Lawmakers introduced and amended bills related to the climate, public health and AI.
This installment of the Signal Tribune’s monthly series covers the actions taken by Long Beach’s federal and state representatives throughout March. The purpose of this ongoing series is to help the public stay abreast of their elected officials and hold them accountable beyond election day:
Robert Garcia – U.S. Representative for California’s 42nd Congressional District
- FEMA Reimbursements – Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) spearheaded a coalition of 36 other California delegates urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fully reimburse local governments for the costs of providing shelter to people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. This request comes in response to FEMA’s Oct. 16 announcement to the California Office of Emergency Services, which retroactively limited the amount of reimbursement local governments will receive for providing emergency non-congregant sheltering. The letter, addressed to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, said there was a critical need for FEMA to reimburse local governments, or else they would experience financial strain. The lawmakers who signed the letter argued that withholding reimbursements under California’s COVID-19 Major Disaster Declaration could collectively cost cities and counties over $300 million.
- $15 million in federal funding: Garcia announced on March 14 that a total of over $15 million in federal funding has been allocated to Long Beach and Southeast Los Angeles to support community projects. Five of these projects will be in Long Beach, receiving a combined sum of over $7 million. Garcia requested and secured these funds from the U.S. House of Representatives’ Appropriations Committee, which allowed congress members to submit funding requests for up to 15 projects in the districts they represent. These projects can either belong to state and local governments or eligible non-profit organizations.
- Loro Piana: Garcia addressed concerns over the sourcing of vicuña wool from Indigenous communities in Peru by a luxury retailer. In a letter to Loro Piana’s Chairman Antoine Arnault and CEO Damien Bertrand, Garcia highlighted recent reports indicating disparities between the rising prices of Loro Piana products and the decreasing payments to the Indigenous Andean community in Peru responsible for shearing the wool. The letter alleges that despite Loro Piana’s sweaters retailing for thousands of dollars, the price paid to the Indigenous Lucanas community for the wool used has dropped by one-third in just over a decade, with the community’s revenue from vicuña decreasing by 80%. Garcia’s letter contained questions to Loro Piana asking about the process for procuring the wool from Indigenous workers, with a request that the company provide answers by April 29.
- Corruption accusation: Garcia accused Jared Kushner, former White House official and the son-in-law of former president Donald Trump, of corruption due to a $2 billion investment Saudi Arabia made to Kushner’s firm.
During his time in office, Trump denied findings made by the CIA accusing the Saudi crown prince of ordering the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Garcia joined other congress members on March 26 in urging the chairmen of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability to hold a hearing on the issue.
Lena Gonzalez – California State Senator for the 33rd District
- Climate Resilient Schools Act – On March 19, Gonzalez gave a presentation on her proposed Climate Resilient Schools Act, which aims to protect California’s schools from climate change impacts, while lowering their greenhouse gas emissions. The bill would require the California Energy Commission (CEC) to craft a comprehensive Master Plan, addressing sustainability and resilience in school infrastructures.
- California Service Corp – The California Service Corp announced earlier this month that it is looking to hire hundreds of Long Beach residents for its four work experience programs. Gonzalez released a statement in support of the announcement.
“I encourage the residents of Long Beach to consider participating in this exceptional opportunity to help our communities through the most pressing challenges of today, such as combating climate change and enhancing disaster preparedness and recovery. The opportunities available through our state’s robust California Service Corp are invaluable.”
- Street vendor homicide – A street vendor, Yenner Ramirez, was killed in a shooting in Long Beach on March 20. Gonzalez released a public statement expressing her condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.
“This heartbreaking news underscores the importance of continuing the work to enhance the safety and well-being of our neighborhoods,” Gonzalez said in the statement.
Nanette Díaz Barragán – U.S. representative for California’s 44th Congressional District
- Social Determinants of Health Act – Barragán, along with Senators Chris Murphy and Tina Smith, have reintroduced the Improving Social Determinants of Health Act to the Senate. The bill aims to address factors that impact health — like housing, healthcare access, employment and education. It would authorize the Center of Disease Control to lead public health agencies and community organizations in addressing these issues. The legislation allocates $100 million annually for establishing programs, coordinating grants, funding research and more in order to improve health outcomes.
“Social, economic, and environmental factors play a role in our health and can lead to increased rates of illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer,” Barragán said. “These social determinants of health contribute to disparities in health outcomes and access to care, and low-income families and communities of color are disproportionately affected. In my district, which is one of the most polluted districts in the nation, we have high rates of asthma and other respiratory diseases.
Unfortunately, our health care system is largely focused on short-term solutions for these deep-rooted issues. The Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2024 will address a critical need by improving the capacity of public health agencies and community-based organizations to collaborate on long-term solutions for our communities.”
- Chemical Plant Safety – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled new regulations on March 1 to enhance safety at approximately 12,000 chemical plants across the nation. These updates were prompted by a joint letter from Barragán and Senator Cory Booker, and aim to strengthen protections for workers, first responders and affected communities. Key changes the EPA made to its safety rules include the implementation of safer technologies, bolstering efforts to prevent accidents and requiring third-party audits for facilities where accidents have occurred. Additionally, facilities will share data about the chemicals they release with local first responders and come up with a plan to warn surrounding communities in case of danger.
“Communities of color and low-income communities disproportionately live in worst-case-scenario areas for a chemical disaster, including those surrounding oil refineries and liquified petroleum gas facilities. EPA’s final Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention Rule is a significant step forward for the safety of these frontline communities, like Carson and Wilmington, to ensure chemical facilities adopt safer technologies and processes, improve their resilience to climate change, and are more accountable to the public.”
- National Patient Safety Board Act – Barragán and Representative Michael Burgess, both members of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, reintroduced the National Patient Safety Board Act on March 8.
The proposed National Patient Safety Board (NPSB) aims to curb preventable harm within healthcare settings.
In a public statement, Barragán’s office said that up to 400,000 deaths occur annually due to medical mishaps in the United States. In addition to fatalities, some cases result in long-term health repercussions for patients and their families.
Operating independently within the Department of Health and Human Services, the NPSB will identify harm, conduct studies and recommend solutions related to preventable medical injuries.
Josh Lowenthal – U.S. Representative for California’s 69th Assembly District
- Schumer Comments on Netanyahu – Senator Chuck Schumer set off waves two weeks ago when he gave an address on the Senate floor criticizing the leadership of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and calling for new elections in Israel.
On March 14, Lowenthal posted a statement on X in support of Schumer’s position.
“There is no better way to support democracy than to speak loudly and forcefully when governments lose credibility,” Lowenthal wrote. “I am steadfast in supporting Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, and yet remain fully dedicated to a two-state solution that provides dignity, security and self-determination of all peoples. I align myself with Senator Schumer here in calling for immediate elections in Israel. As is the case with Hamas, Mr. Netanyahu has lost all credibility to govern. Democracy, while sometimes messy, must take its course.”
- Trump Comments on Jewish Democrats – Trump said in an interview earlier this month that “Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion. They hate everything about Israel and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed.”
On March 19, Lowenthal, who is both Jewish and a member of the Democratic party, wrote on the social media platform X, “Words like this aren’t helpful — just another antisemitic, cheap attempt to score political points and further divide the nation. You want to act like a clown, go and join the circus.”
- AI Legal Filings – Last month, Lowenthal introduced a bill, AB-2811, that would require lawyers who submit legal filings to disclose if they used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to write the documents. The bill was sent to the Committee on Judiciary on March 21, amended by Lowenthal, and will be next discussed in a hearing on April 9.
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