Press Releases

U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), two senior Members of the House Committee on Ways & Means, led a letter to President Obama urging him to work collaboratively with Congress to craft Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation. Strong TPA legislation that enhances the consultative role of Congress throughout the course of trade negotiations will help increase our nation's international competitiveness, grow the U.S. economy and create good American jobs.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) was honored today for his years of work to make sure service members who were subjected to the Department of Defense's (DOD) chemical weapon testing are able to receive full medical care and disability compensation for their service-connected medical conditions. In late 2002, the DOD revealed for the first time that between 1962 and 1974 it had tested harmful chemical and biological agents by spraying them on ships and sailors.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05), a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, announced today that he introduced H.R. 3439, the New Markets Tax Credit Military Installation Act of 2013. This bipartisan legislation, co-authored by Republican Rep. Ralph Hall (TX-4), expands the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program by authorizing up to $100 million per year for distressed communities that have had military installations closed or realigned.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) today secured the passage of a provision in H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), that allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue working with the Sonoma County Water Agency to enhance six miles of endangered coho salmon habitat along Dry Creek, located between Warm Springs Dam and the Russian River near Healdsburg.

U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and George Miller (CA-11) today secured the passage of a provision in H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), that will de-authorizes a four-mile segment of the existing Walnut Creek Project, taking it out of Army Corps control. De-authorizing this four-mile segment eliminates unnecessary U.S. Army Corps bureaucracy and allows the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to directly perform flood control and habitat restoration on the remaining 18 miles of the Walnut Creek Project.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson's (CA-5) bipartisan amendment requiring a federal study on impacts of invasive species passed the House today. The amendment was passed as part of H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2013. Specifically, the amendment requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the impacts of aquatic invasive species on federal assets and current federal spending on aquatic invasive species prevention.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced today that he introduced, H.R. 3306, the Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2013, bipartisan legislation to expand telemedicine. By allowing Medicare payments for remote patient monitoring, the bill expands the locations where patients can receive Medicare-covered teleheath services. The bill also gives states the opportunity to expand Medicaid coverage to include telehealth services for women with high-risk pregnancies. U.S. Reps. Gregg Harper (MS-3-R.), Devin Nunes (CA-22-R), and Peter Welch (VT-D-AL) joined Thompson in introducing the legislation.