- Record: Extensions of Remarks
- Section type: Recognition
- Chamber: House
- Date: April 9, 2026
- Congress: 119th Congress
- Why this source matters: Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
HON. ADAM GRAY
of california
in the house of representatives
Mr. GRAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my long-time friend Luis Lara, Sergeant for the California Highway Patrol in Atwater, California, for his service and accomplishments as he retires after almost three decades of public service.
Administration of Justice from Merced College and his bachelor's degree in criminal justice at CSU Stanislaus in 1997. He first planned to pursue a career with the FBI, but a job fair organized by the California Highway Patrol changed his mind. After successfully going through the CHP Academy, his first post was in the Bay Area's Redwood City.
In 2001, Sergeant Lara transferred to the Merced CHP office. He worked for a decade as a field officer and was then promoted to field sergeant in the Los Banos CHP office. Next, he served as a recruitment sergeant out of Fresno and was responsible for hiring applicants in the Central Valley from Bakersfield to Modesto. Finally, he returned back home to be an administrative sergeant.
his talents with the community by being a part of the Cal Fire Incident Management Team for the CHP as well as his appointment to the Merced County Fair Board by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Union Board, the Merced County Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Care Committee, the McSwain School Board, the Merced County Spring Fair Board, and the Merced College Foundation Board. Sergeant Lara was also an adjunct Instructor at Merced College and volunteered as a Merced County/City of Atwater Firefighter.
character, integrity, judgment, loyalty, courtesy, honor and knowledge—the core values in the California Highway Patrol's seven- point star.
the lives of countless community members through his selfless public service. Please join me in honoring Sergeant Luis Lara for almost 30 years of his dedication, diligence and devotion to the people Merced County.