State Democrats in House Announce Ambitious Agenda

California Democrats, vowing a “concerted and cohesive focus,” Tuesday announced an ambitious list of legislative goals for the 100th Congress, including measures addressing such wide-ranging areas as the environment, immigration, education, jobs, trade and AIDS.

Some of the bills--including, for example, the surface transportation measure providing funds to modernize highways--have not survived previous sessions of Congress but could be revived when the new Congress convenes Jan. 6. Although such proposed programs would require new appropriations to fund them, the delegation stopped short of endorsing a tax increase.

Rep. Tony Coelho of Merced, elected majority whip Monday, said: “A tax increase is neither out nor in.” A day earlier, newly elected House Speaker Jim Wright of Texas suggested delaying a scheduled 1988 tax cut for the wealthy to reduce the federal deficit.

Calls News Conference

The 27-member delegation of California Democrats to the House called a news conference with Sen. Alan Cranston and Nevada Rep. Harry Reid to outline its traditionally liberal positions and to serve notice on the Reagan Administration that it intends to wield its power.

“We no longer will be willing to let the Administration do what it wants to do without checking with us,” Coelho told reporters.

Environmental issues rank high on the delegation’s list, which calls for “a major legislative thrust” to enact legislation reducing automobile emissions. Angered by Reagan’s veto of a clean-water bill that would have provided $173 million to California, the delegation promised to press for passage of the legislation again.

The California Democrats said they will introduce a measure to create a vast ocean sanctuary that would include the shore of Central and Northern California--from Point Buchon near Morro Bay to the Oregon border--and selected areas off Southern California, protecting this region from oil drilling and other activities.

Protection for Rivers

In addition, the group said it will introduce legislation to protect three of the state’s important rivers, the Kings, the Merced and the Kern. About 92.5 miles of the Kings, the South and Upper Main Fork of the Merced and part of the Kern all would be designated as wild and scenic rivers under the bill, the delegation said.

Appropriation of funds to implement the new immigration law is an “urgent need,” the delegation said, vowing to closely monitor the process.

The law, enacted during the last session, calls for more than $400 million each of the next two years for the Immigration and Naturalization Service to carry out new programs granting legal resident status to illegal aliens, implementing employer sanctions and stepping up Border Patrol activities. However, the money has not been appropriated, and some congressmen and immigration activists have expressed fear that Congress may balk at doing so.

‘Must Act Very Quickly’

“We must act very quickly on a supplemental appropriation that will provide adequate funding to meet the goals of this new law,” warned Rep. Howard L. Berman of Panorama City.

Rep. Augustus F. Hawkins of Los Angeles, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, labeled as “two top priorities” welfare reform and reauthorization of the federal program that provides assistance in remedial reading and mathematics to poor elementary and secondary students. The remedial program reaches only half of the nation’s eligible students, he said, and the time for expanding the program is “long overdue.”

Several of the members castigated the Administration for failing to adequately fund education and research programs to battle AIDS.

AIDS Discrimination

Rep. Sala Burton of San Francisco said the delegation will introduce legislation to combat discrimination against AIDS patients and their families in housing, employment and insurance.

Ever since their impressive election victories in both houses, congressional Democrats have vowed to approve strong trade measures, insisting that they are needed to open foreign markets and stem the flow of jobs to foreign countries.

“We will get a trade bill in 1987,” Coelho said.

The Californians said they are particularly interested in measures focusing on high technology and wine.