June 2022 Newsletter from Senator Bob Archuleta

Dear Neighbor,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits this summer. It has been a productive last couple of months as my fellow State Senators work on the state budget, legislation and continued support for our districts.

My District office team and I have been keeping busy. From laptop giveaways and ribbon cutting ceremonies, to drive thru vaccine clinics and food banks in underserved regions: we are out there and doing our best to serve our communities. 

My Capitol office team and I have been busy working on budget wins for our district, and legislation making transportation better and healthier for our state’s families. From funding to help our military veterans, to funding for renewable hydrogen to increase air quality for our children: wherever I can, I will always advocate for the health and safety of our communities.

Please continue to check the County of Los Angeles Public Health website for the latest Covid information and updated guidance, as well as vaccine administrating locations, by visiting http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/

As always, I stand ready to serve you, and encourage you to contact my offices for assistance or with questions at (562) 406-1001 or visit https://sd32.senate.ca.gov/.

God bless,

Senator Bob Archuleta
Thirty-Second Senate District

2021 Budget Wins for Public Health, Veterans, and Public Safety,  In Addition to Seven Bills Sent to the Governor’s Desk

I shared with you previously how privileged I am to have worked with my colleagues to deliver something for everyone in our community. I secured $1.1 million in state budget funding for the La Habra Heights Fire Department to upgrade their equipment and facilities. I also secured funding for repair work at Smith Park Aquatic Center in Pico Rivera and Parnell Park in Whittier. The full text of my press releases and listing of budget wins for our district is available on my website, along with information on the seven bills I sent to the Governor’s desk in 2021.  https://sd32.senate.ca.gov/news/press-releases

Upcoming Bills for 2022:

I am committed to improving the quality of life for California residents through funding education for children, investments in public safety, and improvements to transportation to make our environment and air quality safer for our children. I am pleased to share with you a couple upcoming bills I am currently working on that are making their way through the California State Senate:

SB 1076 – will protect more children against lead poisoning by harmonizing state and federal training and certification requirements for lead safe work practices related to work that can disturb lead paint. 

SB 1357 - will provide a full property tax exemption for disabled veteran homeowners to help prevent homelessness.

SB 1323 – will help protect homeowners going through a foreclosure by requiring the seizing bank to hire a realtor to sell the home as oppose to putting the home up for auction.

I will be there to support our communities in any way possible, as both a partner and an advocate by continuing to work on common sense legislation. Moreover, I will continue to deliver budget wins to support the immediate and long term funding that our communities rightfully deserve.

Through my work on the Senate Select Committee on Hydrogen Energy, I am making transportation better, safer, and healthier. As commercial freight and people pass through our region, the harmful emissions from their vehicles causes respiratory and environmental damages that stays in the region, compromising the health and safety of our communities.

By bringing manufacturers, industry, academics, and stakeholders together, the Hydrogen Select Committee is providing a forum for innovation and advanced technology to deliver cleaner vehicles onto to our roadways to reduce harmful emissions.

For footage of the Senate Select Committee on Hydrogen Energy, please visit the California State Senate website at https://www.senate.ca.gov/media-archive/default?title=Hydrogen&startdate=&enddate

The legislature recently passed the 2022-23 state budget bill. Summary of the Legislative Version of the 2022-23 State Budget.

I applaud the Senate and Assembly for passing a budget that delivers support for working families, our military veterans, and the small businesses that drive our economy.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, I am pleased to see continued funding for the Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program and funding for outreach and support activities aiming to prevent veteran suicides. As chair of the Senate Select Committee on Hydrogen Energy, I commend our budget’s investments in zero-emission equipment modernization for freight-related infrastructure. Increasing our state’s capacity for moving commercial goods while ensuring we reduce the harmful emissions from heavy freight vehicles at ports and on roadways remains a priority of mine. Whether it is commercial and heavy-duty vehicles, or passenger vehicles, I remain committed to working with the legislature to make transportation healthier, safer, and better for all Californians.

This month in Sacramento, it was an honor to recognize the Community Family Guidance Center as our 2022 Noon-Profit of the Year. Established in 1976, the Community Family Guidance Center is a 501(c) (3) non-profit agency, providing counseling services in the Southeast area of Los Angeles County. With approximately 70 team members, they provide therapy that is culturally sensitive and bilingual as needed to help children dealing with traumatic mental health issues. To learn more about them, please visit https://www.cfgcenter.com/mission

June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) awareness month. During the month and throughout the year, it is important that we help raise awareness of this issue in order to remind ourselves that not all wounds are visible, and that treatment can make a difference in the quality of life for the approximately 8 million people in the US alone impacted by PTSD.

Traumatic life events ranging from military combat to natural disasters can have long lasting effects on a person’s mental health that can lead to diagnosis of PTSD, which can be treated with medical intervention, understanding and support from family members and loved ones.

The National Alliance on Mental Health and the National Center for PTSD are valuable recourse centers to direct individuals to. Their websites are:

NAMI: https://namica.org/illnesses/ptsd/

VA Center for PTSD:  https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/awareness/index.asp

In the district, my team and I are ready to help our community wherever there is a need. Whether it is personal protection equipment delivery to senior centers or communities in need, to coordinating with our local partners on drive-thru vaccine clinics, or laptop distribution efforts to students in need, we are here to serve.

Please continue visiting the Los Angeles County Public Health website for the most up to date information on Covid 19.

My staff is available and committed to helping you resolve any issues you have with any state agencies. We will contact a state agency on your behalf to see if we can help get your questions answered or matter resolved.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, my staff has helped hundreds of people in our community with EDD claim issues, ensuring they received their benefits. Whether you have an issue related to this year’s tax season for which you need to speak with the Franchise Tax Board, or your professional license with the Department of Consumer Affairs is pending and you are not sure when it will be renewed, we can help if you give us a call at (562) 406-1001. You can also find answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at https://bit.ly/3ikvzm6

Sincerely,

Senator Bob Archuleta
Thirty-Second Senate District

Senator Bob Archuleta represents the 32nd Senate District, which includes portions of Los Angeles County and Orange County. He is Chair of the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Chair of the Select Committee on Hydrogen Energy, and member of the Senate Select Committee on California, Armenia and Artsakh Mutual Trade, Art and Cultural Exchange.

Website of Senator Bob Archuleta: https://sd32.senate.ca.gov/