WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12508) on Feb. 13, 2025, by natural resources policy specialists Charles V. Stern and Pervaze A. Sheikh. Here are excerpts: * * * Trump Administration Executive Order on California Water Resources On January 24, 2025, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order 14181 (E.O.), "Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-California, issued the following news release on Feb. 13, 2025: * * * Dems decry 'attacks' on DOJ environment lawyers E&E NEWS PM | Democratic lawmakers are demanding answers on the Trump administration's gutting of the Justice Department's environment division. In a Tuesday letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Reps. Nanette Barragan of California, Yassamin Ansari of Arizona and 39 of their colleagues raised concerns about the reassignment of   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Huffman, Schakowsky, Raskin Lead Efforts to Support Public Education and Oppose Scheme to Divert Public Funds to Private, Religious Schools Lawmakers urge immediate withdrawal of Trump's private school voucher executive order Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives and Congressional Freethought Caucus members Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led 42   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Darrell E. Issa, R-California, issued the following news release: * * * Issa, GOP Colleagues Announce No Censors on our Shores Act WASHINGTON- Foreign officials that willfully violate the First Amendment rights of American citizens will face new consequences thanks to legislation authored by Congressman Darrell Issa and his House colleagues Congresswoman Maria Salazar (FL-27), Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-5) and Congressman Brandon Gill (TX-26). The No Cens  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Neguse, Huffman Demand Firefighters and Seasonal Employees be Exempt from Trump Attacks on Federal Workforce Lafayette, CO -- Following public reports that the Trump Administration is directing mass firings of federal workers and freezing hiring of essential positions, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources Jared Huffman,   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Padilla Introduces Bill to Raise Minimum Age to Buy Assault Weapons WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On the seventh anniversary of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21, the same age requirement that alre  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Padilla, Moran, Hirono, Lankford Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Promote Wildfire Mitigation Through Wildlife Grazing WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced bipartisan legislation to promote research on how grazing can support wildfire mitigation, fuels reduction, and post-fire recovery. Sever  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Padilla, Schiff Sound Alarm Over Trump Admin's Illegal, Indiscriminate Funding Cuts to National Institutes of Health WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) expressed serious concerns over the Trump Administration's proposed funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that would create a severe funding shortfall for research institutions ac  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Ranking Member Huffman Blasts Mass Firings at Interior, Forest Service Huffman warns of severe impacts to vital services for tribes, wildfire mitigation, water availability Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) released a statement regarding the mass firings of as many as 5,700 employees across the Department of the Interior and  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Huffman Blasts Mass Firings at Interior, Forest Service Huffman warns of severe impacts to vital services for tribes, wildfire mitigation, water availability Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) released a statement regarding the mass firing  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-California, ranking member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Lofgren Blasts Co-Presidents Trump and Musk for Mindless Federal Workforce Firings WASHINGTON, DC--Since Thursday evening, Elon Musk and DOGE have been carrying out indiscriminate terminations of individuals in key programs across the federal government. Some employees have been rehired after the Ad  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 13, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Maxine Waters and Congressman Brad Sherman Warn of Dangerous Consequences If Musk's DOGE Takes Over SEC In light of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team's rapid and illegal takeover of multiple federal agencies today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the Ho  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Maxine Waters Leads Key House Members in Questioning Acting Director Vought's Compliance with Trump's Illegal Anti-DEIA Orders Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, led key House Members in a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Mark Takano, D-California, ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Takano Demands Accountability From Secretary Collins Over Mass VA Employee Firings The letter to Secretary Collins was signed by Representatives Julia Brownley, Sheila Cherfilus McCormick, Morgan McGarvey, Delia Ramirez, Nikki Budzinski, Tim Kennedy, Maxine Dexter M.D., Herb Conaway M.D., & Kelly Morrison M.D.   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Ami Bera, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Ami Bera Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Measure Scope of Loneliness Epidemic Today, U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06) and Mike Flood (R-NE-01) introduced the Improving Measurements for Loneliness and Isolation Act. This bill aims to bring uniformity to reporting measurements for loneliness and isolation following the former U.S. Surgeon General's declaration of loneliness and isolation  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Ami Bera, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Ami Bera Introduces Bipartisan Resolution Condemning the People's Republic of China's Harassment and Intimidation of American Citizens Today, U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06) and Andy Barr (R-KY-06) introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning the People's Republic of China's (PRC) growing efforts to harass, intimidate and suppress free speech on American soil. The resolution high  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Ken Calvert, R-California, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2025: * * * Rep. Calvert Introduces the HEARTS Act Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) announced the introduction of the HEARTS Act (Humane and Existing Alternatives in Research and Testing Sciences Act), H.R. 1291, bipartisan legislation encouraging the use and development of humane alternatives to animal testing experiments funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Congressman Ch  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Ken Calvert, R-California, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2025: * * * Rep. Calvert Reintroduces Bill to Double Jail Time for Mail Theft Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) reintroduced the Ensuring the Safety Our Mail Act, H.R. 1292, which will double the maximum jail sentence for anyone convicted of mail theft. "It's clear we must send a stronger message and have a more effective deterrent for would-be mail thieves," said Rep. Calvert. "That's   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Judy Chu, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Chu Condemns Republican Rip Off Advancing from House Budget Committee WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House Budget Committee advanced on a 21-16 party line vote the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget For Fiscal Year 2025. Rep. Judy Chu, who voted in opposition, released the following statement: "The budget advanced tonight by House Republicans betrays the American people in service of their mil  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Dave Min, D-California, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2025: * * * Rep. Dave Min Leads Amendment to Investigate Elon Musk's Plan to Slash NOAA Funding Rep. Min: "Losing NOAA, or massive cuts to NOAA, means that we'll lose out on grants that are helping to restore critical habitats, to improve coastal protection, provide recreational opportunities, protect our open spaces" Washington, D.C. - This week, Representative Dave Min (CA-47), member of the H  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Jim Costa, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Jim Costa Introduces National Plan for Epilepsy WASHINGTON \- U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21) and Greg Murphy (NC-03), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Epilepsy Caucus, introduced H.R.1189, the National Plan for Epilepsy Act (link is external), bipartisan legislation that would establish a national plan to coordinate research and essential services for those living with epilepsy. "As some  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Mike Levin, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Mike Levin & Veterans' Organizations Demand Protection of Veterans' Programs from Trump-Musk Cuts & Potential Privatization San Diego, CA - Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) and veterans' advocacy organizations called on the Trump Administration and Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins to protect federal programs that help veterans from potential cuts that could lead to privatization of th  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Mike Levin, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Mike Levin's Statement on Recent Votes on the Laken Riley Act & Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act Oceanside, CA-- Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) released the following statement regarding his votes for the Laken Riley Act and against the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act.  "As the grandchild of Mexican-American immigrants, I believe strongly in America as both a nation of immigrants  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Panetta Reintroduces the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act for Valentine's Day Monterey, CA - On Valentine's Day, United States Representative Jimmy Panetta reintroduced the Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act, critical legislation that would eliminate outdated laws that force Disabled Adult Children (DACs) to choose between their right to marry and their access to essential So  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Ami Bera, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Reps. Bera, Obernolte Relaunch California Public Higher Education Caucus Today, U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) relaunched the California Public Higher Education Caucus (CPHEC) for the 119 th Congress. First launched in 2014 by Rep. Bera and former Rep. Jeff Denham, CPHEC is a bipartisan group of lawmakers who advocate for the University of California (UC),   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-California, issued the following news release: * * * Reps. LaMalfa and Neguse Introduce the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act Washington, D.C.-- Today, Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) and Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) introduced the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, with Reps. Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-PA), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), and Ryan Zinke (R-MT). First enacted in 2000, the Secure Rural Schools  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Schiff Joins Sens. Graham, Whitehouse, Colleagues on Congressional Delegation to Munich Security Conference Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) will join Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) on a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to this weekend's Munich Security Conference (MSC). The MSC is widely considered the world's lead  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Sens. Schiff, Padilla Sound Alarm Over Trump Administration's Illegal, Indiscriminate Funding Cuts to National Institutes of Health Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and the entire Senate Democratic caucus to express serious concerns in a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Ke  more