What’s Happening in Congress? Public Lands Protection, COVID-19 Vaccine & Relief, and More
Hello,
I hope you and yours are continuing to stay safe and healthy. This month the U.S. reached a devastating milestone – we surpassed 500,000 deaths due to the coronavirus. It’s a staggering loss. Half a million is more than a number, it represents loved ones, relatives, coworkers, and friends. I closed out the month in Washington D.C, pushing for necessary COVID-19 relief to get signed into law, and I will continue to keep these lives at the forefront of my mind. My staff and I continue to be here for anyone who may need assistance.
Congressmembers stand in front of the Capitol honoring the 500,000 lives lost to COVID-19
In February the people’s House celebrated Black History Month, rejoining the Paris Agreement, stood up for LGBTQ+ rights by passing the Equality Act, and so many other monumental steps. Read the following for more on what I’ve done for the people of California’s Second District this month.
Holding Trump Accountable
Back in January I joined my colleagues in filing the Articles of Impeachment against former President Donald Trump, and the Senate held its trial in February. The House impeachment managers, led by my friend and colleague Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-8), did an incredible job laying out a superb case in front of the Senate. The impeachment managers defended our democracy in one of the best legal arguments I have ever seen, and history will not forgot the powerful case they made. The vote against impeachment was not an absolution of the former president, his crimes are undeniable. I fully believe the disturbing events of January 6th would never have happened if not for Trump's instigation. While the Senate’s ultimate vote to acquit was a disappointment, it was still the most bipartisan impeachment vote in history. The efforts to hold Trump accountable as a private citizen will continue.
Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee Chairman 
I was honored to be elected by my colleagues to continue my role as Chair of the Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee this February. Over the past two years, we have done extraordinary work to improve the health of our oceans and economy of our coastal communities, respond to the threat of climate change on water supplies, and advance smart solutions to natural resources challenges. I’m looking forward to building on that progress during the 117th Congress to tackle some of the most challenging conservation policy problems of our time. With the new Biden administration and Democratic majority in both the House and Senate, we will finally have a whole-of-government approach to addressing the increasingly dire impacts of our changing climate and ensuring environmental equity for all communities.
Restoring Media Service in the District
As many of you know, Cox Media Group (CMG) was behind another round of media blackouts impacting many folks in our district. At best, they weren’t working to protect consumers, at worst they were holding them hostage for negotiating leverage. That's simply unacceptable. I immediately called on CMG to restore access to nationwide channels and take the necessary steps to ensure consumers don’t fall victim to failed-negotiation blackouts again.
COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall
At the beginning of the month I hosted my second community virtual town hall on vaccine distribution in our district. We had a great discussion with Assemblymember Jim Wood, Humboldt County Public Health Officer Ian Hoffman, Mendocino County Public Health Officer, Andy Coren, and Associate Chief of Medicine at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, Heather Nye on how vaccine distribution is going and plans for the future. We were also able to answer a lot of pressing questions from many of you. Have lingering questions? You can watch the town hall here.
Please continue to follow all CDC guidelines, washing your hands as frequently as possible, staying six feet apart, and wearing your mask when in public areas. When it is your chance to get any of the FDA-approved vaccines I urge you to get the shot. Together we can and will get through this!
Protecting America's Wilderness
Last Friday, my bill the Northwest California?Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act passed as part of H.R. 803 – the Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act!
Click here to view Rep. Huffman’s remarks on the House Floor
California’s public lands encompass some of the most magnificent landscapes and animal habitats in the West. Enjoying the great outdoors is more than just a pleasant way to spend a day – it's a way of life for many of us Californians. My bill is focused on a future for Northwest California where public lands are resilient and our outdoor recreation economy grows while we preserve environmental values for future generations. I believe good process leads to good policy, and the broad support for this comprehensive, carefully developed bill reflects that. Once again, we successfully passed this legislation out of the House and I’m looking forward to getting it across the finish line under the Biden administration.
The American Rescue Plan
For our final vote of the month, House Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which implements President Biden’s urgently-needed pandemic and economic response plan. This vote could not come soon enough: countless millions of people are still out of work, the economic crisis is accelerating, and additional unemployment assistance is set to expire in March.
This is a historic crisis, and half-loaf measures aren’t going to cut it. We need a multi-faceted approach to defeat this pandemic and rebuild our country. The plan includes bold initiatives to safely reopen schools, get shots in arms, comprehensively support the economy, and get people back to work. This gives us a real shot at crushing the pandemic. I hope Republicans in the Senate must join with us in supporting the President’s plan – we cannot afford any more delays.
If you would like to keep up with the work I am doing as your representative, please subscribe to my newsletter, and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. As I continue my important work for the people of California’s Second District, please don’t hesitate to contact my office for assistance if you are in need.
I also invite you to subscribe to my podcast, “Off the Cuff with Rep. Huffman,” so that you can engage with our in-depth conversations about what's happening in California and in Washington, D.C. This month Chelsea Parsons from the Center for American Progress joined me to talk gun violence prevention (tune in here).
Thank you, and stay well,
Jared Huffman
Member of Congress
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