eAlerts

As we emerge from the pandemic and reopen our doors, I want to invite you to my first in-person Town Hall since 2019. This will be an outdoor event. I look forward to coming together with you to share my legislative priorities, describe the new laws that have gone into effect and hear your input on California’s future. As Chair of the California State Assembly Budget Committee, I also want to share how the Legislature and Governor are planning to spend the over $20 billion surplus.

Saturday, March 5
10 – 11:30 a.m.

Going to college can be expensive for many families in California. Making higher education more affordable has been one of my priorities in the Legislature. That’s why I’m excited to see the upcoming launch of the Californians for All College Corps.

It’s CalEITC Awareness Week! This week highlights the California Earned Income Tax Credit program, which could provide a sizeable tax refund to millions of individuals and families in our state.

If you need health insurance, now is the time to sign up. Covered California is offering affordable policies as low as $10 a month or less. The deadline is Monday, January 31.

The effects of COVID-19 continue to hurt many families. Up until recently, only rent relief has been available for California tenants. Now, help is here for homeowners too.

It’s heartbreaking to hear stories from mothers like Loren Lieb, who tried to sue the gun industry for a 1999 day care shooting that traumatized her young son. And because of a federal law that gives near immunity to firearms manufacturers and dealers, her civil lawsuit did not get far in U.S. courts.

I hope your holiday season has been joyful and festive. Can you believe it’s time to ring in 2022? With January 1^st around the corner, I’m excited to tell you about some of my legislation becoming law.

A More Inclusive Economic Recovery

California’s economic recovery from the pandemic is going strong with another budget surplus forecasted in the next year. But not every resident is reaping the benefits of this upswing. As Assembly Budget Chair, I am working to make sure the state’s rebound touches more communities.

As we head into the holidays, I wanted to remind you that rent relief is still available for California residents, regardless of immigration status, if their income has been impacted by the pandemic. The Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency is processing applications much faster after increasing staff.

Please attend this Saturday’s virtual town hall meeting to share your thoughts about the state of California. I will provide an update on the state budget and new laws that will go into effect in 2022.

Dear Friend,

Children aged 5 and up are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA, CDC and California’s own COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup found the vaccine safe and effective for this age group.

Kids are affected by COVID-19, so vaccination of children is a critical tool to keeping schools open, protecting immunocompromised kids and their families, and helping California continue on its path to normalcy.

I encourage you to attend my next virtual town hall meeting to hear updates on the budget and new laws that will go into effect now that we have finished our legislative year in Sacramento. Through the state budget, I was able to secure nearly $12 billion to fund homelessness programs, including measures to prevent homelessness in the first place; this includes $47 million for San Francisco and more than $4 million for San Mateo County.

With California home to so many leading tech companies, it’s hard to believe there are areas throughout the state struggling with internet access. The digital divide was painfully obvious when students had to go to school virtually and many of us had to rely on online shopping to avoid crowds during a portion of the pandemic.

It’s time to boost your immunity to avoid a “twindemic,” when both flu and COVID-19 simultaneously spike and overwhelm our health system. As winter looms, health experts are worried about the upcoming flu season, warning it could come roaring back after failing to materialize last year when we were shut down due to COVID-19. A flu shot can help protect you, and there are plenty of sites in our district to get one: