Press Releases
Huffman: We Need Action on Student Loans
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman released his second "Ask Jared" videos responding directly to a constituent's email about student loans and higher education. Huffman. Huffman discussed his efforts to prevent student loans from doubling on July 1, 2013, a Republican bill that would increase student debt by $3.7 billion, and his hope that Congress can come together to keep higher education affordable for all Americans that want it. "We are seeing a growing gap between accessibility to … Continue Reading
July 11, 2013
Huffman Votes Against House Farm Bill
WASHINGTON-Following his "No" vote on the controversial House Farm Bill, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) issued the following statement:"The last flawed Farm Bill wasn't extreme enough for the Tea Party, so GOP leadership has decided to drop its nutrition and SNAP provisions entirely, potentially leaving millions of low-income families across America hungry. This split Farm Bill is a window into a deeply dysfunctional Republican caucus which unfortunately has serious consequences … Continue Reading
July 11, 2013
Huffman Introduces Bill to Help Sustain West Coast Fishing Communities
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) introduced bipartisan legislation to help sustain fishing communities and support jobs along the Pacific coast by refinancing a key fishing industry loan. This is Congressman Huffman's second piece of legislation to be introduced since taking office in January. Huffman was joined by Congresswoman Jaime Hererra-Beutler (R-WA), Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA), Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Congressman Don Young (R-AK), and Congressman … Continue Reading
July 10, 2013
Huffman: “Fighting climate change is the biggest imperative of our time.”
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), a member of the Safe Climate Caucus, today spoke out on the House floor to urge Congress to act to fight climate change."President Obama's plan is a step in the right direction and I am encouraged that the E.P.A. is moving quickly on meaningful standards for power plants. Strong power plant standards are an imperative if we're going to avert the worst impacts of climate change," Congressman Huffman said. "Fighting climate change is the … Continue Reading
July 09, 2013
Huffman to NOAA: Don’t Interfere with State Laws Banning Shark Finning
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today led a bipartisan congressional letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration urging the agency to revise a proposed rule that could undermine state bans on buying or selling shark fins. Huffman's letter was cosigned by 61 Members of Congress, and is supported by 18 prominent and national conservation organizations, including Oceana and the Humane Society of the United States.Shark finning is a major contributor to … Continue Reading
July 02, 2013
Huffman Releases First Video Response to Constituent Email
WASHINGTON-Today, Congressman Huffman (D-San Rafael) released his first "Ask Jared" YouTube video responding directly to a constituent's email, letter, or phone call. Today's video is a response to an email from Carla from Corte Madera regarding the House Farm Bill's $20 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Huffman will record and release a video response as often as possible. "I'm starting this video series to begin a conversation with Northern … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Huffman at Budget Hearing: Shouldn't We Be Discussing the Budget?
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) slammed the House Budget Committee leadership for wasting time while refusing to take the necessary steps to move forward on a long-overdue federal budget resolution.House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today appointed Huffman and all other Democrats on the Budget Committee to serve on a conference committee to negotiate a budget compromise between the House and Senate, but Speaker John Boehner has refused to appoint Republican … Continue Reading
June 26, 2013
Congressman Huffman Announces District Landscape Photography Competition
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced that he will hold a district-wide landscape photography competition starting tomorrow. Constituents should email their original landscape photograph to Huffman.Staff@mail.house.gov, and include their name, hometown, and the location of the photo in the body of the email. Submissions will be accepted until July 5, 2013."This photography competition will showcase what is without a doubt the most beautiful Congressional District … Continue Reading
June 26, 2013
Huffman Statement on Supreme Court Decisions on DOMA and Prop 8
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional, and issued a ruling in the Proposition 8 case that allows same-sex marriages to resume in California: “America is a symbol of freedom and equality, and today’s decisions brought us one step closer to realizing that promise for all Americans. DOMA was discrimination enshrined in law, and in striking it down, the Supreme … Continue Reading
June 26, 2013
Huffman Statement on Supreme Court Decisions on DOMA and Prop 8
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) released the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional, and issued a ruling in the Proposition 8 case that allows same-sex marriages to resume in California:"America is a symbol of freedom and equality, and today's decisions brought us one step closer to realizing that promise for all Americans. DOMA was discrimination enshrined in law, and in striking it down, the Supreme … Continue Reading
June 25, 2013
Huffman Statement on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan
WASHINGTON-Following President Obama's announcement of a new Climate Action Plan to fight climate change by cutting carbon pollution and increasing renewable energy production, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) issued the following statement supporting immediate congressional action:"President Obama's Climate Action Plan included a number of critical policy reforms, including greenhouse gas limits on power plants, advancements in energy efficiency, and investments in renewable … Continue Reading
June 21, 2013
Huffman Votes Against Farm Bill
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) voted against the House Farm Bill last night. The House Farm Bill was defeated by a bipartisan vote of 195-234."It's unfortunate that the House GOP leadership has once again allowed the Tea Party fringe to thwart an opportunity for important, bipartisan legislation. The bipartisan Senate Farm Bill should have been our starting point, but instead, some of the most extreme ideologues in the House loaded the bill up with outrageous and … Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
Huffman: Finish the Budget!
WASHINGTON-Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) called upon Speaker Boehner to appoint representatives to a conference committee on the budget so Congress can reach an agreement that creates jobs, strengthens the middle class, and reduces the deficit."After months of criticizing the Senate for not producing a budget, Speaker Boehner is refusing to move forward and work out the differences between the House and Senate budgets," Congressman Huffman said. "It's shameful that … Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
California Representatives Meet With Secretary Jewell of the U.S. Department of the Interior
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, several U.S. Representatives from northern California met with Secretary Sally Jewell of the U.S. Department of the Interior to discuss the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). The members expressed their opposition to Governor Jerry Brown's flawed plan for the BDCP and lack of input from stakeholders in the Bay-Delta Region."This was an important opportunity to talk with Secretary Jewell about the future of California water and the vital need to restore the San … Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
Huffman Statement on Anti-Choice Bill
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman released the following statement after voting no on H.R. 1797 last night, which bans abortions after 20 weeks, with no exception to protect a woman's health."This week, as millions of Americans continue to look for jobs, as our economy teeters in a fragile recovery, as sequester cuts are hurting families across the country, and with our budget process stalled because Speaker Boehner refuses to appoint a conference committee so that negotiations … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
GUEST OPINION: A taste of the GOP's extreme austerity diet - Santa Rosa Press Democrat
LINK to original.It's easy to argue for austerity when you talk about impersonal cuts to vague acronyms. But programs like SNAP, TANF and WIC aren't just abstract concepts. They are programs that directly affect American families. We need to personalize them if we're going to make a difference.Take, for example, SNAP: the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, more commonly known as food stamps. Most Americans won't recognize the formal name, and many don't know that … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Huffman Speaks Out: With Sequester, Our Communities Unable to Prepare for, Rebuild after Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), a member of the Safe Climate Caucus, spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives today to urge the House to end the sequester and move forward on strong legislation to fight Climate Change. “Because of Climate Change, we are facing stronger and more destructive storms and natural disasters than at any time in American history. At the same time, the Sequester is slashing funding for the agencies that are critical to helping our … Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Huffman Votes Against Military Authorization Bill
WASHINGTON-Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today voted against the House National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA contained $85.8 billion in funding for Overseas Contingency Operations (combat in Iraq and Afghanistan), $5 billion above the President's budget request."At a time when we should be focused on rebuilding America at home, the House National Defense Authorization Act grossly overspends on the military, leaving other critical national priorities stuck with … Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
Rep. Huffman Takes Action to Prevent Doubling of Student Loan Interest Rates
WASHINGTON-Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) has taken action to force an up-or-down vote on key legislation that would stop the doubling of the interest rate on subsidized Stafford loans on July 1. The bill would freeze the interest rate on these loans at 3.4% for the next two years, giving Congress time to enact comprehensive student loan reform as part of a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Huffman joined his colleagues in signing a discharge petition, led by … Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
Huffman to take the SNAP Challenge, live off of $4.50 a day for food
WASHINGTON—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) will take the SNAP Challenge next week, limiting himself to $4.50 per day for food, the average daily benefit for a recipient of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as “food stamps.” This coincides with consideration of the House Farm Bill, authored by Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) which cuts $20 billion from SNAP. This bill will eliminate food assistance to nearly two million low-income Americans, and shuts … Continue Reading