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Earlier this month, Gov. Jerry Brown and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) both sent letters to Obama asking him for a major disaster declaration for California because of the tsunami generated by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan on March 11.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is still reviewing Brown's requests for other affected communities, which include neighboring Mendocino County.
“Last month's tsunami caused significant damage to infrastructure up and down California's coast.
“Although no one likes paying taxes, we recognize they are necessary to educate our students, pave our roads, and support our military and law enforcement. Taxes are also used to provide services to our most vulnerable citizens, including women, children, and seniors.
“Earlier this week, I supported a bipartisan bill to fund the government through Fiscal Year 2011 in an effort to avert a government shutdown, which would have seriously hurt our country's ongoing economic recovery. The spending plan wasn't perfect, but it reduced spending and protected the programs that are important to families in our district, including Medicare.
“Thank you, Madame Chair.
“Welcome to all of the witnesses and thank you for taking the time to inform this subcommittee about your research and experiences with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Chef Thomas Aloysius Keller, of Yountville, California on the occasion of being honored by French President Nicolas Sarkozy as a Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor.
I believe government must take a common-sense approach to spending, just like you and your family. Now more than ever, we need a realistic budget that pares down the deficit while still providing funds for veterans' benefits, education, agriculture, infrastructure, health care, and other crucial social services. Doing nothing is not just fiscally irresponsible - it's putting our families at risk.
With a principal agreement on a spending deal that would carry the federal government through the Sept. 30 end of the budget year, Congress passed a stop-gap measure late Friday to keep federal departments operating for another week.
“I am pleased that Congressional leaders and the president were able to avoid a government shutdown. I look forward to reviewing the final funding bill to ensure it's the best public policy for the people of our district and our country.”