California

10.15.09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Approximately $16.3 million in federal grant funding will be coming to California to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) helped to fight for increased specialty crop funding during the Farm Bill debate in 2008. California received more than four times the amount of the next highest state.

“These funds are a triple win for our state, our agriculture industry and our local economy,” Costa said. “Our Valley leads the nation in growing crops like almonds, peaches, and table grapes. Anything we can do which will expand and improve specialty crop production and sales benefits our farms, farm workers and farm communities.”    » read more »

10.15.09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) voted against the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009 today because it offered no assistance to the water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley. However, bill passed the House by a vote of 241 to 173. Costa spoke on the House Floor today opposing the process which brought the bill to the floor. The speech can be viewed by clicking here.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Dennis Cardoza today joined with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in announcing $49 million in grants for specialty crops, such as those grown in Merced, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin Counties.

California – a significant producer of more than 350 different fruits, vegetables and tree nuts – will be awarded $16.3 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. In previous years such crops have not received significant recognition in the Farm Bill.    » read more »

Sánchez Works to Make Similar Federal Law

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA), applauded California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing state legislation into law to end gender discrimination in health insurance premiums. The new law will prevent health insurers from charging men and women different rates for the same health insurance policies in the individual market.    » read more »

October 12, 2009 -- LOS ANGELES, CA -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed what they called “a model of federal-state initiative and cooperation” to use expedited review and processing and Recovery Act funding to spur the development of environmentally appropriate renewable energy on U.S. lands in California.    » read more »

Actions Defend Levees and Roads During Unprecedented Rainfall

10/13/2009 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today directed his departments and agencies to take actions to prepare and respond to the needs of Californians during an unusually strong storm that will result in many parts of the state experiencing triple the amount of a typical October rain in one day. The storm is likely to reach its peak intensity in Northern California this afternoon and move towards Southern California tonight.    » read more »

10/12/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement congratulating Oliver Williamson and Elinor Ostrom after they won the 2009 Nobel Prize in economic sciences.

Williamson was awarded the prize for his analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm, and Ostrom for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons. Williamson is a professor emeritus of business, economics and law at the University of California, Berkeley and Ostrom is a Los Angeles native and earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of California, Los Angeles:    » read more »

First State Agreement Collaborating on Long-Term Renewable Energy Projects

10/12/2009 -- Further laying the groundwork for California to reach its environmental goals, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in order to expedite the siting of California renewable energy projects.

California is the first state to sign an MOU with the Department of the Interior (DOI) to cooperatively develop long-term renewable energy plans and to sheppard eligible projects through state and federal permitting processes that can receive 30 percent federal tax credits under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (Recovery Act).    » read more »

10/12/2009 -- Furthering his commitment to protecting the environment and the economy, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he has signed legislation that will reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions and create thousands of new jobs in the state.

“California is a leader in fighting global warming and protecting our environment,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “And, we are showing the rest of the nation and the world that you can protect the environment and the economy at the same time. That is why I am signing this package of bills – so local economies will benefit from the creation of thousands of new jobs while we continue to lay the groundwork for California to meet our renewable energy and environmental goals.”    » read more »

10/12/2009 -- To help prevent California homeowners and homebuyers from being negatively impacted by the fraudulent mortgage practices that have arisen in the aftermath of the national foreclosure crisis, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation to increase protections for consumers in the lending market and provide law enforcement with more tools to crack down on deceitful mortgage practices.

These bills aim to strengthen California’s reverse mortgage laws by providing senior homeowners with greater consumer protections when considering reverse mortgage agreements, make it a felony to commit fraud in connection with a mortgage application and promote responsibility and accountability in the real estate market.    » read more »

10/11/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following proclamation calling for the legislature to meet in an extraordinary session to address California’s water crisis:

A PROCLAMATION

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

WHEREAS, an extraordinary occasion has arisen and now exists requiring that the Legislature of the State of California be convened in extraordinary session; now therefore,    » read more »

10/09/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after President Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize:

“Maria and I applaud President Obama for winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The President has consistently shown that he is committed to reaching out to other nations and positioning America to once again be the global leader for peace and prosperity. This is a great honor for our country and reminds us all of the promise our nation holds. I look forward to working with him to address future challenges facing our nation. On behalf of all Californians, I congratulate President Obama for winning this inspiring award.”

Source: California Governor

State Government Entities to Manage Approximately 50 Percent of Recovery Act Funds Distributed by the Federal Government in California

10/10/2009 -- The California Recovery Task Force today announced that preliminary first quarter reports show American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funds managed by state government entities have cumulatively saved or created over 100,000 jobs in California through September 30, 2009.    » read more »

October 8, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brad Sherman announced that research institutes in the San Fernando Valley are receiving nearly four million dollars in combined grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the Stimulus Bill, provides an unprecedented level of funding to the NIH to help stimulate the US economy through the support and advancement of scientific research. The NIH targeted projects that were likely to stimulate the economy, create or retain jobs, and have the potential for making scientific progress in 2 years.    » read more »

Light Rail Extension Will Expand Sacramento’s Core

October 12, 2009 -- SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-Sacramento) joined local community leaders for the groundbreaking ceremony of Regional Transit’s Green Line. The event marked the start of construction on RT’s light rail extension to Richards Boulevard, part of the Downtown-Natomas-Airport (DNA) master plan to connect Sacramento’s downtown core to Natomas, and eventually Sacramento International Airport. Representative Matsui’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:    » read more »