A stroke of the Governor’s pen would enable the San Mateo County Community College District to offer fee waivers to more students in need by using existing local revenue and without incurring further costs to the state. SB 893 by Senator Josh Becker allows the college district to operate a pilot program that expands aid to underrepresented and marginalized community members using unrestricted local funds. The district now helps 2,000 students experiencing financial hardship attend its community colleges. SB 893 would enable the district to defray college expenses for an estimated 6,000 students from San Mateo County. The Senate sent the bill to the Governor’s desk with a unanimous bipartisan vote.
Press Releases
SACRAMENTO – Independent San Mateo bookstore Reach and Teach and its co-owners, work and life partners Craig Wiesner and Derrick Kikuchi, were honored today at the California Small Business Association’s annual celebration of California small businesses selected for outstanding recognition by their state legislators.
We need urgent action, and the federal dollars from the new law – coupled with the new laws we are considering in Sacramento – can drastically accelerate our path to 100%clean energy and a carbon-free future. In California, transformative change through climate investment and action has become a mantra in our Capitol. I’m heartened that with our President, the White House again embraces this theme. While we all have much work still before us, it is encouraging to see our President and Congress working to reclaim America’s position as a leader in climate action.
Senator Becker’s portfolio of climate action, social justice, economic equity, affordable housing and patient care bills now heads to the full Assembly for the final stretch of legislative reviews. “I’m grateful to all my bill partners, community advocates and legislative colleagues whose support helped these measures reach this critical stage,” Senator Becker said.
Typically, summer heatwaves add stress to our electricity grid. Increased warming and extreme heat events from climate change add a further burden. What must California do to ensure grid reliability while also reducing use of fossil fuels? Senator Josh Becker, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Energy Future, holds a hearing to explore the issue.
Our state Senate and Assembly have approved historic investments for the recovery and resiliency of Californians and our state, while banking hefty reserves and positioning California for a strong future. We have a budget to be proud of. As a longtime advocate for education at all levels, affordable housing, mental health, economic equity, social justice and fast-tracking our clean energy transition, I’m pleased with budget elements we’re sending to the governor.
UPDATED: The Legislature approved more than $12 million in Peninsula investments proposed by Senator Josh Becker in the package of trailer bills that were passed on June 29 and sent to Governor Newsom, who signed them June 30. “This funding will help improve the lives of Peninsula residents while strongly contributing to a healthier environment, strengthening pathways to skilled, good-paying jobs, fostering entrepreneurship and local business, and creating parklets in our county seat for all to enjoy,” said state Senator Josh Becker, D-Peninsula.
This is a very dark day: Today, a highly politicized US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade to roll back human and reproductive rights. Not in California! Our Governor, our Legislative leaders and I are working to make California a place to welcome all women in need of the reproductive health services that SCOTUS has said can be denied.