WASHINGTON D.C.
Readiness Chairman Garamendi’s statement on President Trump’s veto of FY 21 NDAA
Congressman John Garamendi, Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, issued the statement below in response to President Trump vetoing the bipartisan and bicameral Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Garamendi served on the Bicameral Conference Committee for the FY 2021 NDAA that negotiated the final version of the legislation:
“The President’s veto of the NDAA is a reckless decision that harms our troops, military readiness, and national security. Issuing this veto while the United States is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the wake of brazen cybersecurity attacks from foreign governments, is a chaotic and irresponsible decision by the President,” Garamendi said.
“Vetoing this legislation denies our service members a much-deserved pay raise, improvements to their housing, and critical resources that will strengthen their ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also stymies the progress the Readiness Subcommittee secured in the legislation to require the military to aggressively tackle the global climate crisis, prioritize increasing its energy resiliency, and address contamination associated with per- and polyfluorinated (PFAS) compounds around military installations.
“This is a strong, bipartisan NDAA that earned the support of veto-proof majorities in the House and Senate. I intend to support an override of the President’s veto of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act,” Garamendi concluded.
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SAN FRANCISCO
PG&E contributes to Lake County community radio to support customers during Public Safety Power Shutoff events
As part of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) commitment to safety and supporting customers and communities, the company is partnering with Lake County Community Radio to support its listeners, and PG&E customers, in the event the power goes out due to a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) and other types of power outages. PG&E awarded radio station KPFZ 88.1 a $3,600 grant toward backup generation.
“PG&E only turns off power as a last resort for public safety when there is an increased threat of wildfire, and we know that this creates a hardship for PG&E’s customers. We want to support the safety and wellness of customers impacted by these events by aiding those who provide important information and updates to the community,” said Melinda Rivera, PG&E Local Public Affairs for Lake County.
Located in downtown Lakeport, KPFZ 88.1 is an important lifeline for information to residents, especially during times of PSPS events, wildfires and other emergencies. In addition to the purchase of a generator and back-up system, 15 battery powered transistor radios were given to listeners who needed them.
“Lake County has been impacted by several PSPS events over the last couple of years, and we must have power to continue broadcasting to our residents who are often without working phones or internet during power outages,” said Olga Martin Steele, Vice President of the Board of Directors for Lake County Community Radio. “We are thankful to have a partnership with PG&E and its local employees who acknowledge the importance of community radio during emergencies.”
KPFZ 88.1 is a listener-supported radio station. Please visit KPFZ.org for more information or ways to donate.
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CALIFORNIA
Public workshop to focus on water conveyance needs and funding options in Northern California
The California Water Commission is conducting a series of public workshops as part of its efforts to assess a potential state role in financing conveyance projects that could help meet needs in a changing climate. The Commission’s goal with these workshops is to learn from diverse voices across the state. Participants from the region are encouraged to share their perspective on conveyance infrastructure needs and priorities, effective partnerships, public benefits of conveyance, possible criteria to assess resilience, efforts in preparing for changing hydrology, and effective financing mechanisms. The workshops are not associated with the pending proposal to improve conveyance through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
The third workshop will focus on Northern California, and will be co-hosted* by the Northern California Water Association.
“Water suppliers in Northern California serve water for multiple benefits, including cities and rural communities, farms, fish, birds, wildlife and recreation,” said David J. Guy, president of the Northern California Water Association. “The conveyance of water is important for climate and water resilience in this region. We encourage active participation in this workshop to explore how conveyance projects can best serve these various beneficial purposes into the future.”
Northern California Public Workshop
2:30-5 p.m. Thursday, January 12, 2020
Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJctcOispjgoGdZfwSHl8tYudPmKjhnjiQow
Info: (916) 834-3177, cwc@cwc.ca.gov
The workshops will be conducted via the web-based videoconferencing service Zoom. More detailed instructions on how to use Zoom and participate in the meeting can be found on the Commission website at https://cwc.ca.gov/-/media/CWC-Website/Files/Documents/2020/Conveyance/ConveyanceWorkshops_PublicParticipation.pdf?la=en&hash=E6D1AD962FB6766D75688EB74FA83B1D1BF09B57. If you require translation of any materials or interpretation during the workshop, please call (916) 834-3177 or email cwc@cwc.ca.gov. This workshop will be followed by one centered on Central California.
The Commission will use the information gathered at the regional workshops to help formulate its recommendations on a potential state role in financing climate-resilient conveyance. The draft paper will be available for public comment before it is finalized and presented to the Administration in mid-2021. For more details and a complete schedule of workshops, visit cwc.ca.gov/Programs-and-Topics.
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