109th Congress
Santa Rosa: Press DemocratFive years of hard work and persistence finally paid off for Rep. Mike Thompson this week. The House on Monday approved a compromise plan to designate 273,000 acres of California lands as wilderness area, much of it on the North Coast. The centerpiece of this deal is preservation of 42,585 acres of the majestic King Range National Conservation Area south of Eureka. Much of the remaining lands are in the Mendocino and Six Rivers national forests and includes 27,000 acres in the Cache Creek area in Lake County. Sen.
San Francisco ChronicleThe House approved the largest new wilderness area for California in more than a decade, offering permanent protection for more than 273,000 acres of coastal mountains, scenic rivers and forests stretching from Napa to the Oregon border. The newly designated wilderness covers five Northern California counties and would include parts of the King Range -- which has the longest stretch of undeveloped coast in the lower 48 states -- and Cedar Roughs, the world's largest grove of rare Sargent cypress trees.
Santa Rosa Press DemocratThe smoke and the smell of charcoal wafted through the air Saturday as hundreds of salmon steaks sizzled on giant grills at Fort Bragg's Noyo Harbor for the 35th annual salmon barbecue. It appeared to be a typical Fourth of July barbecue, but just below the surface lurked a more serious tone. The irony of so much grilled salmon and so little opportunity for commercial fishermen to catch them was lost on few of those from the local fishing community. "It does bother me not to be able to make a living," said Jerry Wall, who fishes commercially part time.
Earlier this month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in 10 Northern California counties affected by the federal government's decision to severely restrict ocean salmon fishing. In doing so, he made commercial fishermen in Del Norte and nine other counties eligible for state-guaranteed loans totaling $9.2 million.
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) condemned the Republican Iraq resolution on the House floor today. Thompson, a Vietnam War combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient, was asked by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to manage a portion of the floor debate. Thompson called on Congress to bring our troops home as soon as possible.
"Mr. Speaker, this resolution will not ensure any success in Iraq. It will not bring our troops home. It will only signal the death of true, honest debate within the walls of this great chamber.
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) renewed his call today to extend the deadline for seniors to sign up for the new Medicare Part D drug benefit. Beneficiaries have until Monday, May 15 to sign up for the plan or face lifetime penalties for failing to do so. Thompson is a cosponsor of H.R. 3860 a bill that would extend the deadline and suspend the penalty for the 2006 calendar year.
Thompson, a member of the Health Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee voted against the Medicare Prscription Drug Benefit in 2003.
Bay Area Members of Congress unveiled disaster assistance legislation today for West Coast salmon fishing communities that will be impacted by this year's slashed salmon season. Reps. Mike Thompson and Lynn Woolsey announced the bill in front of hundreds of salmon fishermen at a rally on San Francisco's Pier 47.
North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) today filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with NOAA Fisheries asking for all documents pertaining to federal salmon policy dating back to 2001.
“It's time to shine a bright light into the shady backrooms where the Bush Administration has been making politically motivated decisions about the management of the Klamath,” Thompson said. “These politically motivated decisions are directly responsible for the poor condition of the Klamath and the near loss of this year's salmon season.”