WASHINGTON, D.C.
Thompson, Eshoo announce PHONE Act approved by subcommittee
Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18) announced that Thompson’s bipartisan PHONE Act has been referred by the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology to the full committee for consideration, the final step before a vote on the House floor. H.R. 1289, the PHONE Act, would allow residents who lost their homes to natural disasters, such as wildfires, to keep their phone numbers at no cost to them while they rebuild.
“Disaster survivors who are working to rebuild deserve every piece of normalcy we can give them, and yet current law prohibits phone companies from letting people keep their phone numbers while they rebuild their homes,” said Thompson. “That’s why I am proud to see my bill to solve this problem pass the subcommittee. This bill will let survivors, like those in my district, keep their phone numbers. I will continue working with Representative Eshoo to get this bill approved by the full committee and brought up for a vote on the House floor.”
“Passing the PHONE Act out of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee brings us one step closer to this critical policy becoming law,” said Rep. Eshoo. The bill ensures that individuals who lose their homes to a natural disaster won’t have to worry about losing their phone number by prohibiting phone companies from reassigning phone numbers of any household in a disaster area. I thank Rep. Thompson for his leadership on this bill, and I’m proud to help champion it at the Subcommittee.”
You can read more about H.R. 1289, the PHONE Act online at https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1289
—Submitted
LAKEPORT
Firearm recovered from juvenile who made threatening statements
On Tuesday, Lakeport Police Department (LPD) School Resource Officer Ryan Cooley who is assigned to the Lakeport Unified School District (LUSD) was notified by school staff regarding a former Terrace Middle School student who was making threatening statements. The juvenile, who was not on the campus, is currently on probation in Lake County and known to officer Cooley.
Officer Cooley immediately notified the Lake County Probation Department (LCPD) and both agencies continued the investigation. Based on information obtained by school staff and Officer Cooley, LCPD Officers searched the former student’s residence and located an unloaded .40 caliber handgun. No ammunition was located. The juvenile was arrested and is being transported to the Juvenile Hall facility.
All of the involved agencies administrations appreciate the good work of officers and staff to quickly resolve this situation. Because of the “see something, say something,” at this time, there is no known danger to any students or staff at LUSD. The investigation remains ongoing by LPD, LCPD and LUSD.
—Submitted
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Garamendi, Kim introduce support our Military Working Dogs Act
Today Congressmen John Garamendi (D-CA) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), chairman and vice-chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, introduced the “Support Our Military Working Dogs Act” (H.R.6188) in commemoration of National K9 Veterans Day 2020 later this week. The United States K9 Corps was established on March 13, 1942.
Endorsements:
Reserve Officers Association of the United States, Fleet Reserve Association, TREA: The Retired Enlisted Association, Animal Welfare Institute.
“Military dogs serve on the front lines with our troops to defend our nation and provide recuperating services for our veterans and their former handlers. Caring for these dogs in the field and once they return home is a major concern that must be addressed. The Support Our Military Working Dogs Act ensures that our nation’s military dogs receive the best possible care and a path to their forever home once they retire from service,” said Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA).
“Military working dogs have served alongside our men and women in uniform for generations, and they deserve the best care possible once they end their service,” said Congressman Andy Kim (D-NJ). “I’m proud to work with Congressman Garamendi on this bill, and hope our colleagues join us to do the right thing for our nation’s military dogs.”
The “Support Our Military Working Dogs Act” (H.R.6188) would authorize better veterinary care for retired military dogs and direct the U.S. Department of Defense to work with veterans’ service organizations and other nonprofits to support their long-term care, once adopted by their former handler’s into loving homes.
In 2019, the U.S. special forces raid that led to the death of ISIS terrorist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi included an American special operations military working dog Belgian Malinois named Conan. During the raid, Conan chased al-Baghdadi into a tunnel underneath a compound in northern Syria, where he then detonated his suicide vest. During the chase, Conan was injured by live electrical wires in the tunnel. Under current federal law, the Department of Defense cannot cover the veterinary expenses of military working dogs like Conan, when they retire from duty or recuperate from injury while adopted.
The “Support Our Military Working Dogs Act” (H.R.6188) would remove these restrictions to authorize the Department of Defense to provide support for retired or injured military working dogs after their adoption. The bill would also ensure that the U.S. government covers all transportation costs associated with transferring retired military animals (including horses) to their new adopted homes, building upon the success of the Military Working Dog Retirement Act of 2015.
Federal law requires that a retired military working dog be adopted by their former handler in the U.S. military or the handler’s family, if they so choose.
The bill awaits action by the House Committee on Armed Services. Congressmen Garamendi (D-CA) and Kim (D-NJ) serve as chair and vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness, which has jurisdiction over military working dogs.
