Press Release

Thursday, July 20, 2017

SACRAMENTO – This Monday, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that the Joint BioEnergy Institute, led by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, would be one of four recipients of a $40 million DOE award for bioenergy and bioproducts research. State funding for bioenergy research, which Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D – Santa Monica) worked to secure in last year’s budget, was instrumental in demonstrating the state’s commitment to the Institute and making it a more competitive applicant. 

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) and a bipartisan majority legislators have approved landmark climate change measures, Assembly Bill 398 and Assembly Bill 617. AB 398 and 617 will balance our economic, health and environmental concerns as California works to reach its 2030 climate targets and improve the lives of all residents.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

SACRAMENTO – Last Thursday, the California Arts Council designated 14 Cultural Districts as part of a new statewide program to celebrate artistic and cultural diversity and creativity in local communities around the state. The Council was authorized to create these districts through AB 189, a measure authored by Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D – Santa Monica) in 2015.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

(Sacramento) – During the State Assembly’s climate change legislation debate, Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) stood in strong support of Assembly Bill 617, one part of the historic climate change legislative package approved by the State Legislature. Assembly Bills 617 and 398 will balance our economic, health and environmental concerns as California works to reach its 2030 climate targets and improve the lives of all residents. “AB 617 empowers our air districts by expediting retrofit requirements for large industrial emitters that are more often than not are located in many of our low income and disadvantaged communities,” Assemblymember Bloom noted. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) and a bipartisan majority legislators have approved landmark climate change measures, Assembly Bill 398 and Assembly Bill 617. AB 398 and 617 will balance our economic, health and environmental concerns as California works to reach its 2030 climate targets and improve the lives of all residents.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

The Assemblymembers listed below today issued the following statement on the effort to address California’s housing affordability crisis:

“Today’s affordable housing commitment by Governor Brown, Speaker Rendon, and Senate President pro Tempore de León is welcome news for all Californians who are suffering from crushing rents and unreachable home prices. We’ve worked hard to get to the agreement outlined today, and we look forward to working together to pass a comprehensive housing package when we return from recess in late August. As the leaders outlined, this comprehensive set of bills will include a permanent source of funding for affordable housing, a general obligation housing bond, and crucial policy reforms to streamline housing production where appropriate.

Housing is a critical human need.  We’ve said all year we must act to alleviate the housing crisis in our state, and we are now poised to do just that.”

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

SACRAMENTO – Today, the Senate Governance & Finance Committee approved AB 1568 on a 5-1 vote. The measure, authored by Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica), gives local jurisdictions the authority to finance infrastructure and affordable housing, using new sales and use tax increment, within qualifying enhanced infrastructure improvement districts (EIFD).