Legislative Wrap-Up: Energy Research, Food Stamps And Local Grants

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) announced a $3.5 million grant for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to research low cost, energy efficient fuel production from natural gas.

“This investment will allow LBNL to conduct vital research into methods for converting methane into liquid fuel — benefitting the environment, the community, and the economy," said Lee.

Rep. George Miller (D-Concord), Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) released statements this week criticizing Republican legislators in the House of Representatives for approving a farm bill that cuts $40 billion from the food stamp program.

“House Republicans are doubling down on a bad idea,” said Miller. “Cutting SNAP will not only increase hunger in America, it will cost the nation jobs in the food industry. Because when poor families don’t have enough to eat, they go without. This isn’t an economic stimulus. It’s a national outrage."

“This bill is staggeringly out of touch with what the American people want and need," said Thompson. "Cuts of this magnitude take food out of the mouths of millions of Americans and doom any hope of compromise on a full five year extension of the Farm Bill.”

“Today’s bill is mean-spirited, short-sighted and one I proudly voted against," said Swalwell. "We should be working together to create jobs and grow the economy, not take food out of the mouths of hungry children.”

Swalwell also sent a letter to the BART board president expressing his support for a proposed extension of the transit line to Livermore.

The letter was sent after BART officials announced they will prepare an environmental impact report on the project.

“The growth of our economy in the East Bay depends on enabling an increasingly mobile workforce,” said Swalwell. “I applaud BART’s decision to move forward with this extension to Livermore to better connect the community to the rest of the Bay Area."

In addition, Swalwell announced a grant to the Hayward Police Department to hire two school safety officers.

The Community Oriented Policing Services funds are designed to improve school safety and address youth gang violence.

Thompson also introduced H.R. 3112, legislation designed to eliminate fraudulent payments to Medicare while ensuring that adequate prosthetic and orthotic services are provided to beneficiaries.

Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose) unveiled legislation to expand Social Security benefits.

H.R. 3118 would eliminate the cap on taxable income paying into Social Security and adjust payment formulas to increase benefits by about $800 annually to recipients.

State Sen. Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) co-sponsored legislation urging Congress to adopt the Postal Protection Act of 2013.

The bill would allow the Postal Service to provide new services to customers, prohibit cuts to Saturday service and keep open rural and historic post offices like the one in Berkeley.

State Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) announced she will hold a town hall meeting in Piedmont next week.

The forum to discuss California's 2013-2014 budget and the implementation of federal health care laws will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Piedmont Veterans Memorial Building, 401 Highland Ave.

State Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) this week encouraged women veterans living in California to participate in a survey to provide feedback for policy decisions and to obtain information on services available to them.

The California Women Veterans Survey documents and tracks the status and experiences of California women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

State Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) honored Asian-Pacific leaders at a ceremony on Friday.

Four community leaders in education, business, civil rights and a non-profit historical society were the honorees at the assemblyman's third annual Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Leadership Awards at Milpitas City Hall.

The honorees are: Anna Muh, Fremont; Phong La, Fremont; Deepka Lalwani, Milpitas; Zahra Billoo, Santa Clara; and the Filipino-American National Historical Society, Santa Clara Valley Chapter.