Press Releases

Friday, June 26, 2020

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-Arleta), member of the Assembly Budget Committee, has issued the following statement on the State’s 2020-2021 budget:

“The State budget we passed today provides immediate and necessary assistance to our most vulnerable populations that have been hit hardest by COVID-19. This budget also reflects painful cuts to many critical programs. I believe we must be very cautious as we continue to navigate significant budget deficits over the next several years. However, I am relieved that the California Earned Income Tax Credit was expanded to include those that that have children under the age of six and use Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers to file their taxes,” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas. “There is still a lot of work ahead of us. However, this budget is a critical first step to ensuring help is provided to those who need it most.”

“Additionally, the budget addresses several key issues that affect California including:

  • Requires that full scope Medi-Cal coverage for individuals who are 65 years of age or older, and
  • Promises to prioritized the inclusion of our immigrant community into our budget for the upcoming fiscal year, if funds become available; and
  • Starves off major budget cuts to K-12 education, so school districts across California can maintain their funding levels.

Assemblywoman Rivas proudly represents the 39th Assembly District, which includes the City of Los Angeles communities of Arleta, Lake View Terrace, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Sun Valley, Sunland-Tujunga, Sylmar, and the City of San Fernando.

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CONTACT:
Judy Yee, Judy.Yee@asm.ca.gov, 916.319.2039

Friday, June 26, 2020

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-Arleta) was appointed as the Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management (Joint Committee) by California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood). This Joint Committee is comprised of seven Members of the Assembly and seven Members of the Senate to oversee disaster preparedness, emergency management, and homeland security issues.

“As a representative of a district that was recently impacted by the Saddleridge Fire, I know firsthand that the decisions made during an emergency can alter the outcome and impacts to our communities. I also know that that decisions we make before disasters occur can determine the impacts that they have on the health and safety of our residents in rural and urban communities. I am honored that Speaker Rendon has appointed me as the Chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management,” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas. “As we are approaching wildfire season during a global pandemic, it is vital that we have plans on how to mitigate fires while keeping our emergency responders and community members safe. I look forward to working with the vice-chair and members of the committee on ways that we can better prepare our communities for unexpected disasters through greater emergency preparedness.”

California is prone to wildfire, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters. This Joint Committee was first established in 2004 as Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management and Homeland Security by Assemblymember Christine Kehoe through Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 240 (Res. Chapter 144, Statutes of 2004). In 2011, Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal continued the existence of this Joint Committee and provided jurisdictional power to oversee and address California's emergency management issues through ACR 38 (Res. Chapter 31, Statutes of 2011).

Assemblywoman Rivas proudly represents the 39th Assembly District, which includes the City of Los Angeles communities of Arleta, Lake View Terrace, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Sun Valley, Sunland-Tujunga, Sylmar, and the City of San Fernando.

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CONTACT:
Judy Yee, Judy.Yee@asm.ca.gov, 916.319.2039

Thursday, June 18, 2020

SACRAMENTO – Hoy la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos falló  en contra de la Administración de Donald Trump en su decisión aborrecible de descontinuar el program de Acción Diferida para Los Llegados en Infancia (DACA). DACA es un programa que fue establecido por la Administración de Barack Obama en el 2012 que le dio la oportunidad a jóvenes inmigrantes indocumentados de vivir y trabajar en los Estados Unidos sin miedo a ser deportados.

“Los DREAMers son estadounidenses en todo el sentido de la palabra. La decisión de la Corte Suprema reafirma esta verdad y representa una victoria para los miles de soñadores que no conocen otro hogar más que los Estados Unidos,” dijo la Asambleísta Luz Rivas. “La decisión es un gran alivio, pero la lucha debe continuar hasta que todos los DREAMers, y los más de 11 millones de inmigrantes indocumentados, tengan un camino legítimo a la ciudadanía. Seguiré luchando por los DREAMers en mi distrito y en todo el estado de California hasta que tengan una oportunidad de vivir el Sueño Americano y ser exitosos.” 

En 2017, la Administración Trump ordenó al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional que pusiera un fin a DACA. Esta Administración ha llevado acabo una guerra racial contra personas de color durante demasiado tiempo. Durante los últimos tres años, los DREAMers han estado viviendo con miedo, preocupados por su estatus migratorio, su capacidad de trabajo, y la capacidad de ser éxitos. Debemos comenzar a sanar la división racial que ha sido perpetrada por un presidente que elige deshumanizar a los que aman y contribuyen a este país tanto como cualquier otro. Su hogar es aquí!

La Asambleísta Rivas representa con orgullo el Distrito 39 de la Asamblea, que incluye las comunidades de la ciudad de Los Ángeles de Arleta, Lake View Terrace, Granada Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Sun Valley, Sunland- Tujunga, Sylmar y la ciudad de San Fernando.

 

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CONTACT:
Judy Yee, Judy.Yee@asm.ca.gov, 916.319.2039

Thursday, June 18, 2020

SACRAMENTO – Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled against the Trump Administration’s abhorrent decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). DACA is a program established by the Obama Administration in 2012 that provided young undocumented immigrants the opportunity to live and work in the United States without any fear of deportation.

“DREAMers are Americans in every sense of the word. Today’s Supreme Court decision is a reaffirmation of that truth and a momentous victory for the thousands of young individuals who call the United States their only home,” stated Assemblywoman Luz Rivas. “This decision is a sign of relief, but the fight must continue until DREAMers, and the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., are provided with a legitimate path to citizenship. I will continue to fight and support DREAMers in my district and throughout California to ensure that they have the opportunity to succeed and live the American Dream.”

In 2017, the Trump Administration ordered the Department of Homeland Security to end the DACA. This Administration has waged a racial war against people of color for far too long.  For the past three years, DREAMers have been living in fear, worried about their status, ability to work, and the ability to succeed. We must begin to heal the racial divide that has been perpetuated by a President that chooses to dehumanize those who love and contribute to this country just as much as anyone else. Home is here!  

Assemblywoman Rivas proudly represents the 39th Assembly District, which includes the City of Los Angeles communities of Arleta, Lake View Terrace, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Sun Valley, Sunland-Tujunga, Sylmar, and the City of San Fernando.

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CONTACT:
Judy Yee, Judy.Yee@asm.ca.gov, 916.319.2039

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Bill (AB) 1845, authored by Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-Arleta), passed off the Assembly Floor with bipartisan support and is heading to the Senate.

AB 1845 provides a comprehensive solution to the homelessness crisis by implementing recommendations from the Little Hoover Commission, California State Auditor, Legislative Analyst Office, and Governor Newsom’s Council of Regional Homeless Advisors to establish the first State Office on Homelessness. This measure also creates a Secretary on Housing Insecurity and Homelessness to oversee the Office to End Homelessness, and is provided with the statutory authority to coordinate between 13 different state agencies and departments implementing at least 30 different homelessness programs.

“We are all painfully aware that the state was struggling to overcome its growing homelessness crisis well before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted,” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas. “The pandemic and the recession resulting from it will likely exacerbate the already catastrophic state of homelessness in California. COVID-19 could turn our homelessness crisis into a full-blown health and safety catastrophe. AB 1845 seeks to create the accountability and communication that is required -now more than ever- by establishing a centralized state Office to End Homelessness.” 

AB 1845 is jointly authored by the Chair of Assembly Housing Committee, David Chiu, and sponsored by the Corporation for Supportive Housing and Housing California. The California Apartment Association, LA Family Housing, National Association of Social Workers, Non-profit Housing Association of Northern California, and a coalition of homeless and housing advocates support this measure. 

Assemblywoman Rivas proudly represents the 39th Assembly District, which includes the City of Los Angeles communities of Arleta, Lake View Terrace, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Sun Valley, Sunland-Tujunga, Sylmar, and the City of San Fernando.

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CONTACT:
Judy Yee, Judy.Yee@asm.ca.gov, 916.319.2039

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Bill (AB) 1845, authored by Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-Arleta) was approved by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The bill is now heading to the Assembly Floor.

AB 1845 provides a comprehensive solution to the homelessness crisis by implementing recommendations from the Little Hoover Commission, California State Auditor, Legislative Analyst Office, and Governor Newsom’s Council of Regional Homeless Advisors to establish the first State Office on Homelessness. This measure also creates a Secretary on Housing Insecurity and Homelessness to oversee the Office to End Homelessness, and is provided with the statutory authority to coordinate between 13 different state agencies and departments implementing at least 30 different programs related to homelessness.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-Arleta), member of the Assembly Budget Committee, has issued the following statement on Governor Newsom’s May Revision Budget Proposal:

“California’s once prosperous revenue projection is now faced with unprecedented setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to years of fiscal responsibility established by the Legislature, we have created a cushion for emergencies such as this pandemic. Years of fiscal conservancy will prove valuable by allowing the State to mitigate significant cuts to existing programs that support our most vulnerable populations,” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas. “I applaud the Governor’s leadership that is based on data and science to prioritize public health, and small business investments to restart our economy. Some areas that I will be particularly focused on as budget discussions continue include what we can do to provide relief to undocumented immigrants, ensuring communities of color are not left behind, and addressing the ongoing homelessness crisis.”

“The Governor’s budget revisions incorporate several key issues that affect California including:

  • Educational investments to run summer programs that address equity gaps that were widened during the school closures, preparation for schools to reopen in the fall, and help support working families;
  • Preserves the number of state-funded childcare slots, and expand access to childcare for first responders;
  • Maintains the newly expanded Earned Income Tax Credit, to provide financial relief to working families whose annual incomes are below $30,000, and provides $1,000 tax credit for families with children below the age of six; and
  • Increases $50 million, for a total increase of $100 million to the small business loan guarantee program in order to keep businesses operating, preserve jobs, and stimulate the economy. 

“I look forward to working with my colleagues, Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting and the Governor to develop a comprehensive multi-year state budget that will drive California’s economy forward and overcome this pandemic together,” said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas.  

Assemblywoman Rivas proudly represents the 39th Assembly District, which includes the City of Los Angeles communities of Arleta, Lake View Terrace, Granada Hills, Mission Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Sun Valley, Sunland-Tujunga, Sylmar, and the City of San Fernando.

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CONTACT:
Judy Yee, Judy.Yee@asm.ca.gov, 916.319.2039