SACRAMENTO – As the first bill in her 2025 legislative package, Majority Leader Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) has announced Senate Bill (SB) 12, legislation to establish a new state agency dedicated to Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. The Agency, and its Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs would provide a permanent governmental framework focused on streamlining services, creating grant programs, and engaging stakeholders to enhance support for immigrant and refugee families in California.
Sacramento, Calif. – On October 7, 2024, Majority Leader Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) issued the following statement on marking one year since the October 7th attacks:
"Latinos and Indigenous Mesoamericans are vibrant and diverse communities, each with unique health needs," said Majority Leader Gonzalez. “Every Latino deserves to be seen, heard, and represented in our healthcare system, especially in the data that drives resource allocation. With the Latino and Indigenous Health Disparities Reduction Act our state is making significant strides toward health equity for all Californians. I am grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this bill into law, and also extend my heartfelt thanks to the many community advocates who have championed this cause and continue to fight tirelessly for health equity in our communities.”
“This law puts California on track to funding our obligation to pay for the safe cleanup and remediation of the oil operations in Long Beach. I am thankful to Mayor Richardson and our partners in Long Beach for helping advance this proactive legislation and to the Governor for signing it into law,” said Majority Leader Gonzalez.
Sacramento, Calif. – On September 22, 2024, The Climate Resilient Schools Act by Majority Leader Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) was vetoed by Governor Newsom for the second consecutive year after successfully passing the Legislature with a strong majority vote. The legislation would have created a roadmap for California school districts to access federal funding to upgrade school facilities amidst a changing climate and increasingly severe weather.
Sacramento, California – El 19 de agosto de 2024, el Gobernador Newsom vetó el Proyecto de Ley del Senado (SB) 674, Ley de Transparencia y Reducción de la Contaminación en Refinerí
“This is a devastating blow to the years of hard work and advocacy by communities affected by refinery air pollution,” said Majority Leader Gonzalez (D – Long Beach). “Fenceline communities urgently need improved air monitoring, and it shouldn’t be this difficult to establish a system that provides them with the most basic necessities—transparency and information about the toxic chemicals being released into their neighborhoods. I am deeply disappointed by this outcome, but we cannot walk away from this issue. Our communities demand and deserve stronger protections.”
“Students and their families deserve schools that offer a quality learning environment. With severe weather becoming more frequent in recent years due to climate change that also means updating our school facilities to handle these growing challenges.” said Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). “I am thankful to the incredible organizations and community leaders who have helped us get this far, and I urge my Assembly colleagues for their support on the Assembly Floor for the Climate Resilient Schools Act so that we can help prepare our schools for the future.”
“El éxito del Proyecto de Ley Senatorial 674 hoy es un hito prometedor y motivador para las comunidades cercadas”, dijo la Líder de la Mayoría González (D-Long Beach). “Este proyecto de ley establecerá un sistema estandarizado de monitoreo del aire que exige transparencia a las refinerías sobre los químicos tóxicos que liberan y garantiza que se implementen las mejores prácticas y tecnologías para prevenir los peligros de las refinerías que nuestras comunidades han soportado durante años. A medida que el proyecto de ley avanza hacia su etapa final, insto al gobernador Newsom a que lo promulgue para salvaguardar la salud y el bienestar de los californianos que han sido perjudicados por la contaminación de las refinerías durante demasiado tiempo”.
