I
was sworn-in today for the new legislative session. I want to thank you for re-electing me to be your voice in Sacramento. We’ve accomplished a lot since I first became your representative in 2012, and I’m honored you’ve entrusted me to serve a sixth and final term, as we keep making California a better place for everyone.
eAlerts
The California State Controller’s Office is holding nearly $12 billion in property that people may not realize is theirs to claim. It could be assets from a forgotten bank, stock or bond account, wages owed, insurance benefits, or contents of a closed safe deposit box. Could one of them be yours? Click here to enter your information and to see what steps you need to take for submitting a claim, if you find something under your name.
The application for the Biden-Harris one-time student loan debt relief program is finally online. Borrowers can submit their applications here. Although the actual forgiveness of debt is on hold due to a recent federal court case, the U. S. Department of Education still urges student loan borrowers to apply now.
Voting matters. Election Day is an opportunity to have your voice heard. With your ballot, you can elect leaders to represent you and help decide the fate of numerous measures that touch on important issues, such as education funding, abortion rights, gambling expansion and the environment. There are also local measures you can weigh in on.
Voting matters. Election Day is an opportunity to have your voice heard. With your ballot, you can elect leaders to represent you. You can also decide the fate of numerous initiatives that touch on important issues, such as education funding, abortion rights, gambling expansion and the environment. There are also local measures you can weigh in on.
As Assembly Budget Chair, I’m proud of the strides we’ve made to make higher education more accessible. It’s important to me to champion more slots for students at our public universities because I know a college degree can lead to brighter futures.
But as we expand enrollment, we must also build more student housing and have allocated a total of $4 billion over three years, from 2022 to 2025, to help the University of California, California State University and community colleges do that.
With the legislative year wrapped up, I wanted to highlight some of my key bills that the Governor recently signed into law:
AB 1817: Bans toxic substances called PFAS from fabrics. While these “forever chemicals” make clothing and other textiles water or stain resistant, they are harmful to human health and the environment.
October is here, and that means tax relief will soon be headed to most Californians’ bank accounts or mailboxes. As part of the latest state budget, we included approximately $9.5 billion in tax rebates to help fight global inflation that has raised the price of essentials, like groceries. Payments will range from $200 to $1,050, depending on the California Adjusted Gross Income stated on 2020 tax forms and the number of dependents claimed. Determine eligibility and/or estimate your refund here.
Join me at my next outdoor Community Town Hall, which will be held at the California Academy of Sciences on Saturday, October 1 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. We can discuss my recent legislation signed by the Governor and the many highlights of this year’s historic state budget. For our district, I was able to secure nearly $57 million for several community projects throughout San Francisco and northern San Mateo County.
As we ramp up for the next legislative year, please also share your concerns and ideas regarding what leaders can further do to move our state forward.
You’ve seen the big Peace Pagoda when visiting or driving by Japantown. A complete redesign and renovation of the surrounding plaza is planned, thanks to San Francisco’s 2020 voter-approved Health and Recovery Bond. But unexpected costs threaten to impact the project.
This week, I announced $6 million in state funding to make sure the work gets done as envisioned. As Assembly Budget Chair, I was determined to fight for this allocation in Sacramento because the state should be a partner in such efforts to make things right.
Happy College Savings Month! To celebrate, ScholarShare529, a state-sponsored college savings plan, is offering a $100 bonus when you open an account by the end of September with an initial deposit of $1,000 or more. Anyone can contribute thereafter. Watch earnings grow, then when it’s time, withdrawals for qualified higher education expenses are tax-free at both the federal and state level.
California continues to be at the center of the MPX (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreak with 4,140 reported cases, roughly 20% of the nation’s total. San Francisco has the state’s second highest number of reported cases in our state, with the tally at 763 as of September 9, 2022. It may be higher because many cases do not get reported.
It’s hard to believe Fall is just about here. I have scheduled two events that I hope you can attend. It’ll give us a chance to catch up on what I’ve recently accomplished in Sacramento.
I strongly encourage you to take public transit, walk or bike to these events.
Richmond District Autumn Moon Festival
As Assembly Budget Chair, I’m committed to ensuring the state continues investing in California’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. As part of that pledge, I announced $3.2 million in state funding today to help implement the Safe Routes to School program in Daly City. Located in our district, about 60% of its population is AAPI, with the majority identifying as Filipino or Chinese.
With many more Californians back on their pre-pandemic commutes, we are reminded of how crucial it is to have sustainable and reliable transportation options to move us between home, work, school and leisure. As the Assembly Budget Chair, I helped to secure billions for our state’s transportation infrastructure in the 2022-23 spending plan, improving and expanding how we get around.