Update from the Capitol: Senator Padilla’s Summer Newsletter
Dear Friend,
It is my honor to represent you—and all Californians—in the United States Senate. When I took the oath of office earlier this year, I said that addressing the COVID-19 pandemic would be my top priority. We have a responsibility—and a unique opportunity—to seize this moment to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more equitable nation. We still have more work to do, but I want to share some of the progress we’ve made in these first six months:
American Rescue Plan
I’m proud that one of my first votes as your Senator was for the American Rescue Plan. This historic investment in the American people brought urgently-needed economic relief to millions of Californians. I fought to promote equity and ensure no community was left behind as we begin the process of recovery. Through the American Rescue Plan, 175 community health centers across our state received $1 billion to improve COVID testing, treatment, and vaccine distribution. But the impact of this bill goes beyond stimulus checks and COVID tests—it lifts millions of children out of poverty, including half a million children in California, and invests billions of dollars in our small businesses, state and local governments, schools, and housing developments.
To learn more about the benefits you can access through the American Rescue Plan, visit: https://www.padilla.senate.
COVID-19 vaccines are free and available to everyone age 12 and up. To find a vaccine near you, visit: https://myturn.ca.gov/
My First Bill
No state has more at stake than California when it comes to immigration reform. That’s why the first bill I introduced in the U.S. Senate would provide a pathway to citizenship for essential workers. For over a year now, we have been offering our thanks to frontline workers who continue to show up to work every day. It’s time we honor them with more than just words. Creating a pathway to citizenship for the millions of government-recognized essential workers without permanent legal status—who have kept Americans healthy, fed, and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic—will strengthen our economy, our communities, and our future.
Securing Wins for California
Our work has already started delivering results for California. Whether it’s helping Californians access benefits or federal resources, our team is hard at work. When federally managed mass vaccination sites in Oakland and Los Angeles were set to shut down early this spring, I worked with federal, state, and local agencies to ensure they remained operational. I was proud to co-sponsor and advocate for legislation, signed by President Biden, to help combat the rise in COVID-19-related hate crimes and provide resources to protect our Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. I also teamed up with fellow California Senator Dianne Feinstein on a successful bill to aid the development of supportive housing and services for homeless veterans in Los Angeles.
Infrastructure Listening Tour
Investing in infrastructure is a major priority for California and the nation. Rebuilding American infrastructure—from our roads and our electrical grid to child care—will be essential to the health of our economy and our ability to compete globally. As Congress charts a path forward on infrastructure, I want to make sure California’s values and priorities are represented. In recent months, I have visited communities across the Golden State—from Los Angeles to the Central Valley to the Bay Area—to listen and learn about their visions for our future.
I will share periodic updates about my work in Washington DC and California through this newsletter, but I want to hear from you too! You can send your thoughts or questions by email through my website at https://www.padilla.senate.
Please continue to stay safe,
Alex Padilla
United States Senator for California