[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 67 (Thursday, April 17, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING CHAIRMAN ANTHONY ROBERTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Anthony Roberts, Chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, as the 
California 4th District's 2025 Climate Crisis Champion of the Year for 
Yolo County. Chairman Roberts' unwavering commitment to sustainability, 
environmental stewardship, and community resilience has set a benchmark 
for climate initiatives within our district.
  Chairman Roberts has been a part of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation's 
leadership since 2000, serving on the Tribal Council and as Treasurer 
from 2006 to 2018. His extensive service to the Yocha Dehe Wintun 
Nation includes roles such as Chair of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Academy 
Board of Trustees, Vice Chair of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Fire 
Commission, and membership on various committees, including the Young 
Adult Assistant Program, Facilities and Infrastructure, Health and 
Wellness, and Community Fund. In January 2018, he was elected Tribal 
Chairman, a role in which he has demonstrated exceptional dedication to 
both his Tribe and our broader community. Beyond his professional and 
community commitments, Chairman Roberts is also a devoted husband to 
his wife, Melissa, and a proud father to their children, Briana and 
Brayen.
  Under Chairman Roberts' guidance, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has 
undertaken numerous environmental initiatives. Notably, he oversaw the 
development of an onsite microgrid to support critical Tribal services 
and enhance emergency response capabilities. Chairman Roberts also led 
the Tribe in instituting water conservation efforts, including 
implementing drip irrigation systems and wastewater recycling for both 
irrigation and plumbing purposes. Chairman Roberts has also championed 
wildfire mitigation strategies, such as cultural burnings, which 
reduces excess vegetation, restores soil nutrients, and supports fire-
resistant native plants. These efforts, along with fuel reduction 
projects, have helped lower wildfire risks. Chairman Roberts has also 
guided habitat restoration efforts, including the revitalization of oak 
woodlands and the establishment of native plant hedgerows on Tribal 
land.
  Furthermore, Chairman Roberts has taken action to protect and manage 
the sacred lands of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. He championed the 
creation of the Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park, a 1,500-
acre park featuring strains of blue and live oak trees, chaparral 
landscapes, and ridge views. The park's name, meaning ``Southern Rock 
Home of the Patwin People,'' honors the significance of the land to the 
Patwin people native to this region. In 2024, Chairman Roberts also 
played a pivotal role in signing a co-stewardship agreement with the 
Bureau of Land Management, facilitating the inclusion of Molok Luyuk 
into the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.
  Beyond these initiatives, Chairman Roberts has supported youth and 
community education through the Student and Landowner Education and 
Watershed Stewardship (SLEW) Program and events at Yocha Dehe Wintun 
Academy. He has also led the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation to increase its 
philanthropic giving towards regional environmental and educational 
organizations, with the Tribe contributing to the Cache Creek 
Conservancy, Yolo Creek and Community Partnership, the Center for Land-
Based Learning, and Robinson Rancheria Environmental Center. Chairman 
Roberts also actively contributes to the wider Yolo County community as 
a member of the Yolo County Fair Board, a position to which he was 
appointed in 2012 by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
  Mr. Speaker, Chairman Anthony Roberts has led the Yocha Dehe Wintun 
Nation to become a regional and national model for climate action and 
environmental justice, balancing tradition with innovation for the 
benefit of future generations. It is both fitting and proper that we 
honor him today as Yolo County's 2025 Climate Crisis Champion of the 
Year.

                          ____________________