On the House floor, Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) took aim at Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA).
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00:00Mr. Speaker, Californians could soon be paying over $8 a gallon for gasoline.
00:08That is the result of the disastrous policies that have been imposed by Gavin Newsom
00:16and the California legislature's supermajority.
00:20The most recent news is that there are two refineries that are closing operations in California.
00:28The Phillips 66 refinery in L.A. by the end of 2025 and the Valero refinery by April 2026.
00:37These two facilities, according to a letter from Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones in California,
00:45these two facilities produce about 20 percent of California's in-state gasoline supply.
00:52Now, according to a recent study by USC professor Michael Miesch, the effect of this is going to be an increase in gas prices in California of up to 75 percent by April of 2026.
01:09The projections estimate a 33.6 percent increase just by April of 2025.
01:16And by next year, by 2026, we could see prices rising as high as $8.43 per gallon by the end of 2026.
01:30This is because we're going to see a severe decline in in-state production.
01:36Indeed, it could fall from over 34 million gallons per day in 2023 to just 27 million gallons by the end of 2026.
01:48Then you factor in the higher transportation costs.
01:52You're going to see Californians not only paying these astronomical prices at the gas station,
01:58but it's going to increase the cost of goods and services throughout the economy.
02:02Not to mention, it's going to lead to the loss of hundreds of jobs for the folks that were working at these refineries.
02:10And the gas that we're now going to have to import from other states or other countries is not only going to cost a lot more,
02:19but it's going to be way worse for the environment, releasing way more emissions.
02:25The fact is, California already has by far the highest gas prices in the country.
02:29We pay over 30 cents more than second place Hawaii, which is an island state.
02:36And this is because of nonsensical regulations, including the new fuel standard that was just recently imposed by the Air Resources Board,
02:46as well as a slew of other regulations related to the fuel mix and other factors,
02:51as well as having the highest gas tax of any state in the country.
02:57By the way, you'd think we have the highest tax, we must have great roads as a result.
03:02Nope, that's not the case either.
03:04We have just about the worst roads of any state in the country.
03:09How does that work?
03:10Highest taxes, deepest potholes.
03:13It is a stark illustration of our state government's utter inability to provide effective service to our citizens.
03:23So I am calling on Governor Newsom and the state legislature to take immediate action to prevent Californians from having to pay over $8 a gallon for gas by the end of next year.
03:39We need immediate action to overturn regulations and to restore common sense in our state.
03:45Mr. Speaker, I have sent a letter along with several of my colleagues in the California delegation
04:05to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Attorney General Pam Bondi, asking them to investigate a simple question.
04:16Why is it so stunningly easy to commit fraud against the state of California?
04:23During the COVID era, we saw fraud unlike we had ever seen when $32 billion in unemployment benefits were purloined
04:36from fraudsters, international criminal syndicates, who were easily able to defraud Gavin Newsom's unemployment department.
04:47And now, the latest example that we've learned is that over a third of community college applications in the state were fraudulent.
04:59These were not real people, not real students actually seeking a spot at one of our community colleges.
05:05What they were instead were scams, were individuals who were trying and succeeding in committing financial aid fraud,
05:16siphoning more than $10 million in federal funds and millions more in state aid, according to the California Community Chancellor's own office.
05:27So we have asked the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education to look into this matter and see why California has not been able to stop this from happening.
05:40We know that with respect to the EDD fraud in the COVID era, the governor's office failed to take the basic common sense steps that other states took,
05:52that the federal government had advised, for example, cross-checking applications for unemployment against the prison rules,
06:01something that almost every other state did and California didn't do.
06:04And I would not be surprised to learn that there were similar oversights here with respect to the community college fraud.
06:11So we look forward to getting back the results of this investigation.
06:16And we urge the state to take immediate action to make sure that millions more in taxpayer dollars aren't lost.
06:22Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the Trump administration and specifically Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez de Reamer,
06:46for its decision to not enforce the independent contractor rule propounded by the Biden administration.
06:57Now, this rule was based upon one of the worst laws ever to pass in the state of California, AB5,
07:05which effectively banned freelancing, independent contracting, self-employment, being your own boss for many, many people.
07:13After this law went into effect, we saw thousands upon thousands of Californians lose their livelihood,
07:21lose their right to earn a living because of this edict issued by the government.
07:28It received bipartisan criticism and no other state followed California's lead in enacting such a law.
07:35But that did not stop the Biden administration from deciding that this law would be its inspiration for national labor policy.
07:45The Biden administration, using the regulatory process because it couldn't get it through Congress,
07:51enacted an independent contractor rule modeled on California's law, AB5.
07:56And not only that, but the administration brought in the very person who was the architect of AB5 in California
08:04and its chief enforcer, Gavin Newsom's Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, to be his Secretary of Labor
08:11and to enforce it just as aggressively and ruthlessly as she had in California.
08:17The problem was, this track record was so disastrous that Ms. Su's nomination stalled in the Senate.
08:26She received bipartisan opposition, was never confirmed,
08:31and somehow the Biden administration, President Biden, decided to keep her there anyway.
08:36It was a very novel theory that Senate confirmation was now optional for cabinet-level officials,
08:42and she shattered all records for the longest acting secretary in the history of our country.
08:49But at the end of the day, that rule, which by the way was tied up in court
08:54because there was a lot of reasons why it did not pass legal muster,
08:59is no longer being enforced,
09:02and the right to earn a living of millions of independent contractors across our country is no longer threatened.
09:09I particularly applaud Secretary Chavez de Riemer when she met with the truckers recently,
09:16with a number of truckers, the Trucking Association,
09:19for saying that we have your back because it's the independent-owned operators,
09:23tens of thousands of truckers across the country,
09:27who were one of the many groups that were threatened by this regulation
09:30for consequences for the entire U.S. economy.
09:34Now, while this regulatory relief is extremely positive and important,
09:40we need to get the definition of independent contracting and protections for freelancers into statute
09:49so we don't have the standard continue to change from one administration to the next.
09:55That's why I've introduced the Modern Worker Empowerment Act
09:59that will put into statute the standard common law definition
10:04of what it means to be an independent contractor,
10:07and I'm hopeful that we can get that passed with bipartisan support this Congress.
10:11Mr. Speaker, I rise today to let folks in California and across the country
10:32know that Medi-Cal, our version of Medicaid, is facing an unprecedented threat.
10:40It's very solvency, its sustainability, its ability to provide coverage for Californians
10:48is being threatened by a completely reckless policy enacted by Governor Gavin Newsom
10:55that does not exist in any of the other 49 states in our country.
11:01And because of this reckless policy, Newsom has just had to ask the legislature for a bailout
11:09of Medicaid, $2.8 billion, which the legislature provided.
11:14Now, of course, what I'm referring to is the policy of providing free, full-scope, comprehensive
11:22Medi-Cal coverage to all illegal immigrants in the state who meet the income eligibility requirements.
11:32This, again, is a policy that is singular to California.
11:36No other state has it.
11:38It was initially estimated to cost $3.1 billion.
11:43Since that time, the cost just for the first year of coverage, just the first year, has exploded
11:51to $9.5 billion.
11:55As a result, Governor Newsom, number one, took out a $3.44 billion loan from the state's general fund.
12:06That is the maximum allowed by law.
12:10But of course, that wasn't enough to close the gap.
12:14So then he had to go and ask for a bailout of the program to stave off insolvency.
12:22Now you would think that this would compel Newsom and the legislature to immediately roll back
12:32this disastrous experiment.
12:35And yet, when Governor Newsom was asked, he said that rolling back this policy was, quote,
12:43not on my docket.
12:47So let's be very clear that saving Medicaid in California is not on Governor Newsom's docket.
12:57Fortunately, we are fighting back and looking to take measures here
13:03that will assure that tax dollars of Californians are reserved to provide Medi-Cal coverage for people who are in our state legally.
13:17When you think about this cost, $9.5 billion just in the first year, a cost that is basically triple what was originally projected,
13:27think what that's going to look like over the next 10 years.
13:30We're talking about potentially hundreds of billions of dollars that could be going towards Medi-Cal for our own residents,
13:41that is instead going towards a reckless policy that exists nowhere else in the country that is only going to entice
13:48more people who are here illegally to come to California, thereby increasing the costs even more.
13:55And by the way, because we're adding all of these additional people to the Medi-Cal rolls,
14:02that's making it more difficult for Californians who rely on the program to actually get access to health care.
14:09It is extremely difficult to get a doctor's appointment if you're on Medi-Cal in California.
14:14It's actually very difficult in some cases if you're on private insurance to get a doctor's appointment in California.
14:20And the governor's reckless policy is a big reason why.
14:25So we are going to do everything we possibly can here to fight for Californians, to fight for Medicaid in California,
14:32and I will do everything I can to protect this program against the governor and legislature's reckless policy.
14:55Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take a few moments today to share with folks here in D.C.
15:02and across the country a little bit about a program that I am an alumnus of called Teach for America
15:09and to share why I think this is an extremely important program for us to protect and to support right now
15:19and in the years ahead. Right now we see our schools across this country in a state of crisis.
15:26The nation's report card that recently came out revealed truly shocking declines
15:32in student achievement. But one bright spot in this otherwise very troubling picture
15:39has been Teach for America, otherwise known as TFA.
15:43What TFA does is recruits recent college graduates to go and teach in the toughest schools,
15:51in schools in low-income communities.
15:55It's a very selective program. In some years, the acceptance rate for those who apply to be TFA
16:02teachers is as low as 11 percent. That is, you know, as selective as many of the most elite colleges
16:09in the country. So I was a teacher through TFA in Los Angeles. I taught 10th grade English. I had students who
16:17were on average had a fourth or fifth grade reading level when they came to my classroom, but I had a
16:22tremendous experience. My students achieved significant academic gains as part of my classes.
16:28I chaired the English department while I was there. I even started an award-winning speech and debate
16:34program that provided opportunities to go and compete for students who otherwise wouldn't have had that
16:40experience or had that opportunity. So I want to first, in underlining the importance of this program,
16:49speak to my Republican colleagues here in the House. That if you need any one reason why you should support
16:58Teach for America, it is that the radical Democrat supermajority in California actually tried to ban
17:07the program from our state. That is not an exaggeration. In 2019, this is from a Politico article.
17:17Backed by powerful teachers unions, Democrats are pushing to ban Teach for America from California
17:23amid a wave of teacher strikes and a heated debate over charter schools in the nation's most popular
17:29state. The article goes on to say that the national nonprofit and its recruits promising college grads
17:35eager to teach in poor communities were in the crosshairs of the state's supermajority Democratic
17:41legislature. So why in the world would the Democrat supermajority in California target TFA? I was there
17:52in the legislature at the time and I helped to kill that bill on the state assembly floor, but it did pass
18:01the state assembly's education committee. Unbelievably enough, what could possibly have motivated this
18:08attack? After all, TFA's mission, its entire purpose is to close the achievement gaps that exist in this
18:18country so that every child, no matter where they were born, no matter what their zip code, will have
18:24access to an excellent education. Well, the issue is that in California, the governing majority and the
18:35education establishment there have a model of keeping kids trapped in failing schools. And that has been
18:45the effect of the policies that have governed the state year after year after year. And so organizations
18:52like TFA that, for example, provided alternative pathways to get promising teachers into the
18:57classroom, or worst of all, from the perspective of those who ran the legislature, place almost half of
19:04their teachers in charter schools, that simply couldn't be tolerated. Indeed, at the time, in 2019,
19:11Gavin Newsom, who had just taken office, had declared a war on charter schools. Now, charters,
19:18which are public schools that have a high level of flexibility as to how they run their school,
19:25but in turn are held to a greater standard of accountability, have gotten tremendous results.
19:31Studies consistently show that they outperform traditional public schools, and they have a lot
19:37of students who are on their wait list. However, the teachers at those schools are not automatically
19:44unionized as a matter of default. So that's what inspired Gavin Newsom and his enablers to try to
19:51enact and indeed to succeed in enacting an anti-charter school agenda. And because TFA placed almost 50%
19:57of its teachers in charter schools, they got caught up in it. Now, fortunately, that bill did not pass.
20:02TFA has continued to serve thousands of kids in California. And indeed, throughout its history,
20:09TFA has placed some 65,000 teachers into classrooms. And this attack in California was truly an aberration.
20:21It really speaks to the character of the supermajority in our state specifically that is out of step,
20:27even with many reasonable Democrats, especially on the issue of education. But there are a couple of
20:34things that I want to emphasize about the program. Number one is that TFA places teachers in areas
20:43that need teachers. It helps to combat the teacher shortage that is particularly acute in particular
20:49districts and particular subjects. TFA partners with school districts facing persistent vacancies,
20:55especially in low-income urban and rural areas. The districts, they request TFA core members for hard
21:01to staff subjects like STEM, special education, bilingual education. And in fact, in this last school year,
21:08over 75% of TFA teachers serve in Title I schools. So the organization is recruiting motivated and talented
21:18young people to go and teach in areas where they have a hard time getting teachers. But how do they do once
21:24they're there? Well, that's the second thing I want to emphasize, is that TFA teachers have an outstanding
21:30track record track record. Last year, there was a comprehensive study by the American Institutes for
21:36Research published. It was a meta-analysis that actually spanned, they looked at 23 pre-existing
21:43studies of TFA's impact across 24 years. And so included in that was 63,134 teachers who taught 5 million
21:54students. So what did this comprehensive meta-analysis find? That TFA teachers have had a
21:59consistent and significant impact on students' academic achievement. On average, students of TFA
22:05teachers perform better in math, in science, in reading. Some studies have found that having a TFA
22:11teacher adds up to 50 additional days of learning. And beyond that, by the way, many TFA alums go on to
22:21found schools. For example, the founders of tremendous charter school networks, KIPP, IDEA, and YESPREP are TFA
22:30alums. Personally, one of the main reasons I decided to run for public office, first in the legislature and
22:37then for Congress, was my experience as a classroom teacher. And it motivated me to become the vice chair
22:43of the state assembly education committee. And now here in the house, the chair of the K-12 education subcommittee.
22:53Now TFA is an AmeriCorps program. It is one of the professional core programs for AmeriCorps.
23:01So what that means is that the teachers who are part of TFA, they are employees of a particular school
23:09district or of a charter school. So for example, I was an employee of the Los Angeles Unified
23:15School District, but they also receive a Siegel AmeriCorps education award. And the reason that
23:21that is vital is because TFA is providing an alternative pathway into the classroom where you can
23:28start teaching soon after graduating college. They have a intensive summer program where students do
23:35summer school and receive training. They continue to receive support from TFA as an organization
23:41throughout their time teaching. And then they're also simultaneously pursuing a teaching credential.
23:47Sometimes that takes the form of a master's of education, which is what I received. So
23:51for example, when I was teaching 10th grade English, one day a week after spending the whole day teaching,
23:56I would then drive across town to a local college or grad school where I sat in class for five or six
24:04hours on that particular day working towards my credential. And so the education award helps
24:11students or the the TFA teachers to pay for that degree or for that credential. And it would be
24:19very hard for many of them to actually be part of the program without this award. And so I have heard
24:28reports recently that there have been some of these grants that are in jeopardy or maybe have been lost
24:34already putting several thousand current teachers and several thousand more future teachers in a state
24:42of uncertainty. And while I have personal experience with this particular AmeriCorps program, I know that
24:51there are many others that fill similarly critical needs in different sectors of society. In fact,
24:58AmeriCorps own definition of a professional core program recognizes that the placements are as
25:04a strategic response to longstanding workforce gaps. So it's not simply service programs. They're
25:09their workforce solutions. So that's why I have requestfully respectfully requested in a letter that
25:17I'm sending today that the Appropriations Committee and its subcommittee on labor health and human services
25:24provide robust funding for AmeriCorps in the coming fiscal year. And I'm urging my colleagues on both sides of the
25:32the aisle to come together in support of TFA and these other critical programs.
25:55Mr. Speaker, at this moment we have an opportunity to catalyze
26:01a school choice revolution across America. And one has never been more desperately needed.
26:10The nation's report card recently came out and the verdict was clear. Our public education system
26:18is failing. The national assessment of education progress show one third of students are unable to read
26:24at the basic level for their age group. And math scores are down 9% since 2018. Now the Biden
26:33administration's response was to continue to shovel more money into a failing system. They threw 200
26:39billion dollars in tax dollars into the same failed system with absolutely nothing to show for it. In fact,
26:46things got worse. You can put this on a graph. The level of funding has gone up. Student achievement has
26:54gone down. It's been a negative return on investment. But right now we can change that with reforms that
27:02will actually work in expanding opportunity, giving choices to millions of families and providing a
27:11healthy sense of drive towards improvement in our public education system generally. And that is through
27:18two pieces of legislation that I am sponsoring and that can also be included as part of the budget
27:26reconciliation process. The first is the Educational Choice for Children Act, which will provide a tax credit
27:35for charitable contributions that enable scholarships to attend private parochial and independent schools.
27:42This could potentially expand private school choice to millions of families in this country. And then
27:50secondly, along with Representative Claudia Tenney and others, I've introduced the High Quality Charter
27:58Schools Act, which will significantly expand access to charter schools across the country. It uses a similar
28:06mechanism leveraging the tax code through an innovative federal tax credit that will allow the nation's
28:12most effective charter networks to create new quiet high quality seats. And in particular, it will provide
28:19a tax credit to a lot to cover startup costs for expanding charter schools that already have a track
28:27record of success. This is very important because you have a lot of families who are on waiting lists
28:33for charters. And we estimate that this measure could potentially triple the number of students across
28:39the country who receive this particular form of school choice of charter schools, which have a tremendous
28:45track record in advancing student achievement. I'll give you one example. Six years ago,
28:49success Academy, which was founded in New York City, manages 57 schools serving 22,000 inner-city
28:56children. They're 93% non-white, 72% low income, with phenomenal results at impressive scale. For eight years in a row,
29:05success has a 100% four-year college acceptance rate. Its students routinely outperform more affluent full school districts,
29:13and 14 of New York City's top 25 schools in math are success academies. Think about that. Over half of
29:20the top schools in New York City in math are success academy campuses. That's why there is so much demand
29:27to attend these schools. The number of families that apply is 10 times the number of available seats. So they have
29:35to lottery them off. There's so much demand. You have to enter the lottery, and you have a 10% chance
29:39of winning that lottery. This bill would allow them to expand more campuses and other successful charter
29:46schools across the country to expand their campuses. So between these two measures, the Educational Choice
29:54for Children Act and the High Quality Charter School Act, we could expand meaningful school choice, meaningful
30:01options to millions and millions of families in every community across the country, which would benefit those
30:08families, and it would also reach the critical mass of school choice in many areas that would compel improvements
30:15in traditional school districts as well. So this is really a moment when we need to ask ourselves
30:24what our priorities are. Because, and this isn't true of all of them, but in general, the Biden administration
30:32and Democratic majorities have moved our education system in the wrong direction. They've had the wrong
30:39policies. I believe Republicans have generally had the right policies, but the question is what kind of
30:45priority are we going to place on those policies? What kind of priority are we going to give education? What kind of
30:53priority are we, in sense of urgency, are we going to bring to the fact that our schools across this country are
31:00failing far too many of our kids? Now is the time to show that our commitment to education and reform
31:09and school choice goes beyond just slogans, goes beyond political arguments, but is a real commitment
31:19to advancing the education and the life prospects for kids all across America. We have a chance to do that
31:27right now by assuring these measures are enacted into law.
31:45Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce
31:51and the well over 450 people who joined the Chamber's Cap-to-Cap program to visit Washington, D.C. this week.
32:03This was the 53rd annual Capital-to-Capital or Cap-to-Cap program where people, community leaders from the Sacramento
32:12region, come here, come here to D.C. to participate in programming and to advocate for our region to lawmakers.
32:22I had the chance to be part of this in many different ways. We had a bipartisan discussion that I was part of
32:28with Representative Ami Barra and I met with well over 100, probably closer to 200 Cap-to-Cap leaders
32:36throughout the week to discuss issues of importance to them and to the communities, the industries,
32:43the sectors that they lead. I had very productive discussions with a number of actionable items
32:50about public safety, wildfire prevention, natural resources, transportation infrastructure,
32:56and California water. Issues that are so important to our region and our communities.
33:02And I am so grateful that so many leaders in the Sacramento area came here to discuss these matters.
33:09So I wanted to say thank you to everyone who took the time out of your busy schedule to come here.
33:16It has, I think, allowed in the past this program to enable our region to punch above its weight.
33:23Indeed, this is the biggest Chamber trip I understand to D.C. that exists anywhere in the country.
33:28And it really underscores the tremendous spirit of collaboration that exists in our region.
33:37That we have so many people who, it crosses party lines, it crosses different communities,
33:43different zip codes, who are working together, who are all rowing in the same direction
33:49for the benefit of our region. We've been able to achieve tremendous things because of that.
33:54We've been able to maintain a quality of life for the folks that we represent so that our region remains
34:02a great place to live, to work, to raise a family, to retire. And the Cap2Cap program has been a very
34:09big part of allowing that to continue, of giving our region a cohesive identity. And I look forward to
34:16the 54th annual trip next year.
34:29Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the 25th graduating class of Leadership Rockland.
34:40This prestigious program is run by the Rockland Area Chamber of Commerce and provides an opportunity
34:45for participants to build upon their leadership skills while developing meaningful relationships
34:50with community and local business leaders. The areas of learning for this program include
34:56leadership skills and theory, education, volunteerism and community service, Rockland civics,
35:03public safety, transportation, health and human services, economic development, the history of
35:08Rockland and much more. Leadership Rockland holds high esteem in the community and is recognized by
35:15leaders as an important way to prepare those who wish to further serve and learn about their community.
35:20I commend the participants for their dedication to civic engagement and their commitment to leadership
35:25development. Therefore, on behalf of California's third congressional district and the United States House of
35:30Representatives, I am proud to congratulate this year's Leadership Rockland graduating class.
35:46Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize Hebert Insurance Solutions for their 75-year
35:53anniversary. Hebert Insurance Solutions is a family owned independent insurance agency in Loomis,
36:00California, a town located in Placer County. Christine Hebert Summers, who began working for
36:05the family business at an early age, is the third generation owner. Her grandfather, Roy, started the
36:11business back in 1950. Roy would take Christine to the office back when she was in kindergarten. At the time,
36:17she would help around the office in exchange for a toy and some candy at the main drug store.
36:21Christine's father, Roy Jr., managed the business until 2003, when Christine officially purchased the
36:28business from them. For more than seven decades, the Hebert Insurance team has been committed to working
36:33closely with their clients to help them make important and informed decisions relating to their
36:39protection and future. They prioritize customer service and are committed to treating their customers
36:45like family. Hebert Insurance continues to be a staple in Placer County and surrounding communities.
36:51In addition to providing exceptional services, they are tremendously involved in their community.
36:55They're often seen volunteering with local organizations such as the Suroptimus International
37:00Loomis Basin, taking leadership roles at the local Chamber of Commerce, serving at the Senior Center,
37:06and contributing to multiple youth programs. It is an honor to represent exemplary businesses such as
37:12Hebert Insurance Solutions in Congress. Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional
37:18District and the United States House of Representatives, it is my honor and privilege to congratulate them
37:24on their 75-year anniversary. Congratulations.
37:34Mr. Speaker, in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I wanted to take an
37:46opportunity to highlight the service of some of the truly amazing educators in California's Third
37:53Congressional District. In his 1988 proclamation, Ronald Reagan said,
37:58Our country's great teachers often make many sacrifices as they fulfill their countless
38:03responsibilities. They have earned and truly deserve the utmost gratitude and esteem of students, parents,
38:11and community members. It is in that spirit that I rise today and recognize 15 individual
38:17teachers from throughout California's Third Congressional District for their exceptional dedication to
38:23their roles, students, schools, and communities. While representing almost 70 school districts and
38:30close to 300 K-12 schools, these teachers stand out among their colleagues and have made an indelible mark
38:37on their students and communities. As a former educator myself, I understand the unique challenges
38:42our educators face and the passion and dedication it takes to enable our students to succeed.
38:49A great teacher can help shape and transform the trajectory of a student's life and their perspective
38:55on learning. As such, we are quite fortunate to have truly exceptional schools teachers
39:01and administrators educating and supporting the next generation in California's Third Congressional
39:06District. Therefore, I'd like to extend my gratitude to all of our community's teachers this week
39:12and to thank them for their tireless devotion to promoting academic achievement, student success,
39:18and educational opportunities. And if you are an educator, I encourage you to reach out to my office
39:24or visit kylie.house.gov for federal resources and services available to local teachers and students.
39:35Mr. Speaker, in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I'd like to take a moment to recognize
39:42Mrs. Janice Rowe, a kindergarten teacher in the Pleasant Ridge School District at Cottage Hill Elementary
39:49School. For 40 years, Mrs. Rowe has been teaching the kindergarten grade level. Her commitment to her
39:55students, colleagues, and district is unmatched. Mrs. Rowe not only instills a strong literary and
40:02mathematical foundation for young learners, but also creates a safe and caring environment where students can
40:09thrive and their love for learning is ignited. She is instrumental towards establishing new academic
40:14programs, standards, and expectations for all kindergarten students, leading the continued
40:20development of the district's kindergarten programs. She's often known for enrolling in classes, programs,
40:26and workshops to further develop her professional skills, and for working late to prepare a special and
40:32hands-on learning experience for her students. Not only does Mrs. Rowe demonstrate a care and commitment
40:38to her students, but she is also relied upon by her colleagues to provide help, mentorship,
40:44and collaboration. Mrs. Rowe has shaped the high standards of excellence that the community has come
40:49to expect of the school and school district. Mrs. Rowe's four decades of commitment to teaching
40:55kindergarten students has provided a lasting benefit for students' introduction to public schools
41:00and foundational growth. It is a true honor to represent exemplary teachers, such as Mrs. Rowe,
41:08in the United States House of Representatives. Therefore, in honor of her passion, dedication,
41:12her belief in the transformative power of education, and her commitment to her student success,
41:18it is my privilege to recognize Mrs. Janice Rowe in celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Week.
41:30Mr. Speaker, in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I'd like to take a moment to recognize Mr.
41:37Dominic Albano, a fourth-grade teacher with 30 years in the profession at Union Hill Elementary School.
41:44Since 1996, Mr. Albano has been an extraordinary educator, teacher, and mentor, whose legacy has touched
41:51thousands of lives. His commitment to bringing history alive for his fourth-grade students is
41:56unparalleled, blending rigorous academics with immersive, unforgettable experiences. His passion
42:02for California's gold country, the 49er gold rush, and Wild West history has created traditions that are
42:08now woven into the very fabric of Union Hills culture. Students of Mr. Albano receive a living,
42:14breathing understanding of history and our nation's story. Beyond his dynamic and integrative teaching
42:20style, Mr. Albano is also a beloved coach who has grown Union Hills cross-country and track and field
42:26programs into teams of nearly 90 students. That's in a school of just 700. A tribute to the magnetism of his
42:33leadership. He inspires students not only to learn, but to believe in themselves, which is instrumental
42:39towards shaping their future. Not only does Mr. Albano make a meaningful difference in his students' lives,
42:45but he plays an instrumental role in mentoring student teachers and collaborating with his colleagues.
42:51Mr. Albano is known by others for being a Union Hill legend, a builder of traditions, and a cultivator
42:56of character. He is treasured by his school and community for his reliability, kindness, positivity,
43:03and generosity. I am confident that the impact of his contributions will be felt for generations to
43:09come. It is a true honor to represent exemplary teachers like Mr. Albano in the United States House of
43:17Representatives. Therefore, in honor of his dedication to serving his students and community with passion,
43:23humility, and excellence, it is my privilege to recognize Mr. Dominic Albano in celebration of
43:30National Teacher Appreciation Week.
43:47Mr. Speaker, in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I'd like to take a moment to recognize Mrs.
43:52Miranda Prukish, a special education teacher in the Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District
43:59at Loyalton Elementary School.
44:04Mrs. Prukish is an exceptional educator whose unwavering commitment to student success
44:10has made a profound impact within the Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District.
44:15As a leader in special education with a decade of experience, Mrs. Prukish has continually developed
44:22and refined her program to meet the diverse needs of her students, demonstrating innovation,
44:27adaptability, and a deep sense of care. Serving in a rural community where educational challenges are
44:34often magnified, she has gone above and beyond to ensure that every student receives personalized
44:40support and opportunities to thrive. She is a tireless champion for her students, ensuring their
44:47needs are represented and addressed with compassion and integrity. Her collaborative spirit and willingness
44:53to work alongside general education colleagues fosters an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
45:01Mrs. Prukish's creativity, professionalism, and genuine devotion to her students make her a role model
45:08for other educators. It is a true honor to represent exemplary teachers, such as Mrs. Prukish,
45:14in the United States House of Representatives. Therefore, in honor of the outstanding contributions
45:20to her school and the difference she continues to make in students' lives every day, it is my privilege
45:26to recognize Mrs. Miranda Prukish in celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Week.
45:41Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I wish to highlight Mr. Steve Holland,
45:48whose 29 years of dedicated service and education exceeds standards throughout the Bishop Unified School
45:54District. Mr. Holland began teaching in the Bishop Unified School District in 1996 as a middle school
46:00teacher and more recently has been teaching the fourth grade. Known for his kindness, calm demeanor,
46:06and unwavering dedication, Mr. Holland has consistently gone above and beyond to support learning both
46:13academically and emotionally. Through his innovative teaching methods, he continues to keep students engaged
46:19and inspired. In addition to his deep commitment to student achievement, he has also served as a coach
46:25and grade level leader, providing mentorship to his fellow educators and leaving a legacy of impact,
46:30integrity, and inspiration. Mr. Holland has left an indelible mark on countless students, colleagues,
46:37and families within his community. Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives,
46:43I am pleased to recognize Mr. Steve Holland for his substantial contributions to the Bishop Unified School
46:49District and the students of the Bishop community.
47:06Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I wish to take a moment to recognize
47:12an outstanding middle school math educator in California's third congressional district,
47:18Mrs. Brandy Rost. During her 29 years of dedicated service to the Lone Pine Unified School District,
47:25she has taught thousands of students, transforming their view of math from an intimidating subject to
47:30one that is exciting and achievable. Mrs. Rost is known for her creative instructional style,
47:36integrating hands-on activities, technology, and real-world applications, instilling engagement from
47:41students and empowering every student to succeed. Perhaps most remarkable is the academic
47:46transformation Mrs. Rost has led since the COVID pandemic. In the wake of prolonged school closures,
47:55Loyola Elementary School saw its math scores drop to new lows, with just 20% of students
48:02meeting or exceeding standards. Recognizing this challenge, Mrs. Rost spearheaded an extraordinary
48:08resolve. She retooled her instruction, built targeted interventions, and created a classroom culture
48:14where growth in math became not just a goal, but an expectation. Each year since the pandemic,
48:21her students' performance has climbed significantly. In the most recent testing, over 70% of her students
48:26met or exceeded the math standard, a score that doesn't just surpass local benchmarks, but also
48:32substantially outperforms the state average. The story of Mrs. Brandy Rost is one of resilience, excellence,
48:40and impact. Her dedicated efforts not only recovered learning loss, but also illustrated what success
48:47in rural education can look like. Alongside these momentous achievements and beyond her classroom,
48:53Mrs. Rost is a mentor to new students, a trusted colleague, and a favorite among families. Her impact
48:59spans generations in the Lone Pine community, where former students now bring their own children to
49:04her class with pride and gratitude. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives,
49:09I am honored to recognize educator Mrs. Brandy Rost as an example of what it means to teach with passion,
49:17purpose, and heart.
49:27Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I wish to recognize an outstanding
49:33and prominent educator in California's third congressional district. I'd like to highlight
49:39in particular a teacher from the Roseville Joint Union High School District, Brandon Del Ordo,
49:44who has dedicated 35 years to educating the students of our community. Mr. Del Ordo is a passionate
49:51historian and a mentor. He spent most of his career teaching AP U.S. History, IB History of the Americas,
49:57Military History, and World History at Grana Bay High School. Not only does Mr. Del Ordo have a deep
50:03understanding of these subjects, but he also knows how to bring historical events to life. His integrative and
50:08engaging teaching style fosters student success while inspiring a lasting passion for history.
50:15Beyond the classroom, he's even been recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution and
50:19Founding Forward for his excellence in teaching and ability to foster a deep appreciation of American
50:25history and civic responsibility among his students. Mr. Del Ordo is an exceptional educator and he
50:31continues to make a strong impact in the educational journey of his students. It is a true honor to represent
50:37exemplary teachers like him in Congress and I commend Mr. Del Ordo for his more than three decades of
50:43unwavering dedication to education and promoting student success and academic achievement. And I will
50:50say as actually a former student of Mr. Del Ordo myself, he is one of the truly best teachers that I've ever
50:59had and that goes for high school, college, law school. He's truly one of a kind. And you will rarely, rarely see someone
51:09who has such a palpable passion for the subject matter that he's teaching and an ability to inspire that same love of
51:18learning in his students. And I really credit his class in many ways for inspiring my own love for American history. So on behalf of the United States House of Representatives,
51:27uh, it's really an honor to recognize Mr. Brandon Del Ordo for his significant contributions to
51:34Roosevelt Joint Union High School District and to the students of the Roosevelt community.
51:48Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I wish to take a moment to recognize a
51:53teacher from the Forest Hill Union School District, Ann Jones, who has dedicated 35 years of her career to
51:59educating the students of her community. Mrs. Jones has been a devoted and passionate first grade teacher,
52:05and she's inspired generations of the community's young scholars with her warmth, patience, and with her
52:11clear passion for education. She goes beyond teaching her students the fundamentals of reading and math,
52:17and also instills values in them that are invaluable for the learning community, the values of kindness,
52:23gratitude, and creativity. She brings joy and cheer to the classroom and creates an environment in
52:29which students feel emboldened to explore their ideas and express themselves, which helps facilitate their
52:34academic and personal growth. It is a true honor to represent exemplary teachers in Congress, and I commend
52:41Mrs. Ann Jones for her more than three decades of dedication to education and to promoting student
52:47success and academic achievement. Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives,
52:53I am pleased to recognize Mrs. Ann Jones for her significant contributions to Forest Hill Union
52:58School District and to the students of the Forest Hill community.
53:16Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I wish to take a moment to
53:20highlight a teacher from the Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District, Samantha Harvey, who has
53:26dedicated nine years of her career to educating the students of her community. Mrs. Harvey serves as
53:31a fifth grade level leader. Within her role, she consistently demonstrates traits of a natural leader,
53:37such as the ability to lead by example, motivate colleagues, facilitate collaboration, and so much more.
53:43She has built an educational environment to ensure that students and teachers alike feel valued,
53:49supported, and heard. As the positive behavioral intervention and supports lead, Mrs. Harvey's efforts
53:54in providing a variety of differentiated strategies and ensuring students have the necessary tools
54:00for success while maintaining a positive environment have been instrumental in shaping school culture.
54:05Mrs. Harvey also develops student athletes through her role as a cross-country coach and helps young
54:11athletes learn the important lifelong skills of perseverance, teamwork, and resilience while leading them
54:16to excel in competition. Furthermore, as check-in and check-out coordinator, Mrs. Harvey ensures that
54:22students have the structure and support they need to thrive in school. She mentors students and provides
54:27accountability to help them stay on track both academically and socially. Behind the scenes, Mrs.
54:33Harvey is valued by her colleagues as she displays a commitment to teamwork, collaboration, and a continual
54:38willingness to lend a helping hand. It is a true honor to represent exemplary teachers like her in Congress,
54:44and I commend Mrs. Samantha Harvey for her tireless devotion to education and to promoting student success
54:51and academic achievement. Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives,
54:55I am pleased to recognize Mrs. Samantha Harvey for her significant contributions to Dry Creek
55:01Joint Elementary School District and to the students of the Roosevelt community.
55:10Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I wish to take a moment to recognize a
55:15teacher from the Loomis Union School District, Samantha Mashenshi, who has dedicated 15 years of her career
55:23to educating the students of her community. Currently, she teaches fifth grade at an international
55:28baccalaureate school and has consistently demonstrated an unwavering devotion to fostering growth and excellence
55:34for her students. She nurtures the natural curiosity of her students with a global perspective. In doing so,
55:42she helps equip them with the skills needed to thrive in an interconnected world. Mrs. Mashenshi has
55:48consistently demonstrated leadership and a passion for her role, working tirelessly to help each
55:53student reach their full potential. It is a true honor to represent exemplary teachers like her in Congress,
55:59and I commend her for her tireless devotion to education and dedication to promoting student success
56:05and academic achievement. Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives,
56:10I am pleased to recognize Mrs. Samantha Mashenshi for her significant contributions to Loomis Union
56:16School District and to the students of the Loomis community.
56:26Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I wish to highlight a teacher from
56:31Placer County, Tina Angel, who has dedicated the past eight years of her career to educating the students
56:37of her community. Ms. Angel owned and operated her own business before going to work for the Placer
56:44County Office of Education. She then obtained her career technical education credential focusing on
56:49business and information and communication technology pathways. Ms. Angel taught in this capacity for a few
56:55years and then once again decided to obtain an additional credential in special education so she could
57:01support students with mild to moderate learning disabilities. Ms. Angel also provides students with a special
57:07opportunity by being qualified to teach dual enrollment classes through a partnership with a local
57:12college in my district, Sierra College. Ms. Angel is known for being an exceptional teacher and a lifelong
57:18learner. She provides real-life applications in her classroom and strives to prepare high school
57:23students for college and future career opportunities. Her engaging and integrative teaching style,
57:29which is accompanied by her passion for teaching and for her students, inspires those in her class to
57:34reach their full potential. It is a true honor to represent exemplary teachers like her in Congress and I
57:40commend Ms. Angel for her dedication to education and to promoting student success and academic
57:46achievement. Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I am pleased to
57:51recognize Ms. Tina Angel for her significant contributions to the students of Placer County.
57:56Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of National Teacher Appreciation Week, I wish to take a moment to
58:07recognize a teacher from Rockland Unified School District, Holly Gottwals, who has dedicated 24 years
58:13of her career to educating the students of her community. Mrs. Gottwals, a graduate of Sacramento State,
58:19showcases innovation, compassion, and dedication in her classroom. She teaches a special education adult
58:25transition class for students who are 18 to 22 years old with moderate to severe needs and did not
58:30receive a high school diploma. Mrs. Gottwals focuses her class on teaching her students functional English
58:36and math, current events, independent living, and vocational skills, cooking, fitness, and nutrition,
58:41how to be involved in their community, mobility training, social skills, self-advocacy, and career
58:46awareness. In a remarkable manner, Mrs. Gottwals tailors each lesson to each individual student. She goes as far as to
58:53work closely with local community businesses to secure job training opportunities for her students
58:58that match their interests and skills. She looks to the future of her students and some go on to other
59:04educational institutions, such as the UC Davis SEED program, while others are able to secure jobs
59:09locally in our community. Mrs. Gottwals fosters a sense of independence and confidence in the classroom.
59:15She is not just an educator, as she has proven to be a strong advocate and role model for her students.
59:20Her tireless devotion to her students brings out their unique potential and prepares them for
59:26opportunities to fulfill their dreams. It is an honor to represent exemplary educators like her in
59:32Congress, and I commend Mrs. Holly Gottwals for her exceptional dedication to education and to
59:37promoting student successes and academic achievement. Therefore, on behalf of the United States House of
59:43Representatives, I am pleased to recognize Mrs. Holly Gottwals for her significant contributions to Rockland
59:49Unified School District and to the students of the Rockland community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield back.
59:55The gentleman yields under the speakers.