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The sharp increase in housing demand has led to skyrocketing home prices, shutting out a large percentage of the potential home buyers. The latest California Association of REALTORS® housing affordability report indicates every region in the state, except Kings County, posted lower affordability in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its annual Green Power Leadership Awards to seven businesses across California. “These organizations demonstrate that green power is an affordable investment that provides reliable energy while fighting global warming.”

Democratic Members of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, led by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), and the House Homeland Security Committee, led by Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee voicing opposition to language in the Senate-approved highway bill (H.R. 22) that would divert customs revenue away from border security needs to fund future highway projects.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) funds will be available to eligible applicants such as state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations in Lake County. This is funding for local communities to use to repair critical public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings, water infrastructure and sewage collection facilities.

Mayor Eric Garcetti today announced an innovative pilot project at a Los Angeles Fire Department station to reduce energy use, enhance energy security, and maintain crucial emergency services in the event of earthquakes or climate-related disruptions.

U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) introduced the Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act. The bill directs the Secretary of Education to automatically lower all federal student loans to 4 percent – which is near the current 30-year mortgage rate

The following are the prepared remarks of Congressman Alan Lowenthal at his appearance before the Eno Freight Working Group on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, in Washington, D.C.

“Thank you Madam Speaker. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and salute her for her relentless championing of the rights of consumers in our country, as our Ranking Member on the Financial Services Committee. I come to the floor on this legislation because it's something that runs deep in terms of our commitment and our responsibility to the consumers in our country.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced new enhancements to San Francisco’s 311 system to allow residents to more easily notify the City of homeless people in need of well-being checks so that Homeless Outreach Teams, Department of Public Health staff, and San Francisco Police can respond and assess the need for medical treatment or services more efficiently. Before these enhancements, constituents did not have a one-stop, seamless option to alert the City about homeless people who might be in distress.

Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced new enhancements to San Francisco’s 311 system to allow residents to more easily notify the City of homeless people in need of well-being checks so that Homeless Outreach Teams, Department of Public Health staff, and San Francisco Police can respond and assess the need for medical treatment or services more efficiently. Before these enhancements, constituents did not have a one-stop, seamless option to alert the City about homeless people who might be in distress.

U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-Calif.) released the following statement after voting for passage of H.R. 3192, the Homebuyers Assistance Act, which would provide a temporary legal safe harbor for lenders making a good-faith effort to comply with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) recently enacted TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule

Ahead of tomorrow’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing where drought legislation is on the agenda, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) today led 26 of his California, Oregon, Arizona, and Washington House Democrat colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell voicing their strong opposition to H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently settled with Arvin Community Services District (ACSD), located in Arvin, Calif., for arsenic violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. ACSD has agreed to provide residents with alternative water until they are found to be in compliance and will pay a penalty of $14,750

SunSpark Technology Inc., a U.S. firm with roots in China, has announced plans to open a solar panel manufacturing and assembly facility in Riverside, which is expected to create about 100 jobs.

Congressman Alan Lowenthal, along with all 17 of his Democratic colleagues on the House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC), has called on the HNRC Energy and Mineral Resource (EMR) subcommittee chairman to hold a hearing on the development of renewable energy resources on public lands.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that Sacramento’s Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) is the recipient of a $30 million grant award to implement the Neighborhood Transformation Plan (NTP) for the River District and surrounding area. The funding from this grant will allow a complete replacement and redevelopment of the 218 distressed public housing units within the Twin Rivers Neighborhood.

Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-34) announced that The Salvation Army and U.S. Veterans Initiative received more than $400,000 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help homeless veterans with special needs including women, chronically mentally ill, frail elderly, terminally ill, and individuals who have the care of minor dependents.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced a $2 million Emergency Relief (ER) grant for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid highways and roads on federal lands that have suffered serious damage as a result of the Valley Fire. The funds come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHA).

U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) led a bipartisan group of California Members of Congress in sending a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz requesting funding for critical upgrades at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL). Upgrades include creating a permanent Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and fixing aging electrical systems, which would also benefit Sandia National Laboratory.