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Congress today approved a key appropriations bill that moves toward correcting low Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians in Sonoma County. Under language requested by Sonoma County Representatives Mike Thompson and Lynn Woolsey, the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services must present a plan to Congress by January 1 for fixing a decades old discrepancy in the reimbursement rates paid to doctors in Sonoma and three other California counties. “Remedying this problem is one of the most important steps we can take to improve health care in Sonoma County,” Thompson said.

The House of Representatives last week approved $400,000 in Forest Legacy funding for Ridgewood Ranch, the onetime home of Seabiscuit. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-North Coast) requested the funding as part of the fiscal year 2005 Interior Appropriations Bill. Last month the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Ridgewood Ranch one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Seabiscuit, the racehorse who inspired Americans during the Great Depression, arrived at Ridgewood in 1939 and recuperated from injuries on the ranch before his heroic win at Santa Anita.

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) hailed today's ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court repealed a lower court's decision regarding the Trinity River Record of Decision (ROD) and ruled that the ROD should be fully implemented. “This is a great victory for the Hoopa Tribe and Northern California's costal communities, whose economy and jobs have been decimated by declining fisheries,” Thompson said.

The House Appropriations Committee today has approved $42 million in funding to fight Pierce's Disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) requested the funding as part of the FY2005 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Pierce's Disease is a harmful plant virus, spread by the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The disease attacks and kills grapevines. It is responsible for the complete destruction of more than 1,000 acres of grapevines in Temecula starting in the late 1990's that cost growers and the California economy tens of millions of dollars. Rep.

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) announced today that a key Congressional panel has approved a $20 million federal appropriation for the Napa Flood Control project. The funds were approved by the House Energy and Water Subcommittee as part of the FY2005 appropriations bill. Thompson said the new funding is $13 million above the President's budget request but equal to what the Army Corps of Engineers has determined necessary to keep the project on schedule to protect homes and businesses from another massive flood.

The House of Representatives yesterday approved $8.7 million in funding to combat Sudden Oak Death. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) requested the funding as part of the fiscal year 2005 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. “The North Coast has been hit hard by Sudden Oak Death. Far too many of our trees have been infected.” Thompson said. “This funding will aid the fight to control and eventually eradicate the disease.” Sudden Oak Death Syndrome is a fungus like pathogen that has decimated oak trees and infected other plant species such as California's prized redwood trees.