Politics

Matsui Language Included in Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act Are Win-Win for Sacramento

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5114, the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act of 2010. This bill includes two provisions sought by Congresswoman Matsui that are critically important to flood zone designations and the cost of flood insurance in the Sacramento region. Representative Matsui has fought for several years on behalf of Sacramento homeowners, to implement these changes – together with the completion of the 200-year levee work going on in the Natomas Basin – would bring down insurance rates and improve public safety. Rep. Matsui continues to make flood control her top priority.

“As many of my colleagues can attest, providing the security and safety of the Sacramento region is my number one priority in Congress,” Matsui said on the House floor today while managing debate on H.R. 5114. “And even as we near passage of provisions I have been working tirelessly on for the last year, I will continue to advocate for the people of Sacramento – the most at-risk river city in the country. I am proud to be part of the solution and to help make sure residents of Sacramento – and other flood-prone communities around the country – can afford to purchase the flood insurance they need to protect their homes and businesses.”

Applauds New Health Care Reform Benefits and Coverage of Critical Preventive Health Services

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) joined First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at an event at the George Washington University Hospital to announce new preventive health care coverage made available through the historic health care legislation enacted earlier this year, the Affordable Care Act.

“I am pleased to join the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, and Secretary Sebelius today to announce further protections made available through the recently enacted health care reform bill,” Congresswoman Matsui said at the event. “The provisions announced today will make preventive care affordable to millions of Americans—an estimated 41 million Americans will reap the benefits of free preventive care services within the next year—and save billions of dollars and thousands of lives as a result.”

Congresswoman Urges Relief for Thousands Impacted by Recession

By Marie Brown

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) today voted in favor of H.R. 5618, the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2010. Her vote on this legislation could help provide critical financial relief for those hurt by the recent prolonged economic crises.

“I am pleased that the House of Representatives was able to pass this long over-due extension of unemployment benefits, and provide families in Sacramento and across the nation with the financial assistance they need to get through these difficult economic times,” said Matsui.

Bill Will Help Boost the Competitiveness of the U.S. Clean Tech Industry in the Global Energy Marketplace

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Today, the House Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection (CTCP) Subcommittee unanimously passed H.R. 5156, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) to boost the competiveness of the U.S. clean technology industry in both domestic and international markets. The bill is co-sponsored by CTCP Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL), Energy and Commerce Chairman Emeritus John D. Dingell (D-MI), and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA). The bill now goes to the full Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.

H.R. 5156 would create a $15 million Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund to support the development, implementation, and sustainability of a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy, and assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance by finding and navigating foreign markets to export their goods and services abroad. The Matsui legislation would help also strengthen America’s domestic clean tech manufacturing industry by promoting policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, investment, and productivity in the clean energy technology industry here at home.