[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        CA DEMOCRATIC DELEGATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 12, 2012

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my thanks and best 
wishes to the members of the California Democratic delegation who will 
be departing at the end of this Congress.
  Starting with departing members toward the northern portion of the 
state, I can say that Congress is losing two of its most important and 
effective progressive champions, Lynn Woolsey and Pete Stark.
  Lynn has been a strong advocate for peaceful solutions to the world's 
problems, and her voice for peace and disarmament will be missed. She 
was one of the most vocal and consistent opponents of the war in Iraq, 
and fought to stop the surges in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I have been 
proud to work with her over the past several years to bring a 
responsible end to the wars. Lynn has also been a forceful advocate on 
education and children's issues.
  I know Lynn will stay involved in progressive causes, and I look 
forward to continuing to work with her in her new role as President of 
Americans for Democratic Action. But her compassionate efforts in 
Congress will be difficult to replace.
  The thing I will remember most about Pete Stark is that he was always 
a fighter for affordable healthcare. With the passage of the Affordable 
Care Act, we will soon see the day when every person in the country has 
health insurance. For many years I cosponsored a bill offered by Pete 
that would have at least provided a guarantee of healthcare for 
children in this country. It was outrageous that children were not 
provided guaranteed health insurance or covered by the government in 
this country, and Pete worked to end that outrage. Of course, Pete was 
instrumental in the passage of the Affordable Care Act as the chair of 
the Health Subcommittee, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for those 
efforts.
  Southern California is losing several members who will likewise be 
missed.
  Howard Berman and I ran against each other in 2012. Nothing that 
happened during that campaign has lessened my admiration for Howard as 
a public servant and legislator. In the 40 years since his first 
election to the State Assembly, he has provided California and the 
country with exemplary service. In fact, as a long serving member of 
the Foreign Affairs Committee and its former Chairman, this service 
extended to the world.
  Howard could have enjoyed the comfort and financial benefits of 
working in the private sector, but instead chose to serve the public. 
From local Valley projects such as preserving the Santa Monica 
Mountains, improving the Hansen Dam, and rebuilding Kaiser Permanente 
Hospital after the 1994 quake, we owe him a sincere debt of gratitude.
  He has been a longtime champion of farm workers, starting with his 
work with Cesar Chavez and the Agricultural Labor Relations Act, which 
grants farmworkers the right to organize and bargain with their 
employers. Howard has been a consistent advocate for the entertainment 
industry, working to protect the jobs of so many residents of the San 
Fernando Valley.
  Under his direction as the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs 
Committee since 2008, our foreign aid program has better protected 
American interests abroad and allowed for a more stable world. Through 
projects like the Iron Dome missile shield and enabling Israelis to 
apply for E-2 Visas, he has strengthened the U.S.-Israel relationship. 
Howard has also helped fight against global HIV/AIDS and alleviate 
suffering in the poorest countries. Howard has built a legacy of 
effective leadership. He will be missed in Congress.
  While Laura Richardson only served three terms in the House, she was 
an effective leader for her diverse district. She became a respected 
expert on intermodal transportation issues despite serving only a brief 
time in Washington. The Ports of LA and Long Beach, and those that work 
or do business there, will miss her efforts here to improve the transit 
of goods across the country. Very few members of this House better 
understand the importance of transit infrastructure, and the need to 
pay for it wisely, than Laura.
  I have greatly enjoyed serving with my friend, Joe Baca, on the 
Financial Services Committee and in Congress generally. Joe served his 
country, first in the Army and then in Congress. Joe served as Chairman 
of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus from 2007-2008. He fought hard for 
the rights of immigrants and the wider Latino community in the United 
States.
  And finally, I wish my friend Bob Filner success as he continues on 
his career in public service as the mayor of San Diego. The people of 
that great city have gained a strong leader--Congress has unfortunately 
lost one of its most important advocates for veterans. Bob began 
fighting for a better America as a young man--as one of the Freedom 
Riders to go to the American South to fight for civil rights, where he 
was arrested. During his tenure as Chairman of the Veterans Affairs 
Committee, funding for VA healthcare increased 60 percent and funding 
for VA home lending increased by 50 percent.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my friends for their decades of public 
service, and wish them only the best in whatever they do after 
Congress. They will all be missed.

                          ____________________