Recognizing the Retirement and Career of Stacey Mortensen

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, to recognize and celebrate the retirement and career of Stacey Mortensen, whose visionary leadership has transformed public transportation across the Central Valley and Northern California.

For more than three decades, Stacey has championed investments in passenger rail that have connected communities, expanded opportunity, and laid the groundwork for a more sustainable future. As Executive Director of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, she led the launch of the Altamont Corridor Express--ACE--in 1998, uniting San Joaquin, Alameda, and Santa Clara Counties through a first-of-its-kind commuter rail partnership. This complex initiative required building infrastructure and relationships across three different regions, a challenge Stacey met with innovation and unwavering determination. Through her work, Stacey helped establish the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority and spearheaded the Valley Rail Program, securing nearly $2 billion in funding and enabling major infrastructure projects such as the Stockton Diamond Grade Separation.

Under her leadership, ACE has continued to evolve to meet modern needs, including the recent launch of a specialty train service to Levi's Stadium for San Francisco 49ers games--an example of the flexible, community-responsive transit vision she has cultivated. Her efforts brought together more than 20 local and regional agencies to develop a shared vision for passenger rail in the Central Valley.

In 2024, Stacey helped launch the Rail Academy of Central California (TRACC), a critical workforce development program that prepares young people for careers in the rail industry. Her deep commitment to the next generation is reflected in this initiative, which ensures the continued success and sustainability of our region's transit systems by investing in talent right here in the Valley. What truly sets Stacey apart is her deep belief in partnership and public service. Her collaborative approach has not only built rail lines-- it has built trust across counties, cities, and communities. Thanks to her leadership, thousands of Central Valley residents now have better access to jobs, education, and opportunity.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Stacey Mortensen for her extraordinary contributions and for her steadfast commitment to the people of California's Central Valley.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source