Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia Responds to State of the State
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – On Tuesday, March 8, Governor Gavin Newsom delivered his annual State of the State address before the California Legislature. Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) has issued the following response:
“Our region’s lithium recovery opportunity was at the forefront of Governor Newsom’s 2022 State of the State address. As the author of AB 1657, which established the Lithium Valley Commission, and Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on California’s Lithium Economy, I am excited at the momentum and attention, our region has generated from our Governor, President Biden, and across the globe. We must follow this hype with an equally significant focus on community engagement and policy actions to protect local interest.”
“Imperial County is one of the most economically underserved areas in the nation, and as the eyes of the world are upon us, we must look to the community and utilize this opportunity to secure local investments. Our policy work has helped set this in motion, and this year we will be prioritizing legislation to ensure equity safeguards. Together, with locals at the helm, we can harness the power of innovation to uplift vulnerable communities and lead the charge on climate change. As our Governor said, that’s ‘the California Way,’ and we must continue to lead the way.”
“Combating homelessness and boosting affordable housing remained a prominent topic in Governor Newsom’s State of the State address. While we have made many strides over the last few years to get individuals safely housed and off the streets, the urgency is as great as ever. The Legislature remains committed to working with the Governor’s administration to provide more homelessness resources, specifically comprehensive wraparound services for our local communities while simultaneously making greater investments in affordable housing projects.”
“The State of the State rightfully acknowledged the progress we have made protecting our communities from COVID-19 and the effectiveness of our lifesaving pandemic guidelines. Hope is on the horizon as case numbers decrease. Our district was one of the hardest hit, but thanks to our ability to band together, mobilize, and direct critical resources to support our most vulnerable populations, we have turned the tide. After suffering some of the worst case rates, our local communities now have some of the highest vaccination rates in the state. We owe thanks to local leaders and community groups for accomplishing this.”
“Our state, our communities, have proven resilient, and we must continue to be responsible and look out for one another as we bounce back stronger than ever. Our job isn’t done; we need to maintain focus on executing an equitable recovery, increasing aid for small businesses, and enhancing protections for essential workers and our most vulnerable.”
