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President Barack Obama is poised to sign legislation from U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, that would require security assessments of American oil refineries, including Valero Benicia Refinery, and railroad infrastructure, such as Union Pacific that has tracks through Benicia.
Austin Vevurka, Thompson's spokesperson, said Thursday that Thompson's legislation is part of House of Representatives Bill 4681, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015.
Five U.S. Representatives for Northern California, including districts encompassing Martinez, voted Tuesday against H.R. 5781, the "California Emergency Drought Relief Act." Despite their opposition, the bill that would mandate the pumping of Delta water to south of the Delta will move forward to the Senate.
House lawmakers are planning the largest funding increase for background checks on gun purchases.
The trillion-dollar "cromnibus" bill to fund the federal government would set aside $73 million to help states improve their record keeping systems, which aim to keep guns out of the hands of convicted criminals and the dangerously mentally ill.
States can apply for grants to "upgrade criminal and mental health records," which are stored in the federal database and checked by federally licensed gun dealers during all in-store purchases.
Legislation by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson to improve security at America's embassies and for rail and refineries passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday and now heads to the president's desk for his signature, the St. Helena Democrat's office announced.
H.R. 4681, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, grew partially out of the 2012 terrorist attack out the U.S. Consular facility in Benghazi, Libya, Thompson said.
It's a given that recent rains and prospects of a major storm on Wednesday offer hope of relief for California, but they do little to mollify concerns about the state's historic drought conditions.
It's also a given that the Golden State needs federal financial and political help if it is avoid becoming known as the Perennially Brown State. But a Republican-driven bill now being pushed through Congress is not the answer.
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, the Napa Democrat who represents Benicia in the House of Representatives, said Tuesday that all five counties within the Berryessa Snow Mountain Region, including Solano, have endorsed permanent protection for the area.
Mendocino County was the final agency to vote to endorse permanent protection for region, Thompson said. Napa, Lake, Yolo and Solano counties previously voted to support its permanent protection.
The Mendocino vote was unanimous, he said.
President Obama recently used his executive authority to permanently safeguard two of California's natural treasures. He officially expanded the California Coastal National Monument to include the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands and he designated 346,000 acres of public land in Southern California as the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
The President should be applauded for these actions, and I am proud to have worked with our local communities and the White House to make sure the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands received the permanent protection they deserved.
No need to look for the WD-40 at Monday morning's turkey and food box distribution at the Vallejo Salvation Army. After five years, it's a well-oiled machine.
"It's running very smoothly," said Capt. Jonathan Harvey after pulling up in the Salvation Army's new 20-foot mobile assistance vehicle.
It was basically a pre-Thanksgiving pit-stop for 300 families, with cars pulling into one of two lanes as 20 students from Bethel High School's Interact club and a handful of other volunteers placed boxes in trunks and backseats.
As the camouflaged military vehicle drove slowly by in the Petaluma Veterans Day parade Tuesday, Meggie Haley ran out to hand deliver a very special message to a veteran on board:
"Thank you very much for making me and everybody else safer," her handmade note read.
Eleven-year-old Meggie and her 9-year-old brother, Drew, said they just felt like they wanted to do something special to thank servicemen and women on their special day.
Since Americans should respect and honor the nation's veterans and active-duty military every day, every day should be Veterans Day. That was the message delivered by several speakers at this city's Community Center Gym on Tuesday.
"We should thank our veterans and service members for our safety and keep in our thoughts and prayers those who are in harm's way," Mayor Leon Garcia said, noting the city's long-standing tradition of honoring its military members. "And we should ensure they have access to the services they need and earned when they return."