The House is currently in recess for the August District Work Period and will reconvene on September 5, 2006.

Supporting Veterans

On Monday, it was my honor to join family and friends in welcoming home the men and women of the California Army National Guard 115th Area Support Group. Having served as logistical support for the area of operations including Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, these citizen soldiers returned with distinction to the lives and careers they put on hold in order to answer the call of duty. This happy event reminded me of the importance of ensuring that those who serve in the Armed Forces receive as much support as possible when they come home.

To that end, the House has recently advanced several measures that will greatly aid America’s veteran population. On July 24th, the House passed H.R. 3082, the Veterans Small Business and Memorial Affairs Act of 2006. This bill would establish the annual contracting goals for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include a greater number of veteran-owned small businesses. It would also reinstate education benefits to National Guard members who receive benefits who have been forced to discontinue a course of education due to being called to duty, among other employment and training provisions. And, it would require an independent risk analysis of the potential impact from the misuse of personal data immediately following a data breach. Additionally, the Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted on July 20th to authorize new VA medical centers. That measure, H.R. 5815, is pending consideration on the House floor in early September.

Center of Innovation

On Wednesday, I participated in the unveiling of a cutting-edge technology designed to dramatically reduce air pollution generated by locomotives. The Advanced Locomotive Emission Control System (ALECS) consists of a hood that captures locomotive diesel exhaust and passes it through a system that removes approximately 99 percent of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides. While in the demonstration phase now, this system promises to produce a much cleaner and quieter rail yard and become a vital tool to help the Sacramento area comply with federal clean-air standards. If proven successful, ALECS could be deployed at rail yards and seaports around the nation.

Roseville, site of the largest rail yard on the West Coast, and many other towns in the Fourth Congressional District have a rich railroad heritage. Indeed, Northern California was a key link in the transcontinental railroad. It is appropriate that this region continues to pioneer revolutionary technologies that will benefit the nation at large. For example, Oroville is a leading municipality statewide for its incorporation of solar generation in government facilities; Roseville is home to the Renewable Energy Institute International, which will become a proving ground for alternative energy technology; the corridor between West Sacramento and Lake Tahoe has been designated as one of only a handful of hydrogen vehicle research areas in the country; and just last week, the City of Lincoln received an award for its efforts to accommodate and promote the use of neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs). As a federal partner, I will continue to support this area’s exciting innovations in Congress.

Out of the Woods

Last week concluded the second of two one-week seminars conducted by the Pacific Forest Institute (PFI), a teacher training program operated by William Jessup University. PFI, which I helped found last year, provides K-12 teachers with the opportunity to learn how to teach their students about forest resources issues. By taking teachers from around the state into the woods, PFI gives them a hands-on learning experience and equips them with a wealth of curricula to share when the school year resumes. The goal is to help teachers and students alike to gain a science-based understanding about environmental issues that are so important throughout the Sierra Nevada. Hopefully, this program will prepare the next generation of leaders to cope with the challenges and controversies associated with natural resources management.