May 2019 Newsletter

May 20, 2019

Dear Friend, 

It can be hard to keep up with everything happening in California’s second district and in the halls of Congress – and important news can get drowned out by all the drama that dominates headlines and cable news shows. So as we kick off the summer months, I’d like to give you some updates on some important things I’ve been working on that you may not have heard about.  

Starting in California:

I’ve held 45 town hall meetings over the past two years, engaging directly with more than 19,000 constituents. My goal is to bring these important public dialogues to every part of the district and last month we did that in Gualala. Over 100 community members joined me to discuss everything from lowering prescription drug costs to blocking oil and gas drilling off the California coast.

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Earlier this month I held another town hall in San Rafael, this time focused on making our schools and public places safer from the threat of gun violence and featuring special guest Rep. Mike Thompson, Chair of the House Gun Safety Task Force. Ten student ambassadors from local high schools and colleges led the conversation and we were joined by leaders from several gun safety organizations and over 500 community members.    

In recent weeks I’ve also participated in several town hall-style dialogues on climate change and the proposed Green New Deal, which I am co-sponsoring. From Humboldt State University, to Santa Rosa Junior College, to the Environmental Forum of Marin, these well-attended events included dozens of young people who are leading the charge on the most urgent moral, economic and environmental imperative of our time, and helping take political power back from polluting industries who have dominated the conversation for too long.

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Back in Washington: 

Now, I’m back in Washington where the 116th Congress has been debating and passing legislation and holding hearings at a frenetic pace on a wide range of issues. I am energized by the opportunities and agenda-setting power that come with being in the majority. Here are a few of the exciting wins we’ve already seen in this new Congress:

The House Passed the Climate Action Now Act: I was glad to vote ‘yes’ on H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which will require President Trump to stay in the Paris climate agreement and make a plan to reduce carbon pollution. I helped introduce this bill with Florida Rep. Kathy Castor because the world needs to know that the United States has not lost its mind or its soul on this issue. We have much more work to do, and the bipartisan passage of this Act by the House earlier this month sends an important message at a critical time.  

Blocking Arctic Oil Drilling: The Natural Resources Committee recently approved my bill to repeal the part of President Trump’s tax law that started an oil and gas drilling process for the fragile Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Arctic Refuge is a national treasure that should not be touched by the harmful effects of oil drilling, a direct threat to the Arctic’s wild caribou relied on heavily by its indigenous people.

Delivering Disaster Relief for North Coast Fisherman: After years of delay, I was glad to announce with Rep. Jackie Speier that $29 million in federal fishery disaster aid will finally be delivered to North Coast fishermen, tribes, and fishing communities that were devastated by the impact of toxic algae on the Dungeness crab fishery in 2015 and 2016 by poor ocean and Klamath River conditions in the Yurok Tribe fishery in 2016.

Helping Close the Rural Digital Divide: Last week, I introduced legislation to address the lack of broadband access in rural and remote areas, like many throughout our congressional district. My Public Lands Telecommunications Act will provide government land managers the ability to build partnerships to build appropriate broadband infrastructure. Rural broadband internet means better public safety, and it’s a key to unlocking economic opportunity.

Saving a Free and Open Internet: To protect net neutrality and ensure a free and open internet, I was proud to vote ‘yes’ on the Save the Internet Act that passed the House 232-190. This bill repeals the Trump FCC’s order that allows for price manipulation and other discriminatory practices by internet providers. Net neutrality is essential to keep telecommunications companies from unfairly blocking or slowing access to the internet.

Successful Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort to Fully Fund Special Education:  For the fourth Congress in a row, I led the introduction of the bipartisan IDEA Full Funding Act to finally ensure that we support schools and families by fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In a major win, the education funding subcommittee just approved an additional $1 billion for IDEA over last year’s funding level, the highest level since 2014. Our growing bipartisan coalition on this bill is making a difference!

Promise to Protect All LGBTQ Americans: Last week, the House approved a landmark piece of legislation, the Equality Act, that finally expands the protections of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to prevent discrimination against LGBTQ Americans. No one should lose their job or be kicked out of their home because of who they are or who they love. 

Blocking an Unconstitutional War Against Iran: I have also joined the bipartisan Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act to prohibit an attack on Iran without express approval from Congress, which is required under the Constitution and the War Powers Act. While we work on all of these important domestic policy priorities, I’m not giving up my obligations to keep President Trump and his National Security Advisor John Bolton from marching to war.

Funding for Sonoma County Airport: Along with Congressman Mike Thompson, I announced that the Sonoma County Airport received a $10 million federal grant from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin construction on a terminal expansion. It’s a great sign that Sonoma’s airport is expanding to meet the increase in air travel in the North Bay, to support our region’s tourism and economic development, and to help ensure continued passenger safety. This initial federal support will allow the project to begin construction, and Congressman Thompson and I will continue to advocate for its full funding.

This is just a quick list of some of what’s been happening in California and in Washington, but if you have questions or just want to learn more, please don’t be a stranger. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook to see the latest news, and if you have problems with a federal agency, please call one of my district offices and we will help to the best of our ability. And don’t forget to check out my Off the Cuff w. Rep. Huffman podcast to hear my interviews and commentary on pressing policy questions.  

With Best Regards,

Jared Huffman
Member of Congress