In the News
North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman touts Green New Deal in DC
by RUTH SCHNEIDER
North Coast U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman joined Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey on Tuesday morning as part of the reintroduction of the Green New Deal. According to its proponents, Green New Deal legislation seeks to combat climate change and create millions of high-wage jobs in clean industries. The original nonbinding resolution, introduced two years ago, failed to advance in the then-GOP-controlled Senate. Huffman (D-San Rafael) lauded the Green New Deal for being inclusive of … Continue Reading
April 19, 2021
Lawmakers say West Coast seafood industry excluded from USDA CARES Act program
by Steve Bittenbender
A group of 10 West Coast lawmakers have reached out to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to see why fishermen and processors in their region have largely been left out of a program created through COVID-19 relief measures. Led by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), the Senators and House members sent a letter to Vilsack noting that the fishing industry in California, Oregon, and Washington state account for more than USD 500 million (EUR 417.5 million) in seafood products produced … Continue Reading
April 16, 2021
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Cosponsors Bill to Get the Federal Government Out of the Fossil Fuel Business
April 16, 2021 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), along with 20 lawmakers, in introducing the Keep It in the Ground Act-urgent legislation to stop new fossil fuel leases and put an end to nonproducing leases for extraction of coal, oil, gas, oil shale, and tar sands extraction on public lands and in public waters. The … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
Climate Groups Cheer Keep It in the Ground Act of 2021
by Andrea Germanos
Climate advocacy groups applauded the reintroduction on Wednesday of legislation that would ban new leases for fossil fuel extraction on public lands and waters. Led by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), the Keep It in the Ground Act of 2021 says that such a ban would "prevent the release of 90% of the potential emissions from federal fossil fuels." "What this bill lays out is simple: no new oil, gas, coal, or tar sands leases offshore or on federal lands," Merkley … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
Race debate grips Congress
by Mike Lillis
The barbed debate over racial justice is exploding this week on Capitol Hill, as Democrats in both chambers are charging ahead with a host of proposals to empower minorities amid the national clash over police bias, brutality and the future of law enforcement. In the House, two panels considered bills Wednesday to promote reparations for the descendants of slaves and to grant statehood to Washington, D.C., the nation's historically Black capital city. In the Senate, Democrats advanced their … Continue Reading
April 10, 2021
Huffman tours Humboldt County businesses, praises resilience
by ISABELLA VANDERHEIDEN
While spending time in Humboldt County, North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) paid a visit to a few local businesses on Friday to hear how federal relief programs have helped and what challenges remain while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Huffman visited Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate in Eureka, Phatsy Kline's Parlor and Lounge in Eureka and Six Rivers Brewery in McKinleyville, and highlighted what he called their exceptional resilience and adaptability during the worst parts of … Continue Reading
April 01, 2021
‘Our roads are in bad shape’: Biden infrastructure bill provides hope for Humboldt County roads
by Mario Cortez
The possible impact of the Biden administration's American Jobs Plan, a proposed jobs bill that includes provisions for rebuilding infrastructure, is being seen as a major opportunity for Humboldt County and local cities to complete projects and renew existing infrastructure. The $2 trillion bill was first announced by President Joe Biden on Wednesday and includes provisions for infrastructure repairs, transportation, housing and job creation, among others. It will be sent to Congress to be … Continue Reading
March 31, 2021
Marin officials laud Biden infrastructure plan
by MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL
Marin County planners and political leaders found much to like in the $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan that President Joe Biden outlined on Wednesday. Biden described the proposal to reengineer the nation's infrastructure over the next eight years as "a once-in-a-generation investment in America" that would, in the process, undo his predecessor's signature legislative achievement of giant tax cuts for corporations. Marin representatives and transportation officials said the plan could … Continue Reading
March 30, 2021
California Preparing for Year-Round Fire Season
by Tori Apodaca
OROVILLE, Calif. - Today Governor Gavin Newsom approved over $80 million for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Cal Fire, to not only battle wildfires when they happen but to keep them from starting in the first place. "Weather has not been our friend in this past year," said Captain John Gaddie from Cal Fire Butte County. It may continue to not be our friend moving forward. "With the lack of precipitation, the fuels dry out," said Gaddie. "We're having a little bit … Continue Reading
March 29, 2021
Jared Huffman calls on USPS to reconsider contract, electrify vehicles
by ISABELLA VANDERHEIDEN
Joined by a dozen members of Congress, North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) called upon the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors to reconsider its 10-year contract with Oshkosh Defense to produce up to 165,000 Next Generation Delivery Vehicles, only 10% of which would be electric vehicles. Earlier this month, Huffman introduced legislation to provide $6 billion in funding to replace at least 75% of the U.S. Postal Service's fleet with electric vehicles. The Postal Vehicle … Continue Reading
March 28, 2021
Jared Huffman presses US transportation secretary on Last Chance Grade funding
North Coast. U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman questioned U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during a hearing last week, highlighting the precarious nature of Last Chance Grade on U.S. Highway 101 just south of Crescent City. Huffman invited Buttigieg to visit the North Coast to see "one of the most beautiful places in the world" while noting "I would love to show you a lot of aging and failing infrastructure, including highways, roads, and bridges." "I believe that if you're endlessly … Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
Bill protecting wildfire victims' disaster compensation advances
by Farm Progress Staff
A bipartisan bill to prevent the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from seeking reimbursement for certain wildfire relief funds it issued has been sent to the floor of the House of Representatives. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., teamed with a half-dozen other lawmakers to sponsor H.R. 539, which would prevent FEMA from taking back disaster assistance funds that it mistakenly awarded to victims who applied for assistance in good faith and used the money to help rebuild their lives. The … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
House Democrats call on Biden to ease policies on White House staffers’ marijuana use
by Melissa Quinn
Washington - A group of House Democrats are urging President Biden to relax the White House's employment policies regarding marijuana use in the wake of a report that several White House staffers were disciplined after disclosing past cannabis use. In a letter to Mr. Biden dated Thursday, 30 Democratic lawmakers asked the president to clarify his employment suitability policies, remove past marijuana use as a possible disqualifier and apply the personnel policies "with consistency and … Continue Reading
March 20, 2021
Dems Knock White House for ‘Out of Touch’ Stance on Weed
by Matt Fuller and Asawin Suebsaeng
A day after The Daily Beast reported on the White House disqualifying would-be staffers over past marijuana use, lawmakers on Capitol Hill were already signaling disapproval and potential investigations into the policy. "I want to find out how and why this happened, and obviously I'm going to urge them to change course," Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) told The Daily Beast on Friday. Huffman said most of America had "evolved beyond Jeff Sessions' reefer madness hysteria," and he noted that … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
California Sen. Alex Padilla backs sweeping US wilderness bill as House authors wait for Senate opening
by ANDREW GRAHAM
A far-reaching package of public lands bills that would designate more than 535,000 acres of new federal wilderness in California is picking up support in the U.S. Senate, where its fate will be determined after swift passage last month by Democrats who control the House. California's two Democratic senators, Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein, will introduce a series of companion pieces in the Senate to support the legislation in the coming weeks, according to Padilla's spokeswoman. Rep. … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Huffman Introduces Bill to Fund Electrification of USPS Postal Fleet
Congressman Jared Huffman speaks to school children during a trip to Crescent City in 2019. Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA), member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, introduced the Postal Vehicle Modernization Act, legislation to provide $6 billion in funding to electrify the United States Postal Service's outdated and dangerous vehicle fleet. "By electrifying the Postal Service fleet, we have an opportunity to boost our economy, slash emissions and save the … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
COVID-19: Eureka, Arcata plan uses for federal relief funds
by Sonia Waraich
The most recently passed COVID-19 relief package is expected to bring millions into the county. Humboldt County as a whole is set to receive $26.29 million from the recently passed American Rescue Plan, according to a March 10 press release from Rep. Jared Huffman's Office. The legislation allocates an estimated $3,469,232 for Arcata, $234,343 for Blue Lake, $5,027,572 for Eureka, $254,484 for Ferndale and $2,307,488 for Fortuna. "Californians have been struggling for over a year in the face … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
COVID relief stimulus payments roll out fast
by Trinity Journal Staff
On Wednesday, March 10, the American Rescue Plan was approved and sent to President Joe Biden. After voting for H.R. 1319, California Rep Jared Huffman said the legislation would provide vaccines, put kids back in school and money in people's pockets. President Biden signed the bill the following day, sending a wave of stimulus payments to Americans. "This is a historic week for our country. Californians have been struggling for over a year in the face of this once in a century pandemic … Continue Reading
March 15, 2021
Sonoma County congressmen promise sharp increase in COVID-19 vaccine doses coming soon
by Martin Espinoza
Sonoma County's congressmen Monday assured local residents big waves of coronavirus vaccines would be arriving in the coming weeks. U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, said recent steps taken by the Biden administration, including last week's passage of the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill and the deployment of the Defense Production Act, finally will alleviate the scarcity of available vaccine doses in the county, California and across the … Continue Reading
March 15, 2021
Give postal EVs a quick stamp of approval
by Dorothy Robyn
Environmentalists reacted angrily last month when the U.S. Postal Service failed to move aggressively toward electric vehicles (EVs) in awarding the contract for its next-generation delivery vehicle. But the Postal Service is not anti-EV, just broke - and the Postmaster General is negotiating, not thumbing his nose at the president's climate plan. Congress and the administration should pony up: Electrification of the postal fleet is a no brainer - and the single most powerful use of the … Continue Reading