Press Releases
Rep. Jared Huffman to VA Secretary: Improve Access to Health Care Resources for Rural North Coast Veterans
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) this week sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald urging him to improve access to health care for veterans on the rural North Coast under the new Veterans Choice Program, authorized by Congress in last year’s Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act. The Veterans Choice Program allows veterans living more than 40 miles “as the crow flies” from the nearest VA medical facility to seek timely care from local, … Continue Reading
January 13, 2015
Rep. Jared Huffman Introduces New Bill to Replace Gas Tax, Ensure Solvency of Highway Trust Fund, Fight Climate Change
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today introduced the Gas Tax Replacement Act of 2015, new legislation to stabilize the Highway Trust Fund— which funds transportation projects across the United States. The Gas Tax Replacement Act would replace the chronically-underperforming federal gas tax with a life-cycle assessment-based carbon tax on gasoline and diesel fuels that will accurately reflect the carbon emissions of the fuel. “While the strides we have made for vehicle … Continue Reading
January 09, 2015
Rep. Jared Huffman Announces New Roles in 114th Congress: Named to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Assistant Whip
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) was named to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today, which holds jurisdiction over the Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, the nation’s roads, bridges, highways, ferries, inland waterways, pipelines, improvement of rivers and harbors. Huffman was also chosen by Democratic Steny Hoyer (D-MD) as a Democratic Assistant Whip. The Assistant Whip team is composed of leaders in the … Continue Reading
January 08, 2015
Rep. Jared Huffman Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
WASHINGTON—Congressmen Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to protect one of America’s last untouched wild places—the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on the north coast of Alaska. The Udall-Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Act (H.R. 239) would designate the 1.5 million-acre Coastal Plain as wilderness, codifying into law permanent protections from damaging activities like oil drilling. Today’s bill introduction … Continue Reading
January 08, 2015
Rep. Jared Huffman Statement on Senator Boxer’s Announced Retirement
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement today after learning that U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer will not be running for reelection in 2016: “With Senator Boxer's retirement, California is losing a passionate champion for the environment and Democratic values. I'm honored to hold the House seat she represented so well for a decade before her election to the Senate. “This is a tremendous loss to California and the country. She has never been … Continue Reading
January 06, 2015
Rep. Jared Huffman Sworn in as Member of 114th Congress
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) was sworn in Tuesday as the representative in the U.S. House of Representatives for California’s 2nd Congressional District in the 114th Congress. The 2nd District stretches along the California coast from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border and includes all or parts of Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt Del Norte, and Trinity Counties. A map of the district can be found … Continue Reading
January 05, 2015
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. … Continue Reading
January 02, 2015
Huffman Statement on Department of Interior Legal Opinion regarding Humboldt County Water Rights
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today wholeheartedly welcomed the U.S. Interior Department’s disclosure of its internal legal opinion that outlines Humboldt County’s right to water from the Trinity River to protect salmon runs on the lower Klamath River during dry years. The Interior Solicitor’s opinion analyzes and clarifies the authority Humboldt County bargained for in the 1955 legislation that led to the damming and diversion of the Trinity River as part of the … Continue Reading
December 19, 2014
Huffman Calls for Swift Renewal of the Secure Rural Schools Program, Essential to Rural North Coast Communities
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today called on Congressional leaders to reauthorize a program that provides key support to rural communities. Representatives Huffman, Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) led a bipartisan letter urging the swift renewal of Secure Rural Schools Act (SRS) funding to help counties with large amounts of federally-owned National Forest land. Since National Forest land cannot be taxed by counties or states, for … Continue Reading
December 12, 2014
Huffman Applauds FCC Vote to Increase Funding to Expand Internet Access for Low-Income and Rural Schools
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for their vote yesterday to increase funding for the E-Rate Program by $1.5 billion, expanding internet access to low-income and rural schools and libraries. Huffman had earlier urged the FCC to modernize the program and increase its funding. "Digital connectivity will only become more important to education, and every school in America should have access to high-speed internet. … Continue Reading
December 12, 2014
Huffman Statement Opposing Omnibus Spending Bill
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement after voting against the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, H.R. 83: “I could not in good conscience vote for this special interest Christmas tree masquerading as a government funding bill. And I’m deeply disappointed that 57 Democrats joined the House Republican majority in passing it. “What we learned through this disgraceful ‘CRomnibus’ episode is that House Republicans will … Continue Reading
December 11, 2014
Rep. Huffman Applauds Passage of New Measure to Prevent Veteran Suicides
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) applauded the unanimous House passage of bipartisan legislation to address the epidemic of suicide among our nation's veterans. "Many of our veterans return from war facing traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, or mental health challenges. Too many don't receive the care they need and, tragically, take their own lives," Huffman said. "The passage of this bipartisan legislation brings us one step closer to ensuring … Continue Reading
December 10, 2014
Following Torture Report, Huffman Votes Against Intelligence Authorization Bill
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today released the following statement after voting against the Intelligence Authorization Act for 2015 (H.R. 4681): “Today, I voted against the Intelligence Authorization Act for 2015. This was a missed opportunity to exercise needed oversight and implement significant and crucial reforms to our intelligence infrastructure —particularly in light of the recent report on the shameful practice of torture during the Bush … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Huffman Votes Against House Republican Water Bill
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today voted against H.R. 5781, so-called “California Emergency Drought Relief Act.” The legislation, introduced on December 2nd, was sent to the House Floor without any committee review or input from any state or federal water agencies, fishing interests, or tribes. H.R. 5781 would micromanage the water systems of California and put significant pressure on North Coast rivers and Northern California salmon populations. Yesterday Huffman … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Huffman Secures Major North Coast Victories in National Defense Bill
WASHINGTON-Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced the inclusion of several critical North Coast-focused measures in the FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The package of public lands and natural resources bills added to the final NDAA compromise Rep. Huffman's Trinity County Land Exchange Act (H.R. 3326) and the Revitalizing the Economies in the Pacific Act (H.R. 2646). The Trinity County Land Exchange Act will provide Trinity County with a much needed … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Huffman Votes Against 2015 Defense Authorization
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today voted against the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill contained a total of $577.1 billion in discretionary defense funding, nearly twice the level of pre-9/11 national defense spending. The NDAA included $495.9 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) base budget, $63.7 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations account, and $17.5 billion for the Department of Energy national security … Continue Reading
December 03, 2014
Northern California Delegation Statement on Flawed, Discriminatory House Republican Water Bill
WASHINGTON—Today, Northern California Representatives Jared Huffman (D-02), George Miller (D-11) Mike Thompson (D-05), Doris Matsui (D-06), Jerry McNerney (D-09), John Garamendi (D-03), and Ami Bera (D-07) released the following statement regarding the House Republican water bill introduced last night: “With just a few days left in the legislative session, the House plans to pass yet another divisive, dishonest, and potentially devastating California water bill without any public input or … Continue Reading
November 20, 2014
Northern California Reps. Statement on Senator Feinstein Pulling Deeply-Flawed Water Bill
WASHINGTON—Today, Northern California Representatives Jared Huffman (D-02), George Miller (D-11) Mike Thompson (D-05), Doris Matsui (D-06), Jerry McNerney (D-09), John Garamendi (D-03), and Ami Bera (D-07) released the following statement after Senator Dianne Feinstein announced she will not be pursuing passage of her water bill this year: “We are pleased Senator Feinstein will not be pursuing passage of the water legislation secretly negotiated by her and House Republicans. This … Continue Reading
November 20, 2014
Rep. Huffman Applauds California Regulators for Investigating Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield for Misleading Provider Networks
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today applauded the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) for finding Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California in violation of state law for drastically overstating the availability of health providers on their new Affordable Care Act policies. According to the DMHC report, more than 25% of physicians listed by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California were not taking Covered California patients or were no longer … Continue Reading
November 18, 2014
Huffman Introduces Bill to Require Congressional Budget Office to Estimate Carbon Footprint of Bills Considered Before Congress
WASHINGTON—On the eve of a Senate vote to approve construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would drastically increase America’s greenhouse gas emissions, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced a bill that would require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to estimate and report the projected carbon footprint of bills considered before Congress. Many bills considered by the U.S. Congress have the potential to increase or decrease carbon emissions, and lawmakers and the … Continue Reading