Mar 07, 2025

Advocacy RCRC Delegation Visits Washington D.C

Last week, RCRC delegates engaged in productive discussions in Washington D.C. as they met with Congress Members and Federal Agency leaders on Capitol Hill, to raise awareness of challenges and opportunities in California’s rural communities…

Feb 28, 2025

Advocacy   |   Energy CPUC Discusses Reliability Thresholds and Reporting Improvements on Power Outages

On Friday, February 21st, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) held an all-day workshop to consider changes to existing policies regarding the safety and reliability of electrical distribution systems. Factors such as

Feb 28, 2025

Advocacy   |   Community and Economic Development Governor Announces New Local Accountability Measures & Website

On Monday, Governor Newsom announced accountability measures for local jurisdictions to demonstrate results to continue receiving state homelessness funding

Feb 28, 2025

Advocacy Senate Agriculture Committee Democrats Inquire About USDA Layoffs

On February 25, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and all Committee Democrats in a letter asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for detail about recent mass layoffs

Feb 28, 2025

Advocacy   |   Energy Little Hoover Commission Begins Hearings on Energy Affordability

On Thursday, February 27th, the Little Hoover Commission conducted the first of several hearings on electricity costs.  At the hearing, Severin Borenstein from UC Berkeley and Matthew Freedman from The Utility Reform Network were joined by RCRC’s John Kennedy and Leigh Kammerich to discuss the state’s rising energy costs, the factors influencing those increases, and a range of potential legislative and regulatory solutions.

Feb 28, 2025

Advocacy   |   Solid Waste Management Bill of the Week: Assembly Bill 993 (Hadwick) - Rural CUPA Reimbursement Account

RCRC is co-sponsoring Assembly Bill 993, authored by Assembly Member Heather Hadwick (R-Alturas) with the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators (on behalf of the CUPA Forum).  This measure would expand eligibility for…

Feb 21, 2025

Advocacy   |   Transportation U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy Announces Review of California High-Speed Rail Project

On February 20, at the direction of Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) initiated a review of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA)…

Feb 21, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship  Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Promote Wildfire Mitigation Through Wildlife Grazing

On February 13, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mazie Hirono (D-HI, and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the Wildfire Resilience Through Grazing Research Act (S. 602), bipartisan legislation to promote research on how...

Feb 21, 2025

Advocacy   |   Forest and Public Lands Stewardship Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act Introduced in 119th Congress

The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act (S. 356/H.R. 1383) has been introduced in the 119th Congress amid pressure to act swiftly to avoid significant budget cuts or tax hikes.  Attempts to pass SRS legislation...

Feb 21, 2025

Advocacy   |   Solid Waste Management CalRecycle Illegal Dumping Emergency Regulations Approved by OAL

On February 14, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved Emergency Regulations adopted by CalRecycle concerning illegal dumping and land application of solid and organic waste.  CalRecycle’s regulations are intended to stop illegal and improper...