 
with Newsom citing high-speed rail, even though The New York Times 
estimates that the California High-Speed Rail won't be completed this 
century. Even if it is completed, it will be the slowest and most 
expensive high-speed train in the world.
  Of course, what wasn't on Newsom's list of the 10 ways California 
leads the Nation is poverty, even though California has held that 
dubious distinction for many years running. So, I thought I would take 
a moment this morning to go through a few other things that were not on 
Newsom's list. That is, a few other ways in which California leads the 
Nation yet he neglected to include on his press release.

[[Page H5218]]

  In addition to poverty, California also leads the Nation in 
homelessness. In fact, it was just announced our homeless population 
grew again to 186,000 people. At this point, over half the unsheltered 
homeless in the entire country are in California.
  California also leads the Nation when it comes to crime. On the list 
of cities with the worst retail theft problems, California is by far 
the most represented of any State in the country, and that is one of 
the reasons businesses are closing left and right, especially in our 
major cities like San Francisco.
  If you are a business trying to operate in California, especially a 
small business, California leads the Nation in many ways. California 
leads the Nation in terms of having the worst business climate, 
routinely rated as having the most business-unfriendly set of 
regulations. California, also for that reason, leads the Nation in 
business departures.
  California also leads the Nation as being the number one judicial 
hellhole--that is the technical term that is used--and California rated 
as having the most frivolous lawsuits of any State in the country.
  If you are a worker, California also leads the Nation. For most of 
this year, we have been number one out of the 50 States in 
unemployment. In the last few years, California has been number one out 
of the 50 States in wage stagnation. That is, worker wages have gone up 
less in California than in any other State.
  California is also number one when it comes to restrictions on worker 
freedom, being rated as having the most onerous and arbitrary 
restrictions on the right to earn a living, including, most 
egregiously, Assembly Bill 5, one of the most notorious laws in the 
history of the United States.
  If you are just trying to get by and raise a family, California leads 
the Nation in all the wrong ways when it comes to the cost of living.
  We have the highest gas prices of any State in the country, about 
$1.50 above the national average. We are routinely in the top five when 
it comes to the cost of energy and electricity. We are number two in 
the country when it comes to water bills.
  We are number two when it comes to the cost of housing and number one 
in the continental United States. Only Hawaii has higher housing costs 
than California does.
  Largely, because of all this, we are routinely in the top few States 
in the entire country when it comes to inequality, as measured by the 
Gini coefficient. Progressive California is leading the Nation in 
inequality.
  If you are a citizen expecting a basic standard of service when it 
comes to public services, California also leads the Nation in dubious 
ways. We have the highest taxes of any State: highest income tax, 
highest gas tax. We have not only the largest budget but, by far, the 
largest budget deficit. This last year, California had a $68 billion 
budget deficit. Many other States were running a surplus.
  California also leads the Nation in debt for our hundreds of billions 
of dollars in unfunded liabilities. Yet, despite all of this spending, 
California leads the Nation in terms of the disrepair of our roads, 
usually being in the top few States rated in terms of the lowest 
quality of our roads.
  Our schools are also rated as among the worst in the country. We lead 
the Nation in illiteracy. That is, we have the lowest literacy rate in 
the United States. We also lead the continental United States when it 
comes to achievement gaps in our schools. Our education outcomes for 
students living in poverty are worse than any other State in the 
continental U.S. Only Alaska does worse in the whole country.
  This Newsom leadership was compounded during COVID-19. California led 
the Nation in school shutdowns. It was the slowest of any State to get 
our kids back to school. Also, it led the Nation, first out of any 
State, in business shutdowns and church shutdowns.

  California led the Nation in mandates by, for example, being the only 
State, Newsom being the only Governor, to announce a student vaccine 
mandate. Yet, California was also the slowest State in the country in 
actually getting therapeutics to people who wanted them.
  There is one group for whom California's leadership--Gavin Newsom, 
specifically his leadership--might be viewed favorably. That is illegal 
immigrants. Currently, the San Diego border sector has the most illegal 
border crossings of any sector in the country. That is the first time 
that has been the case since the 1990s.
  California also leads when it comes to the amount of money spent on 
illegal immigrants, being the only State in the entire country to offer 
free healthcare to everyone in the State illegally.
  Now, as a result of all of this, California finally leads the Nation 
in one other way, and that is in U-Haul departures, U-Haul rentals on a 
per capita basis. California has now led the Nation 4 straight years 
when it comes to out-migration, the number of people leaving.
  The effect is particularly pronounced in Gavin Newsom and Kamala 
Harris' San Francisco, a city that, as it was put in the newspaper of 
record, the San Francisco Chronicle, is literally on the verge of 
collapse and, in fact, has been losing population faster than any major 
city in U.S. history, faster even than Detroit when it went bankrupt.
  A former Governor of ours, Ronald Reagan, in his inaugural address as 
Governor, said that California should never take second place, but this 
was not what he had in mind, us leading the Nation in all the wrong 
ways.
  So, when Gavin Newsom says California is a model for the Nation, when 
Kamala Harris says California is a role model for what can be done 
around the country, we can look at what has happened to our State for 
what the consequence of taking that playbook national will be.
  It will mean more poverty. It will mean more homelessness. It will 
mean more crime, more inequality, a diminishment of economic 
opportunity, and an increase in the cost of living.
  The good news, however, is this: California is not politically 
monolithic, and in my district in particular, we have established a 
different model, where we support law enforcement. We have 
compassionate and commonsense policies when it comes to things like 
homelessness. We support our workers and our small businesses. We are 
mindful of how we spend taxpayer dollars in a prudent way.
  Because of that, we have maintained a quality of life, fighting 
against the headwinds of State policy that is much different than in 
places like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Oakland. It is why, while 
people are leaving California as a whole, they are wanting to move into 
my district. In fact, it is the fastest growing part of California and, 
in some sense, some of the fastest growing communities in the entire 
country.
  I am very proud of the model that we have established in my 
communities, and I think that, actually, you are starting to see that 
spread to the rest of California. That is, while Newsom and Harris say 
California is a model for the rest of the country, Californians 
themselves are starting to reject that model in our own State.
  We are starting to see, after the Supreme Court's Grants Pass 
decision, homeless encampments finally being broken up and folks being 
brought to services, getting to shelters, and getting connected with 
the services that they need.
  We are seeing reckless district attorneys being recalled from office. 
We are seeing cities that defunded their police departments now 
refunding their police departments. We are seeing that one of the worst 
laws in the history of our State and maybe even the country, 
Proposition 47, which is largely responsible for the increase in crime, 
homelessness, and conditions of disorder in our cities, is on the verge 
of being repealed, at least in its major provisions.
  There is an initiative, a citizen-led initiative, on the ballot right 
now that Gavin Newsom has fought tooth and nail every step of the way 
but that has overwhelming public support. According to a recent poll 
from the LA Times, it has the support overwhelmingly not just of 
Republican voters and Independent voters but also Democratic voters by 
a 19-point margin.
  I believe that when this initiative passes, it will be a new day for 
California, that we will finally turn the page on the failed model of 
Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris, and we can perhaps one day, as Reagan 
said,

[[Page H5219]]

start leading the Nation in the right ways again.


                 TART Connect Reaches Million Milestone

  Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Tahoe Truckee Area 
Regional Transit micro-transit service, known as TART Connect, for 
providing over 1 million rides in the North Lake Tahoe-Truckee region.
  Since its inception in 2021, this free, on-demand, and curb-to-curb 
transportation solution has revolutionized public transportation in the 
Tahoe area. In order to participate in the program, residents and 
visitors simply order a ride from a mobile app and then, from there, 
can travel to a number of local spots or even connect to a mainline bus 
system.
  Originally implemented in Placer and Washoe Counties, the popularity 
of this service has led to its expansion throughout the north shore and 
town of Truckee in the years since.
  Recognizing that outdoor recreation and tourism is a main driver of 
Tahoe's economy, TART Connect provides a remedy to the traffic 
challenges posed by 15 million visitors per year. Not only has this 
program improved traffic conditions, reducing congestion and high 
vehicle volume on the roadway, but it also promotes environmental 
health and sustainability, protecting the stunning natural beauty of 
the Tahoe region while meeting the demands of economic growth.
  Surpassing 1 million rides is a testament to the success of TART 
Connect and the vital role it plays in fostering sustainable and 
acceptable transportation options that enhance mobility and 
connectivity, enriching the lives of those who visit or live in Tahoe.

  Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives 
and California's Third Congressional District, I am honored to 
recognize TART Connect in celebration of this historic milestone.


 Celebrating 40th Anniversary of Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area

  Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize 
the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area for its 40 years of 
protecting the remarkable ecological and cultural resources of the Mono 
Basin.
  The basin is located immediately east of Yosemite National Park and 
hosts a diverse range of nature's beauty. From the famed Mono Lake at 
the heart of the basin to the volcanic Bodie Hills and the Mono Crater 
volcanoes, this area accommodates a plethora of thriving plant and 
animal species, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the 
world.
  Countless advocates devoted their efforts to the preservation of this 
unique diversity in the Mono Basin, which led to Congress' invention of 
the National Scenic Area in 1984. Mono Basin is proud to be the first 
in United States history of these National Scenic Areas dedicated by 
Congress, and it has continued to be a staple of rich history and 
wildlife.
  Over the past four decades, the Mono Basin Scenic Area has committed 
itself to supporting natural resource protection and education, which 
can be found in its initiatives at the scenic area visitor center. 
Focusing on both the natural and human history of the Mono Basin, there 
are interactive activities, films, and galleries for patrons to 
explore.
  The Mono Basin and its established centers and areas set a high 
standard for excellence in the preservation of ecological resources.
  Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I 
am honored to join the United States Forest Service, Inyo National 
Forest, as well as Tribal, local, and State partners in celebrating the 
40-year anniversary of the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area, and 
I applaud their ongoing efforts to maintain the natural beauty and 
history of the Mono Basin.

                              {time}  1130


    Recognizing the 100th Anniversary of Rocklin Boy Scout Troop 29

  Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to mark and celebrate the 100-year 
anniversary of Boy Scout Troop 29, located in Rocklin, California.
  Troop 29 was first chartered in 1924 in the historic Mother Lode 
region of Alta, Dutch Flat, and Gold Run. Reconstituting itself in 1949 
and 1950, Troop 29 made its resurgence as an active force in Rocklin, 
and the Rocklin Lions Club became their official sponsor.
  Since this debut, it has served as a youth-led troop that boasts 
approximately 60 Scouts at a time, who are focused on learning 
essential skills through an immersive merit badge system. This program 
bolsters the Scout values of leadership, citizenship, and 
responsibility, and works to build character in the next generation of 
leaders. They engage in a multitude of diverse fields, enriching our 
communities one project at a time.
  Throughout the years, the Scouts of Troop 29, both alumni and 
current, have provided countless hours of volunteer service and 
leadership development in our communities. I applaud Troop 29 for their 
ongoing presence in Rocklin and their 10 decades of commitment to doing 
good and helping others.
  It is because of organizations like Rocklin Boy Scout Troop 29 and 
the youth who participate that those around them are given a great 
sense of hope for the future. Their determination, resilience, and 
commitment to excellence of character is inspiring.
  On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am honored 
to recognize Rocklin Boy Scout Troop 29 for reaching this significant 
milestone, their centennial celebration.


                Celebrating Captain Annalisa Sanfilippo

  Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to take a moment to celebrate and 
congratulate Captain Annalisa Sanfilippo on becoming the first female 
fighter pilot assigned to the 144th Fighter Wing in the California Air 
National Guard.
  Annalisa is a graduate of Vista del Lago High School in Folsom, 
California, and attended the University of Oklahoma in 2020 to earn her 
bachelor's degree in meteorology. It was here during college that she 
had the opportunity to shadow Air Force officers in ROTC and ultimately 
set her sights on flying.
  After graduating college, she worked as an air quality specialist in 
the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District in Fresno, where 
she focused on forensic meteorology, determining sources of air 
pollution.
  She just recently completed the F-15C fighter pilot training at 
Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Oregon and uses her degree in 
meteorology as an asset in her role as a pilot.
  Annalisa will now go on to protect the constituents of California's 
Third Congressional District and the State of California with the 144th 
Fighter Wing, which provides air defense for the Western United States. 
The mission of the Wing is air dominance, a sentiment that Annalisa 
plans to fulfill and exceed in her position.
  Her courage and commitment to her community and commitment to giving 
back to the place that she calls home is truly inspirational.
  Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I 
am honored to recognize Captain Annalisa Sanfilippo for her historic 
accomplishment, as well as for her heroic and invaluable service to our 
State and our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________