Northern California News and Events

"All of the Above" Energy Solution
August is usually a district work period for Congress.  But this year I stayed behind in Washington, D.C. for a few extra days to take part in a historic protest on the House Floor in which House Republicans spent the entire five week recess speaking out against the House Speaker's decision to adjourn Congress without doing anything about energy costs.  Speaking to thousands of tourists during the last five weeks, House Republicans talked about the immediate need for an "All of the Above" energy policy.  Because of these efforts, Speaker Pelosi is apparently now open to more domestic drilling, but her draft legislation falls far short of providing the boost in domestic offshore production that our nation desperately needs.  In the remaining two weeks before Congress is scheduled to adjourn once again, I will continue to work with like-minded lawmakers to pressure the majority party to vote on a comprehensive energy plan to reduce energy costs over the long-term. Share your thoughts

Protecting America at Home and Abroad
Last month I had the opportunity to tour Chico's National Guard Armory, which has undergone extensive renovation, and to discuss issues of concern with Guard personnel. The National Guard is a tremendous asset to our community and offered a great deal of assistance during this year's catastrophic fire season.  Many of the Guard members had recently undergone fire suppression training and were ready for deployment should the Governor call them to service.   From the Global War on Terrorism to America's energy crisis, the National Guard troops had significant insights and personal experiences to offer.  I greatly appreciated their hospitality and knowledge of the issues. Share your thoughts

Meeting with Chamber of Commerce
I met with city and county officials, business leaders, and Members of the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to discuss local and national issues that affect the local economy.  During the meeting, I explained that I believe that Congress should allow further development of domestic oil supplies, including drilling in Alaska and off our coasts.  Modern technology allows the development of these resources in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.  We discussed the impact of the North State fires and the need to salvage the timber.  I have led efforts to streamline burdensome regulations that hamper the swift removal of standing and downed timber that was impacted by this summer's fires.  Currently, many of those trees have value.  But if we allow the extreme environmental community to litigate each salvage sale, that material will rot on the ground for years to come and could fuel the next catastrophic fire. Share your thoughts