Press Releases

Broadband Bills Pass Out of California Legislature

June 02, 2021
Sacramento, Calif. – On June 2nd, 2021 the California Senate passed Senator Lena A. Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Senate Bill 4, the Broadband for All Act, that will help close the digital divide by securing funding for a broadband deployment state grant program administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The bill would also ensure that broadband infrastructure deployment projects focus on unserved and underserved areas throughout the state to bring reliable, high-speed internet access to communities that lack connectivity the most.

California Senate Passes SB 338 Protecting Port Truck Drivers

June 01, 2021
Sacramento, Calif. – On June 1st, 2021 the California Senate passed Senator Lena A. Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Senate Bill (SB) 338 Protecting Port Truck Drivers. SB 338 helps protect essential supply-chain workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. SB 338 adds trucking companies to an existing Division of Labor Standards Enforcement “bad actor” list if those companies do not provide required health and safety protections and benefits to their workers or have outstanding serious health and safety violations.

California Senate Passes SB 245 the Abortion Accessibility Act

June 01, 2021

Sacramento, Calif. – On June 1st, 2021 the California Senate passed Senator Lena A. Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Senate Bill (SB) 245 the Abortion Accessibility Act. The Abortion Accessibility Act will require all state-licensed health care service plans or disability insurance policies issued after 2022, to cover abortion services without a co-payment, deductible, or any type of cost-sharing requirement. This will finally remove high out-of-pocket costs that act as one of the most significant barriers to care for low-income individuals.
 

Senator Lena Gonzalez and Senator Maria Elena Durazo Respond to Proposed Exide Cleanup Funds in Governor’s 2021-22 Budget May Revise

May 15, 2021
Sacramento, Calif. – On May 15th, 2021, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) released the following statements in response to the $454 million proposed funding allocation in Governor Newsom’s 2021-22 Budget May Revise to clean Exide’s former Vernon facility. For decades, Exide conducted battery recycling operations that contaminated surrounding properties. To this day, hazardous chemicals still pollute the area and threaten the health and wellbeing of thousands of families living in Southeast Los Angeles. 

Senator Gonzalez and Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry Applaud Historic $7 Billion Investment for Broadband Proposed in Governor’s May Revise

May 14, 2021
Sacramento, Calif. – Today, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D- Long Beach) and Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D- Winters) applauded Governor Newsom’s historic investment of $7 billion in funds for broadband within the newly released May Revise budget proposal. Under the proposal, existing Caltrans networks will be leveraged to build open-access broadband infrastructure as roads and underground utilities are constructed. This will maximize funds and ensure a quick and efficient deployment of modern, durable, high-speed internet infrastructure.

Sen. Gonzalez Sends Letter to CA Legislature Budget Committees to Request $3.5 Billion Broadband Investment Ahead of 2021-22 State Budget May Revise

May 07, 2021
Sen. Gonzalez Sends Letter to CA Legislature Budget Committees to Request $3.5 Billion Broadband Investment Ahead of 2021-22 State Budget May Revise
 
Uplifts need to allocate funds to support development of local government broadband municipal fiber networks 
 

Senator Lena Gonzalez’s Broadband for All Act Passes out of Senate Energy, Utilities & Communications Committee

April 15, 2021
Sacramento, Calif. – Today, SB 4 the Broadband for All Act by Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D- Long Beach) passed out of the Energy, Utilities & Communications Committee. The Broadband for All Act will secure continuous funding for the California Advanced Services Fund, a state-administered program that provides grants for the deployment of broadband infrastructure.

Senate Bill Adding 2 Environmental Justice Reps to SCAQMD Passes CA Senate Environmental Quality Committee, Moves to Next Step

April 12, 2021
Sacramento, Calif. –The Senate Environmental Quality Committee today passed Senate Bill No. 342 (SB 342) out of committee and is now headed to the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. The bill adding two environmental justice representatives to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) was introduced by Senator Lena Gonzalez and sponsored by San Diego County Board of Supervisors’ Chair Nathan Fletcher and  Communities for a Better Environment.
 

Sen. Gonzalez's Legislation With Stronger Protections to Keep Workers Safe on the Job Passes Out of Senate Judiciary Committee

April 06, 2021
Sacramento, CA – Today, SB 606 by Senator Lena Gonzalez was approved by the California State Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 606 would give the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) the necessary tools to hold large employers accountable for workplace health and safety violations and strengthen worker protections to encourage workers to report unsafe working conditions and prevent employer retaliation.
 

Senate Committee Provides Stronger Protections to Keep Workers Safe on the Job

March 22, 2021

Sacramento, Calif. –Today, SB 606 introduced by Senator Lena Gonzalez passed in the California State Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee. SB 606 would give the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) the necessary tools to hold large employers accountable for workplace health and safety violations and strengthen worker protections to encourage workers to report unsafe working conditions and prevent employer retaliation.