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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.
President Obama announced that he will protect a huge swath of land stretching 100 miles from the shores of Lake Berryessa to the flanks of Snow Mountain, a longtime dream of local residents and North Bay politicians.
The White House said the 331,000-acre wildland area known as Berryessa Snow Mountain is one of three national monuments that the president is protecting for a total of more than a million acres of public land.
On Friday President Barack Obama moved to set aside Berryessa Snow Mountain as a national monument. The decision will preserve a wilderness area of more than 330,000 acres covering parts of Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Yolo, Glenn and Colusa Counties.
The decision was applauded by environmental groups, as well as an alliance of politicians and business leaders and community members throughout Northern California who had been pressing for the designation.
It's too early to say how soon the region might feel the effects of the newly created Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, federal official's say. Friday's declaration of the monument status begins a long process of creating a new management plan for the federal lands included it its boundaries.
"You're talking about 330,000 acres," Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Martha Maciel said on Friday. "You're dealing with multiple jurisdictions, multiple cities, multiple counties. You're dealing with two federal agencies, tribal interests."
A choice chunk of Northern California's backcountry is getting the federal attention it needs with President Obama's decision to give enhanced protections for 331,000 acres across five near-Bay Area counties.