Times Herald-Rep. Mike Thompson announces new appointment, grant

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson was appointed by Speaker of the House John Boehner to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, Thompson's office announced Thursday. Thompson also announced on Thursday a Department of Health and Human Services Grant to Napa County's Child Start of more than $1.4 million.

Thompson represents all or part of Solano, Napa, Contra Costa, Lake and Sonoma counties.

The goal of the $1,411,750 Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grant is to expand high quality early learning opportunities for Napa and Solano counties' most vulnerable infants and toddlers, the announcement said. It will be used to form collaborations between Child Start and local child care programs like Napa Valley Adult Education's Teen Parent Program and Solano Community College Children's Programs.

"These funds will help parents and their children get the care and education they need to be successful and pursue their career goals," Thompson said in a statement. "Everyone, no matter who they are or where they are from, deserves an equal opportunity to succeed and this grant will help our great community organizations make that happen."

The grant will empower Child Start to build on long-standing community relationships to address the need for high quality infant and toddler care in Napa and Solano counties," Child Start Executive Director Debbie Peralez said in the statement."We look forward to strengthening these partnerships and continuing to lay a foundation for success for our community's at-risk children."

Regarding the migratory bird commission, Thompson replaces former Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) on the commission that was established in 1929 to consider and approve any areas of land and/or water recommended by the Secretary of the Interior for purchase or rental by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and to fix the rental or purchase price. The commission also considers the establishment of new waterfowl refuges.

"It is a tremendous honor to be appointed to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, and to the first member in the commission's history from the Pacific Flyway," Thompson in a statement. "As a longtime waterfowler and conservationist I am proud to be part of this commission, and to have the opportunity to work on protecting and preserving our great wetlands and diverse wildlife."

Waterfowl preservation and wetlands conservation is nothing new to Thompson, his office said.

In the 1990s he helped mitigate a homeless problem along the South Spit of Humboldt Bay, where now, at least partly due to his efforts, wildlife thrives and public access is secure, he said.

Thompson also helped forge a deal in California's Del Norte County to save the Aleutian Goose by striking a deal with California State Parks that allowed the area to be restored to short grass, improving the geese's dwindling food supply.

He also secured more than $20 million to restore the Napa-Sonoma Salt Marsh, he noted. Through his efforts, 10,000 acres of wetlands have been restored and hunting opportunities have been increased, Thompson said.

Thompson is known as an authority on vintage California waterfowl decoys and was recently inducted into the California Waterfowl Hall of Fame, his office noted.