To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to San Francisco Bay restoration, and for other purposes.
Download PDFSponsored by
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
ID: H001068
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 13.
February 26, 2025
Introduced
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce and reveal the underlying disease.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's title claims to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for San Francisco Bay restoration. How noble. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to funnel money into the pockets of special interest groups and politicians' pet projects. The "restoration" is just a euphemism for pork-barrel spending.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends Section 125 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, allowing the Director to provide funding through various mechanisms (cooperative agreements, grants, contracts, etc.) to a wide range of entities. The changes are designed to increase flexibility in funding allocation, which is code for "we want to spread the money around to our friends and donors." The 75% federal funding cap and 25% non-federal matching requirement are mere window dressing, as they can be easily circumvented through creative accounting.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects benefit from this bill:
1. Politicians: They get to claim credit for "restoring" the bay while lining their pockets with campaign contributions. 2. Special interest groups: Environmental organizations, contractors, and consultants will receive funding for their pet projects. 3. Local governments: They'll receive federal funds for projects that might not have been feasible otherwise.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "greenwashing" – using environmental concerns as a pretext for crony capitalism. The actual impact on San Francisco Bay's restoration will be minimal, while the real beneficiaries will be the politicians and special interest groups who pushed this legislation through.
In medical terms, this bill is akin to prescribing a placebo to treat a patient's symptoms rather than addressing the underlying disease. It's a Band-Aid solution designed to appease voters and donors, rather than a genuine attempt to address environmental concerns.
Diagnosis: This bill suffers from a severe case of "Legislative Larceny," where politicians use public funds for personal gain while masquerading as champions of environmental protection. The prognosis is poor, as this disease is highly contagious and often fatal to the integrity of our democratic institutions.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
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Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance
This bill has 8 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
ID: M001225
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
ID: P000613
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
ID: K000389
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
ID: G000559
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]
ID: S001193
Top Contributors
10
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
ID: D000623
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
ID: S001231
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-11]
ID: P000197
Top Contributors
10
Donor Network - Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 37 nodes and 45 connections
Total contributions: $148,250
Top Donors - Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Showing top 23 donors by contribution amount