In the News
Proposed Social Security cuts alarm seniors, retirees
by Debora Villalon
MILL VALLEY, Calif. - Proposed federal cuts to social safety net programs are raising alarm among retirees. Almost 100 seniors attended a congressional town hall Thursday afternoon in Mill Valley. "A lot of people don't have 401ks and don't have money tucked away in the stock market," said U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, whose topic was the preservation of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The session came as the Trump administration proposes reductions to the programs. In an apparent … Continue Reading
February 21, 2020
Keeping Sustainable Seafood On Hawaii’s Tables
by Ed Kenney
In Hawaii, catching, preparing, and eating fish is integral to our culture and our everyday lives. From the ubiquitous poke plate lunch to the opah and akule I serve in my restaurants, we are fortunate to have an abundance of seafood options found off our shores. That abundance and the demand for local fish has enabled Hawaii fishermen to make Honolulu a top seafood port in the United States, with landings of fish valued at roughly $104 million in 2017. It is not just Hawaii where seafood is … Continue Reading
February 21, 2020
Huffman vows at town hall to protect North Coast water rights
by SONIA WARAICH
Protecting the North Coast's waters and the communities that depend on them is a top priority, Congressman Jared Huffman told a town hall at the Eureka High School auditorium Friday night. Making sure fishermen get timely compensation when they're barred from fishing and ensuring there is enough water in the area to protect fisheries are two key issues, the San Rafael Democrat said. "I desperately want to increase funding for all the different resource agencies that would benefit fisheries … Continue Reading
February 20, 2020
House Democrats urge banks to not fund drilling in Arctic refuge
by RACHEL FRAZIN
Dozens of House Democrats are urging several major banks not to fund oil drilling and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), following a similar push by Senate Democrats. A group of 33 Democratic lawmakers signed a letter spearheaded by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) urging the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley to stop funding such drilling in the refuge. The letter was sent Thursday and follows an announcement from Goldman … Continue Reading
February 20, 2020
House Democrats press Wall Street on ANWR drilling
by Zack Colman
A group of House Democrats is calling on major U.S. banks not to finance oil and gas exploration in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an ecologically sensitive region that the Trump administration plans to offer up to drilling. Thirty-three lawmakers, led by California Rep. Jared Huffman, said in separate letters to JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley that they are "gravely concerned about the climate, financial, and reputational risks" from … Continue Reading
February 20, 2020
Bill would require feds to disclose more data when cellphones, landlines, internet fail
by WILL SCHMITT
Four California Democrats in Congress want to require federal officials to increase the information they disclose on communications network outages like those that arose when PG&E imposed several blackouts in late 2019. A bill sponsored by Congresswoman Doris Matsui of Sacramento and co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Jared Huffman of San Rafael, Mike Thompson of St. Helena and Anna Eshoo of Palo Alto would require more from the Federal Communications Commission after the agency activates a key … Continue Reading
February 20, 2020
What Trump's proposed NEPA rollback could mean for the climate
by Bruce Lieberman
The Trump administration is proposing to break new ground in its efforts to de-emphasize climate change, in this case involving the landmark 1970 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its provisions requiring environmental impact statements. A Trump Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) proposal would allow review of environmental impact statements without consideration of projected impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and effects on the global climate. It's still early days for the … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Editorial: Don’t wait on San Rafael Canal dredging plan again
by MARIN IJ EDITORIAL BOARD
It is a small, but important step. The Army Corps of Engineers is going to spend $1.3 million to design the long-delayed dredging of the San Rafael Canal, one of Marin's busiest recreational and commercial waterways. It's been 17 years since the tidal creek was last fully dredged and it shows. The longer maintenance dredging is delayed, the higher the cost climbs. Complete dredging of the canal is expected to cost $12 million. Getting the work designed is a critical first step toward getting … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Subpoena Power for Interior Documents Granted to House Democrat
by Bobby Magill
The House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday gave its chairman, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the right to issue subpoenas, something Grijalva says he needs because of the Trump administration's refusal to turn over information. Grijalva is expected to subpoena information requested by the committee that the Interior Department has failed to provide, including documents related to moving the Bureau of Land Management headquarters from Washington to Colorado. The resolution passed 21-15 … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Overdue river funds here at last
by ARGUS-COURIER STAFF
After a seemingly endless string of disappointing headlines out of Washington, finally some good news: We have received funding to dredge the Petaluma River. Just let that sink in for a moment. The $9.7 million in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding is 13 years overdue, and the river has become nearly unnavigable in places. For reclaiming the waterway for commercial and recreational boat traffic, which will significantly improve Petaluma's economy, we need to thank the tireless efforts of … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Letters to the editor (Feb. 13, 2020)
by LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Here's another option for Nancy Pelosi: Paper dolls Behind his back, and with impressively systematic and deviously vengeful deliberation, Nancy Pelosi ripped apart the president's magnificent State of the Union speech even as he delivered it to the nation. Rather than trashing those papers, she could have made something useful from them, such as toys for little girls who might dream of someday becoming SOTH or even POTUS. Salvaging the papers would have enabled Nancy to then manipulate and … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Feb. 13, 2020
by Dan Sealy and David Kunhardt, Corte Madera
SMART train needs time to grow and succeed Speaking as a 90-year resident of the North Bay, I remind voters of the newly constructed Richmond-San Rafael Bridge - virtually empty in its early years. I remind voters of the new Golden Gate Bridge District ferry system between Marin and San Francisco - so sparsely ridden that closure was considered until storms temporarily closed the bridge one year, leaving the ferries as the viable connector between the counties. Now examine the above noted … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Jared Huffman encourages participation in 2020 Census
by RUTH SCHNEIDER
North Coast U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman is urging District 2 residents to participate in the 2020 Census in a public service announcement airing locally on Access Humboldt. "If you have been looking to make a difference in the new year, participate in the 2020 Census," he said in the commercial. "This only happens once every 10 years. It is an easy and very important way to contribute. This is about fair representation in our communities." Participants, he said, would play a role in determining … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
House votes to designate 1.4M acres as wilderness
by Rob Hotakainen
Ignoring a veto threat, the House voted yesterday to designate nearly 1.4 million acres in California, Colorado and Washington as wilderness areas, giving them the highest level of protection possible under federal law. The bill, H.R. 2546, the "Protecting America's Wilderness Act," passed, 231-183. Democrats said the legislation would preserve some of the nation's most pristine wild lands and mark the largest wilderness protection package to pass Congress in more than a decade. "Wilderness … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Everyone has a podcast now, including Rep. Dan Crenshaw
by Kathryn Lyons
If it seems like all your friends have a podcast now, just imagine how members of Congress feel. Two lawmakers have already launched one this month. No longer do you need a book club for "deep and insightful conversations." Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw has you covered with his new podcast, "Hold These Truths." The release comes a week after Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn entered the podcasting domain with "Clyburn Chronicles," which combines "lessons of the past" with "politics of the present." … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Boost for Petaluma River Dredging
California Representative Jared Huffman announced earlier this week that over $11 million in long-awaited federal funding has been allocated for river maintenance in the Fiscal Year 2020 Army Corps of Engineers work plan for the North Bay. Roughly $9.7 million will go to dredging the Petaluma River and $1.3 million will be allocated towards preparation work for the San Rafael Canal. Huffman, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has helped lead the congressional … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Feds allot $1.3M for San Rafael Canal dredging plans
by Will Houston
After years of neglect and lack of funding, the shallowing San Rafael Canal is closer to being fully dredged for the first time in more than 17 years. This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allocated $1.3 million in its latest work plan this month to design the dredging of the San Rafael Creek. "The canal is a vital artery of San Rafael allowing for flood control, public safety, transportation and commerce," said Nadine Urciuoli, president of the San Rafael Channel Association and … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
'Forgotten Harbors': $9.7M Allotted For Petaluma River Dredging
by Maggie Fusek
PETALUMA, CA - Federal funding to the tune of $9.7 million has been allotted for the long-awaited dredging of the Petaluma River, U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman announced this week. The Democratic congressman from San Rafael also said Monday that $1.3 million has been set aside for preparation of the San Rafael Canal for dredging. "Local economies depend on 'forgotten harbors', like the Petaluma River and San Rafael Canal," Huffman said. "I am thrilled that we will finally be able to address the … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Federal Funds Allotted To ?Survey San Rafael Canal
by Bay City News, News Partner
SAN RAFAEL, CA - More than $11 million in federal funding has been allocated for river maintenance in the North Bay, Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, said Monday. The fiscal year 2020 Army Corps of Engineers work plan contains about $9.7 million to dredge the Petaluma River and $1.3 million for preparation work for the San Rafael Canal, Huffman said. The $1.3 million will be used for environmental coordination and compliance, plans and specifications and dredge surveys for the San Rafael … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Thumbs up: A clear channel for Petaluma’s river
by THE EDITORIAL BOARD
At long last, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has committed to dredging the Petaluma River. The river, once the busiest commercial waterway in the state, is supposed to be dredged every four years to ensure safe passage for barges and other boats. But the channel hasn't been cleared since 2003. Barge traffic has fallen considerably, and many pleasure boaters have stopped visiting Petaluma because of the risk of running aground at low tide. That's a double whammy for the local economy. Rep. … Continue Reading