In the News
Key Democrats push Biden to reform, not end, oil and gas leasing on federal land
by Josh Siegel
Democratic lawmakers and governors are calling for the Biden administration to reform the process of oil and gas leasing on federal lands without ending it. President Biden promised a ban as one of his signature campaign pledges to help combat climate change but has so far only imposed an indefinite pause on issuing new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters. The pause has already met fierce backlash from the fossil fuel industry and states, including Democratic-led ones, that depend … Continue Reading
March 13, 2021
House Oversight Committee demands release of $6B USPS vehicle contract
by Jordan Williams
The House Oversight and Reform Committee is demanding that the U.S. Postal Service release a contract with a private company for a new delivery vehicle fleet that is reportedly worth up to $6 billion. Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Friday voicing several concerns about potential interference and asking for documents relating to a contract with Oshkosh Defense. The Postal Service is contracted to purchase up to 165,000 new … Continue Reading
March 13, 2021
Rep. Huffman explains how American Rescue Plan forgives taxes on unemployment benefits
by Marissa Papanek
NORTH COAST, Calif. - Millions of Americans who found they owed hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in taxes on unemployment benefits they received in 2020 are navigating how the American Rescue Plan will lower their tax bills. "It's a really confusing and really startling situation," Arcata resident Zachary Lathouris told North Coast News. Lathouris lost his job shortly after the pandemic hit, and collected unemployment for about 10 months. When he sat down to file his 2020 taxes, he was … Continue Reading
March 12, 2021
Lawmakers push watershed restoration, climate spending
by Nick Sobczyk
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife, on Capitol Hill last year. Francis Chung/E&E News House lawmakers yesterday explored investments in coastal restoration and water projects, potentially as part of an infrastructure bill based around President Biden's "Build Back Better" agenda. During a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife hearing, Democrats pointed to natural infrastructure, as well … Continue Reading
March 12, 2021
Democrats debate fast-track for infrastructure package
by Scott Wong
A sweeping infrastructure and climate change package. Lowering prescription drug prices. A long-awaited immigration overhaul. With a nearly $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package now signed into law, Democrats on Capitol Hill have begun wrestling with this question: Which policy issues should they fast-track next? The arcane budget reconciliation process would allow Democrats - who control razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate - to sidestep a GOP filibuster in the Senate and push … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
DeJoy, Postal Service at a crossroads ahead of restructuring plan
by Casey Wooten
Two weeks ago, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told the House panel tasked with overseeing the U.S. Postal Service to "get used to me," despite the recent change in administration and his clashes with Democratic lawmakers. But as President Biden looks to make his mark on the beleaguered USPS and DeJoy is set to release a 10-year restructuring plan to a likely buzzsaw of criticism in Congress, his future at the helm of the mail carrier isn't assured. DeJoy-a Trump administration holdover-has … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Democrats Urge EPA to Protect Bristol Bay From Pebble Mine
by Kellie Lunney
Project could resurface despite denial of key permit Opponents of mining in Bristol Bay want permanent protections The Environmental Protection Agency should move immediately to protect the world's largest wild sockeye salmon fishery in Alaska from the proposed Pebble Mine, two House Democrats said. New EPA Administrator Michael Regan can use his authority under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act to ensure the proposed project-now on hold-can't resurface, at least during the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Huffman touts protecting public wilderness
by The Triplicate
Congressman Jared Huffman joined three of his colleagues during a press conference Thursday to push for passage of several bills that would protect more than 1 million acres of wilderness and public lands in California. Huffman, who represents Del Norte County, was joined by Representatives Adam Schiff, Judy Chu and Salud Carbajal in pushing for the bill that was to be voted on Friday in the U.S. House. The bill has not been considered by the Senate yet. Huffman was pushing for a … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Sonoma County government, cities in line for $160 million in federal aid under new stimulus bill
by Andrew Graham
Under legislation pushed by President Joe Biden and passed by Congress Wednesday, local governments in Sonoma County are slated to receive about $160 million in federal stimulus aid to shore up public coffers amid economic wreckage from the coronavirus pandemic. Biden, who hailed the bill's advance as a "historic victory," announced he will sign it into law on Friday afternoon. Sonoma County is set to receive an estimated $96 million from the legislation, followed by Santa Rosa, Sonoma … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Jared Huffman introduces bill to replace USPS fleet with electric vehicles
by Isabella Vanderheiden
North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced legislation on Monday to provide $6 billion in funding to replace at least 75% of the United States Postal Service's fleet with electric vehicles. The Postal Vehicle Modernization Act would require 50% of medium/heavy duty vehicle purchases to be electric or zero-emission through 2029 and would ban the purchase of non-electric vehicles after January 2040. "It's calling for at least 75% of these vehicles to be electric, but my … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Bay Area legislators laud Congress' passage of latest COVID-19 relief bill
by Eli Walsh
OAKLAND, Calif. - Bay Area legislators celebrated Wednesday following Congress' passage of the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion coronavirus pandemic relief and stimulus package. The ARPA, which became the chief priority of Congress following the inauguration of President Joe Biden, includes hundreds of billions for aid to state and local governments, vaccine distribution, health care subsidies, unemployment benefits and more. The bill also includes … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
USPS mail truck contract hits snag as lawmakers ask, 'Why not totally electric?'
by Sean Szymkowski
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have questions following the USPS' decision to award its future mail truck, the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle, to Wisconsin-based Oshkosh. Reuters first reported Tuesday that three members of the House of Representatives want to freeze the USPS contract until they can get some answers. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and Reps. Tim Ryan and Jared Huffman, all Democrats, called for a halt to the process to investigate possible … Continue Reading
March 09, 2021
House lawmakers push Biden administration to investigate USPS contract with Oshkosh Defense
by Noah Higgins-Dunn
House Democrats called on the Biden administration Tuesday to halt the U.S. Postal Service's $482 million contract with Oshkosh Defense to help modernize the service's aging fleet of delivery trucks until an investigation can prove there was no "inappropriate political influence" in the award. Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Tim Ryan of Ohio and Jared Huffman of California introduced a resolution that would place a hold on the contract until an investigation is conducted. Kaptur said in a … Continue Reading
March 09, 2021
House bill gives USPS $6B to invest heavily in next-generation electric vehicles
by Jory Heckman
The Postal Service expects electric vehicles will make up about 10% of its next-generation fleet of delivery trucks, but a group of 17 House Democrats has introduced legislation that would set higher aspirations for the agency to move off fossil fuels. The Postal Vehicle Modernization Act, led by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, would give USPS $6 billion to replace more of its decades-old Grumman Long Life Vehicles with … Continue Reading
March 09, 2021
Jared Huffman: Support is needed to help pay water bills
by Sonia Waraich
State residents have been struggling to keep up with their water bills during the COVID-19 pandemic, but government officials say help is on the way. Survey results from the State Water Resources Control Board released in late January estimate about 1.6 million or 12% of households across the state have not paid their water bills resulting in an estimated $1 billion in statewide household water debt. The average household debt is $500. North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman issued a news … Continue Reading
March 08, 2021
Huffman, Senators reintroduce legislation to reduce carbon pollution from National Highway System
Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) today announced the planned reintroduction of the Generating Resilient, Environmentally Exceptional National (GREEN) Streets Act. This legislation would establish national goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the national highway system and help states adapt their transportation systems to the adverse effects of climate change. The … Continue Reading
March 08, 2021
U.S. lawmakers propose giving USPS $6 billion for electric delivery vehicles
by David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of 17 U.S. House of Representatives Democrats introduced legislation on Monday to provide $6 billion to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to buy tens of thousands of additional electric delivery vehicles. Ohio-based electric-vehicle maker Workhorse Group Inc shares jumped 13% on prospects the company may be able to sell electric postal vehicles. Last month, it lost out when the USPS awarded a $482 million contact to Oshkosh Defense to finalize production for the … Continue Reading
March 08, 2021
Huffman Bill passes in multi-state public lands package
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act, a bill that includes eight individual measures that provide lasting protections for key public lands and waters in Arizona, Colorado, California, and Washington. Representative Jared Huffman's (D-San Rafael) bill, the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act was approved as part of this legislative package. "Being active in the outdoors and experiencing … Continue Reading
March 05, 2021
The Postal Service’s Gas-guzzling New Mail Truck: Electric Versions May Be Closer Than They Appear
by Dorothy Robyn
The sooner Congress signals-with its wallet-that the future NGDV is electric, the better. Clean energy advocates reacted angrily last week when the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) failed to move aggressively toward electric vehicles (EVs) in awarding the long-awaited contract for its Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV). But some objects may be closer than they appear. The USPS is not anti-EV, just broke. If Congress covers the higher upfront cost of EVs, the USPS will be able to electrify its … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
As SFO's United Workers Face Furloughs, Lawmakers Say COVID-19 Relief Bill Could Help Save Bay Area Jobs
by Farida Jhabvala Romero
Bay Area members of Congress are calling on Republican lawmakers to support a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that the U.S. Senate is expected to take up this week. The push comes as thousands of local workers in battered industries - including most recently United Airlines workers at SFO - face a fresh round of furloughs and layoffs. In a press event Tuesday, Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, said the pandemic has devastated his district's economy, which is driven by tourism, travel and … Continue Reading