In the News
Editorial: GOP water bill in Congress should be rejected
The latest version of a bill by House Republicans to override California's management of its water system and undermine environmental protections — in the name of emergency drought relief and food security — is longer and more detailed than the ones that preceded it, but much the same in its substance: It offers little in the way of actual drought relief and even in years of abundant supply would serve Central Valley agricultural interests with new taxpayer-financed dams. Like several … Continue Reading
July 01, 2015
Huffman Wants Changes to Very Flawed "Dark Act" Bill.
WASHINGTON DC - A bill nicknamed the “Dark Act” passed today in Congress over major concerns from 2nd District Congressman, Jared Huffman. The bill would prevent local and state governments from enacting genetically modified food labeling laws and prevents the U.S. government from even developing a national labeling system. It would also void laws already set up in Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino and Marin Counties. Huffman spoke out against the bill today and offered an amendment to ensure … Continue Reading
July 01, 2015
Jared Huffman
IN COLLEGE, JARED Huffman was an all-American volleyball player; now, in his free time, he plays guitar and sings in a country and western band. Whatever 51-year-old Huffman does he seems to do well — and often he does it in front of a crowd. Now in his second term as the representative from California’s 2nd Congressional District, Huffman, a Democrat, is playing before his biggest crowd ever, and from all accounts he’s doing it quite well. Representing his district’s 685,000 people in … Continue Reading
June 29, 2015
PD Editorial: Getting a Say on Congress’ Water Bill
For two years, Jared Huffman and fellow House members from Northern California have been shut out of negotiations on drought legislation in Washington. Take a look at the proposals flowing from their Central Valley colleagues, and you’ll understand why. Bills advanced by the House would weaken environmental protection and threaten endangered salmon, among other species, to further a single goal: diverting more water from the fragile Delta estuary into the aqueducts that serve Central Valley … Continue Reading
June 29, 2015
Can Waste-Water Recycling, Desalination End California’s Water Wars?
Emphasizing practical solutions in the battle over drought relief, a congressman urged local water leaders Monday to fight for funding for projects such as waste-water recycling and infrastructure repairs. Northern California Rep. Jared Huffman came to Southern California to push his $1.4 billion drought bill and find some common ground in what he called the state’s water wars being waged in the halls of Sacramento and Washington. The San Rafael Democrat, former assemblyman and … Continue Reading
June 22, 2015
EDITORIAL: At last — Huffman bill offers a realistic view on water
San Francisco Chronicle Rep. Jared Huffman’s “crowdsourced” water bill is a radical departure from the water wars, backroom deals and water grabs of the past and reframes thinking about water. He hasn’t even introduced the bill, yet we already can tell it will be significant legislation because it recognizes this: We can no longer fight over untapped water supplies. There’s nothing left. Instead, the 120-page “discussion draft” seeks everyone’s input to find ways to stretch the water … Continue Reading
June 21, 2015
At last — Huffman Bill Offers a Realistic View on Water
Rep. Jared Huffman’s “crowdsourced” water bill is a radical departure from the water wars, backroom deals and water grabs of the past and reframes thinking about water. He hasn’t even introduced the bill, yet we already can tell it will be significant legislation because it recognizes this: We can no longer fight over untapped water supplies. There’s nothing … Continue Reading
June 17, 2015
Rep. Jared Huffman Tries Crowdsourcing to Battle Drought
After three years of failure by Congress to address California’s drought, Rep. Jared Huffman invited every Californian on Wednesday to provide ideas and comments on a big new water bill he is drafting, a novel application of crowdsourcing to federal legislation. The San Rafael Democrat introduced the legislation on his website, soliciting comments from the public and interested parties. Huffman’s approach is in contrast to secret talks that have been under way since last year between … Continue Reading
May 28, 2015
Gavin Newsom, Jared Huffman to Hold Public Forum on Pot
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom will join North Coast lawmakers in Garberville in southern Humboldt County on Friday at a public forum to discuss the effects marijuana legalization would have in the Emerald Triangle region. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, convened the meeting to be held with Assemblyman Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg, local law enforcement representatives, medical marijuana cultivators and advocates and environmental activists to hear community concerns about marijuana … Continue Reading
May 06, 2015
Congressman Calls for Emergency Funding for Bridge Fixes
by By Stephen Stock
Local congressman Jared Huffman is calling for emergency funding to fix Bay Area bridges. Huffman spoke at a public forum on transportation infrastructure today in San Rafael. The call comes just a week after the Investigative Unit exposed 472 bridges and on-ramps in the Bay Area that are in need of replacement or repair. The bridges were identified by Department of Transportation engineers as “structurally deficient.” “There’s obviously a critical role congress needs to play right now,” … Continue Reading
March 13, 2015
Rep. Jared Huffman: Legalize Pot to Regulate it and Save Environment
North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman on Friday reiterated his desire to see marijuana legalized nationally, saying it would help bring rational management to pot cultivation and thus reduce damage to the environment. Speaking before hundreds of scientists, wildlife officials, environmental stewards and others at an annual conference of the Salmonid Restoration Federation, Huffman said continuing down the current path is not an option, given the destructive impacts of industrial-scale … Continue Reading
March 03, 2015
Huffman Speaks out Against Netanyahu Speech
North Coast’s Rep. Jared Huffman was among the members of Congress who attended Tuesday’s speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but not among those who supported it. “It is a speech that I really wish hadn’t happened this way and at this time,” said Huffman, who was among the first members in Congress to object to the speech. “This was politically driven.” Huffman said he believes the timing was inappropriate because it came just two weeks before a controversial election … Continue Reading
March 01, 2015
Marin Voice: More honesty needed in Congress tax debate
by Congressman Jared Huffman
Marin Independent JournalMarch 1, 2015 It's tax season, when Americans descend into the U.S. tax code and return bewildered and/or enraged. Our tax code is riddled with loopholes. Some large corporations pay nothing. Others pay their full share. Oil companies get special perks unavailable to other industries. And the super-rich enjoy tax breaks unavailable to working families. Our tax code is also failing to raise enough revenue to pay our nation's bills - despite the lowest level of … Continue Reading
March 01, 2015
Marin Voice: More honesty needed in Congress tax debate
by Congressman Jared Huffman
Marin Independent JournalMarch 1, 2015 It's tax season, when Americans descend into the U.S. tax code and return bewildered and/or enraged. Our tax code is riddled with loopholes. Some large corporations pay nothing. Others pay their full share. Oil companies get special perks unavailable to other industries. And the super-rich enjoy tax breaks unavailable to working families. Our tax code is also failing to raise enough revenue to pay our nation's bills - despite the lowest level of … Continue Reading
February 10, 2015
Bill to Improve Lake Mendocino Operations Introduced Again
Legislation designed to change how Coyote Valley dam is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was reintroduced this week by Rep. Jared Huffman (D- San Rafael). “Reservoir operations should be based on modern science and weather forecasts, not antiquated rulebooks,” said Huffman, whose bill is called the Fixing Operations of Reservoirs to Encompass Climatic and Atmospheric Science Trends Act, or FORECAST Act. Currently, the Sonoma County Water Agency controls releases from the dam, … Continue Reading
January 23, 2015
Reps. Jared Huffman, Mike Thompson Host Forum on U.S. Immigration Policy
Almost politically unfathomable. That’s how North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman characterized any attempt on the part of the Republican-controlled Congress or the next president to reverse President Barack Obama’s recent executive actions on immigration. “It’s going to be very hard for the next president of the United States to go backward,” Huffman said Friday evening during a forum on immigration held in Santa Rosa. Huffman, D-San Rafael, said that Obama’s executive order — which when … Continue Reading
January 21, 2015
Reps. Mike Thompson, Jared Huffman to Host Public Forum on Immigration Policy
Democratic Reps. Mike Thompson of St. Helena and Jared Huffman of San Rafael will host a meeting Friday in Santa Rosa to tackle difficult questions surrounding President Barack Obama’s move to temporarily protect millions of immigrants in the country from deportation. The controversial executive action has been at the center of recent political wrangling between the president and Republican leaders, with Obama this week vowing a veto should Congress approve a bill aimed at blocking the … Continue Reading
January 19, 2015
D.C. Lawmaker Touts Importance of Voting to High School Seniors
Although he was in Del Norte County to talk with constituents about airport and veterans’ issues this week, congressman Jared Huffman also took time for his younger constituents on Thursday. During his second visit to Del Norte County, Huffman (D-San Rafael) spoke with Del Norte High School seniors taking AP government and economics, many of whom are headed off to college next year or will get their first jobs. “They have a lot of concerns,” said social studies teacher Lisa Howard. “They … Continue Reading
January 18, 2015
Huffman Asks VA Secretary to Improve Access to Health Care Resources for Rural North Coast Veterans
U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) sent a letter last week to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald urging him to improve access to health care for veterans on the rural North Coast under the new Veterans Choice Program, authorized by Congress in last year’s Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act. The Veterans Choice Program allows veterans living more than 40 miles “as the crow flies” from the nearest VA medical facility to seek timely care from local, private … Continue Reading
January 18, 2015
Editorial: Huffman's Committee Post Good for Marin
Rep. Jared Huffman's seat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee could prove beneficial to his environmental agenda and for longstanding plans to fix local transportation and flood-control problems. The San Rafael Democrat, who was recently re-elected for a second term, was picked by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to serve on the high-powered committee. It is a plum assignment. Huffman's environmental focus should prove valuable in shaping future transportation … Continue Reading