Padilla Travels Across State to Highlight Work Being Done for California in Congress
CALIFORNIA — This week, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) is concluding a month-long, statewide tour across California to highlight legislative and advocacy work he is leading in the Senate to address some of California’s most pressing issues. During his visits, Padilla touted the benefits of the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act for California, including the importance of addressing the climate crisis, lowering health care costs, and improving California’s resiliency against drought and wildfires. He also continued to push for more federal resources to address the Monkeypox outbreak, for expanding worker protections in light of historic heat in the state, and he visited the U.S.-Mexico border to highlight the need for a fairer, more compassionate immigration system.
Inflation Reduction Act Virtual Round Table
Senator Padilla hosted a virtual press conference to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will benefit California. He was joined by leaders from AARP California and California Environmental Voters to break down how the law will combat the climate crisis and lower prescription drug and health care costs.
26th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit
Padilla joined bi-state, federal, and environmental leaders at the 26th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit to discuss the progress made to restore the Tahoe Basin over the last two decades, address current challenges that the surrounding communities face, and highlight new ways to preserve and protect the lake in the years to come. Padilla also highlighted federal funding and investments he’s advocated for to support the Tahoe Basin, including $7 million for fire suppression water infrastructure included in the FY22 appropriations package and $3.4 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help combat the spread of aquatic invasive species in Lake Tahoe.
- NBC Bay Area: State Leaders Discuss Lake Tahoe’s Future Amid Worsening Climate Conditions
- KRON 4: California, Nevada lawmakers pledge action on climate change
AARP Virtual Town Hall on Prescription Drugs
Padilla co-hosted a statewide telephone town hall with AARP California to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act will lower health care and prescription drug costs for millions of Californians. Senator Padilla was joined by Joe Garbanzos, AARP California State President, and thousands of members who listened in to the conversation.
Almond Hulling Facility Tour in Fresno
Senator Padilla visited the Central Valley to meet with agricultural producers and tour Superior Almond Hulling in Cantua Creek. There, he highlighted his work to strengthen California’s food supply chain and support the state’s agriculture industry. As California struggles through this historic drought, Padilla also outlined his work to address the increased challenges California farmers and producers are facing amid the climate crisis.
Interfaith Roundtable in Woodland Hills
Padilla joined faith leaders in Woodland Hills to participate in an interfaith roundtable led by the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community and tour the Al Masjid Al Ezzi Anjuman-e-Burhanee. The conversation followed the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Padilla supported and President Biden signed into law in June to help address the gun crisis in our country.
- The Dawoodi Bohras: Senator Alex Padilla & Dawoodi Bohras Host Interfaith Roundtable On Neighborhood Safety
Monkeypox Vaccine Site Visit in San Francisco
Padilla joined local and state leaders to continue to advocate for additional Monkeypox vaccines and equitable distribution throughout California. Padilla toured San Francisco’s main Monkeypox vaccine site at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital as California was surpassing 3,000 Monkeypox cases statewide. Following the Senator’s calls, California Health and Human Services announced that the state will receive an additional 2,400 doses of the Monkeypox vaccine from the federal government.
- ABC7: Sen. Alex Padilla tours SF monkeypox vaccine site, says ‘we must do more’
- NBC Bay Area: Sen. Padilla, Health Officials Push for More Monkeypox Vaccine Doses
Wildfire Mitigation and Prevention Events in Sacramento
Padilla traveled to McClellan Park to tour the Forest Service’s Wildland Fire Training Center to highlight the many ways the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act will enhance the impact of the USFS wildfire mitigation and forest conservation efforts.
He also joined CAL FIRE to see firsthand the aircraft they deploy for wildfire suppression efforts and discuss his legislation and appropriations efforts at the federal level to allow states like California to receive additional surplus military aircraft to fight fires.
Worker Heat Stress Event in Los Angeles
As temperatures soared to triple digits in areas of Southern California this week, Senator Padilla joined Representative Judy Chu, union representatives, and workers in Los Angeles to advocate for federal workplace heat stress protections. Senator Padilla and Representative Chu discussed their bill, the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act, to protect the safety and health of workers who are exposed to dangerous heat conditions in the workplace across the nation.
- Los Angeles Times: Heat waves can be deadly. California workers, lawmakers push for federal labor protections
- ABC7: Lawmakers in California push for federal protections from heat stress for US workers
Border Visit in San Diego
The Senator rounded out his statewide travel with a visit to the San Diego border region, where he joined local NGOs, advocacy organizations, and California state partners to discuss their critical work to protect and welcome asylum seekers, and how the federal government can support their efforts. Padilla also highlighted his commitment to protecting the right to asylum and his advocacy to create more legal pathways for migrants to safely arrive and be welcomed into the United States.
Padilla also visited the San Ysidro port of entry, the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry Project, and toured the Otay Mesa detention center, and met with California state agencies and officials working with local NGOs to protect and welcome migrants.
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