Press Releases
House Natural Resources Committee Passes Rep. Huffman’s Improved Lytton–Sonoma Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced yesterday that the House Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved his Lytton Rancheria Homelands Act of 2015 (H.R. 2538), which would take lands in Sonoma County into trust for housing and other non-gaming purposes as part of the Lytton Rancheria reservation. Today's vote was the last step in the committee review process before the full House of Representatives votes on the bill. Huffman amended and strengthened … Continue Reading
February 04, 2016
Rep. Huffman, 25 Members of Congress Urge Secretaries Kerry and Johnson to Strengthen Visa Waiver Program to Protect Dual Nationals, American Visitors to Iran
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) led a letter with 25 other members of Congress to Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson to urge them to protect dual national Americans and Americans traveling to Iran from visa restrictions and ensure that they are not are not unjustly targeted. "A U.S. passport should provide its holder the full benefits of citizenship, but unless changes are made to the Visa Waiver Program, some of … Continue Reading
February 04, 2016
Huffman and Schiff Respond to Long-Awaited Captive Marine Mammal Rule
Washington, DC - Congressmen Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) responded today to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) announcement that after 20 years they have publicly released their plans to update regulations for captive marine mammals. The Animal Welfare Act provides USDA with the authority over the welfare of a variety of captive marine mammals including orcas, dolphins, polar bears, sea otters, and sea lions. "After nearly two decades, I am glad to see USDA is finally … Continue Reading
February 02, 2016
Rep. Huffman applauds pact between Feds, California, Oregon and PacifiCorp to remove Klamath River dams in 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) welcomed the release today of a key agreement between the federal government, California and Oregon, and power company PacifiCorp which is expected to lead to the historic removal of four dams on the Klamath River. "This agreement is a reflection of all the hard work done by tribal, fishing and environmental communities who have long fought to tear down these dams and bring the Klamath River back to life," said Rep. Huffman, who … Continue Reading
January 29, 2016
Reps. Huffman, Grijalva, DeFazio, Blumenauer, Tsongas, Peters, Dingell, Lowenthal, Van Hollen Request Federal Agencies to Brief Congress on Response to Future Threats to Public Lands
WASHINGTON-Today, in response to the ongoing illegal occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) led a letter, along with eight other members of Congress, to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Attorney General Loretta Lynch requesting that they brief Congress on how they plan to respond to similar threats to America's public lands and neighboring communities in the future. "As you know, the situation in Oregon did not happen in … Continue Reading
January 28, 2016
Rep. Huffman Introduces Bill to Reauthorize National Sea Grant College Program
WASHINGTON, D.C.-This week Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced the Opportunities in Cooperative Education And New (OCEAN) Research Partnerships Act, new legislation to reauthorize NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program through 2021. The Sea Grant program, first established in 1966, allows NOAA to collaborate with a network of states and universities on important research on issues facing America's ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. "Building resilient coastal … Continue Reading
January 17, 2016
Rep. Huffman Applauds Jason Rezaian’s Peaceful Release from Iran
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement today after official confirmation that Jason Rezaian, Washington Post reporter and Marin native, has been safely released from the Iranian prison where he had been held for more than 500 days: "Words cannot express the relief that we feel today, knowing that Jason's long and unjust captivity has at last come to an end. Jason and his family have been at the forefront of my thoughts for the … Continue Reading
January 15, 2016
Rep. Huffman Statement on President Obama’s suspension of new coal leases on public lands
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Following today's announcement by the Interior Department of a new comprehensive review of the federal coal program which will put a pause on new coal leasing, implement additional transparency, and modernize the program, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) issued the following statement supporting the significant step toward a cleaner environment while ensuring that taxpayers receive their fair share: "The federal coal program is a broken system that for years has … Continue Reading
January 13, 2016
Rep. Huffman Reacts to State of the Union
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement after attending President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address on Tuesday night: "Tonight President Obama reminded Americans of the bigger picture that is often forgotten or obscured in our contentious political debates: where we are in the arc of history and how far we've come; the obvious strength of our economy, our military, and our standing in the world; the importance of diversity and … Continue Reading
December 18, 2015
Rep. Huffman reports progress toward consensus on Last Chance Grade issues
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Jared Huffman today announced the release of a white paper by the Last Chance Grade stakeholder group which outlines a number of points of consensus reached on the proposed project to date. Convened by Huffman this spring, the stakeholder group is made up of twenty representatives of diverse interests, including members of environmental groups, businesses, government and elected representatives, tribes and landowners. The group has been meeting to gather … Continue Reading
December 18, 2015
Rep. Huffman Announces More than $4.4 Million in Federal Grants for Local Health Centers
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded more than $4.4 million in federal funds to four health centers in Huffman’s 2nd Congressional District for 2016. With these federal grants, health centers in Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties will be able to continue providing primary care to populations in need, including low-income and … Continue Reading
December 18, 2015
Huffman Casts Final Congressional Votes Of 2015, Opposing Permanent Unfunded Tax Giveaways and Supporting Omnibus Funding Bill That Avoids Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today issued a statement strongly opposing the package of permanent, unfunded tax expenditures that passed the House yesterday, and reluctantly supporting a government funding bill today that contains both good and bad policy riders: “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 … Continue Reading
December 11, 2015
Huffman Leads Congressional Letter to IRS: Don’t Tax Homeowners for Saving Water
Washington, DC - Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) today led a letter signed by 32 other Members of Congress to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of the Treasury, urging they act to clarify that homeowners who receive rebates for water conservation and stormwater management improvements to their home should not be required to pay federal taxes on those rebates. Currently, the IRS considers water rebates to be taxable … Continue Reading
December 11, 2015
House Approves Huffman Proposal to Increase Available Affordable Housing in West Marin
Washington, DC - Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has approved his proposal to increase the availability of badly-needed affordable housing in West Marin, by requiring the Coast Guard to convey its roughly 30-acre property located in Point Reyes Station to the County of Marin. The County intends to work with local partners to repurpose the property as affordable housing and community space. In May, Huffman was able to … Continue Reading
December 07, 2015
Huffman Votes to Replace Broken “No Child Left Behind” Law
Washington, DC - This week, Congressmen Jared Huffman (D-CA) voted for bipartisan legislation that reforms federal K-12 education policy. The Every Student Succeeds Act fixes the problems of the broken No Child Left Behind law while maintaining civil rights protections for students. The final conference report for the bill, approved in a bipartisan vote in the House of 359 to 64, supports priorities like environmental education and high-speed broadband infrastructure, while also assisting … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015
Rep. Huffman Votes for Five-Year Surface Transportation Bill, First Long-Term Federal Investment in Roads, Bridges & Transit Since 2005
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Jared Huffman voted to adopt the conference report on Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) -- a measure that reauthorizes highway, bridge, transportation safety, and public transit projects for the next five years. The bill provides $281 billion in guaranteed funding for these programs, the first time Congress has passed a long-term surface transportation reauthorization since 2005. The measure also reauthorizes the critically important … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015
Rep. Huffman Statement on Klamath River Basin
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA), who represents the North Coast of California, released the following statement today: “I represent a critical part of the Klamath Basin, where the river’s water quality and the health of its fisheries are more than just policy issues; they’re the lifeblood of people and communities. Removing the Klamath dams and restoring the river and its fisheries to good health is, for my constituents, a critical need, which is why many of them helped … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015
Rep. Huffman on House “Blizzard” of Legislation to Undermine the Clean Air Act: “A stocking full of gifts to Big Oil, and a lump of coal for Americans and the rest of the world.”
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) issued the following not-so-jolly statement today in response to continued efforts in the House of Representatives to undermine the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, reverse progress on renewable energy and energy efficiency, and undercut President Obama’s strategy to reduce carbon pollution and protect the climate at the Conference of Parties in Paris. “This week, the House got into the holiday spirit by voting on three un-wise bills to put … Continue Reading
December 02, 2015
Reps. Huffman, Thompson, and Nolan Introduce the Rural Broadband Infrastructure Investment Act
Washington, DC - Congressmen Jared Huffman (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and Rick Nolan (D-MN) today introduced the Rural Broadband Infrastructure Investment Act, which would unlock new opportunities for broadband deployment on California’s North Coast and in rural communities across America. The bill would make North Coast communities eligible for $670 million in federal broadband financing; promote regional broadband solutions by allowing the Rural Utility Service (RUS) to offer broadband … Continue Reading
November 24, 2015
Reps. Huffman, Speier, Farr, and Capps Urge Gov. Brown to Stand Ready to Declare a Fishery Disaster for the Dungeness Crab Fishery
WASHINGTON, D.C.— California Reps. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo), Sam Farr (D-Monterey), and Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) sent a letter to Governor Jerry Brown today urging him to monitor the levels of domoic acid in the Dungeness crab closely and to stand ready to ask the Secretary of Commerce to declare a disaster if the fishery is closed for the season. The coastal legislators raised concerns about the high levels of domoic acid linked … Continue Reading