State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, D-Jackson, announced this week the California Department of Conservation's Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Program has allocated $8.89 million to the East Turlock Groundwater Sustainability Agency (ETGSA).
The funding will go toward stabilizing water supplies as the state grapples with its latest drought-flood cycle challenges, bringing to the forefront the importance of local and regional strategies to manage and store floodwaters.
“This substantial funding represents a significant step towards our goal of securing reliable and sustainable water supplies for the communities in Senate District 4,” said Alvarado-Gil. “The East Turlock Groundwater Sustainability Agency has consistently demonstrated its dedication to addressing water challenges, and I am confident that this investment will propel their efforts to new heights.”
The $35 million Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Program aims to support regions across California in adapting land use practices to improve the sustainability of groundwater basins. The allocation of $8.89 million to the ETGSA showcases the agency's outstanding commitment to addressing the pressing water challenges faced by Stanislaus and Merced and Stanislaus counties within the Turlock Sub-basin.
The Senator also announced this week that SB 624, which seeks to enhance an existing fund source for California’s network of fairs, has passed the Assembly’s Agricultural Committee.
The bill would provide financial support for fair projects related to public health and safety, infrastructure, deferred maintenance, and reinvestment into the state fairs.
California is home to 78 fairs, including 52 district agricultural associations (DAAs), 23 county fairs, two citrus fruit fairs, and the esteemed California Exposition and State Fair (Cal Expo).
Neveah Your Sports Safety Act awaits governor’s signature
Assemblymember Juan Alanis, R-Modesto, successfully passed his first bill off the Senate floor last week. The bill passed with unanimous bipartisan support — 40-0 — and now is headed to Governor Newsom’s desk for consideration.
AB 1467, known as the Neveah Youth Sports Safety Act, would require youth sports organizations across the state to provide their athletes with accessibility to an automated external defibrillator (AED) during official practices and matches. It is named after Neveah Johnson, who passed away last year at a youth sports practice in Waterford.
“As a former Sheriff Sergeant in Waterford, I feel a strong tie to that community,” said Alanis. “When a town that small loses anyone, especially a child, it is felt by everyone. Nevaeh’s story is a tragic one. As a father and grandfather, I cannot fathom what Nevaeh’s family has gone through. When they came to us about authoring this bill it was an immediate yes from me. First, to honor the memory of Nevaeh, but also because we have learned so much more about cardiac and neurological health for athletes in recent years. We know when there are the right tools and right training on the field, court, or facilities, that proper immediate care saves lives.
“Ensuring our youth sports programs have resources, like AEDs, readily available just makes sense to me. Remembering and honoring Neveah in this way is both emotional and meaningful. Taking care of our kids is the most important thing we can do. I could not be more proud that this is the first bill I authored that has reached the governor’s desk.”
Prior to its passage on the Senate Floor, AB 1467 gained significant bipartisan support, and passed through policy committees in both houses with no opposition.
Duarte co-introduces bipartisan immigration bill
Rep. John Duarte, R-Hughson, along with Rep. Sylva Garcia, D-Texas, has co-introduced the American Dream and Promise Act.
According to Duarte, the legislations offers a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, those who were brought to the U.S. as children and have lived her for at least five consecutive years.
“We all understand the importance of secure borders and upholding the rule of law,” said Duarte. “We recognize the need for comprehensive immigration reform that addresses the root causes of illegal immigration while providing a fair and compassionate solution for those who are already here.
“The American Dream and Promise Act offers certainty and stability to these Dreamers who have been stuck in a state of uncertainty, fearing deportation to a country they may barely remember. By providing them with a pathway to citizenship, we empower them to plan for their futures, invest in themselves and their communities, and fully embrace the responsibilities and privileges of the American Dream.”
McClintock forest management bill headed to House floor
The Proven Forest Management Act, co-authored by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-El Dorado Hills, has passed the House Natural Resources Committee and will next go to the House Floor.
H.R. 188 expands throughout the entire National Forest System the categorical exclusion for forest management projects that was secured for the Tahoe Basin in the 2016 WINN Act.
"Excess timber comes out of the forest in only two ways – it is either carried out or it burns out. For most of the 20th Century, we carried it out," McClintock said. "Beginning in the 1970s, we began imposing environmental laws that have made the management of our lands all but impossible.”
The Proven Forest Management Act extends existing law that was passed with bi-partisan support and signed by President Obama as part of the WINN Act in 2016. That law provided for a categorical exclusion from the National Environment Policy Act for forest thinning projects up to 10,000 acres under certain conditions in the Tahoe Basin. Currently under NEPA, a simple forest thinning project requires an average of four and a half years of environmental studies and produce reports often exceeding 800 pages, according to McClintock.
