District Matters

Casework and Constituent services

When you need assistance, George's staff in California and Washington will do everything they can to help break through the bureaucracy regarding Social Security, Medicare, the Veterans Administration, the Passport Office, or other federal agencies. Learn more at the Help Desk. 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (aka Berkeley Lab), a federal lab managed by the University of California, recently selected Richmond for a highly coveted new second campus. This decision will be a major boost for local jobs and for Richmond’s economic development.

George is proud to have played a role in convincing the Berkeley Lab directors that Richmond was the right choice out of several East Bay locations under consideration. 

The national labs are among our nation's most important scientific and economic assets charting new frontiers of discovery and innovation — and creating the jobs and industries of the future. This decision is the latest exciting step in Richmond's and West County's economic evolution. The Richmond community is increasingly populated with entrepreneurs, innovators, startup businesses, and the jobs they create – all of which will be strengthened by this new second campus for the Berkeley Lab. Learn more about George’s work with the Berkeley Lab.

Suisun Ships

George has been instrumental in the effort to clean up the obsolete “ghost ships” currently held in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet, working with state and federal regulators to ensure that hazardous materials are removed, and the ships are recycled. This program will improve the region’s water quality and has created much-needed jobs at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

National Parks in Contra Costa County

George has worked closely with  the National Park Service and citizens of the region to support the four units of the National Park system in Contra Costa County, which recognize key aspects of our nation’s history.

John Muir National Historic Site   Established in 1964, the historic site preserves the great conservation advocate John Muir’s home for more than two decades. George carried legislation to expand the historic site to include Mt. Wanda in 1988.

Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site This site recognizes America's only Nobel Prize winning playwright. George authored the law authorizing the National Park Service to acquire and preserve the property. Reservations are required to visit the site.

Rosie the Riveter World War II/Home Front National Historical Park  George worked with civic and political leaders in Richmond to pass his bill to create the historic park, which preserves the history of the brave women and men who played a crucial role on the home front during WWII.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial   Since the early 1990s, Miller has spearheaded successful efforts to create the Port Chicago memorial, and now the national park, in recognition of the historic and tragic events that occurred there. Reservations are required to visit the site.

Caldecott Tunnel

The new Fourth Bore of the Caldecott Tunnel is a critical project in the effort to alleviate traffic congestion for people traveling between Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. George has been a strong proponent of the Fourth Bore and worked with other members of the area’s congressional delegation to help secure federal funding for the project through the Recovery Act to complement local funding for the project. Excavation on the project was completed in August 2012 and the bore is scheduled to open in late 2013.

East Bay Parks Trails

George is not only a strong supporter of the area’s parks, he is himself an avid user of the many walking, biking and hiking trails in the region. In 2010, he helped secure a $10.2 million grant for the East Bay Regional Parks District for its Green Transportation Initiative  through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER grant program. The Green Transportation Initiative will help close a number of gaps in the East Bay’s 200 mile bicycle and pedestrian trail system, including trails along the waterfront in Hercules and the Carquinez Scenic Drive trail.