Dear Neighbor,

As we embrace the beauty of the blossoming season, Team Gonzalez is excited to continue celebrating Earth Month with a sense of renewal and environmental stewardship. We’re working on a series of events and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability and environmental awareness. Check it out!

At the Capitol, we’re continuing to advocate for strong environmental legislation to protect our planet and our communities from the dangers of pollution. One of those bills is Senate Bill 674 The Refinery Pollution Reduction & Transparency Act which I authored to increase transparency about the harmful chemicals released into the air by refineries and to ensure big polluters are held accountable.

Another environmental bill we’re advocating for is Senate Bill 252 The Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. This is a two-year bill I introduced last year to stop two of our nation’s largest public pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTRS, from using the hard-earned dollars of teachers, firefighters, and other workers to invest in fossil fuels. Research shows that fossil fuel investments are becoming riskier as we transition to a low-carbon economy. Therefore, it is time to divest from fossil fuels to safeguard the stability of workers’ pensions and to stop financing the destruction of our planet.

In the District, we are getting ready for our Día del Niño Celebration featuring eco-friendly arts and crafts and activities, such as painting your own flower pot and planting flowers! This event has been postponed to May due to weather, but we are still accepting RSVPs. We’re also co-hosting a beach cleanup to remove litter and help preserve and protect California's beautiful coastline. Invite your friends, family, and neighbors, the top three volunteers will be honored as our Beach Cleanup Champions!

And there’s much more coming up! Nominations for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month community spotlights are open and there’s a great scholarship opportunity with the California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation (CLLCF) for students going to college.

Lastly, the California Legislature recently passed Early Action Budget Legislation to significantly reduce the budget shortfall. Continue reading below for more details.

As always, if you need any other information or assistance, please contact my office at (562) 256-7921 or send us a message here. Happy Earth Month!

Sincerely,

Lena Gonzalez
33rd State Senate District