In the News
Huffman votes against training and equipping Syrian rebels
Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement after voting against the McKeon Amendment to train and equip elements of the Syrian opposition against the terrorist organization ISIL: "Today I voted 'no' on the McKeon Amendment to arm and train so-called 'moderate' Syrian rebels as part of a broad new multi-year military intervention in Iraq and Syria outlined by President Obama last week. I also voted 'no' on the continuing resolution in which it was … Continue Reading
October 04, 2014
Congressman urges legal opinion on Trinity releases
A day after a federal judge ruled on reservoir releases for Klamath River salmon, North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman demanded immediate clarification of Humboldt County's water rights from federal officials. Humboldt County and the Hoopa Valley Tribe have been vying for consistent water releases for salmon in the Trinity and Klamath rivers since the death of more than 70,000 adult salmon in 2002. Westlands Water District and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority took the issue … Continue Reading
September 25, 2014
Obama seeks $900M for conservation program
The Obama administration is pulling out the stops to renew and expand a little-known program that uses offshore drilling revenue for conservation. The administration has pushed Congress to triple the amount of money available for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which officials use to acquire land, build recreation facilities and maintain parks. The program is likely to be renewed before it expires next year, given the strong bipartisan support for conservation, but President … Continue Reading
September 10, 2014
Land exchange bill gets hearing
On Tuesday the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation held a hearing on Congressman Jared Huffman’s Trinity Land Exchange Act (H.R. 3326), which would facilitate a land exchange between the Trinity Public Utilities District, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The bill would swap federal land adjacent to the Weaverville Airport for county land along the Trinity River. This hearing is the last step before a full committee vote on … Continue Reading
August 23, 2014
Huffman holds meeting to discuss Eureka mail center closure
Congressman Jared Huffman was joined by several local officials Friday at a packed town hall meeting at Eureka's Wharfinger Building to discuss what effect the closure of the city's mail processing center may have on vote-by-mail ballots, deliveries and jobs. "It's important to discuss what's happening," said Huffman, who represents the 2nd District. "The Postal Service was invited to be here well in advance. Unfortunately, I learned they declined, so I will do my best to outline their … Continue Reading
August 13, 2014
Huffman: Hoping for rain won’t save state’s salmon
Science students learn about the Water Cycle, where ocean water evaporates, condenses into clouds, precipitates into rain, and flows down streams and rivers back to the ocean. Here on the North Coast where the Klamath and Trinity Rivers are so vital to our economy and environment, we're becoming familiar with another kind of "Water Cycle" — one where the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation ignores a problem until it becomes a crisis, ignores the crisis until the verge of disaster, and then … Continue Reading
August 04, 2014
Effort builds for day to honor Rosie the Riveters
Since their return from meeting the president and vice president in Washington, D.C. in April, the six women who once worked at the World War II Kaiser shipyards have been busier than ever, with invitations for speaking engagements and parade appearances, in addition to the dozens of people who come to see them on Fridays at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park visitors center. Now, the woman who spearheaded the visit has embarked on another effort centered … Continue Reading
August 01, 2014
Huffman and others try to fix broken system
Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) recently co-introduced the Democracy for All Amendment, which will reverse destructive Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United v. FEC that have given corporations and the wealthiest donors the right to leverage unlimited influence in our elections. Huffman joined nearly 100 other Democrats in introducing today's amendment, including Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), U.S. Reps. John Larson (CT-1), Ted Deutch (FL-21), Donna Edwards (MD-4), and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2014
Locals push China Camp trail rehab projects
Trails in China Camp State Park will undergo rehab over the next seven months, a $360,000 effort initiated by the Friends of China Camp. About a third of the 15 miles of trails at the park along the east shore of San Rafael are eroding and deeply rutted in parts. Because of budget shortfalls in state park accounts, officials had deferred trail work. That meant water has channeled on trails, carrying sediment away from the park and into nearby wetlands, helping silt them over and … Continue Reading
July 14, 2014
Congressmen demand information about Petaluma slaughterhouse
Six months after federal regulators closed a Petaluma slaughterhouse and initiated a nationwide beef recall, two North Bay congressmen are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture for answers about the still-ongoing investigations. “Six months has been ample time,” Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, said Monday of the probes into Rancho Feeding Corp. “They should have been able to give us information, and they haven’t.” Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, said USDA officials “are using … Continue Reading
July 10, 2014
CalTrans and Corps working on resolving work stoppage
CalTrans decided late Tuesday not to notify the Willits bypass construction contractors to suspend work, based on high level talks underway between CalTrans and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Most work on the bypass has been stopped since June 20 when the Corps notified CalTrans its main permit had been suspended because the project was in serious breach of permit requirements. Congressman Jared Huffman announced Wednesday night he anticipated the two sides would reach an agreement allowing … Continue Reading
June 30, 2014
Drakes Bay Oyster Company not willing to give up despite U.S. Supreme Court decision
The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to take up the case of a Marin County oyster farm facing eviction from the Point Reyes National Seashore in what a lead opponent of the commercial operation called "the end of the road for this company." Drakes Bay Oyster Co. owner Kevin Lunny struck a defiant position, however, and vowed to battle on, calling the high court's pass on his petition "a disappointment, but not really a setback." "Today, we've been delivered news that's disappointing, … Continue Reading
June 24, 2014
Little Lake Hay Harvest Hurt by Drought
The yearly hay harvest has come a little early this year, with high temperatures bringing annual grasses to maturity sooner than usual, and across the valley for the past several weeks farmers and ranchers have been busily cutting, raking, baling and loading their hay, stocking it away to feed their herds. Little Lake Valley grows grass hay, watered by nothing more than nature, or as Tyler Miner, 17, says "This stuff here grows natural, by the wind sun and rain." That of course means the … Continue Reading
June 16, 2014
Huffman warns of economic, ecological damage tied to ocean acidification
Job losses, destruction of habitat and the collapse of the shellfish industry is in the offing if steps are not taken to cope with ocean acidification brought about by pollution in the atmosphere, U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman warned Monday. Huffman, D-San Rafael, visited the University of California at Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory to discuss the issue with researchers, business owners and fishermen. "Ocean acidification will have very far-reaching effects on our food web, our economy and … Continue Reading
June 11, 2014
After CNN exclusive, House Oks more funding for massive meat recall probe
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday threw its weight and pocketbook behind the federal investigation of a California slaughterhouse where CNN exposed issues surrounding one of the biggest meat recalls in years. The latest congressional action authorizes $1 million in additional funding to "provide for a swift completion" of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's probe into the Rancho Feeding Corporation. Federal investigators have said they believe the Petaluma, California-based … Continue Reading
June 11, 2014
After CNN exclusive, House Oks more funding for massive meat recall probe
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday threw its weight and pocketbook behind the federal investigation of a California slaughterhouse where CNN exposed issues surrounding one of the biggest meat recalls in years. The latest congressional action authorizes $1 million in additional funding to "provide for a swift completion" of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's probe into the Rancho Feeding Corporation. Federal investigators have said they believe the Petaluma, California-based … Continue Reading
May 31, 2014
Rep. Jared Huffman voices concerns about size of Obamacare physician networks
Rep. Jared Huffman says he is urging state insurance regulators and the head of California's health care insurance exchange to address concerns that the physician networks available under new Affordable Care Act insurance plans lack sufficient participating doctors. "I am a big supporter of the Affordable Care Act. I think it is a really important reform," said Huffman, D-San Rafael. "But we have a lot more work to do to make it successful in the implementation." Huffman said he wants to … Continue Reading
May 29, 2014
After ‘Blackfish’, lawmakers urge action to protect orcas
Over three dozen members of Congress want the government to ensure the humane treatment of orca whales and other marine animals in captivity, following an outcry sparked by the documentary "Blackfish." The letter, released Thursday and signed by 37 Democrats and one Republican to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, cites outdated regulations protecting those sea mammals and asserts that the current rules don’t reflect “updated science." The documentary recounts the 2010 death of veteran … Continue Reading
May 17, 2014
Traffic fears at root of Muir Woods neighbors’ anger
As it turns out, having a national treasure for a neighbor can be a pain in the neck. Residents who live near the famous Muir Woods National Monument are so angry about traffic on the narrow, winding roads in their neighborhood that they want the National Park Service to impose a limit on the number of visitors to the woods - and to promise never to build more parking lots or other developments in the area to accommodate larger crowds. Top Park Service representatives insist that they … Continue Reading
May 17, 2014
Bill aims to ease NPS' ability to work with outside groups
National parks should have an easier time working with non-profits if new legislation passes. The Park Partner Enhancement Act (H.R. 4614) would create incentives for the National Park Service (NPS) to work with non-profits and educational institutions on projects such as improving land and programs, designing facilities and landscapes, operating interpretive programs, raising money and providing educational and interpretative materials. The bill became available online on the congressional … Continue Reading