Press Releases
California Congress Members Respond to National Review Story on California Drought, Delta Smelt
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Northern California Congress Members Jared Huffman (CA-2), Mike Thompson (CA-5), George Miller (CA-11), Doris Matsui (CA-6), Jerry McNerney and John Garamendi (CA-3) released the following statement today in response to the National Review's story on the California drought. The story on California's drought was also discussed on MSNBC's Morning Joe. "The California drought, now in its third and most severe year, cannot be oversimplified as farmers versus fish. It is a very … Continue Reading
January 17, 2014
Rep. Huffman Applauds U.S. Sentencing Commission Action on Trespass Marijuana Cultivation Operations
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today applauded the U.S. Sentencing Commission for agreeing to take action on the environmental damage caused by trespass marijuana cultivation operations. Huffman led a letter with California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and other lawmakers to the Sentencing Commission in November, asking that the agency help counter the environmental damages of drug production. "Trespass marijuana grows are threatening endangered … Continue Reading
January 15, 2014
Huffman Votes for Omnibus Bill to Fund the Government
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, H.R. 3547, the omnibus budget bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014. The bill provides $1.012 trillion for the operation of the federal government and avoids a government shutdown. It passed by a bipartisan vote of 359-67. “This bill was far from perfect, but today’s vote demonstrated a vital step away from the … Continue Reading
January 09, 2014
Rep. Huffman, Freshman House Democrats Call on Speaker Boehner: Schedule Immediate Vote to Extend Emergency Unemployment Insurance
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and 48 other freshman House Democrats today urged Speaker of the House John Boehner to schedule an immediate, up-or-down vote to extend emergency unemployment insurance for the 1.3 million Americans who lost their benefits due to congressional inaction at the end of 2013. Huffman is also a cosponsor of H.R. 3546, which would immediately extend emergency unemployment insurance for an additional year. “As members of the freshman class, we … Continue Reading
January 08, 2014
Rep. Huffman Releases “Ask Jared” Video Looking Back on 2013, Sets Priorities for 2014
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today released a video reflecting on his first year in the United States Congress and he discussed his priorities for 2014. This video is the latest in his “Ask Jared” video series. “2013 was a year of a lot of frustrations. But, even in that difficult climate we got some things done. I was also really proud to do something most freshmen members of Congress haven’t been able to do, and that is to pass a bill,” Congressman Huffman said. “In … Continue Reading
December 18, 2013
Huffman to FCC: Improve Broadband Internet Capacity In North Coast Schools
WASHINGTON¬—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), along with over two dozen colleagues including Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Chris Gibson (R-NY), and Don Young (R-AK), urged the FCC to modernize the federal E-rate program to better help connect schools and libraries to affordable, high-speed broadband internet access. E-rate provides discounts of up to 90 percent to help schools and libraries throughout the United States obtain affordable telecommunications … Continue Reading
December 16, 2013
***MEDIA ADVISORY*** Huffman to Attend Camp Meeker Post Office Reopening Ceremony
Sonoma County—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) will attend the reopening ceremony for the Camp Meeker Post Office on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. The U.S. Postal Service was considering closing the Camp Meeker Post Office, but after community outcry and Congressman Huffman’s input, the Postal Service has suspended the discontinuance process and will reopen the post office. WHO: Congressman Jared Huffman WHAT: Camp Meeker Post Office … Continue Reading
December 13, 2013
Huffman Votes For Bipartisan Budget Compromise
WASHINGTON- Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) voted in support of a budget compromise today that provides a measure of fiscal stability through September 30, 2015 (date), and restores $31.5 billion in non-defense sequester cuts over the next two years that would otherwise continue to undermine the economic recovery and weaken the social safety net. "This budget agreement was far from perfect, but it is better than the alternative of allowing the full sequester to continue in … Continue Reading
December 11, 2013
Huffman, House Democrats: Congress Must Not Adjourn for Year without Extending Federal Unemployment Insurance
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and 165 House Democrats urged Speaker Boehner not to adjourn the House for the year without extending federal unemployment insurance, which is scheduled to expire Dec. 28. If Congress doesn’t act, 1.3 million Americans would immediately lose all jobless aid, including 214,800 unemployed California workers. An additional 1.9 million Americans would lose their jobless aid in the first half of 2014, including 325,800 unemployed … Continue Reading
December 11, 2013
Huffman, House Democrats: Congress Must Not Adjourn for Year without Extending Federal Unemployment Insurance
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and 165 House Democrats urged Speaker Boehner not to adjourn the House for the year without extending federal unemployment insurance, which is scheduled to expire Dec. 28. If Congress doesn’t act, 1.3 million Americans would immediately lose all jobless aid, including 214,800 unemployed California workers. An additional 1.9 million Americans would lose their jobless aid in the first half of 2014, including 325,800 unemployed … Continue Reading
December 10, 2013
Huffman: Snow in Winter Doesn’t Disprove Climate Change
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) spoke on the House Floor today and reminded his colleagues that snow in winter doesn’t disprove climate change—it just means that it snowed. Huffman noted that California is experiencing the driest year on record and that we need to start adapting to the changes that are happening, including changing the operation of our reservoirs from following out-of-date water manuals to using modern science and weather forecasting. “You hear that … Continue Reading
December 10, 2013
Huffman Statement on Release of Bay Delta Conservation Plan Environmental Reports
WASHINGTON—After the release of new environmental documents for the California’s Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement: “A successful Bay Delta Conservation Plan will bring the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta back to health, it will invest in regional self-reliance and alternative water supplies to reduce our reliance on unsustainable Delta diversions, it will protect the Trinity River and our North Coast salmon … Continue Reading
December 06, 2013
Huffman Votes to Pass Innovation Act and Crack Down on Patent Trolls
WASHINGTON—Last night Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) voted for H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act, a bill that takes steps to combat the problem of abusive patent litigation, known as “patent trolling.” The bill passed by the overwhelming bipartisan vote of 325-91. So-called patent trolls abuse the current patent system by filing numerous patent infringement lawsuits against businesses with the hopes of securing a settlement. Patent trolls have cost the U.S. economy an estimated $29 … Continue Reading
December 03, 2013
Huffman to Budget Negotiators: Prevent Another Government Shutdown—Don’t Cave to Tea Party Extremism
WASHINGTON—Last night, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) led 25 members of the House of Representatives in sending a letter to the leaders of the budget conference committee urging them to strike a bipartisan compromise that prevents another shutdown and avoid further threats to the nation’s financial standing. The 16-day shutdown in October cost the U.S. economy an estimated $24 billion and hurt millions of Americans. Huffman, joined by 24 other members, reminded House Budget … Continue Reading
November 26, 2013
Huffman, 22 California Democrats Urge Speaker Boehner to Extend Unemployment Insurance Benefits
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and 22 of his colleagues in the California Congressional delegation called on Speaker Boehner to extend unemployment insurance benefits for an additional year. Benefits for more than 1.3 million Americans, including 215,000 Californians, are set to expire on December 28th if Congress does not take action. The unemployment rate for California is currently at 8.9% after reaching a peak of 12.4% during the recent economic downturn. The … Continue Reading
November 26, 2013
Huffman, Feinstein, Boxer, CA Reps: Address Environmental Damage Caused By Trespass Marijuana Grows
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) led a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Sentencing Commission recommending a legal response to the threat posed by trespass marijuana growing operations on public property and private land. Huffman was joined on the letter by California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer as well as Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), and Sam Farr (D-CA). "Drug trafficking organizations… are making forests and open spaces … Continue Reading
November 20, 2013
Huffman: We Should Work Together to Improve Affordable Care Act Implementation
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D- San Rafael) spoke on the House floor today and called for members of Congress to work together to improve the implementation of the Affordable Care Act—just as they did with Social Security and Medicare. Huffman noted that, while the bill is not perfect and glitches should be fixed, the Affordable Care Act is working for California: tens of thousands of Californians have already enrolled through Covered California. “We knew all along that a reform … Continue Reading
November 15, 2013
Huffman Votes Against Yet Another Republican Bill to Derail Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) voted against H.R. 3350, the “Keep Your Health Plan Act,” sponsored by Congressman Fred Upton. This proposal marked the 46th time House Republicans have moved to undermine the Affordable Care Act and put insurance companies back in charge of Americans’ health care. Huffman also issued the following statement after President Obama stated that insurers can continue to offer canceled plans for an additional year: "It was disappointing … Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
Huffman Announces Additional Federal Support to Combat Drug Trafficking in Humboldt County
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has designated Humboldt County, California as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). After consultations with Humboldt County Sheriff Mike Downey, Huffman sent a letter to R. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the ONDCP, requesting that Humboldt County be designated a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. This designation will enable the county to receive Federal … Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
Rep. Huffman: Typhoon in Philippines is a Wake-up Call on Climate Change
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) took to the House floor today to remind his colleagues to take heed of the tragedy in the Philippines and to listen to the words of the Philippines' delegate to the UN climate summit. “Climate change is affecting every country, but the impacts are not distributed equally. It is likely that the poorest nations on earth will be the hardest hit,” Congressman Huffman said. “The Philippines tragedy is the latest wake-up call on climate change, … Continue Reading