The Senate passed legislation Monday by state Senator Josh Becker to help California slash greenhouse gas emissions from the production of concrete and its main ingredient, cement. In presenting Senate Bill 596, the Peninsula Democrat noted that concrete is the most widely used building material in the world and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. It accounts for about 7% of global CO2 emissions. In California, production of concrete is the second largest industrial source of GHG emissions, outstripped only by oil refineries.
Press Releases
With a drought emergency declared in 41 of our 58 counties, 2021 is looking to be a very dry year. What are we doing about it? What should we be doing about it? Senator Josh Becker, D-Peninsula, convenes a panel of experts for a free livestream talk from 1 to 2 p.m. on May 27: “Water, Water, Nowhere! – Innovation, Resiliency & the Drought.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee, the upper house panel that serves as the gatekeeper of legislation with a potential fiscal impact to the state, passed nine bills by Senator Josh Becker this week, advancing key measures in the Peninsula Democrat’s 2021 legislative portfolio. “I’m grateful for the support from of my colleagues on bills that will help California slash greenhouse gas emissions, meet our clean energy goals, bridge the digital gap in education, enhance access to civil and criminal justice, address vote equity issues, and more,” said Senator Becker.
“Governor Newsom’s budget gives California what we need to come back strong. His proposal will help create the ‘Everyone Economy’ we need by using California’s historic surplus to aid those most in need and provide the springboard to true economic mobility that will break the cycle of generational poverty. This plan will help our families, our small businesses, the unhoused; invest in our kids, especially their growth and education; and address critical elements of our lives and livelihoods in the Golden State, including our water resilience and digital equity..."
State Senator Josh Becker called today to use the state’s historic surplus to attack economic inequality and for the Legislature to embrace a moonshot investment to break the cycle of generational poverty. “We have a historic $75 billion surplus. Now is the time to be bold: Let’s start with babies. A Baby Bond program would put money into a publicly funded trust account for every child at birth -- with more for lower income families"
“My Senate Bill 591 enables creation of housing for seniors and youth so they can live, learn and thrive together while sharing a living space that provides vulnerable individuals a safe place to live,” said Senator Becker. “The benefits of such intergenerational living environments are proven. These living spaces create a dynamic and supportive community that traditional forms of age-restricted housing cannot match.”
In an effort to drive broader adoption of zero- and low-emission vehicles, disadvantaged Californians would get a state sales tax break when replacing an older vehicle with an electric or hybrid car, under legislation by Senator Josh Becker that was approved by a key Senate Committee today. “As California shifts gears toward a zero-emission transportation model, we need a vigorous agenda rooted in equitable clean transportation policies in order to achieve our goal,” said Senator Josh Becker, the Peninsula Democrat who serves as vice chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies. “Past transportation policies have moved the state forward, but progress has sometimes come at the expense of disadvantaged communities.
The California Senate unanimously passed legislation by Senator Josh Becker today to provide opportunities for training paired with employment for veterans, the unhoused, people exiting the justice system, and other vulnerable jobseekers who are often shut out of the workforce.