RECOGNIZING FIREFIGHTERS FROM CALIFORNIA'S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

On 2026-09-03, Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA-3) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING FIREFIGHTERS FROM CALIFORNIA'S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT" in the House.

RECOGNIZING FIREFIGHTERS FROM CALIFORNIA'S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 140 (Thursday, September 3, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 140 (Thursday, September 3, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5498-H5504] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING FIREFIGHTERS FROM CALIFORNIA'S THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT (Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Kiley of California was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.) Mr. KILEY of California. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of International Firefighters Day 2026, 11 firefighters from California's Third Congressional District were nominated by their leadership teams to be recognized for going above and beyond the regular call of duty in service to our communities. As such, I wish to honor today the following firefighters: Ben Westmoreland with the Truckee Fire Protection District, Fred Stump with the Long Valley Fire Protection District, Kevin Colson with the Roseville Fire Department, Brock Benton with the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, David Calloway with the Big Pine Fire Protection District, Matt Dargan with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, Buck Sims with the Auburn Fire Department, Justin Finley with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, James Janney with the White Mountain Fire Protection District, Keith Taylor with the Rocklin Fire Department, and Tracey Kincheloe with the South Placer Fire Protection District. These firefighters have demonstrated an unwavering devotion to fire prevention, medical aid, rescue operations, emergency preparedness, and community education. Their dedicated efforts make a lasting and meaningful impact in our communities. Throughout their careers, they have earned the respect and admiration of department leadership, fellow firefighters, and the community alike. They have each individually built distinguished records of excellence, consistently upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, courage, and selfless service. Each day, firefighters answer the call to protect lives, property, and public safety, often placing themselves in harm's way for the sake of others. These firefighters embody the very best of that calling. It is an honor to represent remarkable individuals like these public servants here in Congress. Therefore, on behalf of California's Third Congressional District and the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to recognize these firefighters for their exemplary public service, steadfast leadership, and enduring commitment to safeguarding our communities and protecting our quality of life. Congratulating David Gordon on His Retirement Mr. KILEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David Gordon on his upcoming plans to retire, following 21 years of leadership in the Sacramento educational community. Superintendent Gordon leads an office which provides financial oversight and support services to 13 school districts and more than 235,000 students. Superintendent Gordon holds a BA from Brandeis University and an EDM and certificate of advanced study in educational administration from Harvard University. His career in the field of educational leadership includes being appointed as the superintendent of the Elk Grove Unified School District, the State's fourth largest school district, for 9 years. During this time, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education to the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the Nation's report card. He also served on the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education. Prior to his work in Elk Grove, he was the deputy superintendent for the California Department of Education. Additionally, Superintendent Gordon has served on numerous boards and commissions in California, including his current service as a Governor's appointee to the State Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. He also finds time to generously give back to his community through his volunteer work as a member of the board of trustees of the Sierra Health Foundation. I have gotten to know Dave over the years, and he is a widely admired leader in education in our communities. He has been an invaluable source of wisdom and guidance to me, and his leadership will be greatly missed, but I know that he will continue to contribute to our communities in many ways. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I am honored to recognize Superintendent of Schools David Gordon's long and distinguished service to the Sacramento educational community and wish he and his wife Deborah the very best in retirement. Honoring Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange Mr. KILEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange for their 125 years of service to the Sacramento region. The exchange is the development industry's oldest and largest association in the Sacramento region, with over 1,100 member companies and 65,000 employees. Their members include area contractors and subcontractors, suppliers, and industry support organizations. They provide educational and [[Page H5499]] safety programs along with networking opportunities. The founding of the exchange dates back to 1901, when a group of local builders formed an association for the purpose of resolving common issues and exchanging ideas related to their industry. Their objective was to encourage and cultivate a fellowship among its members and to make them better acquainted with the needs of the industry. The exchange is also a partner with the Construction Industry Education Foundation. The foundation serves more than 17,000 high school students annually. Their ``recruit and retain'' partnership has also led to one of the fastest growing women in construction programs in the Nation. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I am honored to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange and to congratulate them for continuing to meet the area's development needs as the Sacramento region continues to grow. Commemorating 25th Anniversary of Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Mr. KILEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs organization. For 25 years, this dynamic organization has been a leading voice for advancing meaningful civic causes in our region. APAPA has provided leadership, engagement in public affairs, and community building for Asian Pacific communities throughout their 21 chapters across California, including chapters in Folsom and Sacramento. The founders, C.C. and Regina Yin, established APAPA in 2001 as a way to empower communities through robust civic engagement and providing opportunities to grow the area's next generation of leaders. As successful businessowners, they have generously given back to our region to support many community and nonprofit events, many of which they have hosted at their Yin ranch. They also continue to serve on the national governing board of APAPA. Over two decades ago, APAPA opened its national headquarters in Sacramento. This proximity to the State capitol was a natural fit to provide opportunities to engage with State legislators, host public policy events, and run a national internship program to inspire the next generation of leaders. This includes APAPA's Youth Leadership Academy, which is designed to inspire and prepare the next generation of high school leaders. This ambitious program's goal is to equip 1,500 high school students annually with the necessary skills to be leaders in their communities through hands-on learning opportunities. This program is led and coordinated by APAPA in conjunction with local educational agencies. APAPA's headquarters and many regional chapters host educational and civic forums to connect communities with leaders at all levels of government to provide meaningful conversations between government officials and the people they represent. On behalf of the United States House of Representatives and California's Third Congressional District, I am honored to join the community to recognize the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs organization for 25 years of civic leadership, and I look forward to many more years of their very important work. {time} 1220 Honoring Reginald Williams Mr. KILEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Reginald Williams, chief of the Rocklin Fire Department, on his retirement after more than 32 years of service to the Rocklin Fire Department and Rocklin community. Chief Williams dedicated more than 25 years to the San Jose Fire Department, serving in several leadership positions, including assistant chief, before he was appointed chief of the Rocklin Fire Department in 2020. During his tenure, Chief Williams remained steadfast in his commitment to serving the community, earning a reputation for embracing innovation and strengthening the department's safety practices. As the city of Rocklin continues to grow, so do the demands of its fire department. In 2025 alone, Rocklin firefighters responded to over 6,400 calls for service. Chief Williams did not shy away from this growth but rose to meet the community's evolving needs. Among his achievements, he helped secure a $3.9 million Federal SAFER grant, in partnership with the city manager's office and administrative services department, to support firefighter staffing and preparedness for opening a new fire station. He also prioritized improvements that would help firefighters communicate and coordinate more effectively in the field. These efforts included modernizing radio and station alerting systems and adding satellite communication capabilities to command ve

Referenced legislation: HR1