Senate Appropriations Committee

Tampering with Census Participation Would be a Crime Under New Law

In Response to Efforts to Discourage Census Participation, California Moves to Protect the Census Count Before 2020 Sacramento, CA – As the Trump Administration actively works to intimidate millions from participating in the 2020 census, the California Senate Public Safety Committee today passed AB 1563: The Freedom to Count Act. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), aims to ensure that all Californians have access to accurate information about the census, and have the opportunity to participate in the census without fear of fraud, intimidation, or harm.                                           “We cannot afford to lose the valuable resources and

Devastating LA Homeless Count Underscores Need for Santiago Bill to Speed Emergency Housing Projects

A bill that would expand CEQA exemptions for certain supportive housing projects crossed a significant hurdle in the California Senate this week, earning unanimous support in the Environmental Quality Committee. AB 1197, authored by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), would ensure that state and local funding to build temporary and supportive housing projects can be spent more quickly and efficiently in the city of LA.