In the News
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Vehicle Modernization Act, legislation to provide $6 billion in funding to electrify the United States Postal Service's outdated and dangerous vehicle fleet.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
March 13, 2021
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
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 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 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
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 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 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 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