Category: Government & Politics

San Bernardino, CA – Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar announced that Loma Linda University Health has received $450,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program. The program promotes diversity among health care professionals by providing financial aid to financially-disadvantaged students. “Loma Linda University Health is one of the country’s…

JUNE 18, 2020 — Census workers have completed 96% of the 2020 Census “Update Leave” operation- where 2020 Census invitations and paper questionnaires are delivered to households in certain — often rural — areas across the country. In these areas, most households generally do not receive mail at their homes, so census workers drop off…

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Following today’s procedural vote in the Senate, in which Democrats stopped the advancement of a sham Republican police reform bill,  PFAW President Ben Jealous and Senior Director of Outreach and Public Engagement Diallo Brooks released the following statements: “We’re happy to see that a majority of Senate Democrats stood up and said ‘No’…

June 12, 2020 — The U.S. Census Bureau has announced the new schedule for counting people experiencing homelessness in the 2020 Census. The operation was originally scheduled for March 30, March 31 and April 1, but health and safety concerns with COVID-19 forced us to delay these activities. Between September 22 and 24, the Census…

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2020—The American Immigration Council released new data on California’s immigrant population and their contributions to the state. The California state fact sheet includes data on population size, occupation, and tax contributions, as well as data on undocumented immigrants and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in the state. While the COVID-19 pandemic…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today became an original co-sponsor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, legislation to address systemic racism in law enforcement and protect black and brown communities from discriminatory police practices. Congresswoman Torres, who spent 17.5 years as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department,…

HBCU scholarships and research initiative included in new programming to advance human rights; and educational and economic opportunities for African Americans WASHINGTON — The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) announced today it will launch three key initiatives to support social reforms and education needed to advance the global Black community.  Created in response to…

Modifications Required to Protect Californians against COVID-19 Places of Worship Should Limit Attendance to 25% of Total Capacity or a Maximum of 100 Attendees Retail Guidance for In-Store Shopping, Already in Place for Certain Counties, Now Applies Statewide  SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health today announced the statewide reopening of places of worship…

SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment endorsed legislation today that would provide the victims of any violent crime time to recover without fear of losing their jobs. AB 2992, authored by Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. (D-San Diego), will also expand unpaid leave to the immediate family members of homicide victims. “No…

Cyanobacteria Can Look Like Paint Floating in the Water SACRAMENTO — With summer approaching and recreation on the state’s waterways set to increase, the State Water Resources Control Board is asking the public to be mindful of freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs) in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, as they can cause illness and are especially…

WASHINGTON – The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Campaign, Muslim Advocates, NAACP, and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, along with 110 additional organizations committed to racial justice and civil rights, called on the U.S. Department of Justice to open a full and thorough hate crimes investigation…

Washington, D.C. — As governors around the country begin to reopen their economies, a new analysis from the Center for American Progress finds that workers of color are more likely than their white counterparts to have serious underlying medical conditions that make them vulnerable to COVID-19. The analysis finds that at least 28 percent of…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement announces that a public teleconference of the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (ACBFR) will be held to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on beginning farmers and ranchers. The public conference call will be held on May 19, 2020 at 2:00 – 4:00…

Urban Indian Health Institute releases best practices to address problem Seattle, WA—Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) today released best practices for methods to collect, analyze, and present public health data on American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The recommendations come amid growing acknowledgment that Native peoples with COVID-19 are being severely undercounted. “We have already…

We’re adapting or delaying some of our operations to protect the health and safety of our staff and the public and make sure we get the same population counted another way. The 2020 Census is underway – more than half the households across America have responded – and more are responding every day. Online, phone…

WASHINGTON – In the interim emergency relief package that was recently signed into law and replenished the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with $310 billion, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, led the fight to target $60 billion of those funds towards small, minority, and women owned businesses. The bill, which…

Lawmakers Call for Much-Needed Protections for Medical Workers as they Combat Pandemic WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today led 76 lawmakers in calling for next COVID-19 stimulus package to include survivor benefits, commiserate compensation, and workplace protections for medical personnel as they comeback coronavirus. Torres, who successfully advocated for direct assistance for…

NEW YORK (April 19, 2020) — Amid reports that massive restaurant chains and businesses that continue to operate received funds intended for small businesses shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic, the National Urban League today demanded the next legislative package include specific funding pools for legitimate small businesses truly threatened by the crisis. “Struggling small businesses…

The State of California has issued a directive for every county to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by creating interim housing solutions for California’s homeless population. The homeless remain extremely susceptible to COVID-19 due to their inability to self-isolate or practice social distancing because of their current living conditions. There are more than 2,000…

Sacramento – California State Treasurer Fiona Ma today announced she has added new resource lists on tax relief and food access to the State Treasurer’s website, which already includes a list of resources for small businesses. View the tax relief list here, the food list here, and the small business list here. The tax list…

Washington, DC—Today, the House passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, legislation designed to help the American people combat the spread of COVID-19, the disease associated with coronavirus. The bill guarantees two weeks of paid sick leave for those affected by the virus; allows up to three months of paid family and sick leave; strengthens…