MENDOCINO CO., 12/23/24 — U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) clinched the position last week to lead the Democratic caucus on the House Natural Resources Committee when the caucus voted for Huffman to replace ranking member Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ). Grijalva has been battling cancer, and this is his final term in Congress.
Huffman pursued the leadership position following Grijalva’s announcement in October of his plans to step down. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), who had Grijalva’s backing, vied with Huffman for the position. Stansbury withdrew her bid after a group of swing district House Democrats signaled their support for Huffman. “I entered the race very late in the game, but I feel really good about it. You know, I ran because I believe strongly that we need more women [in leadership roles],” Stansbury told NM Political Report Wednesday.
32 tribes and tribal representatives joined a letter supporting Huffman’s candidacy, and several others, including the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Greenville Rancheria Tribal Council, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and Mooretown Rancheria, sent individual statements of support, emphasizing the critical importance of centering tribal sovereignty and the protection of cultural and sacred resources in his work.
The Natural Resources Committee is critical in recommending legislation and regulations relating to the nation’s public lands and forests, especially those in the West.
As the newly ranking Democrat, Huffman said, “I am incredibly grateful to the many partners who have supported me —tribes from around the country, environmental allies, and the overwhelming majority of my colleagues I’ve served with here in the House. And I am humbled by the encouragement my constituents like you have given me throughout my journey.”
On Dec. 18 Huffman and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led the reintroduction of the Keep It in the Ground Act—comprehensive legislation to stop new fossil fuel extraction on public lands and in public waters.
“The climate crisis is happening now,” Huffman said. “Communities across the country are already facing the effects of climate change, and it’s critical we reduce emissions by keeping the world’s remaining fossil fuels in the ground. This legislation is one of the most sensible steps the federal government can take to reduce emissions, protect the public, and avoid the most damaging impacts of climate change.”
Merkley and Huffman reintroduced the Keep it in the Ground Act with U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren , and Edward J. Markey. U.S. Representatives who signed on included Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Salud Carbajal, Pramila Jayapal, Jesús “Chuy” García, and Jim McGovern.
Huffman has been instrumental in defending America’s coastlines from offshore oil and gas drilling, introducing legislation to protect the Pacific and Arctic oceans as part of a coordinated, nationwide effort to protect oceanic ecosystems and coastal economies, while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. During his first term in Congress, the House of Representatives unanimously passed Congressman Huffman’s first bill to expand the California Coastal National Monument to include the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands, which led to permanent protection for this jewel of the Mendocino Coast.
According to the Washington D.C.-based publication, “The Hill,” “Huffman’s ascendance on the committee comes as part of a broader shakeup of Democratic leadership on House committees after the party’s 2024 electoral losses, amid concerns about whether new leaders are needed to reverse the party’s national fortunes.”
Huffman represents California’s 2nd Congressional District, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity and Del Norte counties.
So huffman’s achievements are stopping fossil fuel production on public federal lands which increased the cost of everything and made us all poorer. He also enjoys spreading fear porn that climate change is a “crisis” and “emergency” so you’ll go a long with more drastic laws & regs like what kind of car you can drive or how you heat your home, etc. I am not seeing him as an asset to America or California.