Press Releases

Today, the Senate voted to override the president's veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) by a strong bipartisan majority, making the bill law. The House voted to override his veto Tuesday night. WRDA authorizes hundreds of vital infrastructure projects across the country that will help restore wetlands, protect communities from catastrophic floods and enhance natural resources, including several projects within the 1st Congressional District.

Today, the House of Representatives again passed a bipartisan bill to provide health coverage to more than 10 million children. This bill strengthens language that the president claimed to be problematic in the previous version, which he vetoed in September.

Today, the House fell 13 votes short in an attempt to override President Bush's veto of a bill to reauthorize the popular State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

“Unfortunately, Members of Congress who chose to walk lock-step with the president rather than represent their constituents have kept millions of children from getting the health care they desperately need,” said Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA).

Last weekend, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) was presented with the Sierra Club's Edgar Wayburn Award for passing legislation that permanently protects 273,000 acres of wilderness in Northern California. The award is given annually in recognition of service to the environment by a person in government. Thompson was joined by other Sierra Club award winners, including former Vice President Al Gore and author and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman.

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the FAA Reauthorization:

“Today, the House sent a clear message to the flying public: everyone has a right to be treated decently and fairly while on a plane or in an airport, especially during excessive delays.

Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), author of the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights (HR 1303) announced to a crowd on the National Mall that the House's FAA Reauthorization legislation will require airlines and airports to deplane passengers after excessive delays. In addition, the legislation includes another provision from Thompson's bill, which will require airlines to provide passengers with food, clean drinking water, usable bathrooms, proper ventilation and medical care during delays.

Today, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) released the following statement on the testimony given by General Petraeus:

“General Petraeus' report was just a thinly guised veil of President Bush's routine excuses for continuing war. While his intentions may be good, the General only confirms my belief that redeployment should begin immediately.

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) released the following statement in response to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales: