Caucus News

OCTOBER 22, 2020 – IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – Arts Orange County, the nonprofit official local arts agency and State-Local Partner for the County of Orange, has awarded grants to eight (8) local arts programs that primarily serve communities of color. This program is funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act through the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and the California Arts Council, a state agency.

SACRAMENTO – Today, Senator Tom Umberg (D-Orange County), and the California State Senate, announced that the Power of One Foundation, and Executive Director Andre Roberson, have been honored as the 34th Senate District 2020 Nonprofit of the Year Award. Since they began in 2019, the Power of One Foundation has worked tirelessly to help feed 1.7 million individuals, and they continue to expand their operation to help more people in the state of California.

On behalf of the residents of the 14th State Senate District in California, I write to urge you to select Congressman Jim Costa to be the next Chair of the Agriculture Committee in the United States House of Representatives. 

As you are well aware, California is the top agricultural producing state in the nation. The district I represent in the State Senate has three of the top five most productive agriculture counties in California: Fresno, Kern, and Tulare — with Fresno being the most productive. 

Sacramento, California – Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) partnered with several local charities and business groups to provide support for families during the holiday season.

Sacramento, Calif. - The Senate Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response and Senate Committee on Public Safety will hold a joint oversight hearing today Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. to further examine the state’s response to COVID-19 in state prisons. This oversight hearing will look into the healthcare operations and precautionary measures that have been implemented inside state prisons in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The protocols currently in place for the transfer of state prisoners to immigration detention centers will also be explored.

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) announced today the selection of Cara Jenkins as their candidate for the California State Legislature’s new Legislative Counsel.

Jenkins, who has served as a leading member of the Legislative Counsel’s Office for the past 10 years, will be confirmed in a vote by both houses on December 7, 2020, the first day of the 2021-2022 session.

The people of Senate District 14 face daily challenges and this is the time for us to find solutions to the problems of our community. I invite the residents of Senate District 14 (which includes communities in Kings, Fresno, Kern, and Tulare Counties) to submit budget requests or ideas for state legislation. Act now because we are looking for your proposals by Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

SACRAMENTO – With the Legislative Analyst’s Office scheduled to release its annual forecast this week, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), along with Senate Democratic Caucus colleagues, have begun planning for the year ahead.