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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
On Tuesday Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that his bipartisan bill, the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act, has passed the House and is headed to the Senate for consideration.
This bill directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish a standard requiring Flame Mitigation Devices to be used to prevent fire accidents.
“Flame accidents have tragic and deadly consequences, but there’s a simple and cost-effective solution to keep our communities safer. When my constituent, Margrett Lewis, came to me with her family’s story, I knew that it was past time for Congress to take action,” said Thompson. “Today, I was proud to see the House pass this bill to help prevent these terrible accidents and I look forward to swift consideration in the Senate.”
“By ensuring portable fuel containers come equipped with basic safety measures, we will prevent dangerous accidents that threaten thousands of lives every year,” said Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH). “We need to have a standard in place that ensures these containers can function as safely and effectively as possible. I was proud to introduce this legislation alongside Congressman Mike Thompson and look forward to seeing our colleagues in the Senate take action on the bill soon.”
Under current standards, flammable or combustible liquids can ignite within their containers causing more than 160,000 fires, injuring nearly 4,000 people, and killing 454 each year.
Flame mitigation devices can help prevent these types of accidents, but currently there is no requirement for them to be used for the consumer containers found in most homes and for everyday use.
Thompson’s bill would establish safety standards to help prevent these tragic accidents.
“The Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2019 will prevent hundreds of people from suffering disfiguring burns each year,” stated Harold A. Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters which represents more than 317,000 professional fire fighters. “The IAFF applauds Representative Thompson and the U.S. House of Representatives for acting swiftly to pass this common-sense legislation.”
“Burn injuries are among the most severe any patient can face, causing untold pain and requiring lengthy treatment and recovery. Until manufacturers include flame mitigation devices on all types of containers, consumers will continually be at-risk of serious injury. We applaud Reps. Thompson and Joyce in their tireless efforts to advance this legislation,” said William G. Cioffi, Jr., M.D., FACS, President of the American Burn Association.
The legislation is endorsed by the American Burn Association, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the Consumer Federation of America, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Association of State Fire Marshalls, the National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Fire Protection Association, and the Phoenix Society of Burn Survivors.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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- Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture
These grants are part of the CDFA’s Healthy Soils Program, which is comprised of two award categories: 1) The Incentives Program, providing financial assistance for implementation of conservation management that improves soil health, sequesters carbon and reduces GHG emissions; and 2) Demonstration Projects, showcasing California farmers’ and ranchers’ implementation of healthy soil practices that also sequester carbon and reduce GHGs.
Three public stakeholder meetings are scheduled for September 2019 to provide updates on the program and to receive comments and suggestions for the next round of funding.
These meetings will be held on the dates and locations provided below. Each meeting will include a webinar component to allow remote attendance and participation.
For more information, visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/healthysoils/.
Meeting dates, locations and registration details:
Sept. 23 – Orland
10 a.m. – noon
Glenn County Farm Bureau
831 Fifth St., Orland
Webinar registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3667128965487965196
Sept. 24 – Fresno
1 – 3 p.m.
Fresno County Cooperative Extension Building (Inyo/Kern Meeting Room)
550 E. Shaw Avenue, Suite 210-B, Fresno
Webinar registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7907368070215434252
Sept. 25 – Sacramento
2 – 4 p.m.
California Department of Food and Agriculture (Auditorium)
1220 N St., Sacramento
Webinar registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3485505037742188556
Comments must be submitted to
The Healthy Soils Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.
The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.
California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more.
At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities and low-income households across California.
For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.
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- Written by: Mendocino National Forest
Sealed bids will be opened at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s office, 825 N. Humboldt Ave. in Willows.
The roadside salvage sale area burned in the 2018 Ranch fire.
The sale area is located approximately 55 miles southwest of Willows on the Grindstone Ranger District.
The total estimated quantity on this reoffer is 2,821 MBF.
Complete information concerning the timber, including the conditions of sale and submission of bids, is available to the public from the Supervisor’s Office and on the forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/resourcedetail/mendocino/landmanagement/?cid=FSEPRD649155 .
Interested individuals may contact Forester Jason Cushman for more information, 530-828-0230.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) and California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara partnered on SB 570, which changes the sunset deadline for the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program to Jan. 1, 2025.
In addition, the bill aligns statute with current practice to allow eligible emancipated 16 and 17 year olds to access the program.
“The Low Cost Auto Insurance program has helped low-income consumers get and maintain insurance coverage for 20 years,” Sen. Rubio said. “I am proud to have worked with Commissioner Lara to extend the program so that it remains an option for our most vulnerable communities and expands access to eligible young people and students.”
“Over the past 20 years, thousands of Californians have signed up for low-cost automobile insurance to protect themselves and their families,” said Commissioner Lara. “Thank you to Senator Rubio for expanding this important program to include more students and young people and to Governor Newsom for extending it for another five years.”
The California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program was established in 1999 and is administered by the California Department of Insurance to provide income-eligible consumers with liability insurance protection at affordable rates.
Nearly 20,000 drivers are currently enrolled in the program, and the program has served over 150,000 consumers since its inception. Many vulnerable consumers depend on it for coverage so that they may go to work or drive children to school. Without the program, many of these consumers will be unable to obtain insurance and lawfully drive their vehicles.
For more information about the California Low Cost Auto Program, visit https://www.mylowcostauto.com.