113th Congress
President Barack Obama is poised to sign legislation from U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, that would require security assessments of American oil refineries, including Valero Benicia Refinery, and railroad infrastructure, such as Union Pacific that has tracks through Benicia.
Austin Vevurka, Thompson's spokesperson, said Thursday that Thompson's legislation is part of House of Representatives Bill 4681, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015.
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today voted against the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 83) that includes numerous provisions that would put our economy at risk, hurt the middle class, provide funding for Syrian rebels to fight ISIL, and undermine the president's attempts to address problems with our broken immigration system.
Five U.S. Representatives for Northern California, including districts encompassing Martinez, voted Tuesday against H.R. 5781, the "California Emergency Drought Relief Act." Despite their opposition, the bill that would mandate the pumping of Delta water to south of the Delta will move forward to the Senate.
WASHINGTON D.C. – Legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) to enhance rail and refinery security passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of H.R. 4681, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. Thompson's legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis (DHS I&A) to conduct an intelligence assessment of the security of domestic oil refineries and related rail infrastructure.
WASHINGTON D.C. – Legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) to improve the security at American embassies passed the U.S. House of Representatives today as part of H.R. 4681, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 and will now be signed into law.
House lawmakers are planning the largest funding increase for background checks on gun purchases.
The trillion-dollar "cromnibus" bill to fund the federal government would set aside $73 million to help states improve their record keeping systems, which aim to keep guns out of the hands of convicted criminals and the dangerously mentally ill.
States can apply for grants to "upgrade criminal and mental health records," which are stored in the federal database and checked by federally licensed gun dealers during all in-store purchases.
Legislation by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson to improve security at America's embassies and for rail and refineries passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday and now heads to the president's desk for his signature, the St. Helena Democrat's office announced.
H.R. 4681, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, grew partially out of the 2012 terrorist attack out the U.S. Consular facility in Benghazi, Libya, Thompson said.
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-05), George Miller (D-11), Doris Matsui (D-06), Jerry McNerney (D-09), and John Garamendi (D-03) today voted against H.R. 5781, so-called "California Emergency Drought Relief Act." The legislation, introduced on December 2nd, was sent to the House Floor without any committee review or input from any state or federal water agencies, fishing interests, or tribes. H.R. 5781 would mandate the pumping of Delta water to South of the Delta.
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5), chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, released a statement today on the $73 million included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 83) to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
It's a given that recent rains and prospects of a major storm on Wednesday offer hope of relief for California, but they do little to mollify concerns about the state's historic drought conditions.
It's also a given that the Golden State needs federal financial and political help if it is avoid becoming known as the Perennially Brown State. But a Republican-driven bill now being pushed through Congress is not the answer.