ST. HELENA
Prescribed burn of 1,000 acres near Vacaville prisons
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), as well as the California Medical Facility (CMF) Fire Department, have joined together with several other Northern California state and local agencies to hold a prescribed burn. This project is planned to continue until June 20, 2020.
Burning is expected to start each morning around 8 a.m. and last through the afternoon. Residents in the area should expect to see smoke in the air while the burning is taking place.
This project is expected to burn up to 1,000 acres of state property. The land is located on the rolling hillsides behind the California Medical Facility, and California State Prison-Solano. The prescribed burn is planned to mitigate a wildland fire hazard adjacent to two state institutions, and thousands of local homes. This exercise will create a firebreak throughout the summer of 2020, lessening the threat of potential wildfire.
This project will also provide an important training opportunity for local and state firefighters. Multiple agencies will be participating in a CA-219 Firing Operations class during this time. The students will receive this course certification upon completing the training.
CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Medical Facility Fire Department, and the following agencies will be joining together during this project:
- California Medical Facility and California State Prison-Solano fire staff
- Vacaville Fire Protection District
- Vacaville Fire Department
- CDCR Facility Planning, Construction, and Management-Environmental Unit
Prescribed burns are a major part of the California ecosystem to eliminate the build-up of hazardous fuel conditions that threaten homes, resources, and wildlife. Re-introducing fire to the landscape not only provides fire-safe neighborhoods but also helps return native plant and wildlife species to their natural environment. All state laws and permitting in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) are being followed to include coordination with Bay Area and Solano County Air Quality Districts.
—Submittted
WASHINGTON D.C.
USDA trade mitigation purchases to feed people in need and aid American farmers surpass $2B
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it has purchased more than $2.2 billion of meat, fruits, vegetables, specialty crops and dairy products in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 in its ongoing efforts to feed people in need and assist American farmers and ranchers suffering from damage due to unjustified trade retaliation by foreign nations. USDA is on target to reach its fiscal year goal of about $1.4 billion of trade mitigation purchases in the next phase of fiscal year purchasing, which ends Sept. 30. The purchases were made through the Food Purchase and Distribution Program (FPDP), one of USDA’s three programs in its Support Packages for Farmers.
“Over the past two years, USDA has issued more than $2 billion in payments to American farmers, ranchers, and producers for U.S.-grown food that is used to help Americans in need,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
—Submitted
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Giffords endorses three House legislators for achieving landmark gun safety victories
Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, endorsed three members of the US House of Representatives in their bids for reelection. These members have been tireless advocates for gun safety, helping to achieve landmark victories such as the passage of the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 in the House. They bring unique experiences to Washington DC and represent districts from different parts of the country while sharing a commitment to building a safer, stronger America.
Statement from former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords:
“These leaders had the courage and vision to achieve gun safety victories in Congress that many thought impossible. They are persistent in their bold fight on behalf of their constituents, and all Americans, who demand action. There’s more work to be done, and we need to send them back to Congress to finish the job. This November, they need our support to create lasting change that will free our country from gun violence.”
Today’s Giffords Endorsements include:
Seth Moulton (MA-06)
Congressman Seth Moulton has represented Massachusetts’s Sixth District since 2014. Moulton joined the Marines in 2001 and served as a leader of an infantry platoon, completing four tours in Iraq between 2002 and 2008.
Stephanie Murphy (FL-07)
Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy is in her second term representing the Orlando area in Florida’s Seventh District. Rep. Murphy’s family fled Communist-led Vietnam six months after she was born and were rescued at sea by the United States Navy. She grew up to serve as a national security specialist in the Department of Defense and worked as an educator at Rollins College in Florida prior to being elected to Congress in 2016.
Jackie Speier (CA-14)
Congresswoman Jackie Speier was born and educated in California. She chose to enter politics to serve the communities she was raised in. From her time as a congressional staffer to 20 years in the state legislature and sixth terms representing California’s 14th District.
—Submitted
