Caucus News

Sacramento – Seeking to transform the state’s deteriorating beverage container recycling system, Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) introduced new legislation today that would shift responsibility for the program from consumers to distributors. The new streamlined stewardship program would be modeled after Oregon’s system, which promotes Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).   

SACRAMENTO ­– Today, Senator Bradford (D-Gardena) and Senate President pro Tempore Atkins (D-San Diego) introduced Senate Bill 2 to increase accountability for law enforcement officers that commit serious misconduct and illegally violate a person’s civil rights.

Sacramento, Calif. – Today, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D- Long Beach) introduced Senate Bill 4, the Broadband for All Act to help bridge the digital divide that has long resulted in deep inequity for California low income, rural, urban families and minorities throughout the state. With students learning remotely and medically fragile patients in need of telehealth, lack of adequate internet service is an urgent matter of education and healthcare equity that necessitates bold legislative action.

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and state senator representing the Sacramento region introduced Senate Bill 17 today, which calls on California to declare racism as a public health crisis and to enact state policies to address systemic and institutional racism leading to poorer health outcomes and disparities in communities of color.

Sacramento, CA – At the start of the 2021-2022 legislative session, today, Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) released the following statement:

“These are difficult times, and Californians are hurting today. With the COVID-19 vaccine on its way, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. However, the medical, epidemiological, psychological, and economic consequences of this crisis continue to be alarmingly dire. We must get through this pandemic and fully restart our economy again as quickly as possible.

Sacramento, CA — The California Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Legislative Caucus elected Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) and Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) to serve as its new chair and vice-chair, respectivly, starting December 7, 2020. Their terms will run through the 2021-2022 legislative session.

Newly sworn-in State Senator Dave Cortese, representing the heart of Silicon Valley, announced a bold plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in new construction statewide on his first day in office.
The climate resiliency package includes four bills that could revolutionize California’s building and construction sector which accounts for roughly 40% of our carbon emissions, including the first bill in history asking the State to divest from projects that are not zero-emission.

Newly sworn-in State Senator Dave Cortese, representing the heart of Silicon Valley, announced a bold plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in new construction statewide on his first day in office.

The climate resiliency package includes four bills that could revolutionize California’s building and construction sector which accounts for roughly 40% of our carbon emissions, including the first bill in history asking the State to divest from projects that are not zero-emission.

SACRAMENTO — Today, Senator Tom Umberg (D - Orange County) introduced 3 Senate Concurrent Resolutions to honor the contributions of the Vietnamese American community in California. These resolutions help to celebrate the rich diversity of cultures across the state and specifically call attention to the proud history of Vietnamese Americans. By far, California has the largest concentration of Vietnamese Americans than any other state.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, was sworn in to office today after winning his second four-year term and announced new legislation to improve conditions in California during wildfire-related utility power shutoffs such as those this fall from PG&E.