Newsroom
Latest News
Bipartisan legislation from U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D- St. Helena) to improve health care service and access to Medicare beneficiaries and save tax dollars last week passed the House and now heads to the president to be signed into law, Thompson's office announced.
The Medicare Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Improvement Act of 2015 extends for two years the Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Program — a voluntary, home-based primary care service offered to Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions.
President Barack Obama's announcement last week that he would designate the Berryessa Snow Mountain area a national monument represented another golden moment in the rich history of land preservation in Northern California. The action assures the protection of roughly 350,000 acres of rolling, oak-dotted hills stretching from the shores of Lake Berryessa in the south to Snow Mountain and wilderness areas northwest of Mendocino National Forest.
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today voted against the House Majority's California water bill, H.R. 2898. The legislation would jeopardize jobs in and north of the delta, undermine existing state law, and override long-standing environmental protections. This bill was introduced on June 25th – three weeks ago – and is being rushed to the House Floor without any public hearings or opportunities for lawmakers to receive input from stakeholders. It passed out of committee along a nearly party line vote (23-12) and is opposed by the White House.
The House on Thursday passed GOP-led legislation designed to bring more water to California's farm belt amid a severe and lengthy drought.
Similar efforts have faltered in the last two congressional sessions after initially passing the House, and the White House and Democrats remain opposed.
The four-year California drought has forced communities to cut water use. Some rural areas have been particularly hurt as the state's water distribution systems curtailed the amount of water for agriculture.
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today voted against the House Majority's California water bill, calling it "bad for California, bad for other states, and bad for our environment."
"The legislation would jeopardize jobs in and north of the Delta, undermine existing state law, and override long-standing environmental protections," Thompson told his peers today.
He said the bill was introduced three weeks ago and is being rushed to the House Floor without any public hearings or opportunities for lawmakers to receive input from stakeholders.
A Republican-drafted California water bill approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday now faces a serious test in the Senate and beyond.
Loaded with provisions sought by GOP lawmakers and San Joaquin Valley farmers, the 170-page package won approval on a 245-176 vote following roughly two hours of sometimes contentious and often familiar debate.
"This is something we take very seriously," said Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., the bill's lead author. "We're helping deliver real water to the Valley."
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson's (D-CA) bipartisan legislation to improve health care service and access to Medicare beneficiaries, and save tax dollars today passed the House and will go to the President to be signed into law. The legislation, titled the Medicare Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Improvement Act of 2015 (H.R. 2196/S. 971) extends the Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Program (IAH) for two years.
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson's (D-CA) bipartisan legislation to improve health care service and access to Medicare beneficiaries, and save tax dollars today passed the House and will go to the President to be signed into law. The legislation, titled the Medicare Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Improvement Act of 2015 (H.R. 2196/S. 971) extends the Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Program (IAH) for two years. IAH is a voluntary, home-based primary care service offered to Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions.
Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today attended a White House celebration where President Obama used the executive authority granted to him under the Antiquities Act to designate the Berryessa Snow Mountain region as a National Monument. Under this designation, the region will be permanently protected, ensuring continued recreational opportunities and providing an regional economic boost, while also safeguarding the region's beauty, wildlife, rare plants, and waters – which include important sources of drinking water and irrigation for nearby communities.
More than a million acres of wilderness will be protected as part of three new national monuments that President Barack Obama is creating in California
The presidential move, announced by the White House early Friday, brings to 19 the number of monuments that Obama has created or expanded since taking office. Environmental advocates hailed the new monuments as bringing sorely needed protection to natural American treasures, even as Republicans in Congress were pursuing legislation to stop the president.