In the News
The SEC will propose a historic climate disclosure rule. Here's what to know.
by Maxine Joselow
Lawmakers request investigation into Postal Service truck contract Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and members of the House Oversight Committee sent a letter on Monday requesting that U.S. Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb investigate whether the agency's contract to purchase mostly new gas-powered delivery trucks complies with the National Environmental Policy Act. In their letter, the lawmakers noted that the Environmental Protection Agency had raised concerns about the … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Petaluma City Schools Gets $100K In Emergency Connectivity Funds
PETALUMA, CA - One year after the American Rescue Plan became law, U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman D-San Rafael, announced Tuesday that schools and libraries in California's Second Congressional District - including Petaluma City Schools - have received a total of nearly $8 million to date from the Federal Communications Commission's Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. The ECF program was created as part of the American Rescue Plan and helps schools and libraries ensure that students can connect … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Mendocino County schools receive more than $900,000 to improve students’ Internet access
Schools and libraries in Mendocino County will receive nearly $1 million to improve Internet access for children and "close the homework gap," the office of Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced Tuesday. According to a March 15 press release, the Federal Communications Commission's Emergency Connectivity Fund Program "was created as part of the American Rescue Plan and helps schools and libraries ensure that students can connect to the internet at home, better allowing them to take … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Gulf Coast communities plead for resilience dollars
by Jack Forrest, Manuel Quinones
Advocates for climate resilience and adaptation yesterday called on lawmakers to approve more federal dollars and cut red tape to help states - particularly along the Gulf Coast - prepare for climate change. "On the coast, we do have to talk about either reinforcements or we have to talk about the movement of people," said Lauren Alexander Augustine, executive director for the Gulf Research Program at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Gulf states - Texas, … Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
Klamath River basin drought prompts resource fight
by Jennifer Yachnin
Lawmakers sparred yesterday over how best to address the persistent drought in the Klamath River Basin but suggested little compromise may be found in striking a balance between agricultural interests battered by irrigation cutoffs, fish populations and Native American water rights. During the course of the hearing, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife discussion bounced from how a surge in federal infrastructure spending might boost water resources to the … Continue Reading
March 08, 2022
House Democrats fault Biden EPA's approach to Pebble mine
by Jael Holzman
House Democrats opposed to the Pebble mine in Alaska are upset with the Biden administration over what they view as foot-dragging at EPA on plans to veto the project. Thirteen Democrats, led by Rep. Jared Huffman of California, chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife, wrote to EPA yesterday saying they were disappointed that the agency would be, as they put it, restarting the Clean Water Act review process and not resuming one halted under the Trump … Continue Reading
March 08, 2022
National parks leader pledges more inclusion of Native Americans in land management
by Jacob Fischler
The federal government will make greater efforts to include Native American tribes in decisions involving federal lands, National Park Service Director Charles F. Sams III told a House panel Tuesday. In his first appearance before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee since he was confirmed as parks director in November, Sams said President Joe Biden's administration was seeking more involvement from tribes in land management. Several Republicans on the committee used Tuesday's hearing … Continue Reading
March 07, 2022
House hearing to address Klamath River basin drought
by Jennifer Yachnin
A House Natural Resources subcommittee is set to examine the drought-stricken Klamath River basin, including how best to address water supply shortages. The Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife will take up the subject tomorrow, at a hearing titled "Klamath River Basin Conditions and Opportunities." California Rep. Jared Huffman (D), who chairs the subcommittee, has warned that "drastic measures" are needed in the 12,000-square-mile area on the California and Oregon border to avoid … Continue Reading
March 04, 2022
Huffman, Graves get AIS provision included in Coast Guard bill
by Steve Bittenbender
Two U.S. representatives who have worked across the aisle to combat illegal fishing practices succeeded on Wednesday, 2 March, in amending a Coast Guard funding bill to include a requirement for more fishing vessels to install tracking systems. U.S. Reps. Jared Huffman (D-California) and Garret Graves (R-Louisiana) say requiring boats that are at least 65 feet in length to have automatic identification systems (AIS) technology on board. A grant program that includes USD 5 million (EUR 4.5 … Continue Reading
March 03, 2022
Jared Huffman's amendment to combat illegal fishing passes the committee
by Nicole Olinger
WASHINGTON, D.C. - North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman's amendment to give the Coast Guard greater capabilities to combat illegal fishing has passed the house committee on Wednesday. The Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act which is a part of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Huffman saying that expanding the use of this important tool can promote transparency at sea, the "devices called Automatic … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
High stakes for Biden in State of the Union climate message
by Emma Dumain, George Cahlink
Progressives are pressuring President Biden to use his State of the Union address tonight to demand bold climate action and resist calls for more domestic drilling in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Environmentalists on Capitol Hill say the urgency is only mounting for the nation's leader to endorse aggressive climate policies in his prime-time speech. "We should commit to getting the … climate spending through," said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), last night. "He should make … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Republicans seize on Ukraine to attack Biden's climate policies. But the facts are against them
by Ben Lefebvre, Zack Colman
Republicans are trying out a message that aims to link President Joe Biden's climate policy and rising gasoline prices to the war in Ukraine. The problem? Their rhetoric largely defies reality. Republicans including Montana Sen. Steve Daines, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert and Ohio Senate candidate J.D. Vance are making the claim that Biden's efforts to expand renewable energy has emboldened Putin to send troops, tanks and missiles into Ukraine. And at least one conservative on social media … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Thompson, Huffman applaud Biden’s first State of the Union speech
by Guy Kovner
President Joe Biden won plaudits from Sonoma County's two Democratic congressmen for his first State of the Union speech as Russia's assault on Ukraine continued Tuesday night nearly 5,000 miles away. "It was refreshing to hear from a leader in the White House who is commanding respect from abroad and working with our allies in the common defense of democracy at home and around the world," Rep. Mike Thompson of St. Helena said in a statement. "Looking ahead, we still have a lot of work to … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Congressmen Thompson And Huffman Praise Biden’s State Of The Union
by KSRO
Two North Bay Congressman are giving a thumbs up to President Biden's State of the Union Address. In a statement, Congressman Mike Thompson of St. Helena said "It was refreshing to hear from a leader in the White House who is commanding respect from abroad and working with our allies in the common defense of democracy at home and around the world." He admitted there was still more work to do, mainly referring to lowering costs of everyday products but expressed optimism in the White House and … Continue Reading
February 24, 2022
Threatened salmon face another hot summer in the Trinity River
by SONIA WARAICH
Drought conditions don't look like they're going to let up this summer and that could leave the Trinity River's already threatened fish species in hot water. On Tuesday, North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman sent a letter to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton requesting that less water from Trinity Lake be sent to Central Valley farmers. The lake is currently storing 775,000 acre feet of water, which is just 25,000 acre feet above the amount of water needed to maintain cool … Continue Reading
February 24, 2022
Sonoma County’s congressmen condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine
by Guy Kovner
Sonoma County's two Democratic congressmen - a Vietnam War veteran and a former environmental attorney - were united Thursday in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and applauding President Joe Biden's response. Rep. Mike Thompson of St. Helena is in his 12th term representing Wine Country. A member of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, he is regarded as a moderate aligned with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Rep. Jared Huffman of San Rafael is in his fifth term and a member of the … Continue Reading
February 23, 2022
Biden Urged to Declare ‘Climate Emergency’
by Ari Natter
Biden's signature environmental legislation indefinitely stalled, progressive Democrats and activists are lobbying the White House to declare a "climate emergency" to unlock executive powers. The tactic could allow Biden to shut down crude oil exports, suspend offshore drilling, and redirect funding for clean energy projects. Former President Donald Trump used a similar step to divert billions of dollars to build a wall along the southern border after Congress refused to appropriate the … Continue Reading
February 23, 2022
Climate hawks scorn Postal Service plan to stick with gas-powered delivery trucks
by GUY KOVNER
Spurning President Joe Biden's clean air goals and the auto industry's pivot to electric vehicles, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Wednesday announced a plan to buy up to 165,000 new mail delivery trucks, most of them running on gasoline rather than batteries. Described by the Postal Service as a "fiscally and environmentally responsible" plan to modernize its vehicle fleet - one of the largest in the world - the announcement culminated a yearslong debate and prompted outrage from … Continue Reading
February 17, 2022
Interior IG: Zinke misused position as Interior secretary
by Benjamin J. Hulac
Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke "misused his official position" in supporting a project that could benefit a foundation he founded with his wife, federal investigators said. After his confirmation, Zinke, the first Interior secretary of the Trump administration, said he resigned his position at the Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation, which he started in his hometown of Whitefish, Mont., and would not participate in the organization. In a report published Wednesday, the … Continue Reading
February 17, 2022
House committee OKs conservation bills over GOP grumbling
by Scott Streater
The House Natural Resources Committee yesterday approved a slew of public lands and wildlife bills to address issues ranging from online wildlife trafficking to restoring fish habitat in the Great Lakes, improving water quality in Chesapeake Bay and saving dwindling kelp forests off the California coastline. The majority of the 14 bills on the agenda passed with no debate. But the markup got bogged down at times when Republicans questioned the need to consider wildlife and conservation … Continue Reading