(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Still Think Democrats Aren't Fighting Back? Introducing Jared Huffman [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-05-02
Jared Huffman has served as Congress’ representative from California’s second district since 2012.
He is a lawyer who began as a public interest attorney. One of his most famous victories was on behalf of the National Organization for Women when they sued California State University over the application of Title IX.
He later worked for the National Resources Defence Council, cementing his longstanding interest in environmental issues.
In 2006, he was elected to the California State House of Representatives, where in his first four years he passed forty pieces of legislation ( en.wikipedia.org/...).
Since moving to the House he continued to focus on environmental issues, for example getting a law passed to expand the California Coastal National Monument, extending the land set aside for permanent protection from developers.
In 2018, along with Jamie Raskin, Jerry McNerny, and Dan Kildee he launched the Congressional Freethought Caucus. In their Mission Statement, the group works to “promote public policy formed on the basis of reason, science and moral values” and to “protect the secular character of our government by adhering to the strict Constitutional principle of the separation of church and state”.
The Caucus website, for those interested in further information, is here freethoughtcaucus-huffman.house.gov. The Theocracy Tracker on the website is interesting.
Prior to the 2024 election, Huffman founded the Stop Project 2025 Task Force. In September, they held a hearing to highlight the unconstitutional, authoritarian agenda of that group.
In addition to the Congressional Freethought Caucus, Huffman is also a member of the Progressive Caucus, the Medicare for All Caucus, and the Congressional Arts Caucus. He is currently the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
But, I hear you saying, enough of the boring background. How is Jared Huffman fighting back against Trump and his Republican enablers.
As I’ve noted in prior posts in this series, the fight against Trump is one that is multi-pronged. It requires making speeches, sure, but also attending protests, town halls, speaking at committee hearings, writing letters into the congressional record and introducing legislation that promotes Democratic values and that help ordinary Americans.
Jared Huffman understands this.
x In his first 100 days, Donald Trump has taken the Project 2025 playbook and ran with it. There are no bounds to what he and his authoritarian administration are willing to do, and we need to keep using every avenue we can to put a stop to this madness. — Rep. Jared Huffman (@rephuffman.bsky.social) 2025-05-02T14:22:29.792Z
In March, Jared Huffman re-introduced legislation to protect consumers from the deceptive practises of a group called Health Care Sharing Ministries. This group’s fraudulent character was covered by John Oliver on This Week.
Healthcare Sharing Ministry uses Christian religion to sell what they allude to as health insurance but what is in fact nothing of the sort. In the Press Release announcing the legislation, Huffman stated, “Through deceptive marketing tactics and overt appeals to religion, certain providers lure consumers into purchasing plans that can leave patients without the care they need or lead them into deep medical debt” (huffman.house.gov/...)
He also introduced legislation to protect the children who benefit from Special Education from Trump and Musk’s irresponsible cuts.
x All kids – no matter their zip code, race, disability, or any other factor – should be able to access a full, exceptional education. My bill, the IDEA Full Funding Act, would close gaps in special education funding and ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. — Rep. Jared Huffman (@rephuffman.bsky.social) 2025-04-03T14:40:53.413Z
He has made community appearances, including San Francisco Climate Week, highlighting Trump’s attack on environmental regulations.
x Congressman Jared Huffman: Live from SF Climate Week: www.climateone.org/audio/congre... — Rep. Jared Huffman (@realjaredhuffman.bsky.social) 2025-04-30T21:07:15.984Z
And at an Earth Day event in Mill Valley, California.
x "I'd love to wonk out with you on carbon pricing. But right now the most important climate policy is saving our democracy." -Rep. Jared Huffman at the Mill Valley Earth Day event — Warren Wells, AICP (@warrenjwells.bsky.social) 2025-04-23T23:14:14.927Z
With the League of Conservation Voters on Capital Hill.
x "Most Americans understand that some places are too special, too ecologically important to be spoiled by oil and gas development.” @naturalresources.bsky.social ranking member @rephuffman.bsky.social made it clear: we must permanently #ProtectTheArctic. — LCV – League of Conservation Voters (@lcv.org) 2025-04-29T18:31:46.116Z
And he brought out Jamie “piano hands” Raskin to play keyboards while he sang Tom Petty songs at one of the Hands Off demonstrations.
x How cool is it to be represented by a congressman, Jared Huffman, who not only plays guitar but brings his pal Rep. Jamie Raskin back home to join him on keyboards? — Robert Sterling (@grandparobert.bsky.social) 2025-04-23T04:52:42.721Z
He used some well crafted sarcasm to attack the sycophantic behaviour of Republican Legislators. Among other attempts at cultish ridiculousness, they have proposed legislation to put Trump’s face on currency, and to add his likeness to Mount Rushmore.
Huffman said during a committee hearing quoted in the post below, “let’s skip the ridiculous parade of one offs here. It’s far more efficient to just cut to the chase and name earth Planet Trump”, telling Republicans, “so let’s just make it official, show Donald Trump how mindlessly cultish you are. He’s going to love this.”
x At this point, we might as well rename "Planet Earth" to "Planet Trump" to cut to the chase and get it all over with at once. All jokes aside: Let’s stop wasting time to stroke this wannabe dictator’s ego and start doing things that will actually help the American people. — Rep. Jared Huffman (@rephuffman.bsky.social) 2025-04-10T20:18:58.582Z
His talent for sarcasm also revealed itself in this post on Prosperity Gospel Promoter (or, in other words, Christian grifter) Paula White.
x Just another day in the life of our local US Congressman, Jared Huffman. — The West Marin Feed (@westmarinfeed.bsky.social) 2025-04-12T19:43:59.407Z
As perhaps the only self-described Secular Humanist in Congress, and as a proponent of the environment, Jared Huffman brings a unique perspective to Congress. His Freethought Caucus are exposing the dangers of Christian Nationalism and he has done good work as ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources.
I have to admit, I especially appreciated the sarcasm he uses to expose the cultishness and sycophancy of Republicans as they fight amongst themselves to impress their Dear Leader.
As I have said, it is important for readers of this site to know that the vast majority of Democrats are committed to fighting back against Trump. Diaries from readers and from the Front Page are often click bait designed to foment a rage that does nothing to help this fight. We often hear that, “only this person is fighting back” when the fact is most Democrats are working hard to push back against Trump’s ongoing descent into fascism. It is important that we promote and advertise those that are.
Americans need to join with those engaged in the fight against Trump. Their actions need to be highlighted, their work recorded, and their courage supported. It is for this reason that I chose to amplify the vast majority of Democrats, especially those like Jared Huffman, that are unheralded and less well known, who are meeting the moment with strength and resolve every day.
If you want even more information on how Democrats are attacking this illegal and corrupt administration, go seek out Janesaunts diaries “Dems Doing What We Want them to do”, which is published three times a week, and lpeacocks Thursday diaries on the Congressional Black Caucus.
T2 has also just begun a series called the Rainbow Roundup, where focus is placed on LGBTQ lawmakers and journalists. And Billboteach has one focusing on Hispanic elected Democrats.
You can gain easy access to all these diaries by following the Democratic Party Spotlight, where all these diaries can be found www.dailykos.com/...
My diaries appear Monday and Friday.
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/2/2319960/-Still-Think-Democrats-Aren-t-Fighting-Back-Introducing-Jared-Huffman?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
