In the News
House passes a major infrastructure bill - but not the one you're thinking of
by Tal Kopan
WASHINGTON - The House passed a significant infrastructure bill Thursday that would bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the Bay Area and beyond and make climate-friendly policy changes to federal transportation programs. Most everyone involved acknowledges it won't become law as is, given the current political dynamics. But passing the bill is nonetheless a significant data point, as it gives the Bay Area an indication of what could be coming if President Biden succeeds at passing the … Continue Reading
July 01, 2021
Healdsburg SMART Bridge Could Get $13.6M: Infrastructure Bill
by Maggie Fusek
HEALDSBURG, CA - The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $715 billion infrastructure plan, and if the Senate passes it, it will mean $13.6 million for the SMART Russian River Rail Bridge Rehabilitation project in Healdsburg. If President Joe Biden signs it into law, it would be the nation's largest infrastructure investment in about 75 years: a 50 percent increase over the last infrastructure budget, according to The New York Times. California would be a big winner under the … Continue Reading
July 01, 2021
Biden admin set to ditch Trump's Calif. irrigation policy
by Jeremy P. Jacobs and Michael Doyle
The Interior Department appears ready to reverse an eleventh-hour Trump administration policy that would slash bills that California irrigators must pay for environmental restoration, according to documents obtained by E&E News. Former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt signed the policy on Jan. 19 - a day before President Biden's inauguration - that said restoration and mitigation requirements for the massive federal project that delivers water from wet Northern California to farms in … Continue Reading
June 30, 2021
House Democrats pump up water recycling bill
by Jeremy P. Jacobs
House Democrats and Western water providers yesterday pressed for more federal investment in water recycling as the region faces a deepening drought. California Rep. Jared Huffman (D) touted the "Large-Scale Water Recycling Project Investment Act," H.R. 4099, which would create a new $750 million federal grant program. Such projects are "drought-proof," Huffman said at a hearing of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife, which he chairs. The Democrat asked … Continue Reading
June 30, 2021
Congressman Huffman introduces bill to retain marina fees
On Friday, Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, introduced bipartisan legislation with neighbor, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, to extend the authority of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest to collect and retain marina fees to enhance recreation and improve access at the Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. "This is an important piece of legislation for Trinity County, its residents, economy, and the many visitors it welcomes every year," said Representative Huffman. "The Shasta-Trinity … Continue Reading
June 30, 2021
Sonoma County receives $37 million federal grant for wildlife mitigation
by PHIL BARBER
Ravaged by fires over the past four years, Sonoma County got a boost for future efforts to mitigate calamities Wednesday when President Joe Biden announced a $37 million FEMA grant to the county for use in wildfire prevention. "It was a sense of relief just washing over me," Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, said of Biden's announcement. "Being in the midst of a historic drought, with extremely low moisture levels, knowing we're walking into a really tough … Continue Reading
June 28, 2021
In Your Town for June 29, 2021
Contest launches for student app makers Rep. Jared Huffman has announced the start of the 2021 Congressional App Challenge, a contest for software creators who are in high school. The competition, which was created in 2013, aims to promote engagement in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Information on registering for the contest in the state's 2nd Congressional District, which includes Marin County, is at bit.ly/3h1icYL. Work must be submitted by Nov. … Continue Reading
June 28, 2021
Huffman and others introduce Bicameral Bill to protect America’s Coastal Regions
by Willits News
U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-2) and Jennifer González-Colón (R-P.R.), along with U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), have introduced legislation that would reauthorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Coastal Program, which brings together FWS activities in priority coastal areas along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, and in the Caribbean. Within these areas, the FWS partners with coastal communities … Continue Reading
June 28, 2021
House lawmakers to review bipartisan drought bills
by Jeremy Jacobs
Lawmakers on a House panel will be up to their necks in water-related legislation tomorrow, including multiple bills seeking to boost supplies for the drought-stricken West. The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife will consider legislation to authorize environmental mitigation projects at the shrinking Salton Sea in Southern California, which poses a significant public health risk, and measures to boost wastewater recycling programs. The Salton Sea, … Continue Reading
June 26, 2021
ECONEWS REPORT: Rep. Jared Huffman on Dams, Wild Places and the State of the North Coast Environment on Capitol Hill
Congressman Jared Huffman joins Gang Green to talk about this legislative session. Top of his mind, as always, is his public lands bill-the "Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act"-which packs together new Wilderness designations with fuel breaks, trespass cannabis clean up, new trails and visitor centers and more. Sen. Padilla has taken up the bill in the Senate and is proving to be an effective advocate. Also on the docket is dam removal on both the Eel and … Continue Reading
June 25, 2021
Bill would refresh coastal conservation program
by Michael Doyle
Lawmakers have waved off some customary Capitol Hill differences to float a bill that would continue some politically popular coastal conservation efforts. Jointly introduced by Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate, the legislation would reauthorize the Fish and Wildlife Service's Coastal Program. The program provides a variety of grants, among other measures. "This collaborative bill will ensure the health and resilience of coastal ecosystems, benefiting the wildlife, … Continue Reading
June 25, 2021
House Democrats seek to boost water recycling projects
by Jeremy Jacobs
Western Democrats yesterday introduced legislation aimed at boosting water recycling as their region grapples with drought. The bill, from House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl Grijalva of Arizona and Reps. Grace Napolitano and Jared Huffman of California and Susie Lee of Nevada, would establish a new $750 million federal grant program for recycling projects. "Southern Nevada - and the entire desert Southwest - is facing a water crisis, and solving this problem is going to take … Continue Reading
June 24, 2021
Mendocino student a finalist in Congressional Art Competition
by Jody Martinez
Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) recently announced the results of this year's Congressional Art Competition for California's Second District, which was open to all high school students in Huffman's district. Mendocino County's top entry was by Songe Kvinsland, a Mendocino Community High School student, who became a finalist with artwork titled "Disco." Humboldt County's finalist was Fiona McNiel, from Academy of the Redwoods, with "A Girl in Waiting." Sonoma County's finalist was … Continue Reading
June 24, 2021
Rep. Huffman announces 2021 Congressional App Challenge
From a release issued by the office of North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman: Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced the start of the 2021 Congressional App Challenge for high school students in California's Second Congressional District. Established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, this Congressional App Challenge competition invites high school students from all participating congressional districts to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application for … Continue Reading
June 23, 2021
Haaland: No plan 'right now' for permanent drill leasing ban
by Rachel Frazin
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland told lawmakers on Wednesday that there is not currently a plan to permanently ban new drilling leases on public lands and waters. Haaland, during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing, also reiterated that the administration's assessment of oil and gas drilling on public lands and oceans would be released in "early summer." "Gas and oil production will continue well into the future," Haaland said. "I don't think there is a plan right now for a permanent … Continue Reading
June 23, 2021
Lawmakers consider new plastic tax to aid oceans
by Rob Hotakainen
The House Natural Resources Committee yesterday moved toward passing a sweeping ocean bill that would impose a new 5-cent excise tax on virgin plastic used to manufacture single-use products. Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the panel's chairman, said his bill, H.R. 3764, the "Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2021," would help raise money for ocean conservation projects. Under Grijalva's bill, tax revenues would go to a new Virgin Plastic Trust Fund, with half of it reserved for the … Continue Reading
June 18, 2021
SMART gets money for crucial Healdsburg bridge, but lawsuits blocking construction drag on
by Andrew Graham
With a budget line in Washington, Rep. Jared Huffman has opened a pathway for SMART to fully fund the replacement of an aging railroad bridge over the Russian River, a key impediment to the line reaching Healdsburg. The tentative breakthrough on funding comes amid a prolonged stall in work on the rail system's extension north of Santa Rosa, where funding is tied up in a lawsuit now before the state Supreme Court. The lawsuit has delayed expansion of the commuter rail system, once slated to … Continue Reading
June 17, 2021
Rep. Huffman praises FERC decision to move on Klamath dam removal
by Riley Carroll
KLAMATH, Calif. - Congressman Jared Huffman applauded the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's decision Thursday to allow the Klamath River dam removal project to go forward, clearing the way for a massive effort to restore struggling salmon runs vital for tribal and coastal communities, Huffam said. FERC approved PacifiCorp, the non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corporation, and the states of California and Oregon's application to transfer the utility's hydropower license to the nonprofit … Continue Reading
June 17, 2021
Huffman Bill would protect and restore carbon-sequestering ecosystems, ocean, coastal ecosystems key in solving climate crisis
by Willits News
Last week, Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA), Chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, introduced the Blue Carbon Protection Act to help protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems in the United States. "As communities grapple with the escalating impacts of climate change, it's becoming increasingly important we harness natural solutions to sequester carbon emissions driving this crisis," said Rep. Huffman. "Blue carbon ecosystems have proven to be … Continue Reading
June 16, 2021
Progressives Firm on Climate Infrastructure
by Kellie Lunney, Zachary Sherwood
Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said they would not support infrastructure legislation that does not include robust policy addressing climate change and galvanizing a clean energy transition, Kellie Lunney reports. "If there is no climate, there is no deal," said Merkley, repeating what is fast becoming many Democrats' catch-phrase on an infrastructure package, during a press conference yesterday. Merkley is the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Interior-Environment … Continue Reading