May 12, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 89 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO BRETT R. BARBRE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 2020

  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to and 
congratulate Director Brett R. Barbre on his retirement from the 
Municipal Water District of Orange County's (MWDOC) Board of Directors 
after nearly 20 years of valued service.
  Director Barbre has been a valued member of MWDOC since he was 
elected to the Board in November 2000. He serves as the Director of 
Division I which includes the cities of Brea, Buena Park, La Habra, La 
Palma, Placentia, and Yorba Linda. In this role, Director Barbre has 
dedicated his career to ensuring there is an adequate water supply for 
Orange County residents and businesses. He has helped MWDOC secure 
millions of dollars in local, state, and federal funds to build 
projects to increase water reliability for his region. He was a driving 
force behind the construction of a desalination plant in Dana Point, 
and he has played an active role in finding other viable desalination 
sites in Huntington Beach and throughout our southern counties.
  In 2009, Director Barbre was appointed to the Metropolitan Water 
District of Southern California's (MWD) Board of Directors. MWD 
delivers water to approximately 20 million residents and serves the 
largest population of any water district worldwide. He took on his role 
at MWD with enthusiasm and was recognized both in California and 
Washington, D.C., as a tireless advocate for our region. His vision to 
modernize our water supply systems has benefitted all of Southern 
California.
  Director Barbre is an Orange County native, having left only to 
attend George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. After graduation he 
moved back to Orange County and has been a Yorba Linda resident since 
1969. He and his wife, Jean, have two daughters, Kimberly and Kathryn, 
two grandsons and one granddaughter.
  The entire Southern California region thanks Brett for his many years 
of service, and I wish him all the best in his next chapter.

                          ____________________