Rep. Huffman Releases Report and Infographic on His First Term in Congress
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today released the following report and infographic detailing his freshman term in the 113th United States Congress representing California’s 2nd Congressional District. Tomorrow, January 6th will mark the first day of the 114th Congress and the beginning of Huffman’s 2nd term in Congress.
“As I close out my first term, I want to express my thanks for the great honor of representing California’s North Coast in Congress,” Huffman said. “I was disappointed that the 113th Congress turned out to be far less productive than it should have been. There was too much partisan political theater and obstruction, and not enough good faith efforts to solve problems. But even with these challenges, I'm proud of some major accomplishments we achieved together in my freshman term.”
A high-resolution version of the infographic can be downloaded HERE.
Further details:
Huffman wrote three bills that were passed by the House / signed into law:
- California Coastal National Monument Expansion Act: the House unanimously passed Huffman’s bill to expand the California Coastal National Monument to include the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands on the breathtaking Mendocino Coast. This stretch of coastline was protected by President Obama through Executive Action.
- The Trinity County Land Exchange Act: This bill will provide a much-needed parcel of land near Weaverville for economic development in exchange for public protection of a parcel that will improve public access to the Trinity River—a Wild and Scenic River. This bill is an excellent example of bipartisan cooperation and is proof that positive economic development and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive priorities in our rural communities. (Included in legislation signed into law by President Obama)
- REFI Pacific Act: For years, fishermen up and down the West Coast have been paying through the nose on a decade-old federal loan, putting their small businesses at risk. The bipartisan REFI Pacific Act means that fishermen will finally be able to refinance and save money, just like any other homeowner or business owner would do—all while helping the economies of fishing communities throughout California's North Coast. (Included in legislation signed into law by President Obama)
Huffman authored a total of 16 bills and amendments, including:
- The PLANT Act: cracks down on the extreme environmental damage being caused by trespass marijuana growing on public and private lands. Huffman’s bipartisan bill to increase criminal penalties for trespass grows was adopted by the U.S. Sentencing Commission as part of their new sentencing guidelines.
- The Carbon Pollution Transparency Act: would require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to estimate and report the projected carbon footprint of bills considered before Congress.
- Point Reyes Coast Guard Housing Conveyance Act: would increase the availability of badly-needed affordable housing in West Marin by conveying a roughly 30-acre property in Point Reyes Station currently owned by the Coast Guard to the County of Marin for repurposing as affordable housing.
- H.R. 4768, legislation to stop spending taxpayer dollars on dirty energy projects abroad. Would prevent the United States Export-Import bank—one of the world’s largest sources of public financing for fossil fuel projects—from financing polluting energy projects.
- The Federal Leadership in Energy Efficient Transportation (FLEET) Act: would help modernize the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) inefficient and outdated vehicle fleet. The bill would require the USPS to reduce their petroleum consumption by 2% each year over the next 10 years.
Huffman voted 1,169 times on the House floor, including:
- Voted for passage of the Violence Against Women Act, which strengthens and focuses the response of law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels to domestic violence.
- Following the October 2013 government shutdown, Huffman voted for a bipartisan compromise to reopen the government and avert default.
- Voted against numerous attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Huffman routinely urged Congress to work together to improve the Affordable Care Act.
Huffman cosponsored 495 bills, including:
- Comprehensive Immigration Reform: the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act would enhance border security; provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants including DREAMers; and reform nonimmigrant visa programs like the H-1B skilled-worker program.
- A number of campaign finance reform bills, including the Democracy for All Amendment to overturn the Citizens United Decision and the Government by the People Act, which would level the playing field between wealthy mega-donor special interests and ordinary Americans.
- The Ruth Moore Act, which expands critical protections for victims of military sexual trauma. The bill passed the House in June 2013.
Huffman cosponsored 129 bills that were written by Republicans, including:
- The USA FREEDOM Act, which reforms U.S. national security laws and ends the wide-ranging surveillance of Americans by the National Security Agency (NSA). The USA FREEDOM Act passed the House in May 2014. Huffman voted for the bill.
- The PEGASUS Act, which would keep genetically-engineered (GE) fish off the nation’s dinner plates and away from our nation’s rivers and oceans. It would prohibit the shipment, sale, transportation, purchase, possession, or release in the wild of GE salmon or other GE finfish unless the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service complete a full environmental impact statement and find that it will result in no significant impact to the environment.
SPEECHES & INTERVIEWS:
- Huffman delivered 40 speeches on the House floor, which may be viewed HERE. Of these, Huffman urged action to fight climate change thirteen times.
- Huffman appeared on one of Stephen Colbert’s last “Better Know a District” segments, viewable HERE.
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