GOP Water Bill Does Nothing to Solve California’s Drought This week the only major piece of legislation before the House was H.R. 2898, this year’s version of the infamous water grab brought to us by Republican Congressman David Valadao. The bill would override the state’s ability to carefully allocate the

This week we considered three major bills on the House floor, all three of which are Republican message bills, and I had several significant committee hearings. I will discuss the bills first. 1. H.R. 1734, “Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015”. My friend David McKinley, a Republican from West

A very hot and humid week in Washington was met with some very interesting legislation on the House floor and in two subcommittee hearings I attended. EPA/Interior Approps bill The real focus of the week was H.R. 2822: “Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016,” which had

This week was decidedly mixed in terms of partisanship and policy. On the one hand, the House easily passed H.R. 2576 the Toxic Chemical Control Act, and other bipartisan acts. I was proud of passing TSCA because it was badly needed and because it represented a significant degree of compromise.

This week was decidedly mixed in terms of partisanship and policy. On the one hand, the House easily passed H.R. 2576 the Toxic Chemical Control Act, and other bipartisan acts. I was proud of passing TSCA because it was badly needed and because it represented a significant degree of compromise.

Partisan Legislation These two weeks produced partisan bills that would be vetoed if they ever pass the Senate. I will get to some very good news later, but first I will discuss the partisan legislation we were treated to. The sequester, which has been in place for 3 years, puts

Background The Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C) over  May 3 – May 9 embarked on a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to the European Cities of Lisbon, Portugal; Brussels, Belgium; and Kiev (also spelled Kyiv), Ukraine.  The purpose of the CODEL was to allow members of E&C to get a close-up understanding

House Floor votes last week consisted of bills to increase the vulnerability of low-income home buyers and a bill that would increase the deficit by extending large tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans, each of which I opposed. Committee The Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing on the

This past week in Washington, March 23 – March 27, was a welcome change from the partisan bickering and ideology that has, up until this week, characterized the floor debates and bills passed in the House of Representatives. Throughout the Week I hosted numerous constituent meetings and conducted an interview

Last week I was in Washington and stayed busy with action in my committees and on the House floor. I attended multiple Energy and Commerce Committee hearings as well as a last-minute Veterans’ Affairs committee meeting. Also, three significant bills were brought up for votes on the House floor. DEFENDING