[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 3, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING KATE MILLER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Kate Miller, the Executive Director of the Napa Valley Transportation 
Authority (NVTA). After 12 years of service at NVTA, Ms. Miller is 
retiring, ending her 30 year career in transportation and leaving 
behind a lasting impact on our Napa County community and the broader 
Bay Area.
  Born and raised in the Bay Area, Ms. Miller earned a Bachelor of Arts 
in U.S. and International Studies from the University of Washington and 
a Master's in Public Administration, Urban Studies, and Transportation 
from San Francisco State University. She began her career in 
transportation in 2000 at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, 
where she worked as a Senior Planner before moving to AC Transit as the 
Manager of Capital Development, Legislation, and Grants. In 2012, she 
became Executive Director of NVTA.
  Ms. Miller's leadership at NVTA has resulted in significant 
improvements to our Napa County's transportation infrastructure. She 
led the passage of Measure U, a sales tax expected to generate $1.2 
billion over 30 years for local streets and road projects. Under her 
direction, NVTA completed the $56 million Soscol Junction Interchange, 
reducing traffic congestion and improving mobility. She also played a 
key role in expanding the Napa Valley Vine Trail, securing funding, and 
guiding its construction from Napa to Yountville and from Calistoga to 
St. Helena.
  Ms. Miller oversaw the operations of Vine Transit, which serves over 
600,000 passengers annually and connects Napa County to Vallejo Ferry, 
Amtrak, and BART. During the 2017 Tubbs Fire, Vine Transit worked with 
emergency services to evacuate residents and visitors while maintaining 
limited bus service, earning NVTA and its partners the Bay Area Metro 
(Grand) Award from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in 2019. 
The agency later provided similar emergency response efforts during the 
2020 Glass Fire. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vine Transit also played 
a critical role by delivering meals to shelters and isolation sites, 
transporting high-risk individuals to quarantine facilities, assisting 
emergency staff, and ensuring access to testing and vaccination sites 
for those without transportation.
  Beyond our Napa Valley community, Ms. Miller has been a key voice in 
statewide transportation policy. She served as Chair of the Bay Area 
Partnership Board at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and was 
appointed to the California Transit Transformation Task Force, where 
she worked on long-term funding solutions and operational improvements 
for public transit. Ms. Miller is also a well-respected mentor, 
collaborator, and advocate for sustainable transportation. Known for 
her ability to bring together local governments, agencies, and private 
partners, she has strengthened Napa's position in regional and 
statewide transportation planning.
  Outside of her professional life, Ms. Miller is a dedicated family 
member and friend. She has been married to her husband, Greg, for 21 
years and is a devoted aunt to her nieces and nephew Ashley, Natalie, 
and Wesley. A proud Napa resident, Ms. Miller is an cyclist and enjoys 
spending time with friends, sharing meals, and walking her dog, Lilly, 
through the streets of Browns Valley.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Miller's leadership has improved transportation 
infrastructure, expanded transit services, and advanced sustainability 
efforts in our Napa Valley and beyond. It is fitting and proper that we 
recognize her contributions here today.

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