SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) released the following statement after her bill, Senate Bill 453—the Pandemic Preparedness Act passed out of the Senate yesterday and is now on the way to Governor Newsom:

“California leads the nation in innovation and technology,” said Senator Hurtado. “SB 453 will put our California State University system at the forefront of research on agricultural biosecurity. Pests, diseases and contaminants threaten plants and animals which impact the integrity, reliability, and sustainability of our food systems—left unchecked, they threaten our health. By passing the Pandemic Preparedness Act, our state begins to adopt a One Health approach and recognizes that the health of people is closely linked to the health of animals and our environment.”

California’s agricultural activity represents a $50 billion industry. This activity produces more than half of the nation’s fruits, vegetables and nuts. The CDC estimates that 3 out of 4 emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals, and that there are currently 1.6 million undiscovered viruses circulating in the animal population. At least half of those diseases have the potential to spread to humans, demonstrating the urgency and importance of having a better understanding of animal and plant health in our State.

SB 453 lays the ground work to ensure California and the Nation are better prepared for the next global pandemic by directing grants from the fund established in the bill to the CSU Agricultural Research Institute. The institute includes CSU Chico, CSU Fresno, CSU Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU Monterey and CSU Humboldt. The mission of the CSU Agricultural Institute, through the collaboration of Colleges of Agricultures and allied disciplines across the CSU, is to conduct applied research to ensure the sustainability of California agriculture.

Media Contact: Michelle.Sherwood@sen.ca.gov

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

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