June 29, 2021 - SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) released the following statement on Monday, regarding this year’s budget:

“This budget has provided the Valley with the largest investment in a long time—$100 million to fund water conveyance projects,” said Senator Hurtado. “While I am grateful, and there are other great things in the budget that will help the Central Valley tremendously, it is difficult to celebrate knowing that this investment is a drop in the ocean. There are families in my district who do not have running water in their homes. These families are unable to cook, bathe their children, and use the restroom. Several communities will benefit from this budget, but until all of the communities receive adequate funding—Senate District 14 is not whole.”

During this 2021-22 legislative session, Senator Hurtado asked Senate District 14 residents and local governments to submit budget requests to her office. In turn, the Senator urged her colleagues and the Governor to fund district projects in the in the state budget. The budget passed Monday evening reflects the following state financial allocations:

• $100 million for SB 559—the State Water Resiliency Act of 2021
• $25 million for Fresno Regional Fire Facility
• $9.975 million for SB 40—California Dream to Medical School Act
• $5 million 2021-22, $25 million from 2022-23, and $280 million in 2024-25 (ongoing) for SB 464—the Food For All Act
• $2.8 million to repair the City of Reedley’s sewer system
• $2 million for a community center in Avenal
• $750,000 for a new fire engine in Farmersville
• $120,000 in savings for the City of Shafter
• $100 million for California’s Special Districts

“The $25 million budget allocation for a Fresno-based regional fire training center is a huge win not just for the City, but for the entire San Joaquin Valley,” said Jerry Dyer, Mayor of Fresno. “Having properly trained firefighters from area fire agencies – and saving time and travel costs for such training – is vitally important for their safety and the protection of people and property.  I am incredibly grateful to Sen. Hurtado for her hard work on this issue, and to the Legislature for recognizing the incredible need for this facility.”

“After a challenging year and now a scorching hot summer, it is more important than ever that we provide safe and healthy environments for Avenal’s residents to enjoy community activities together,” said Alvaro Preciado, Mayor of Avenal. “The City of Avenal is grateful to receive this crucial aid for the Avenal Community Center. We thank our elected officials, Assemblymember Rudy Salas, and Senator Melissa Hurtado, immensely. The collective $2 million in aid will fund the Center’s HVAC, which will make it the first adequately sized cooling center for the City. This is a great step to the progress needed to officially open the Center’s doors to the community.”

"We thank Senator Hurtado for her successful efforts to secure funding in the State budget to replace our old fire engine with a new engine that meets current safety standards,” said Paul Boyer, Mayor of Farmersville. “This will allow our volunteers and staff to better serve our city’s residents and have the equipment needed to fight wildfires around the state when called on by CAL FIRE."

“The City is grateful for the work that Senator Hurtado did to get this funding for our aging sewer system,” said Mary Fast, Mayor of Reedley. “Rural cities in the Central Valley are often left behind by Sacramento, but the Senator has made sure that we have a voice up there. This $2.8 million is necessary to repair and upgrade an important asset for modern life as we know it. Hearing about the Lemoore water tank explosion last week makes me realize how important these water and sewer systems are to our community.”

The city of Fresno will receive a much needed $25 million for its regional fire training facility, and Farmersville will receive funds for its new fire engine. The City of Reedley will receive $2.8 million to repair a sewer main that spans its water supply—threatening the health and safety of its residents. The City of Avenal will be allocated $2 million for its community center. The Senator’s bill, SB 40--the California Dream to Medical School Act will receive an allocation of $9.9 million to establish a regional pathway for community college students to pursue medical training and enter medical school. SB 40 will address the shortage of primary care physicians in California helping to improve patient access to care, as well as reduce the distance many in the Central Valley must drive to receive care and education. SB 464—the Food For All Act, was funded this year for $5 million, in 2022-23 it will be funded for $25 million, and in 2024-25, it will be funded for $280 million. The Food for All Act—Comida Para Todos—will ensure that Californians have access to food assistance, regardless of their immigration status.

About Senator Melissa Hurtado

Senator Melissa Hurtado represents a new generation of Latina leaders as the youngest woman ever elected to the California State Senate and a product of immigrant parents. Senator Hurtado represents the 14th Senate District and focuses on rural community issues that often go unheard — access to clean air and water, food insecurity and poverty, inequities in environmental policies, agriculture and access to health care. In July 2020, she was appointed to the national Biden Latino Leadership Committee alongside former Labor Secretary and current Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis – the only two California Latinas on the Committee.

For more information, visit Senator Hurtado’s Website here or find her on Twitter at @Senator_Hurtado
Source: Senator Melissa Hurtado