112th Congress
Today, I voted against legislation to repeal the important health reform legislation signed into law just last year. Repealing this legislation would roll back important improvements for people throughout our district.
Repealing the health reform law would:
- Remove new protections for 57 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, including at least 8,000 children in our district.
- End the choice for 2.4 million young adults to remain on their parent's plans until they are 26. In our district, 4,200 young people would lose coverage.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the University of California, Davis, on the occasion of the grand opening of its world-class, LEED Platinum-certified research and teaching facility focused on food science, wine, and brewing.
Among its distinctions, UC Davis is the world's leading research and teaching center for agriculture, food science, and viticulture and enology. UC Davis research and teaching has developed an international reputation and strength in agriculture, and food, dairy, and wine production.
As Congress debates this legislation to repeal the historic health care reform law, it is important that our constituents know what working families, small businesses, and seniors stand to lose.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the first hundred years or continuous service by the Fort Bragg Library on the Mendocino Coast in Northern California. From its beginning on January 18, 1911, Fort Bragg's beloved library has persevered through funding cuts, political ballot measures and an arson fire. It has flourished due to the ongoing support of the Mendocino Coast community.
Today the House gathers at an incredibly sad moment for our country. The events of January 8, 2011, are reprehensible and truly heartbreaking. I speak today of my close friend and an esteemed colleague in the Blue Dog Coalition, Gabby.
Today, Congressman Mike Thompson (D-North Coast) reintroduced legislation that would permanently prohibit oil and gas drilling off the coasts of Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. The Northern California Ocean and Coastal Protection Act protects the unique and dynamic marine environment along the Northern Coast of California's outer continental shelf (OCS) from off shore drilling. Congressman Thompson also introduced this legislation in the 111th Congress.
The first item of business today was adopting the rules by which we will run the 112th Congress. While the Republican Leadership has introduced some new, positive procedures that will enhance transparency in Congress, some of their proposals will hurt our district and add to our deficit.
WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman Mike Thompson (D- St. Helena) announced that the water reclamation plant in the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District will receive a grant of just over one million dollars and a loan of approximately $600,000 allocated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development program. This funding will be used to construct a solar array system to allow for a more efficient use of energy for the plant.