In the News

KHN: With Restrictions Tightening Elsewhere, California Moves to Make Abortion Cheaper

June 07, 2021

By Rachel Bluth

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Even as most states are trying to make it harder to get an abortion, California could make it free for more people.

State lawmakers are debating a bill to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses like copays and payments toward deductibles for abortions and related services, such as counseling. The measure, approved by the Senate and headed to the Assembly, would apply to most private health plans regulated by the state.

CalMatters: Broadband for all can revive post-pandemic economy

June 01, 2021

By Lena Gonzalez 

Securing continuous funding to invest in broadband infrastructure in poorly served communities will create jobs and provide economic opportunities.  

California can narrow the digital divide by investing in 21st century infrastructure, updated internet speed standards, and above all, equitable broadband deployment. The global pandemic has underscored the importance and urgency of this civil rights issue. California should commit to ensuring all communities have the technology needed to participate fully in our society, our economy and our democracy. 

Lake County News: Aguiar-Curry, Gonzalez lead legislators’ push for $3.5 billion broadband investment

May 10, 2021

Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) and Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) have led a group of 17 members of the California Legislature in calling upon the governor and legislative leadership to support a major investment in broadband infrastructure and service for Californians without reliable, affordable internet.

The effort comes as the governor considers adjustments to his January budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2021-22 in the annual “May Revision.”

Random Lengths News: Trio of New Bills Could Fix Badly Broken Port Drayage System

April 29, 2021
By Paul Rosenberg
 
“Wage theft, unsafe working conditions, no safety net. This is the reality of thousands of port drivers like me,” said Juan Carlos Giraldo at an April 6 press conference. “And it doesn’t just hurt us. It hurts our families and it hurts our communities.”
 

StreetsBlog Cal: Trio of Bills Seeks to Prevent California Truck Drivers from Being Exploited

April 29, 2021
By Damien Newton
 
Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) have introduced a trio of bills that are designed to protect California’s port truck drivers and to increase accountability for trucking companies who misclassify drivers as independent contractors. The legislation is sponsored by the Blue-Green Alliance, Teamsters, the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) and other workers rights groups.
 

The Sacramento Bee: Bills to Help Port Truckers

April 06, 2021
Speaking behind photos of truck drivers who died after contracting the coronavirus, labor advocates and legislators at the north steps of the Capitol introduced a package of bills aiming to address misclassifications and labor law violations in the port trucking industry.
 
“Wage theft, unsafe working condition, no safety net, this is the reality for thousands of port truckers like us,” said Juan Carlos Giraldo, who has been a truck driver in Southern California for 20 years, at a press conference introducing the bills.
 

CA Transit Association: On Board With… California State Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach)

March 26, 2021
On Board With… California State Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach)
Senator Lena A. Gonzalez was first elected to the State Senate to represent the 33rd District in a special election in June of 2019 and was subsequently re-elected in the November 3, 2020 general election for her first full 4-year term. As State Senator, she represents nearly 1 million residents in Southeast Los Angeles, Signal Hill, portions of South Los Angeles and Lakewood, and her hometown of Long Beach. 
 

City News Service: CA Legislators Introduce Bill to Fund Clean-Up of Homes Polluted by Exide

February 18, 2021

Four Los Angeles-area state legislators announced Thursday that they have introduced a bill to provide $540.4 million to fund a clean-up of 10,000 homes polluted by the nearby Exide Technologies battery facility in Vernon.

The Davis Vanguard: ACLU California Action Releases Scorecard, Crowns 28 Lawmakers as ‘Champions’ or ‘Advocates’

February 16, 2021

Of the 120 state legislators of California, 14 were “Champions.” They had ‘championed’ the ACLU mission by voting 100 percent in line with the ACLU affiliates. These Champions received perfect scores in their voting habits, specific to civil liberties.

The following state legislators were recognized as the ACLU California Action’s Civil Liberties Champions for their efforts to uphold values incorporated in civil liberties:

Steven Bradford – Gardena (SD 35)
Maria Elena Durazo – Los Angeles (SD 24)
Lena Gonzalez – Long Beach (SD 33)
Bob Hertzberg – Van Nuys (SD 18)

The Sacramento Bee: Lawmaker Introduces Abortion Access Bill On Roe v. Wade Anniversary

January 25, 2021

By Andrew Sheeler
California insurers would be required to cover abortions without imposing a co-pay, deductible or any type of cost-sharing, under a new bill introduced by Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach.

Gonzalez introduced SB 245 on Friday, the 48th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortions.