Political Landscape:

A flurry of bills introduced this week heralded the start of the 111th Congress.

Representatives from across the country introduced hundreds of pieces of legislation since the U.S. House of Representatives convened Tuesday.

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff was responsible for at least two, cosponsoring one bill and individually introducing another.

H.R. 175, which Schiff introduced with Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, from Arizona, would expand the federal government’s ability to purchase solar, wind and other alternative energies for government buildings.

The measure, introduced Tuesday, would repeal a law that limits government energy contracts to 10-year periods that Schiff called an “antiquated provision which hinders the government’s ability to purchase green energy.”

On Thursday, Schiff introduced legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the nation’s highest honors, to the Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

The World War II-era troops, commonly referred as the “Go For Broke” regiments, are the most decorated U.S. military units of that war but have never been honored with Congress’ highest medal.

“It is long past due that Congress recognize their heroic efforts,” Schiff said.

Democrats gather for district elections

Hundreds of Democratic delegate-hopefuls from across the state will gather this weekend for their party’s biennial district elections. Thirty-one applicants from the state’s 43rd District, which includes Burbank and Glendale, and 34 candidates from the 44th District of La Crescenta and beyond will vie for 12 spots in each district to help lead their party.

The nominating process aims to select delegates for the California Democratic Party’s convention, slated for April 24 to 26 in Sacramento. Twelve delegates from each of the state’s 80 Assembly districts will be selected at nominating contests throughout California on Saturday and Sunday, with those winners serving two-year terms.

As delegates, residents will vote for their party’s chair, serve on various caucuses and help engineer the Democratic platform for the coming years.

The elections can be energetic as candidates vie for open spots through various forms of electioneering, but the contests are mostly civil, said Brian Brokaw, a spokesman for the California Democratic Party.

“People realize we’re on the same team,” he said.