Press Releases

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced that Mel Orpilla will serve as the new District Representative and Ryan Labar will serve as a new Constituent Services Representative in Thompson's Vallejo office. Orpilla replaces outgoing District Representative Brian Bottari. Labar was hired through the Wounded Warrior Program announced by Thompson in February.

“I am thrilled to have Mel and Ryan on our team,” said Thompson. “They are both smart, talented, hard working individuals who will provide great service to the people in our community.”

U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-5) and Pete Sessions (TX-32) announced today that funding for their bipartisan legislation to improve treatment options for active duty soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) was approved by the House of Representatives. The funding was approved through H.R. 2397, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2014. The Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) innovative treatment program was authorized in June 2013 through H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson's (CA-5) bipartisan provision requiring every American flag purchased by the Department of Defense (DOD) to be 100 percent manufactured in the United States, from articles, materials, or supplies that are 100 percent of grown, produced or manufactured in the United States, was again passed by the House of Representatives. Thompson's provision passed as part of H.R. 2397, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2014. The provision was previously included in H.R.

U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Gene Green (TX-29) today introduced H.R. 2791, the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act (RERA) of 2013. The legislation promotes the U.S. recycling industry by prohibiting the exportation of some electronics whose improper disposal may create environmental, health, or national security risks. This helps bring recycling jobs back to the U.S. According to a recent study by the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling, restrictions on e-waste exports could create up to 42,000 new direct and indirect jobs with a total payroll of more than $1 billion.

U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Jim Gerlach (R-PA) today announced that they will introduce the bipartisan Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2013. The legislation provides a permanent tax incentive to family farmers, ranchers, and other landowners who chose not develop their land and instead preserve their property for conservation. By providing tax benefits to landowners who choose conservation, the bill helps preserve our nation's farm lands and open spaces for future generations.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today testified at a Committee on Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation hearing on H.R. 1025, the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act.

Today, several U.S. Representatives from Northern California called on the Brown Administration to withdraw and fully revise their proposed Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) in light of draft environmental documents being found “biased” and “insufficient” by federal agencies in public comments made available yesterday. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S.

Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today introduced bipartisan legislation to address the environmental damage caused by rampant trespass marijuana cultivation. The Protecting Lands Against Narcotics Trafficking Act (PLANT Act) would establish new penalties for causing environmental damage while cultivating marijuana on federal public lands or while trespassing on private property. Thompson and Huffman introduced the bill with bipartisan cosponsors Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), and Doug Lamborn (R-CO).