Newsletters
Congressional Victories, Continued
Dear Friend, As I mentioned in my spring newsletter, it's rare that we hear good news come out of Washington D.C., where smart, bipartisan legislation is often thwarted by politics. But we've managed to break through the partisan logjam a few times already this year, and this month brought more good news: passage by the full House of Representatives of my bipartisan amendment to end a wasteful, dirty coal earmark; and the defeat of a "fast track" trade package that was flawed to begin with … Continue Reading
May 19, 2015
Transportation funding around the North Coast
Dear Friend, We’re coming down to the wire on keeping transportation projects funded around the country. The recent bipartisan agreement to fix Medicare repayments may signal a positive change, but it’s never a good sign when congressional leadership waits until the last minute to strike a deal. Transportation Infrastructure If the Highway Trust Fund’s authorization lapses this week and it begins its slide towards bankruptcy, it could spell disaster for California, which relies … Continue Reading
March 27, 2015
Great News from Washington!
Dear Friend, It isn't often that we hear good news come out of Washington D.C. these days, but I'm pleased to report that we've been getting some important things done the past few weeks. Here's a quick update: Bipartisan Bill Strengthens Medicare Access, Children's Health Program, and Rural Schools Access to healthcare for millions of seniors has been at risk for years because of a flawed Medicare "Sustainable Growth Ratio" (SGR) formula prescribed by Congress in 1997 to save … Continue Reading
March 12, 2015
What I Saw in Selma
Dear Friend, Fifty years ago, Americans marched across a bridge in Selma, Alabama for equality and justice. Though they marched peacefully, many were struck down and beaten by police on that "Bloody Sunday.” But the photos and stories that came out of that peaceful protest awakened the nation, and helped spur Congress to pass one of the crowning achievements of our democracy: the Voting Rights Act. Last weekend, Americans once again marched peacefully across that bridge—this time, … Continue Reading
March 04, 2015
Preventing a Shutdown...
Dear Friend, A quick update on what I’ve been working on in Congress: Homeland Security: I’m pleased to report that yesterday the House voted to avert a self-inflicted shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. We should have approved this bill in December, but it was delayed repeatedly because some members of Congress will do anything to defund President Obama’s recent executive actions on immigration (which I support and believe are well within his constitutional … Continue Reading
February 12, 2015
Update on the 114th Congress
Dear Friend, We are a month into the 114th Congress and I wanted to update you on what I've been working on: New Environmental Leadership Role in 114th Congress I was named Ranking Member of the newly-created House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans. The Subcommittee oversees America's water resources (including federal reservoirs and local water recycling programs), commercial fisheries and coastal management, and tribal and interstate water rights. I … Continue Reading
January 06, 2015
End of First Term Report
Dear Friend, The 113th Congress has adjourned and today the new Congress will be sworn in. As I close out my first term, I want to express my thanks for the great honor of representing you in Congress. Also, thank you for actively participating in the democratic process. Over the past two years, I received tens of thousands of emails and letters, thousands of phone calls, and I met with many of you in person at town halls, office meetings, and various public forums. Your … Continue Reading
November 19, 2014
November Newsletter -- Back To Work
Dear Friend, Congress is back in session, so I wanted to update you on what I've been working on as the 113th Congress enters its final weeks. Great news for Trinity County: Last Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed my bill to help Trinity County's economy: the Trinity County Land Exchange Act. This is the second of my bills to pass the House, and is an extremely important bill for Trinity County's economy and public land management. H.R. 3326 … Continue Reading
September 18, 2014
September Congressional Update
Dear friend,Since my last newsletter, I spent August working on community issues throughout my district and meeting with constituents from San Rafael to Eureka and Petaluma to Trinity County. Since I returned to Washington, a lot has happened in Congress. Here are a few updates:Last night 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. … Continue Reading
August 01, 2014
Mid-Summer Update
Dear Friend, As August begins, it’s a good time for a mid-summer update on what’s happening in Congress and where things appear to be headed for the final months of this legislative session. MISSED OPPORTUNITIES You may recall that President Obama has called for 2014 to be a “Year of Action.” Unfortunately, it has been a year of missed opportunities and partisan posturing in Congress. It’s frustrating that with so many people still out of work, with California experiencing … Continue Reading
January 09, 2014
2014
Dear Friend, As I travel around California's North Coast, I am often asked, "What can we expect from Congress in the new year?" I recorded a video to share my reflections on 2013—my first year as a Congressman—and my predictions for 2014. Watch it HERE or read the transcript below. [[{"fid":"329","view_mode":"full","fields":{"format":"full"},"tagName":"IMG","src":"http%3A//img.youtube.com/vi/mn_KQBm7590/0.jpg","type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"AskJared: 2013 Retrospective, 2014 … Continue Reading
December 12, 2013
Budget Update -- What are your thoughts?
Dear Friend, Two months ago, we saw Congress at its worst: a 16-day government shutdown that never should have happened, which caused an estimated $24 billion in costs to our economy and eroded faith in our government. We now have an opportunity to show that Congress can do better: today, I am reviewing a tentative budget deal that may prevent a government shutdown early next year. This is certainly not a perfect agreement. As I prepare to vote on this week’s budget deal, I want to know … Continue Reading
November 20, 2013
A big step for coastal conservation!
Dear Friend, Earlier this month I joined Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell for a hike on the Point Arena-Stornetta Public lands on the Mendocino Coast. It isn’t often that a Cabinet Secretary visits, and it’s rarer still that one comes to discuss expanding a National Monument in our backyard. I’m thrilled that she accepted my invitation and held a public meeting where she saw and heard the tremendous support from the local community for adding these breathtaking lands to the California … Continue Reading
October 01, 2013
The Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act means access to quality, affordable health care for California's North Coast. As of October 1, open enrollment in California's health insurance exchange, Covered CA, has begun. Covered CA is a new, easy-to-use marketplace where you and your family may get financial assistance to make coverage more affordable and where you will be able to compare and choose health coverage that best fits your needs and budget. For any enrollment questions, call the Covered CA hotline: … Continue Reading
October 01, 2013
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Congressman Huffman strongly opposes this unnecessary government shutdown and is calling on his colleagues in Congress to approve a simple, temporary agreement to resolve this standoff and reopen federal agencies. This manufactured crisis is the result of House Republicans' ultimatum to block government funding unless the Affordable Care Act is repealed. During this period, Congressman Huffman's offices in Washington and in California will remain open so that we can continue to help his … Continue Reading
September 19, 2013
August Update
Dear Friend:I'm back in Washington after spending the last month traveling throughout my Congressional district and meeting with many of you. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We need to determine what the United States will do in Syria, we still have no federal budget, immigration reform and the farm bill are unfinished, and we face an upcoming showdown on the federal debt ceiling.We'll get to all that in my next newsletter, but for now I wanted to update you on my month in … Continue Reading
January 03, 2013
Floor Speeches
When a Member of Congress is given time to formally express an opinion or make a statement on an issue before the House, they are said to have the 'floor' of the House, and their views are referred to as a 'Floor Speech'.How House Members are allotted time to speak, or sometimes observe silence, are adapted from rules of order originally written by Thomas Jefferson. The speeches and other proceedings of the House are published daily in the Congressional Record.In the Speeches … Continue Reading
January 03, 2013
Editorial Articles
Editorials historically came about as a means to let the average person know the opinions of the editors and publishers of newspapers and magazines.Eventually editors realized that added interest in their newspapers and magazines could be sparked by allowing readers to express their opinions on the page opposite the editorial, and the modern op-ed was invented. Today 'editorial' and 'op-ed' are often used interchangeably to refer to any written piece expressing an opinion on … Continue Reading