Press Releases

Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Rural Health Coalition, introduced H.R. 3859, the Rural Hospital and Provider Equity (R-HOPE) Act of 2012 today. This bipartisan bill would help rural communities meet the challenge of providing access to high-quality, affordable health care.

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) today announced that an agreement has been reached between House and Senate leaders to pass the Air Passenger Bill of Rights. The Air Passenger Bill of Rights will make sure airlines meet their responsibility to passengers by ensuring that passengers are given the option to deplane after excessive delays, and requiring that fliers are provided with basic necessities, including access to food and water, comfortable cabin temperatures, and adequate restroom facilities.

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) today called on the House Members of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Conference Committee to include his Airline Passenger Bill of Rights in the long-term FAA authorization bill. The Airline Passenger Bill of Rights would ensure that passengers are given the option to deplane after three hours. In addition it would require that fliers are provided with basic necessities, including access to food and water, comfortable cabin temperatures, and adequate restroom facilities.

Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-1) and Lee Terry (NE-2) yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation increasing rural communities' access to high quality health care. The bipartisan “Medicare Hospice Access Care Act,” allows physician assistants to care for Medicare hospice patients.

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1), joined by Democratic Members of the California Congressional Delegation, today welcomed the President's proposal from the State of the Union to provide responsible homeowners with the opportunity to refinance at historically low rates, but said this is only half of the equation.

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) today released the following statement on the Interior Department's Draft Overview Report on Klamath Dam Removal Studies. Thompson is the sponsor of the H.R. 3398, the Klamath Basin Economic Restoration Act.

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) today released the following statement in response to the President's State of the Union address:

“Tonight the President talked about how we must stand up for our middle class, and those fighting to get into the middle class. Hard working families across our District are looking for a fair shake. They want to know that if they work hard and play by the rules, then they will be able to put food on the table and gas in their car, make their mortgage payment, send their kids to college and save for retirement.

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) today announced that new regulations to help ensure airline passengers are treated fairly will go into effect this week. The new protections, put in place by the Department of Transportation (DOT), require that airlines and ticket agents include all mandatory taxes and fees in published airfares and that they disclose baggage fees to consumers buying tickets.