Newsletters
An Update on North Coast Priorities
Dear Friend, Last month, I was fortunate enough to spend several consecutive weeks back home in California, meeting with constituents and traveling across my North Coast congressional district. I always say that the second district of California is the most beautiful in the country and each time I’m home I am re-convinced of that fact. These district work weeks are the perfect opportunity to hear about your priorities and brainstorm with you on how I can better serve you. From the … Continue Reading
March 11, 2016
Reaching across the aisle to get things done
Dear Friend, Amidst partisan gridlock in Washington, I want to share with you some ways I’ve been cutting through the noise and reaching across the aisle on key issues for the North Coast of California and beyond. From water conservation to the Postal Service to environmental protections across the country, we’ve been able to make progress by building bipartisan coalitions. Ending the tax on making water-efficient choices As tax season approaches, I introduced bipartisan … Continue Reading
February 11, 2016
As the legislative session begins...
Dear Friend, As the legislative session begins again in earnest this month, I wanted to update you on some of the exciting work that we’ve been able to get done for you in the recent days. Providing Affordable Housing in West Marin Working with Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey and the Community Land Trust Association of West Marin, I was able to secure passage of an important bill for West Marin as part of the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, which President Obama signed into law … Continue Reading
December 18, 2015
Important Year-End Votes
Dear Friend, Yesterday, the House voted to pass a huge unfunded ‘tax extender’ bill that will increase the deficit by $622 billion, undermine comprehensive tax reform, reward special interests and the wealthiest taxpayers, and put serious pressure on our domestic priorities. While Democratic negotiators won some victories in the bill — such as permanent extension of the child tax credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit — the overall effect of this tax … Continue Reading
September 09, 2015
A vote for security, diplomacy, and a chance for peace
Dear Friend, After careful deliberation, I have concluded that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated by the U.S., Russia, China, Great Britain, France and Germany, is our best option for preventing a nuclear-armed Iran. I will vote to support the deal. Central to this decision is my belief that a nuclear-armed Iran would threaten global security and ignite a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. It can’t be allowed to happen; the question is how best to prevent … Continue Reading
August 17, 2015
Working for the release of an innocent constituent in Iran
Dear Friend, This is Jason Rezaian. [[{"fid":"465","view_mode":"full","fields":{"format":"full","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-full"}}]] You may have read about Jason, an acclaimed journalist for the Washington Post who has been unjustly jailed in Iran for the past year. You may not know that Jason is from Marin County and a fellow constituent of California’s 2nd … Continue Reading
July 27, 2015
Your input on California's Water Future
Dear Friend,We’re in the midst of the worst drought in our state’s long history and California is hurting. Unfortunately, Congress is doing nothing to help.Last week, House Republicans brought a divisive and flawed water bill to the House floor that would do nothing to alleviate the effects of the drought. Instead, it’s yet another bill that harms West Coast fisheries and tribal interests, undermines state law, and micromanages the most complex water system in the world … Continue Reading
June 25, 2015
California’s water future deserves an open debate and real solutions – and I want YOUR input
Dear Friend, In response to the worst drought in our state’s long memory, our public institutions—with one unfortunate exception—are stepping up. Governor Brown and the legislature passed long-overdue groundwater and sustainable water investments through last year’s $7.5 billion water bond. Local governments and water districts are launching conservation plans to preserve dwindling water supplies. The Obama administration is providing millions in emergency grants to drought-stricken … Continue Reading
June 22, 2015
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: as part of a broad new multi-year military intervention in Iraq and Syria outlined by President Obama last week. Read my full statement HERE.Last night’s vote was not, as some have argued, a choice between … 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