[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 163 (Friday, October 3, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF H. E. CHRISTIAN ``CHRIS'' PEEPLES

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 3, 2025

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of H. E. Christian ``Chris'' Peeples, a dedicated public servant and 
tireless advocate for public transit whose decades of service improved 
the lives of countless residents in the East Bay and beyond.
  Chris Peeples was first appointed to the AC Transit Board of 
Directors in November 1997 to fill one of the District's two At-Large 
Board positions. He went on to earn the trust of voters time and again, 
being elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 
and 2020. Over the course of his distinguished tenure, he represented 
Ward 1--including Albany, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Richmond, San Pablo, 
and the surrounding unincorporated communities--with energy, vision, 
and compassion.
  A longtime champion for transit riders, Director Peeples was deeply 
engaged in the AC Bus Riders Union, Alliance for AC Transit, Regional 
Alliance for Transit, Alliance for Sensible Transit, and the Coalition 
for a One Stop Terminal, among many other groups. His commitment 
extended beyond the Bay Area, as he actively participated in the 
Transportation Research Board of the National Academies and the 
American Public Transportation Association, where he elevated local 
priorities to national and international conversations.
  Director Peeples was especially devoted to advancing clean 
transportation and was a strong proponent of AC Transit's 
groundbreaking zero-emission fuel cell bus program. He spoke at and 
moderated panels across the country and abroad, promoting hydrogen and 
zero-emission transit as solutions to climate change and air pollution.
  Chris was also a pillar of civic life, serving on the Oakland Ethics 
Commission and numerous community and political bodies. A graduate of 
Crown College, University of California at Santa Cruz, and Hastings 
College of the Law, he combined his intellectual rigor with a passion 
for equity and sustainability.
  Christian Peeples leaves behind a legacy of advocacy, innovation, and 
public service that will endure for generations. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in honoring his extraordinary life and in extending our deepest 
condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the community he 
served so faithfully.

                          ____________________