Press Releases

On Friday, June 17, Rep. Mike Thompson delivered the commencement address for graduates of Kelseyville High School in Kelseyville, California. The full text of the Congressman's remarks as prepared are available below:

"Thank you Kelseyville High School administrators, teachers, parents, and - most important - students for inviting me to speak on this most special day: your high school graduation. Congratulations! Years of hard work have brought you to this moment. You've worked hard, done well, and deserve to be proud of your success.

Rep. Thompson is the recipient of CHA's Health Care Champion Award, presented to select elected officials who demonstrate exceptional leadership on behalf of California's hospitals and the patients they serve. The award was presented during a special ceremony hosted by members of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California on Wednesday.

“The San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act is nothing more than an attempt by powerful water districts south of the Sacramento River Delta to take water they aren't entitled to from farms to the north. H.R. 1837 looks to throw out long-standing state water law, gut the restoration of the San Joaquin River, and take water desperately needed for fisheries that are vital to coastal communities.

Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Jim Gerlach (R-PA) today introduced the Conservation Easement Incentive Act, landmark legislation that would provide family farmers, ranchers, and other moderate-income landowners with a permanent incentive to donate development rights to their land. By providing tax benefits to landowners who choose conservation, the bill would help preserve our nation's cherished farm lands and open spaces for future generations. The bill has received broad bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, with 251 original co-sponsors.

Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Dave Reichert (R-WA) today introduced the bipartisan Community Forestry Conservation Act (H.R. 1982), which would enable non-profit conservation organizations to use bonds to purchase private, working forests for long-term environmental and economic sustainability management. A broad coalition of conservationists, private landowners, and the timber industry endorsed the legislation for its pragmatic approach to balancing conservation and business interests.