[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16987-16996]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING DEPARTING MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA DELEGATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Palazzo). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 5, 2011, the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority 
leader.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my 
colleagues to pay special tribute to several members of the California 
Democratic delegation whose service in Congress is shortly coming to an 
end.
  These six members served this House and their constituents with 
distinction and dedication, and they deserve our admiration and 
gratitude for the hard work that they have done on behalf of California 
and our country: Representative Joe Baca, who was elected in 2002, 
served for 10 years from the 43rd Congressional District; 
Representative Howard Berman, who was elected in 1982, served for 30 
years, most recently from the 28th District; Representative Bob Filner, 
sworn in this month as mayor of San Diego, was elected in 1992 and 
served for 20 years from the 51st District; Representative Laura 
Richardson was elected in 2007 and served for 5 years from the 37th 
District; Representative Pete Stark, the outgoing dean of our 
delegation, was elected in 1972, and served for more than 40 years from 
the 13th District; and Representative Lynn Woolsey, who was elected in 
1992 and served for 20 years for the Sixth Congressional District.

                              {time}  1730

  There is much that can be said about the distinguished careers of our 
departing colleagues, but I'd like to offer a few remarks about the 
work that I have personally joined them in during their time here in 
the Congress.
  Representative Howard Berman has served in the House for 30 years, 
and I am honored to name him among my closest friends in this body. 
During his service, he has worked on a wide variety of issues, but he 
was especially known as the champion of human rights and for standing 
up for the middle class, for the working class, and for the poor in our 
country.
  As the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2007 to 2010, Mr. 
Berman made great progress on behalf of the less fortunate. He was a 
leader in securing the reauthorization of our global HIV/AIDS program 
to help provide access and preventative services and treatment for 
millions around the globe. He also authored legislation removing Nelson 
Mandela and other members of the African National Congress from the 
U.S. terrorism list, on which they had been unjustly placed for many 
years. Finally, he was a leader in raising concerns about human rights 
abuses by autocratic governments around the world. Particularly, he was 
a key leader in bringing additional disclosure to the trade in conflict 
minerals that has financed the ongoing violence in the Congo.
  Mr. Berman will be remembered as a strong friend of Israel. He was 
passionate about the need to achieve a lasting peace in the Middle 
East, and through his work, he forged a broader coalition on behalf of 
Israel in the House of Representatives.
  Also, I want to recognize Mr. Berman's work on behalf of immigration 
and the treatment of those who have immigrated to this country and his 
work on behalf of migrant workers and farm workers all across the 
United States. For that effort, he received the first annual Farmworker 
Justice Award by the Farmworker Justice Fund in 2000.
  Like Mr. Berman, our dean, Congressman Pete Stark, has spent his 
entire distinguished career in Congress advocating on behalf of those 
whose voices were often drowned out in Washington by the influence of 
the moneyed interests.
  Over the last 40 years, Congressman Stark has been one of the 
foremost advocates in the effort to ensure that all Americans are able 
to access quality, affordable health insurance. I am honored to have 
been one of the three principal coauthors in the House of the historic 
Affordable Care Act, which will provide access to quality insurance for 
nearly every single American. I can personally attest to the critical 
and key role that Mr. Stark played in drafting that law and making sure 
that the law provides needed relief for working families.
  This was a crucial accomplishment, yet it was far from Mr. Stark's 
only accomplishment in the field of health care. As the former chair 
and ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee for many 
years, he was a leader on health care reform.
  He was the lead author of the original COBRA insurance bill, which 
ensured that workers faced with losing their jobs would not also 
immediately lose access to needed health insurance. Those of us who 
have gone through this recent downturn and recession in this country 
know from the testimony of our constituents how vital the access to 
COBRA health insurance is to the health security of their families and 
to the financial security of their families.

[[Page 16988]]

He also pioneered the efforts to make modern IT systems available and 
acquired within the health care systems of this country that will help 
us improve the outcomes of health care and that will, hopefully, drive 
down the cost of health care, allowing for the provision of better care 
for patients.
  He, I think along with Sam Gibbons from Florida, pioneered the idea 
that there should be Medicare for all. He beat on that drum for a very 
long time, and it was the right drum to beat on. It wasn't achieved, 
but it did lead to the improvement of health care and to the passage of 
the Affordable Care Act.
  He has also been, obviously, a fearless campaigner on behalf of 
fairness in our Tax Code. It's unfortunate that he is retiring from the 
Congress. Since 1986, we've addressed this issue, and maybe there will 
finally be a chance to get something done in the next Congress, but he 
paved the way on so many of these issues.
  Finally, in my remarks at this moment, I would like to highlight the 
work of an outstanding Democrat on the Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Congresswoman 
Lynn Woolsey.
  Congresswoman Woolsey is a friend of working families everywhere. She 
knows her struggles. Four decades ago, she was a single working mother 
who was supporting three children. She knows what it is like to worry 
about the economic security of families. Later, as a human resources 
manager, she saw how important employee benefits were to workers in 
good times and in bad--things that working families are still fighting 
for, like paid leave, paid sick leave, a secure retirement, and health 
care.
  Serving as chair and ranking member of the Workforce Protections 
Subcommittee, Lynn Woolsey was instrumental in helping to get the Lilly 
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed into law, and she successfully fought for 
new family leave protections for military families dealing with a 
military deployment or injury. Lynn Woolsey was a partner to ensure 
that coal miners are kept safe and healthy on the job. She even went 
underground in the coal mine with our late colleague Donald Payne in 
order to acquire firsthand knowledge of how the workplace works and the 
environment in which those miners go to work every day.
  In the classroom, Lynn Woolsey continued to fight for women and 
working families. She was a tough advocate, making sure that women were 
represented in the STEM field careers and that young women had access 
to the sciences and to technology and to math and to engineering. Lynn 
Woolsey worked to ensure that kids had access to an early education, to 
a well-rounded curriculum, and to services that met their social and 
emotional needs.
  American families have benefited from Lynn Woolsey's fierce advocacy. 
That's our advocate, Lynn. I will miss her contributions on the 
Education Committee in the years to come.
  She has also fought tirelessly to protect the environment, most 
especially the Marin and Sonoma Coast and the San Francisco Bay. 
Hopefully, the President will follow her lead and will designate 
further protections of our ocean and marine habitat in that area of our 
very precious coast.
  I, for one, am very grateful to these Members for the work that they 
have done for America's middle class and for those who struggle to join 
our middle class, for the work that they have done on behalf of their 
constituents and on behalf of the citizens of this country. They all 
came here to achieve success on behalf of their constituents and on 
behalf of this country, and they have succeeded. I want to thank them 
so very much for their service, for their sacrifice, for their 
ingenuity, for their innovation, and I would say, with regard to these 
three, for their spirited, tough, harsh, relentless pursuit of what 
they believed in terms of public policy.
  On my own behalf, on behalf of our delegation, and on behalf of the 
tens of millions of constituents that we represent in California, I 
want to thank Representatives Baca, Berman, Filner, Richardson, Stark, 
and Woolsey for their service and their dedication.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues to pay a special tribute 
to several members of the California Democratic Congressional 
Delegation whose service in Congress is shortly coming to an end.
  These six Members served this House and their constituents with 
distinction and dedication and they deserve our admiration and 
gratitude for the hard work that they have done on behalf of California 
and our country.
  Rep. Joe Baca, who was elected in 2002 and served for 10 years from 
the 43rd Congressional District; Rep. Howard Berman, who was elected in 
1982 and served for 30 years, most recently from the 28th District; 
Rep. Bob Filner, sworn in this month as mayor of San Diego and who was 
elected in 1992, served for 20 years from the 51st District; Rep. Laura 
Richardson, who was elected in 2007 and served for five years from the 
37th District; Rep. Pete Stark, the outgoing dean of our delegation, 
who was elected in 1972 and served for 40 years from the 13th District; 
and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, who was elected in 1992 and served for 20 years 
from the 6th Congressional District.
  There is much that could be said about the distinguished careers of 
these departing colleagues, but I would like to offer a few remarks 
about the work that I have personally joined them in doing.
  Mr. Berman has served in the House for 30 years and I am honored to 
name him among my closest friends in this body.
  During his service, he has worked on a wide variety of issues, but he 
is especially known as a champion for human rights and for standing up 
for the middle class, for the working class and for the poor in our 
country.
  As the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in 2007 through 2010, 
Mr. Berman made great progress on behalf of the less fortunate. He was 
a leader in securing reauthorization of our global HIV/AIDS program to 
help provide access to preventative services and treatment for millions 
around the globe.
  He also authored legislation removing Nelson Mandela and other 
members of the African National Congress from the U.S. terrorism list, 
on which they were unjustly placed on for many years.
  Finally, he has been a leader in raising concerns about human rights 
abuses by autocratic governments around the world. In particular, he 
was a key leader in bringing additional disclosure to the trade in 
conflict minerals that have financed ongoing violence in the Congo.
  Mr. Berman will be remembered as a strong friend of Israel who was 
passionate about the need to achieve a lasting peace in the Middle 
East. His vast knowledge of and experience with world affairs has been 
an asset to Congress and the Administration and the American people and 
I expect that we will continue to benefit from his experience in the 
years to come.
  Meanwhile, Mr. Berman has also been a leader on a number of issues 
through his long tenure on the Judiciary Committee. I would 
particularly like to call attention to his efforts to establish a more 
humane immigration system. He has fought to ensure that people who come 
to our country in search of a better life and to achieve the American 
Dream are treated with respect and are given the opportunity to use 
their talents to better themselves and their communities.
  For these efforts, he was appropriately awarded the First Annual 
Farmworker Justice Award by the Farmworker Justice Fund in 2000.
  Like Mr. Berman, our Dean, Mr. Stark has spent his entire 
distinguished career in Congress advocating on behalf of those whose 
voices are too often drowned out in Washington by the influence of the 
moneyed interests.
  Over the last 40 years, Mr. Stark has been one of the foremost 
advocates in the effort to ensure that all Americans are able to access 
quality, affordable health insurance. I am honored to have been one of 
the three principal co-authors in the House of the historic Affordable 
Care Act, which will provide access to quality insurance for nearly 
every single Americans. I can personally attest to the critical and key 
role that Mr. Stark played in drafting that law and making sure that 
the law provides needed relief for working families.
  That was a crucial accomplishment, yet it was far from Mr. Stark's 
only accomplishment in the health care field. As the former chair and 
ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee for many 
years, he has been a leader on health care reform.
  He was the lead author of the original COBRA insurance bill, which 
ensured that workers faced with losing their jobs would not also 
immediately lose access to needed health insurance. Additionally, his 
legislation to improve our health IT system was incorporated into the 
2009 Recovery Act, which is already helping improve the cost and 
quality of health care in communities across the country.

[[Page 16989]]

  And he founded the idea of using Medicare as a model for national 
health insurance for all Americans, not just for seniors. He was ahead 
of his time when he first proposed this idea but he was right on track.
  Mr. Stark has also been a champion on the Ways and Means Committee 
for tax fairness. He was one of the leaders in shaping the bipartisan, 
landmark 1986 tax reform bill. Ever since, he has been a leader in 
keeping up the fight to see that that our tax code does not benefit 
Wall Street CEOs at the expense of working families. He will be the 
first to admit that he has not always won those fights, and any 
examination of the tax code that needs to be reformed is proof of that. 
But he always fought for average Americans and he deserves our 
appreciation for doing so.
  Finally, I want to highlight the work of the outstanding Senior 
Democrat on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Ms. Woolsey.
  Congresswoman Woolsey is a friend of working families everywhere. She 
knows their struggles. Four decades ago, she was a single-working 
mother, supporting three children. She knows what it's like to worry 
about the economic security of families. Later as a human resource 
manager, she saw how important employee benefits were for workers in 
good times and bad. Things that working families are still fighting 
for, like paid leave, paid sick days, a secure retirement and health 
care.
  Serving as the chair and ranking member of the Workforce Protections 
Subcommittee, Rep. Woolsey was instrumental in helping to get the Lilly 
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed into law and successfully fought for new 
family leave protections for military families dealing with a military 
deployment or injury.
  Rep. Woolsey was a partner to ensure miners are kept safe and healthy 
on the job. She even went underground in a coal mine with our late-
colleague Rep. Donald Payne to acquire first-hand knowledge of how that 
workplace works.
  In the classroom, Rep. Woolsey continued to fight for women and 
working families. She advocated for women to be represented in STEM 
careers. And, Rep. Woolsey worked to ensure kids had access to an early 
education, a well-rounded curriculum, and services that met their 
social and emotional needs.
  American families have benefited from Rep. Lynn Woolsey's fierce 
advocacy but I will miss her contributions on the Education and 
Workforce Committee in the years to come.
  She has also fought tirelessly to protect the environment, most 
especially the Marin and Sonoma coast and the San Francisco Bay. She 
worked to protect our oceans and marine habitat--and to support all of 
the jobs that are associated with a healthy ocean and thriving 
fisheries. And she has been a great partner in our efforts to ensure 
that California's rivers and the Bay-Delta are managed sustainably.
  I, for one, am grateful to these Members for the work they have done 
for America's middle class and for those who struggle to join it.
  The wealthy and powerful have always had a lot of friends in 
Washington. Apparently it is not hard to be on their side. But the 
middle class and the working class and the poor have not always been so 
lucky, not always ending up on the winning side of the ledger in 
Washington Policy fights. But they should know that these departing 
Members have always fought for what is right for our economy and for 
our country.
  On my own behalf, and on behalf of our delegation and the tens of 
millions of constituents we represent in California, I thank Reps. 
Baca, Berman, Filner, Richardson, Stark and Woolsey for their service 
and their dedication.
  Now I would like to recognize other members of our delegation for the 
purposes of receiving their remarks.
  Mr. Honda.
  Mr. HONDA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart but with great admiration that 
I rise today to remember and to thank my departing California 
Democratic colleagues whose service will be concluded at the end of the 
112th Congress.
  Pete Stark, the outgoing dean of our delegation, is well-known for 
speaking his mind and for standing up for what he believes in while 
giving a voice to the concerns of many who often feel as though they 
have none.
  He has helped millions of Americans keep their health insurance 
coverage after leaving their jobs. He ensured that people who visit 
emergency rooms receive help regardless of their ability to pay, and he 
promoted innovations in health information technology and the 
Affordable Care Act. He enacted legislation to increase the number of 
computers in our schools. He has been a champion on broad environmental 
issues, such as battling ozone depletion and carbon emissions, and he 
has been a committed proponent of peace. I am honored to be inheriting 
portions of Pete's district in Newark and Fremont, and hope to continue 
his legacy of service to those communities.
  A brief word on his son, ``Fish,'' who wrote and had published an op-
ed piece which indicated to the constituents the true side, the real 
side, of Pete Stark, his father.
  Howard Berman is widely known as a leader on Foreign Affairs. What 
will stand out in my mind, however, is his help, while chairman of the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, in moving through the committee and the 
House H. Res. 121. It was a resolution calling upon Japan to apologize 
and to acknowledge the tragedy endured at the hands of its Imperial 
Army during World War II by over 200,000 women in Asia who were forced 
into sexual slavery. Howard shares my commitment to achieving justice 
for those who have suffered atrocities in the past. His leadership will 
be missed. I also want to thank him for his leadership on the issue of 
Pat Tillman, a soldier who, it was said, lost his life in a firefight 
when, in fact, he was killed through fratricide. I appreciate that.

                              {time}  1740

  Lynn Woolsey came to Congress with a compelling story about how, with 
a helping hand from her government, she was able to raise three 
children by herself and have a successful career serving the people of 
Marin and Sonoma counties. She has been a tireless voice for family-
friendly policies, for protecting the coastline of northern California, 
and for bringing our troops home and ending the misguided wars in Iraq 
and Afghanistan. Lynn was a leader of the Congressional Progressive 
Caucus, and I call her the mom of the Progressive Caucus. With her 
passionate voice on progressive issues, she will be missed. Her 
leadership will be missed, and there will be a great vacuum for us to 
fill in the future.
  Bob Filner played a central role in the years-long odyssey to secure 
a measure of justice for Filipino veterans who fought alongside U.S. 
troops in World War II but were denied benefits they earned through 
their service. After the war, the United States Congress broke the 
promise it had made to these veterans. For decades to follow, they 
struggled to secure fair treatment similar to that afforded to the men 
who fought alongside them. As chairman of the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee, Bob Filner was in the middle of this fight. I wish him well 
as he moves on to a new phase of his service to the people of San 
Diego.
  Jose Baca, or Joe Baca, has been a friend of mine for a long time, 
since school boards and other elected offices, but especially since we 
served together in the California State Assembly to the Halls of 
Congress. Joe was chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus while I 
was chairman of CAPAC, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and 
we stood together to fight against harmful English-only and anti-
immigrant legislation and amendments. We also share a commitment to 
protecting the rights of Native Americans, particularly tribal 
sovereignty. Joe has been a good friend, and I'll miss seeing him 
regularly on the House floor, but perhaps in a couple of years, we may 
see him again.
  I will also miss Laura Richardson, whom I have had the pleasure of 
working with as a member of CAPAC on anti-bullying issues and in the 
fight to ensure that LGBT families are recognized in our immigration 
laws.
  Dennis Cardoza, our friend who had the dubious honor of taking over 
my office in 503 Cannon when he first got here as I moved to slightly 
larger accommodations. He was a strong voice on behalf of his Central 
Valley constituents.
  We also are bidding farewell to a large number of our California 
Republican colleagues who have served for many years--Brian Bilbray, 
Mary Bono Mack, David Dreier, Elton Gallegly, Wally Herger, Jerry 
Lewis, and Dan Lungren. While we all certainly haven't agreed on many 
policy issues over the years, I know that

[[Page 16990]]

they were as committed to their constituents as I am. And I thank all 
of them, my California colleagues who will be leaving at the end of the 
112th Congress, for their service and I wish them well.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. If I might inquire of the Chair as 
to the time remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 46 minutes remaining.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Thank you, and I now recognize 
Congresswoman Lois Capps.
  Mrs. CAPPS. I would like to thank my colleague, George Miller, for 
setting aside this hour. He just asked about the amount of time, and I 
will take that to heart as I make my comments because we could all go 
on for great lengths about all of these dear people who won't be with 
us in the next Congress. And I add my congratulations for their 
service, Republicans and Democrats, all of us alike, but I will speak 
now for the six of our Democratic colleagues who will not come back.
  I want to start with our dear friend, Lynn Woolsey, to whom I get 
compared. My progressive constituents often say to me, Now, Lois, why 
don't you vote more like Lynn Woolsey?
  She was one of the first people I met. Her story is compelling as a 
woman Member of Congress. I don't know how it would be to raise kids by 
yourself. She is a good voice and advocate for all mothers, all working 
families, and particularly those who carry extra burdens themselves. 
She's put her heart and soul into her work in Congress, and it shows.
  As I met you early on when I came here, you were kind and befriended 
me. I know that you have served your constituents in the same 
passionate way, and I thank you for the role model you've provided me.
  Howard Berman has provided another kind of role model for me. My 
husband, before me, came to Congress, in part, to work on Middle 
Eastern issues; and there's a go-to person in this Congress that I have 
always relied upon for advice and support in that area, and that's 
Howard Berman. He's a Congressperson's Congressman, in my opinion. My 
Human Rights Watch folks have held him in such high esteem.
  It has been a very great honor to serve almost as a neighbor to him. 
With his district in the Central Valley, San Fernando Valley, and mine 
on the coast, it has been a real joy to have him as a colleague here. I 
will treasure always his role in getting me elected and also keeping me 
here.
  I also came to Congress from the health care field, and so the name I 
heard often was Congressman Pete Stark. He's been here since the 
seventies, knows all about health care and through all of the 
intricacies.
  I'm pleased, Mr. Stark, that you have been here through the passage 
of the Affordable Care Act. That's a crowning jewel for you and for all 
of us. But you've been through many health care ups and downs through 
the years. You've been a role model for me being on the Ways and Means 
Committee and in my role on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. 
Thank you for your service and your friendship.
  It's hard to go through this list, Mr. Miller. This is a wonderful 
privilege to say thank you. The countless hours that you could add up 
for the service to constituents and the tremendous leadership within 
this body and these Members who have given their all and now will not 
be back in the 113th, it's important to say their names and to honor 
them and give them credit for what they've done.
  Joe Baca has been a fixture for the Central Valley and agriculture, 
as someone who has agriculture number one in my district as well, but 
we can't say his name without thinking of the baseball team. There's 
much to remember Joe Baca for, such as his contributions in agriculture 
and on the Financial Services Committee as well.
  My former colleague now, Bob Filner, who has already assumed another 
position within our government as mayor of San Diego. When I think of 
Bob Filner, I think of veterans' issues, and also the fact that he was 
a college professor before he came to Congress, as my husband was, and 
they reached out to each other in that capacity. He has worked hard on 
veterans' issue. I have about 50,000 veterans in my district. So the GI 
bill is often something I can give him credit for but also work with my 
veterans with.
  Finally, Laura Richardson. When I think of Laura, it's my daughter's 
name, but I also think of her beautiful singing voice. I know that I 
shouldn't say that first to my colleague who has shown tremendous 
leadership within Congress as well, but she'll take her beautiful voice 
with her. I have been able to work with Laura on transportation issues 
as they relate particularly to our ports because she is known for her 
work with the Port of Long Beach, and I have ports in my district as 
well. She also will be missed on the women's softball team.
  We are friends here. We are colleagues here. We bring our human 
qualities, and we bring our leadership skills. The California 
delegation makes me proud every day, and in the next Congress, it will 
be the memories and the service that has been given to us from these 
colleagues of ours. That's why I thank you, Mr. Miller, for setting 
aside this hour for us to share our thoughts. Thank you.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Thank you.
  Before I yield, I turned around and saw that Andrew and Fish and 
Hannah are here, so welcome the Stark kids.
  I yield now to Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
  Ms. LEE of California. Thank you very much. I, too, want to thank 
you, Congressman Miller, for yielding me time and for organizing this 
Special Order tonight.
  First to Congressman Pete Stark, who's our departing dean of the 
California delegation, Congressman Stark represents a district right 
next door to my district in the East Bay of California, northern 
California. I have to say that I have known Congressman Stark since I 
was the president of the Black Student Union at Mills College in the 
early seventies. I'll never forget this. I wrote my then-Congressman 
Stark a letter on behalf of the students at Mills College with a 
request, and he responded so quickly and adhered and replied to that 
request in a positive way. So on behalf of all of those students then, 
Congressman Stark, and on behalf of myself today, I just want to say 
thank you. Thank you for demonstrating what exemplary constituent 
service was all about.

                              {time}  1750

  I think I've known Congressman Stark probably longer than most 
Members here because I had the privilege to work with the great 
statesman, Congressman Ron Dellums, and got to know Congressman Stark 
during that period.
  Our districts, we're so proud to represent. We always say we have 
some of the most outspoken and well-informed and engaged people in this 
Nation. And Congressman Stark certainly has been at the forefront of 
making sure that his district became closer to our Federal Government 
and brought the government to the people of his district.
  So the East Bay thanks you, Congressman Stark, northern California 
thanks you, and our entire delegation thanks you for so many years of 
great public service.
  I was fortunate to be on the House Foreign Affairs Committee with 
Chairman Howard Berman, and I tell you, Howard Berman's understanding 
of global affairs is unmatched.
  Also, I just have to say, he was such a tremendous asset in our 
global fight against HIV and AIDS, and really got it so early and 
helped us negotiate and put together the bills that have been so 
successful in moving us towards an AIDS-free generation.
  I just also have to say with regard to Chairman Berman, I appreciate 
his fairness and his objectivity and his commitment to global peace and 
security. It's really an honor to have served with him, and I'm going 
to miss him because I truly honor him as my friend. And I know all of 
us are going to miss him, but I know that we will work with him in the 
future on so many issues that he cares about.

[[Page 16991]]

  Congressman Filner is leaving a strong legacy of support for our 
Nation's veterans, who have benefited tremendously from his intricate 
knowledge and impassioned advocacy. Also, I just have to remind us that 
Congressman Filner was a Freedom Rider during the civil rights 
movement, and he brought the spirit of justice to his work here in 
Congress.
  Congressman Filner has done an exemplary job as ranking member and 
chair of the Veteran's Affairs Committee, as we have heard earlier. And 
our entire caucus can be proud of his outstanding leadership on that 
committee. As the daughter of a veteran, you know, I understand very 
deeply those obligations that our Nation has to those men and women who 
have served.
  I had the privilege and the honor to help Bob in his campaign, so 
I've been in San Diego with Bob. And I tell you, the love and the 
affection that his constituents have for Congressman Filner is just 
really unparalleled.
  I want to congratulate him for his magnificent win. It was a tough 
campaign, but he did an unbelievable job, and that's because people in 
his district really knew him, and he had provided the level of services 
that allowed him to be elected now, as we will call him very soon, 
Mayor Filner.
  Joe Baca, Congressman Baca really has been a voice for the poor and 
the underserved during his entire career, not only here in Congress, 
but in the California legislature. I was privileged to work with Joe on 
many, many issues, and he has been a consistent voice, both in the 
California legislature and now here in Congress, for protecting low-
income families from unfair, predatory credit practices.
  He's used his seat on the House Agriculture Committee and the House 
Financial Services Committee to advance the needs of the most 
vulnerable Americans. He also consistently has played a role in raising 
funding levels for food stamps and nutrition programs to feed over 44 
million hungry Americans.
  As a member and former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, he 
was a powerful voice against anti-immigrant laws and always worked to 
build bridges on the reality of our history as a Nation of immigrants 
and not based on ideology and rhetoric.
  We'll all miss his principled leadership and his passion for serving 
as a voice for the voiceless in Congress.
  And my fellow Congressional Black Caucus member, Congresswoman Laura 
Richardson. She has many accomplishments in her brief time here in 
Congress. She's worked so hard to improve our Nation's transportation 
infrastructure, has been an advocate for the inclusion of minority and 
women-owned businesses, and has opened up economic opportunities and 
strengthened our schools.
  I know that she's going to move forward to make more contributions in 
public service because she's focused and a dedicated elected official.
  Finally, I just have to pay tribute to my sister-in-arms, 
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey. And I can't say what a bittersweet season 
this is in seeing you leave after so many years of working hand-in-hand 
on behalf of peace.
  I just have to say that Lynn Woolsey has finally made sure that this 
body recognizes that peace is patriotic, and she's spoken 444 times on 
the floor as it relates to the need to bring our young men and women 
home, and I look forward to our continuing work.
  She's been a role model for me, and I just have to say, finally, in 
conclusion, that she understands personally the importance of safety 
nets. And she brought the House the perspective that comes from relying 
on public assistance during lean times in her life.
  She gave me the courage to talk publicly about my time on public 
assistance, which was so difficult for me before Lynn's encouragement.
  So, to all of our departing California Members, I'm going to miss all 
of you so much, but I know we'll see you at home, and you're going to 
continue to fight the good fight.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I'd like now to recognize 
Congresswoman Doris Matsui.
  Ms. MATSUI. I'd like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Miller) for yielding time to me and for bringing us together.
  Mr. Speaker, when the 113th Congress starts next year we'll be 
greeting many new colleagues, and that means we'll have to say goodbye 
to some of our current colleagues, both Republican and Democrat.
  The California Democratic Congressional Delegation is saying goodbye 
to six members: Representatives Stark, Berman, Woolsey, Filner, Baca, 
and Richardson. While in Congress, these Members served as strong 
advocates for their constituents, for California, and for our country.
  For their many years of service, these six Members have amassed a 
depth of institutional knowledge that will be missed come next 
Congress.
  First of all, I want to pay tribute to my good friend, Congressman 
Howard Berman. Howard Berman has served for 30 years. I first met 
Howard when he was living in my hometown of Sacramento. He was serving 
in the State legislature at the time. His daughter, Brinley, and my 
son, Brian, were in prekindergarten together, so we would see each 
other as we dropped off our kids. Little did we know then that we would 
end up being friends, both serving here in Congress.
  You know, we've all learned a lot from Howard. We've learned to 
depend on him, his counsel, and his advice. His knowledge and 
leadership, particularly on foreign affairs, have been invaluable to 
Congress. His absence from this Chamber will be strongly felt, and he 
will be sorely missed, but will forever be a friend.
  Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey has been a strong advocate--I wouldn't say 
harsh--strong, for families during her time in Congress. She was also 
one of the founding members of the Out of Iraq Caucus, where she acted 
as a leading proponent of bringing our brave servicemen and -women home 
from war. Congressman Woolsey fought for those whose voices were often 
not heard, and her advocacy and spirit will be very much missed.
  As the dean of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, 
Congressman Pete Stark has been a leader and a mentor to many Members 
from California over the years. He has been a champion on health care 
issues for a very long time, and his work on the Affordable Care Act 
improved the law and helped ensure all Americans access to quality, 
affordable health care. We'll always remember his very important 
contribution.
  Congressman Bob Filner was the ranking member of the Committee on 
Veterans Affairs and dedicated his career to helping ensure our 
returning veterans have the services they need and were promised before 
serving our country. We'll miss him here in Congress, but I know he'll 
make a mark as mayor in the city of San Diego.
  Joe Baca has been a strong advocate for California's expansive 
agriculture industry while in Congress. He has worked tirelessly on 
behalf of the workers themselves, making sure they receive the civil 
and legal rights they deserve.
  Congresswoman Laura Richardson has worked hard to keep America safe 
as a member of the Homeland Security Committee. Her commitment to the 
safety and security of our country and her constituents was unwavering, 
and she will be missed next year.
  California is a large State with many needs and priorities, but our 
delegation is strong. During their time in office, these Members have 
been esteemed colleagues, and it has been an honor to work alongside of 
them. Their knowledge, passion, and commitment to public service will 
be greatly missed in these Halls. And I wish to thank each of them for 
their service and wish them the best in their next adventure.

                              {time}  1800

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I now yield to Congresswoman Anna 
Eshoo.
  Ms. ESHOO. I want to thank the gentleman from California, my dear 
friend Mr. Miller, for organizing this Special Order tonight so that we 
can take some time, which is the most precious thing, really, that God 
gives us, is time, and pay tribute to our colleagues who have

[[Page 16992]]

spent their time being giants in terms of representation and fighting 
on behalf of their constituents, bringing honor to the House of 
Representatives and to our country--some of the best exports of the Bay 
Area and our State of California.
  I want to start with the dean of our delegation, Congressman Pete 
Stark. We salute you, Pete, for all that you have given and done. It's 
an extraordinary record of 40 years in the House of Representatives. 
Your name has been synonymous with health care consistently for all of 
that period of time; for fighting for a place in that health care 
system for people that are unknown to so many in our society and 
rejected. You have made room for them in the emergency room and wrote a 
law that no one would be mistreated. In fact, they had to be treated 
before they were asked whether they had health insurance or not.
  Your record is replete with great and good things. On behalf of your 
constituents, on behalf of those that so much of society has 
overlooked, I know that those blessings will come back to you in a very 
rich and meaningful way as you depart this place. We will miss you. I 
thank you for your personal kindnesses and for all the wonderful things 
that you have done. The Bay Area delegation will miss you enormously.
  Next, I want to pay tribute to Congressman Howard Berman. This is 
really hard to do. Congressman Berman's name is synonymous with the 
following: with farm workers and their rights and with human rights 
around the world. Anyone that has met and worked with him respects him. 
It matters not what side of the aisle they have ever come from or what 
country they come from or what agency they have worked in. Howard 
Berman has been an indispensable Member of this Chamber. When he took 
over the leadership of the Foreign Relations Committee, we saw a new 
and inspired leadership there demanding a recognition of the Armenian 
genocide. He served as the original cosponsor of that legislation. His 
record is replete with distinction.
  Howard, we will all miss you in a very, very deep and special way. 
This House will miss you because you brought honor to it in everything 
that you have done. So it is bittersweet. No, it's just bitter. There 
isn't any sweetness to it. When I speak of you, I really can't bring 
enough words to one of the most distinguished records over 30 years 
that any Member of Congress could ever put together, and that the 
American people thank you and freedom-lovers and human rights advocates 
around the world appreciate and bless your name. And I know that, 
together with Janis, Brinley, and Lindsey, you haven't seen the last of 
us. We're going to keep coming after you.
  To Lynn Woolsey, my classmate, we came here and we couldn't even find 
our way to the credit union, we were so terrified. But together we 
came. Lynn has brought an exceptional voice to families and to women, 
so often women heading up those families. And she spoke through the 
prism of her own experience, which is the most powerful story that 
anyone can ever tell. No one could ever say to Lynn Woolsey, You don't 
know what you're talking about. Because they knew that she lived it, 
that she had experienced it. And she came here to change so many 
women's lives and the lives of families in terms of education for women 
and girls and for stronger family benefits.
  I could go on and on. She brought great voice and vision to the 
unfortunate policy--the march to folly--when we invaded Iraq. She came 
to this floor over 100 times to speak against that invasion. We are all 
in her debt for her conscience, for her integrity, for her wonderful 
voice, for her friendship, and for her love of the environment of the 
coast of California, which if there is ever the magical touch of 
Almighty God, you see it there. She has called on the President and the 
Congress to make sure the protections will be there in perpetuity. We 
will remember you in perpetuity. I ask that every blessing you have 
brought to your constituents in this House will come back to you.
  To Bob Filner, to Joe Baca, Laura Richardson, Dennis Cardoza, and to 
our Republican colleagues Jerry Lewis, Elton Gallegly, Wally Herger, 
Mary Bono Mack, Brian Bilbray, Dan Lungren, and David Dreier, we thank 
you. I thank you for your service to the people of this country in 
this, the House of the people, the magnificent House of 
Representatives.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I would like to now to yield to the 
Democratic leader, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.
  Ms. PELOSI. I thank you for yielding, Mr. Miller. I know that we have 
a time limitation so I will begin by associating myself with the 
remarks of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, who spoke so beautifully and 
knowledgeably about our colleagues from California who are leaving.
  I rise today to thank all my colleagues who are our friends and our 
partners from the great State of California. The Members we honor in 
this Special Order demonstrate the extraordinary diversity of our great 
Golden State. They hail from northern and southern California, from the 
Bay Area to the greater Los Angeles area to San Diego. They bring 
California's wide range of interests and aspirations to the floor of 
the House every day. Working side by side with the entire California 
delegation, their service has strengthened the Golden State. The 
commitment of our departing Members has strengthened the Congress. 
Their achievements have advanced the character of our country. Each of 
these Members has brought a unique voice to the table. Yet each shares 
the same core values: a devotion to public service, a dedication to 
opportunity, a belief and a promise of America.
  Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey spent her career fighting to improve the 
education of our children, the economic security of their families, and 
the protection of our workers, as well as our coastline, as 
Congresswoman Eshoo mentioned. With her departure--I won't say 
retirement, because she is not a retiring person--the Bay Area loses a 
powerful advocate in Congress and the Nation loses a tireless 
progressive leader. It was, I think, Mr. Miller said 400 times that 
Lynn Woolsey came to the floor to speak against our involvement in the 
war in Iraq.
  Thank you, Congresswoman Woolsey.
  So it's about the patriotism of this Congress and of the 
participation as patriots of our colleagues from California, whether 
it's the education of our children, whether it's the health of our 
people, as demonstrated by Congressman Pete Stark. We all owe you, Pete 
Stark, a great debt of gratitude. He has been a fixture in the fight to 
build and strengthen the pillars of health and economic security for 
the American people. From his seat on the Ways and Means Committee, to 
the House floor, he always remained a fierce fighter for Medicare and a 
passionate advocate for the Affordable Care Act because he believes 
that health care is a right for all Americans, not a privilege just for 
the few.

                              {time}  1810

  His legacy will live on in stronger support for the well-being of our 
seniors, our families, and our middle class. I hope it is a source of 
pride--I know it is to your family--that so many of your colleagues 
respect you so much and honor your leadership and service here.
  As has been mentioned, Congressman Filner left us. He is already the 
mayor of San Diego. He was a Freedom Rider, who fought for civil rights 
and equality. He was a Representative of San Diego, who never wavered 
in support of our veterans, and he served as the chair of that 
committee. We wish him well as mayor of San Diego.
  Congresswoman Richardson has dedicated her time in Congress to 
rebuilding our infrastructure, advancing the dream of high-speed rail, 
securing our borders, and protecting our environment. We wish her well 
as she goes forward.
  Congressman Berman--we go from B to W, Berman to Woolsey, and every 
wonderful thing in between. Congressman Berman's imprint can be found 
on legislation across the broad spectrum of issues before the House. 
Many of us

[[Page 16993]]

knew him long before he came to Congress, knew of his work, working 
with the farmworkers, working in labor law to protect the rights of 
workers.
  In two particular areas, his expertise is simply unsurpassed. He is a 
true expert on international relations, a past chairman of the Foreign 
Affairs Committee, ranking member now; a champion of aid to Israel; the 
fight against HIV/AIDS; and the toughest Iran sanctions in the history 
of our country. He is a senior member of the Judiciary Committee who, 
it is safe to say, understands intellectual property, understands its 
importance. It is even mentioned in our Constitution. He understands 
the challenges and the opportunities it presents. In every venue and 
every arena, he has been a proud advocate for Los Angeles and 
California, a cherished leader for the entire House.
  Joe Baca is a lifelong public servant. He was a paratrooper in the 
U.S. Army's 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions. He served in the 
California State Legislature. In Congress, he made his mark in standing 
firm against harmful anti-immigrant measures and in leading the effort 
to expand food stamps and nutrition assistance for those who need it 
most. That is such a simple sentence, but it's fraught with meaning. He 
put a lot of work and leadership into the farm bill. Joe Baca came from 
humble beginnings, yet his accomplishments are truly significant.
  The list goes on and on of our colleagues that Congresswoman Eshoo 
mentioned. For all of these Members, public service has been a calling, 
a cause, and a core facet of their character. California has been proud 
to have them as our Representatives in Congress. For those of us who 
served with them, it is an honor for each of us to call you 
``colleague''; for some of us a very, very special honor to be 
considered your friend.
  We all wish each of you much success in the years ahead. We look 
forward to continuing our work together on behalf of our great Golden 
State of California. Your service in Congress added to the luster of 
our Golden State.
  Thank you, and congratulations.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank the Leader.
  If I might inquire of the Chair of the time remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 15 minutes remaining.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Next I would like to recognize 
Congressman Sam Farr.
  Mr. FARR. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, George 
Miller, for setting aside this time.
  You've heard from a lot of my colleagues. I think what is interesting 
about this moment in history is this is probably the largest retirement 
ever of any delegation at any one time. California is losing 25 percent 
of its incumbent delegation, seven Republicans and seven Democrats. 
That's 14 people that have been here. Of the seven Democrats, they were 
here for historical moments--of electing Nancy Pelosi from California, 
the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives; and here to 
pass the first-in-history comprehensive health care bill, led by 
Californians, I might add, and led by the dean of our delegation, Pete 
Stark.
  Pete Stark is one of the oldest, longest serving Members of Congress. 
He has been here 40 years. I think there are only two, three people 
that have served here longer. He's watched this delegation come and go 
since 1973. He is here tonight with his beautiful family.
  Pete, of all the people coming into Congress, is the only one that 
just came right from the private sector. Most of us got elected to the 
local and State governments, but Pete came here with a background in 
MIT, in engineering, and then a degree from Berkeley in business 
administration. In 1963, he founded the Security National Bank of 
Walnut Creek, which became, during the war years, known as the 
progressive bank and the bank that was going to loan to people that 
weren't otherwise getting loans. He became a very popular leader in his 
community and built the bank into a $1 billion financial institution. 
Having a background in the Air Force and other civic activities, he ran 
for Congress and got elected and has been here, as I said, for 40 
years.
  He is here tonight with his children. He has four daughters, three 
sons, and eight grandchildren. He is married to Deborah Roderick, also 
of California. We're going to miss Pete. He's been a fixture for this 
Congress through all the big issues.
  He is followed by Howard Berman from southern California, with a 
background in UCLA, a law degree from UCLA. I was a staff member when 
he was a California State legislator. He came there for the background 
in VISTA. After the assembly, he got elected to the House and has been 
the leading ranking Democrat, probably the most trusted person in all 
of Congress for foreign affairs; and with his background in labor, in 
issues for farmworkers in California and the advancement they've made 
under Federal law. But also, as the Leader pointed out, he's one of the 
few persons that really understands the intricacies of patent law, 
copyright, trademark, all those things very vitally important to the 
entertainment industry, the electronics industry, and the information 
technology industry. He's been a senior member on all of that. We're 
going to miss him deeply, deeply. I feel like a son of Howard Berman. I 
supported his speakership way back when he ran for the State assembly. 
I'm going to miss him.
  Lynn Woolsey has served 10 terms. She is senior to me. I got elected 
6 months after Lynn got sworn into office. I remember how proud I was 
of her background in local government, in roles that she's played in 
Sonoma County, in Marin County. She's been, I think, on the floor 
speaking more than anybody else--as pointed out, 440 times speaking for 
peace. She's going to leave this body known as the ``lady of peace'' 
and will be here in history forever and ever. I remember the night that 
Bill Clinton gave his State of the Union address and recognized the 
backgrounds, the humble and unusual backgrounds of people that get 
here, that Lynn Woolsey was the first woman elected to Congress who, as 
a single mom, had to be on welfare and how she had worked her way out 
of that, and was a leading role model to show that there are 
opportunities for you, for all people in this great country. But the 
lady of peace is the most important of all.
  Bob Filner, he had a background in local government. He went back to 
local government. After being involved in school districts, he is now 
the mayor of San Diego. He came here with his background of being a 
Freedom Rider and in the civil rights movement and led the Veterans' 
Committee here.
  As we pointed out, Joe Baca will always be known as the captain of 
our baseball team. He did so well in that, but he also had a proud 
background, as the Leader said, in the Army as a paratrooper. The list 
goes on and on.
  Laura Richardson is leaving us. I would also mention before this, the 
early resignation of Dennis Cardoza.
  That's seven Democrats. We're going to miss them greatly. Thank you 
for allowing me to speak in favor of their great service to the United 
States Congress.


                         congressman pete stark

  Congressman Pete Stark has served in Congress since 1973. A senior 
member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, he is currently the 
Ranking Minority Member of its Health Subcommittee. Stark previously 
served as the subcommittee's Chairman from 2007 to 2010 and 1985 to 
1994, and previously as Ranking Minority Member from 1995 to 2006.
  Before being elected to Congress in 1972, Stark was a successful 
businessman and banker. Upon entering Congress, he served on the House 
Banking and Currency Committee. After completing his first term, Stark 
was named to the Ways and Means Committee, whose scope includes taxes, 
Medicare, Social Security, trade and public assistance.
  From 1981 to 1984, Stark served as Chairman of the Ways and Means 
Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. As Chairman, Stark became 
known as one of the Nation's foremost advocates of tax reform. He later 
served a critical role in shaping the historic tax reform act of 1986. 
In the years since, he has been a vocal voice for tax fairness and 
opposed the addition of corporate loopholes to our Nation's income tax 
laws.
  In January of 1985, Stark became the Chairman of the Ways and Means 
Health

[[Page 16994]]

Subcommittee. As Chairman, he presided over major reforms to the 
Medicare system. While cutting billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and 
abuse, Stark expanded benefits for tens of millions of Medicare 
beneficiaries, provided COBRA health continuation benefits to workers, 
and made numerous improvements in the quality of our Nation's care.
  As Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee from 2007 to 
2010, Stark helped write the health reform law that is bringing 
quality, affordable health care to millions of Americans.
  Stark champions universal health care, and speaks out for peace, 
freedom of choice, and protecting our environment. He is a tireless 
advocate for children, families, senior citizens, and people with 
disabilities, as well as the residents of the 13th Congressional 
District.
  A diverse area stretching along the east side of the San Francisco 
Bay, the 13th Congressional District runs from Alameda to Fremont.
  Stark is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
MIT, with a degree in engineering and the University of California, 
Berkeley with a Master's degree in Business Administration, MBA.
  In 1963, he founded Security National Bank in Walnut Creek. The bank 
grew from a small storefront operation to a a $1 billion financial 
institution with branches in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Stark 
sold his interest in the bank after his election to Congress.
  Before his business career, Stark served in the U.S. Air Force. His 
other civic activities have included: Director, Common Cause; Chairman, 
Board of Trustees, Starr King School of Ministry; Board Member, Housing 
Development Corporation; Board Member, Council for Civic Unity, and 
many others.
  Stark has four daughters, three sons, and eight grandchildren. He is 
married to Deborah Roderick Stark of San Lorenzo.


                      congressman howard l. berman

  Born in Los Angeles, California, Howard Berman attended U.C.L.A., 
where he received his B.A. in 1962 and his LL.B in 1965.
  Upon his graduation from law school, Howard Berman began his career 
in public service with a year's work as a VISTA volunteer. From 1967 
until 1973, he practiced law in Los Angeles, specializing in labor 
relations. In 1973, he was elected to the California State Assembly.
  In his first term in the state legislature, then-Assemblyman Berman 
was named Assembly Majority leader, the youngest person ever to serve 
in that leadership capacity. He also served as Chair of the Assembly 
Democratic Caucus and the Policy Research Management Committee of the 
Assembly. In 1982, Berman was elected to Congress, where he was named 
to the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees.
  Congressman Berman is the Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, meaning he is the most senior Democrat serving on the 
committee. During his tenure on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Berman 
negotiated a five-year, $50 billion reauthorization of our global HIV/
AIDS programs, authored legislation that removed Nelson Mandela and 
other members of the African National Congress from the U.S. terrorism 
list, and passed a bill to strengthen U.S. assistance to Israel. His 
top priorities include improving America's diplomatic strength through 
a reauthorization of the State Department, assistance to fight 
terrorism in Pakistan, and improving the efficiency of U.S. foreign 
aid.
  As the second highest ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, 
Berman plays a key role in shaping the copyright, trademark, and patent 
laws that are of vital importance to the entertainment, biotechnology, 
broadcasting, pharmaceutical, telecommunication, consumer electronics, 
and information technology industries. Berman is a member of the 
Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet.
  Berman is particularly well-known for his ability to form bipartisan 
coalitions. Together with Republican Henry Hyde, Berman wrote a law 
authorizing embargoes on nations that support terrorism. With 
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, he wrote amendments to the False 
Claims Act that have saved over $20 billion in taxpayer money since 
1986.
  ``There a few House members who have made such an imprint on 
legislation in so many areas as Howard Berman,'' says the Almanac of 
American Politics. The Almanac goes on to call Berman ``one of the most 
aggressive and creative members of the House and one of the most clear-
sighted operators in American politics.''
  Congressman Berman and his wife, Janis Gail Berman, have two 
daughters, Brinley and Lindsey.


                       congresswoman lynn woolsey

  Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey is in her 10th term as the representative 
from California's 6th District, just north of San Francisco. Her 
district includes all of Marin, and most of Sonoma County.
  As president of Americans for Democratic Action, Congresswoman 
Woolsey is a vocal and visible leader on progressive issues, 
particularly those dealing with education, children and families. A 
passionate and outspoken opponent of the Iraq war, she helped move 
public opinion against President's Bush's failed Iraq policy. She 
introduced the first resolution calling for our troops to be brought 
home and has been called the ``the unofficial matriarch of the 
[antiwar] movement in Congress,'' by the San Jose Mercury News.
  Congresswoman Woolsey is also active on labor and education issues. 
She is a senior member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
and the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. 
She also serves on Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and 
Secondary Education.
  Congresswoman Woolsey was the author of a recent law authorizing 
workers six months of job protected leave in order to care for injured 
family members serving in the armed forces, as well as legislation to 
protect workers from exposure to dangerous chemicals.
  One of Congresswoman Woolsey's top priorities is a legislative 
package called ``The Balancing Act,'' which aims to help parents 
balance their work and family responsibilities. Her proposal calls for: 
paid family leave; public universal pre-school; major investments in 
child care; universal school breakfast; benefits for part-time workers; 
and telecommuting incentives.
  Congresswoman Woolsey is also a senior member of the Committee on 
Science, Space and Technology, and serves on the Subcommittee on Energy 
and the Environment, where she works to reduce our dependence on 
foreign oil and promote the use of clean, efficient energy sources. In 
the current Congress, she has reintroduced her legislation to add the 
Sonoma coastline to the National Marine Sanctuary Program, thus 
protecting it from oil and gas drilling.
  Having lived and raised her family in California's North Bay for over 
40 years, Congresswoman Woolsey understands the concerns of Sonoma and 
Marin County residents. She frequently says they are the most important 
voice she listens to; and she not only listens, she responds. Her 
Washington office alone receives and answers over three thousand 
letters, phone calls, and emails from constituents each week.
  Congresswoman Woolsey dedication to family issues and her belief in a 
strong social safety net are rooted in her personal history. As a young 
mother struggling to raise three children by herself, she needed public 
assistance just to make ends meet, even though she was employed.
  The experience of needing a helping hand from her government has 
shaped her commitment to family-friendly policies.
  Woolsey was born on November 3, 1937 in Seattle, Washington. Now 
living in Petaluma, California, she is the mother of four grown 
children and a grandmother of five.


                         congressman bob filner

  Bob Filner's adult political career began when he was 18 years old 
during the Civil Right Movement. He spent several weeks in the 
Mississippi State Penitentiary as a Freedom Rider. ``My political 
optimism stems from those times. I believe by our individual 
involvement, we can change history! And, my commitment to a world free 
of racism and discrimination continues today.''
  Just after receiving a Ph.D. in the history of science from Cornell 
University, he moved to San Diego and began a 20 year long teaching 
career at San Diego State University. Always the activist, he 
challenged his college students that their ``grand'' thoughts were 
futile unless they put them into action in order to help people and 
make the world a better place. And it's a lesson he continues to 
impress on others while in the United States Congress.
  In the late 1970s Filner was frustrated with the local school board 
after announcing that his children's school was going to close 
(daughter, Erin and son, Adam). He felt his children weren't getting 
the education and attention they deserved. This led to his first run 
for San Diego School Board Member in 1979.
  Filner's ``back to basics'' approach toward education--including 
mandatory homework--won wide support among parents all across San 
Diego. During his time the board hired a more responsive 
Superintendent, test scores went up, and million of dollars in 
bureaucratic waste was eliminated.
  Therefore it was no surprise that under his leadership on these 
issues he was selected as School Board President in 1982.
  This increasing civic involvement led to his election to the San 
Diego City Council in 1987 where he began taking on issues such as 
bringing good jobs to San Diego and broadening its economic base. He 
created the city's

[[Page 16995]]

first Economic Conversion Committee and wrote the city's Economic 
Conversion Plan. He found creative ways to fight neighborhood crime, 
including the introduction of Police Walking Patrols and a Citizen 
Graffiti Patrol with the area's first 24-hour graffiti hotline.
  Recognizing his ability to work with his colleagues, the council 
members selected him as Deputy Mayor in 1991.
  In 1992, Filner was elected to the United States House of 
Representatives. In his first term in Congress, he was one of only a 
handful of freshman legislators to get legislation passed--for example 
a critical law amending the Clean Water Act, allowing San Diego to save 
billions of dollars.
  Almost immediately upon his arrival in Washington, his request for an 
appointment to the Veterans' Affairs Committee was granted. And in 2006 
was elected by his Democratic colleagues as Chairman of the House 
Veterans' Affairs Committee.
  Since January 2007, Congress has increased the Veterans Healthcare 
budget by 60%--the largest increase since the VA was created 79 years 
ago. Other victories include VA Home loans increased by 50%; the G.I. 
Bill was reinstated to meet the same level of education benefits, 
adjusted for cost-of-living increases, as that offered by the original 
World War II-era bill; benefits for Filipino-American veterans granted 
and legislation is pending for Merchant Marine veterans of World War II 
benefits. Filner says, ``This is the least we can do for our men and 
women in uniform who have sacrificed so much for us--we owe it to 
them!''
  The 51st District--stretching the whole California/Mexico border, 
from San Diego to Yuma, Arizona--is one of the most diverse regions in 
the nation! It encompasses the southern portion of the City of San 
Diego, the South Bay cities of Chula Vista and National City, and all 
of Imperial Valley. The district's population is approximately 55% 
Latinos, 15% African-Americans, 15% Anglos and 15% Filipinos.
  For 9 terms now, he has worked hard to both enhance his district's 
advantages while meeting its challenges. For example since many 
families in his district, and across the nation, suffer from sub-
standard medical treatment, he has worked to provide affordable 
healthcare for border communities and all Americans.
  While always looking for ways to embrace the opportunities the region 
provides, he does not back down from challenges specific to border 
communities.
  His work on U.S.-Mexico relations led President Clinton to ask Filner 
to join him on an international mission to meet with former Mexican 
President Ernesto Zedillo. Again in 2004, with President Vicente Fox, 
he stepped forward to encourage increased cooperation and collaboration 
between the two nations. He took the lead in securing critical funding 
and support for the International Waste Water Treatment Plant in the 
Tijuana River Valley, as well as the New River in the Imperial Valley 
with the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.
  He serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as 
the Senior Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation, a member of the Highway and Transit, Water 
Resources and Environment, and Aviation subcommittees. As Congressmen, 
he has brought home billions of dollars to improve roads, bridges and 
other critical infrastructure. At the same time he is constantly 
looking to the future in support of high-speed rail projects that would 
link San Diego with other areas of the state and Arizona and he secured 
funding to study suitable locations in Imperial Valley for the site of 
a new regional airport. Although these forward looking projects have 
been in the works for a long time, how appropriate they're labeled the 
``Jobs Train.'' Not only would San Diego become a major national 
distribution hub, thousands of jobs in San Diego and Imperial Valley 
would be created!
  Congressman Filner has built his career by ``walking his own talk''--
``Grand thoughts are futile unless they are put into action in order to 
help people and make the world a better place.'' Help him to continue 
this work for a better California--and a better America! He cannot go 
it alone!


                          Congressman Joe Baca

  Rep. Joe Baca has represented California's Inland Empire in the House 
of Representatives since winning a special election in 1999. He serves 
on the House Agriculture Committee, and is Ranking Member of the 
Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture. He also serves on the House 
Financial Services Committee.
  Rep. Baca served as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, CHC, 
during the 110th Congress (2007-2008). During this time, he 
successfully blocked harmful English-only and anti-immigrant amendments 
offered in the House. He also guided the CHC in its efforts to ensure 
the contributions of Latino and Native America veterans were recognized 
in the PBS documentary ``The War.'' In addition, Rep. Baca used his 
leadership position to pass record breaking funding levels for food 
stamps and nutrition programs to feed over 44 million hungry Americans; 
and helped secure new funding for minority serving institutions, 
including over $200 million in new grant funding. He currently chairs 
the CHC Corporate America Task Force.
  Rep. Baca continues to advocate in Congress on issues that impact the 
poor and underserved, including nutrition, housing, health, veterans' 
affairs, and issues affecting the Hispanic and Native American 
communities. He has used his experience in Congress to help secure over 
$154 million in federal appropriations assistance for education, public 
safety, transportation, and water projects. Congressman Baca is also 
the primary sponsor of the PROUD Act, legislation that puts responsible 
immigrant high school graduates on an expedited path to U.S. 
Citizenship.
  Personal History--Joe was born in Belen, New Mexico, the youngest of 
15 children in a house where little English was spoken. Joe worked 
shining shoes at age 10 and later worked as a laborer for the Santa Fe 
Railroad. He served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with both the 
101st and the 82nd Airborne Divisions from 1966-68. Following military 
service, Joe earned his associates degree from Barstow Community 
College and his bachelor's degree in sociology from California State 
University, Los Angeles. In 1979, he became the first Latino elected to 
the board of Trustees for the San Bernardino Valley College District. 
He was elected to the State Assembly in 1992, where he became the first 
Latino Speaker pro Tempore, and was elected to the State Senate in 
1998.
  Joe and his wife, Barbara, began their own business, Interstate World 
Travel, in 1989. They have four children--Rialto City Councilman Joe 
Baca Jr., Jeremy, Natalie and Jennifer.
  Awards--Rep. Baca has received many honors for his public service. 
Recent awards include the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute Edward R. 
Roybal/Henry B. Gonzalez award for Public Service, the U.S. Hispanic 
Chamber of Commerce President's Achievement Award, the National Farmers 
Union Presidential Award for Leadership, the Walter Kaitz Foundation 
Diversity Advocate Award, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
Coalition of Minority Employees Award of Excellence. He has been listed 
as one of the top 100 most influential Hispanic leaders in America by 
Latino Leaders Magazine. He also has two local parks named after him: 
the Joe Baca Senior Field at the Empire Center in Fontana and the Joe 
Baca Field at the Rialto Boys and Girls Club. In addition, the ``Joe 
Baca Middle School'' at 1640 S. Lilac Avenue in Rialto, California, is 
expected to open its doors in 2013.


                     Congresswoman Laura Richardson

  Congresswoman Laura Richardson represents California's 37th District, 
which includes the communities of Long Beach, Compton, Carson, Watts, 
Willowbrook and Signal Hill, as well as parts of the City of Los 
Angeles and Los Angeles County. She was sworn in to Congress in 2007 
and is currently serving her 3rd term.
  Congresswoman Richardson served the Long Beach community as a city 
councilwoman for six years before being elected to the California State 
Assembly in 2006. Following a special election in 2007, she immediately 
began serving in the House of Representatives, and as such, 
Congresswoman Richardson has the rare distinction of having served in 
government at the local, state, and federal level in the span of less 
than one year.
  The Congresswoman currently sits on the House Committee on 
Transportation & Infrastructure, where she works to improve the 
Nation's highways, railways, airports, and seaports while overseeing 
the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, FEMA. She is a member of the Water Resources and 
Environment Subcommittee, the Highways & Transit Subcommittee and the 
Railroads, Pipelines & Hazardous Materials Subcommittee.
  Congresswoman Richardson is also on the House Committee on Homeland 
Security. In this role, she works to protect America's borders and 
ensure the Nation is prepared for and able to effectively respond to 
any disasters that may arise. She is the Ranking Member for the 
Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee and 
also sits on the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security 
Technologies Subcommittee.
  In addition to her House Committee assignments, the Congresswoman is 
a founding member of the California High-Speed Rail

[[Page 16996]]

Commission, where she has worked to secure funding for a project that 
has the potential to create 450,000 permanent jobs statewide over the 
next 25 years.
  In January of 2011, President Barack Obama signed into law the Diesel 
Emissions Reduction Act of 2010, DERA, which Congresswoman Richardson 
authored. The legislation extends a voluntary national and state-level 
grant and loan program that creates jobs, saves lives and significantly 
improves the Nation's air quality. DERA is widely considered one of the 
most cost-effective federal programs in the Nation. The EPA has 
estimated that in California alone, the program averages more than $13 
in health and economic benefits for every $1 in funding. Without the 
signing of Richardson's bill, the authorization for DERA would have 
expired at the end of the fiscal year.
  Congresswoman Richardson graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts 
in Political Science and received an MBA from the USC Marshall School 
of Business. She spent 14 years working in the corporate sector at 
Xerox.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Farr).
  I want to, also, as Congresswoman Eshoo and Congressman Farr 
acknowledged, that there's others in our delegation from the other side 
of the aisle who will also be leaving after this session of Congress: 
Brian Bilbray, Mary Bono Mack, David Dreier, Elton Gallegly, Wally 
Herger, Jerry Lewis, and Dan Lungren. I've been here long enough that 
I've fought with all of them, I've legislated with all of them, and 
we've had accomplishments together.
  I think Jerry Lewis and I had the longest floor debate in the modern 
Congress over the creation of the desert national parks, the Mojave 
Desert national parks. When we were all done, we immediately turned 
around. He was opposed to it, I was for it, but he immediately turned 
around and made sure that the public had access to it, that there would 
be improvements, visitor centers. And that's the way legislation goes.

                              {time}  1820

  I think very often the public doesn't understand, but Members of 
Congress do, that this isn't just a working relationship. Over time you 
get to know one another's families, you know their children's 
successes, their children's desires, their illnesses and the troubles 
that befall families, because we're like all other American families. 
It happens here. People don't think of that when they think of the 
Congress. And you build relationships, friendships and dependencies on 
one another's expertise to help guide us through all of the issues that 
we will confront in a congressional year.
  Congressman Stark and I entered public life together by running 
against one another back in 1969, man against machine. You figure it 
out: I don't know who was the man and who was the machine, but I knew 
then who it was, this very popular banker and this law school dropout, 
but other than that I was doing well. But it's a long span and a lot of 
friendships, and it's about family and our ability to talk with one 
another.
  I would like, at this moment, to yield to Congressman Stark for any 
remarks that he might have.
  Mr. STARK. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. One of the 
previous Speakers, Mr. O'Neill, mentioned that, and you forgot to 
mention this, but Tip O'Neill said that I probably had one of the best 
5-minute speeches of any new Member of Congress, and if I could only 
learn to deliver it in less than 20 minutes, I'd have a great career 
here.
  George is right: we ran against each other. And when you grow up in 
the Bay Area and you have people like Barbara Lee who leads in courage 
in being the lone vote against one of the unpopular wars, you learn 
what courage is and you learn with people who fight for children, for 
minorities, for all of the people in our area who need help. I'm just 
proud to have worked with them.
  They've said that I'm the fifth oldest Member of Congress. That's 
absolutely wrong. I am the 430th youngest Member of Congress, and I 
just want to make sure that you get that straight in the Record.
  Thank you, George. I'm honored, and I am particularly honored to be 
part of this great Bay Area delegation. In our 10 districts surrounding 
the Bay Area, we have, I think, the finest legislative group in the 
United States. Thank you very much.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Thank you very much. I know, as we 
all know in this life, Members leave the Congress, they don't leave 
public policy, they don't leave public life, and I expect we will be 
hearing from them as they leave the Congress in their future endeavors. 
I know that Mr. Bilbray still wants to clean up the salt in the Salton 
Sea, and I know that Dan Lungren probably still wants to take down 
Hetch Hetchy. I'll be glad to join him on both efforts on that one, and 
I know Wally Herger still brings the concerns about the watersheds of 
the great northern parts of our State. So this relationship goes on, 
their advocacy goes on, and that's true on both sides of the aisle.
  Ms. Woolsey, if you would like to say anything.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Thank you, George, for doing this. Thank you for 
honoring those of us that have been here and now are leaving.
  I arrived feeling very green and feeling very good 20 years ago. I 
had no idea how little I knew about how to get something done in the 
Congress. I knew where I had burned in my belly, I knew what issues 
were important to me, and those issues have stayed important to me for 
the last 20 years. But I had the advantage of working with some very 
wonderful senior Members who generously helped me along, and I had the 
privilege of having very talented staff who built the stage that I 
could dance on. You can't do that unless it's teamwork, and I thank 
everybody that has been a part of these last 20 years. It's been quite 
a ride, and I'm glad I did it. Thank you very much, George.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Thank you so much. Thank you for 
your service.
  Mr. Speaker, that brings to a conclusion our delegation's honoring 
those Members who are leaving. I would just say, and this is not news 
to Members of the House, but on a bipartisan basis, this is a very, 
very spirited and rambunctious delegation on both sides of the aisle, 
and a lot of seniority is leaving the Congress with this delegation, a 
lot of expertise. But I'm very proud to have served with all of them 
and for their contributions and the sacrifices they made in public 
office on behalf of public policy that they strongly believe in and 
became advocates for.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time. I want to recognize 
Mr. Berman who is here and thank him again for his service.

                          ____________________