In the News
California Congressman Jimmy Panetta announced this week that $540,000 will go toward ensuring that people can continue to navigate Santa Cruz Harbor channels as maintenance dredging continues.
This funding will help ensure the safety and prosperity of communities on the central coast of California.
MONTEREY – Requiring big corporations to take responsibility for their pollution, the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act was introduced by Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico and Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-California, this week with Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, signed on as one of its co-sponsors.
On Dec. 11, U.S. congressional representatives approved the Farm Workforce Modernization Act with a vote of 260-165. Congressman Jimmy Panetta led the effort in crafting the bill alongside several other representatives, including Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL).
The bill, touted as a benefit for the country's agriculture industry and farmworkers, now awaits consideration in the Senate.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) cosponsored a bill that would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement, or MORE, Act would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, allowing states to set their own policies, Panetta's office said in a press release this month.
Salinas long-time resident Julio Sorio, 94, received Congress' highest civilian honor Saturday for serving his county in World War II as part of the Philippine Scouts, a division of the U.S. Army.
"Patience, humility and honor those are the things that he strives for, and that is probably another reason he's receive other recognitions," said Arlene Monroe, Sorio's daughter. "He's is not someone who demands the spotlight ... He's just a diligent and hardworking individual."
SANTA CRUZ — Taking aim at poorly performing Medicare hospice providers, Rep. Jimmy Panetta introduced a bipartisan bill Monday that would give the federal government more tools to increase oversight and impose new penalties.
Called the Helping Our Senior Population in Comfort Environments Act — the HOSPICE Act — the legislation is co-authored by Rep. Tom Reed, R-NY.
SANTA CRUZ — Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D- Carmel Valley) is urging members of the community to participate in the public comment period on a proposal that will change Social Security benefits for people with disabilities.
The proposed rule, titled "Rules Regarding the Frequency and Notice of Continuing Disability Reviews," will change regulations on when and how often the administration conducts continuing disability reviews.
For nearly a year now, mysterious projectiles have been hitting cars passing through the Prunedale area in Monterey County. The California Highway Patrol has made an arrest.
The CHP arrested Charles Kenneth Lafferty, 52, Wednesday. He's accused of using a slingshot with glass marbles to strike moving vehicles. Lafferty is now in custody at the Monterey County Jail.
Investigators held a press conference to announce the arrest on Thursday. The CHP led the investigation and established a task force that included the Monterey County Sheriff's Office.
WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, January 16, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) and Congressman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) introduced a bipartisan resolution to recognize the over 200 American firefighters who have provided their services to combat the bushfires currently ravaging the Australian continent. The resolution also honors the longstanding partnership between the United States and Australia to share critical firefighting resources during times of crisis.
Marina resident Pablo Martínez Perez had two crucial goals as he prepared to attend the State of the Union address: to bring a message to Washington D.C. about the value of Dreamers, and why the Farm Workforce Modernization Act deserves support in the Senate.