AB 1567’s Proposed $15.9 Billion Equity-Focused, Climate Investment Plan All The More Urgent In The Face Of State Budget Deficit
(Sacramento, CA) – On Wednesday, June 14, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) and a coalition of Assemblymembers representing diverse regions across the state held a press conference mobilizing support for AB 1567, the California Climate Resilience Bond. As the Legislature moves to approve a state budget in the face of a deficit, passing a climate bond has become all the more urgent to uphold resource commitments and accelerate a climate crisis action plan.
AB 1567 proposes over $15.9 billion in proven strategies and equity-focused investments to protect California communities. These investments would support various activities throughout the state to address issues ranging from wildfire risk, drought, sea-level rise, and extreme heat. This measure also creates opportunities for workforce development and job creation.
After receiving approval from the State Assembly, the measure awaits committee referral in the State Senate. Bond authors and proponents aim to ramp up advocacy efforts to ensure the legislation advances promptly. The press conference issues a call to action that coincides with the kick-off for California State Parks Week to incorporate the voices of statewide park and natural lands advocates.
“California must act, must take the lead with a comprehensive, equitable climate crisis response. Our most vulnerable constituents are paying the cost as the real-time consequences of climate change escalate. We need to make big investments now to uphold our commitments, protect our communities, and protect California’s future,” asserts Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia. “Our climate bond outlines an equity-focused investment plan to address diverse regional needs while prioritizing underserved, environmentally vulnerable areas and creating new jobs.”
“Climate change has exacerbated the length and intensity of extreme weather events. California has seen atmospheric rivers that have flooded homes and devastating wildfires that have burned down entire neighborhoods. As Legislators, we have an obligation to create and pass policy that protects Californians from these extreme weather events despite their socioeconomic status, and invest in legislation that ensures our infrastructure is reliable at the time of natural disasters,” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley). “Thank you to Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia for working on legislation like Assembly Bill 1567 to help mitigate the effects of extreme weather.”
Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) stated, “As the chair of the Select Committee on Wildlife Prevention, I am proud to be a joint author on this transformative legislation. AB 1567 is a roadmap that addresses our climate crisis head on by ensuring support for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought resilience, flood protection, clean energy, and more. This bill stands as a testament to our commitment to a sustainable resilient future."
“The realities of climate change are banging down California’s front door,” said Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg). “One wildfire and extreme weather event after another has shown us how much we need this bond. It will strengthen California’s climate resilience by making historic investments in wildfire prevention, our coastal communities, drought preparation, clean energy projects and more.”
“This bond offers the potential for much-needed fire resiliency protection for our high fire risk areas across the state, and especially in my district,” said Assemblymember Waldron (R-Valley Center). “Water infrastructure, that is critical for Southern California, including our Tribal governments, would also benefit from this bond, by helping to create more reliable, sustainable water resources.”
Garcia’s proposed Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, Clean Energy, and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2024 will prioritize environmentally vulnerable areas facing the harshest climate impacts. California voters will provide the final approval of this bond.
What Legislators and Supporter Are Saying About AB 1567:
Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo
“Safe drinking water should be a basic resource available to all Californians and sadly, it’s not. I’m proud to co-author AB 1567 which ensures California expands its efforts to provide equitable distribution of our most precious resource: water. We must do all we can to be more climate resilient as wildfires have become our new normal, endangering the lives of communities, wildlife and fauna and our first responders. Extreme heat, drought and floods have severely impacted regions across our state and our economy with long lasting effects for generations to come. This measure ensures that we invest in our long-term health, safety, and comfort, while safeguarding our environment and creating new job opportunities in the green sector. It’s a step in the right direction.”
Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria
“I’m proud to support this effort to make California more climate resistant by investing in strategies to provide safe drinking water, drought preparation and response, and flood protection to all residents of our state.”
Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua
“Achieving a climate resilient infrastructure is going to take significant investments from the State, but that’s the obligation each of us has for our communities,” said Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton). “I’m grateful for the support AB 1567 offers for flood protections that will save countless lives and critical infrastructure throughout the Central Valley, which has been identified as one of the most at-risk regions in the nation to flooding.”
Cindy Bagley, Incoming President, California Park and Recreation Society
“AB 1567 not only provides critical resources to ensure that our natural and built landscapes remain resilient and adapt to a climate-challenged tomorrow but prioritizes spending to heal and green our planet particularly in our urban settings and does so through an acute lens focused on investments in communities that have been historically ignored and marginalized.”
Assemblymember Lisa Calderon
"California is experiencing increasingly catastrophic, climate change-induced weather events at an alarming rate. Californians across the state are seeking solutions towards creating climate resilient communities, while also creating green, local jobs. I am a proud co-author of Assembly Bill 1567, which will bring California one step closer to achieving our state climate goals and combatting our climate crises. We are continuing to make bold progress, progress that has set the standard worldwide, and across the nation."
Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal
“We are bearing witness to the reality of climate change. The impacts from climate are no longer a theoretical ‘what if?’ but a ‘when?’ and ‘how bad?’ From historical wildfires, to irregular and intense storms, to sea level rise, our state is already experiencing the effects of climate change and the impacts are becoming more severe every year. The state cannot afford to fall behind on its climate resiliency and adaptation plans. That is why AB 1567, the climate resiliency bond, is so crucial to our state’s success environmentally and economically,” said Lowenthal.
Rachel Norton, Executive Director, California State Parks Foundation
“After years of feast and famine budget cycles, a climate resilience bond is an opportunity for California State Parks to receive reliable funding and make parks more resilient to wildfires, extreme weather, and other climate impacts. This is why we have partnered with Save the Redwoods League to advocate for the inclusion of $500 million to support state parks deferred maintenance projects in this climate bond."
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Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) serves as the chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy, the Assembly Select Committee on California’s Lithium Economy, and the Assembly Select Committee on California Mexico Binational Affairs. He proudly represents California’s 36th Assembly District, which comprises of Imperial County and cities and communities in Riverside County and San Bernardino County.
