SACRAMENTO, CA –Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) introduced legislation today that will expand and improve the CalFresh Employment and Training (E&T) program — providing job training and employment services across California and helping workers return to employment with quality jobs.

“The pandemic has proven that poverty doesn’t discriminate,” said Senator Hurtado, chair of the Senate Human Services Committee. “SB 609 takes a proven program and expands it by creating real opportunities no matter your background or education level. CalFresh E&T is a win/win for California because participants are empowered to gain skills, training or work experience and employers that hire E&T participants earn tax credits. This bill is a key part of the agenda of the California Senate Committee on Human Services to move families out of poverty.”

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) today introduced SCR 14 to honor the lives of Captain Ramon “Ray” Figueroa and Firefighter Patrick Jones, who both perished tragically exactly a year ago today in service of the Porterville community for the Porterville Fire Department.

“Fire Captain Figueroa and Firefighter Jones were among the best of us – hardworking, selfless, and brave beyond measure,” said Senator Hurtado. “It is important we recognize these men as the heroes they are and honor their memories and sacrifice with this resolution and by serving our communities, just as they did.”

SACRAMENTO, CA – With the COVID-19 health and economic crisis demonstrating a critical hole in California’s food delivery system, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) introduced legislation today to provide state-funded food benefits to everyone who is eligible in California – regardless of their immigration status.

“Hunger knows no border, no race and no nationality and we can unite around responding to this economic crisis by helping those who need it the most,” said Senator Hurtado, who is the Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee. “We Californians benefit from immigrants’ labor in ways we never see, so when times are tough we must extend a hand – and food – to all who need it regardless of immigration status. I know what it means to experience food insecurity, and no one deserves to go through that – especially those families who keep our Nation’s food secure.”

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) today introduced legislation to expand housing options for seniors and Californians who cannot live independently by allowing residential care facilities to use the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program to partially staff facilities that serve low-income elderly or disabled residents.

SACRAMENTO, CA - Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) today introduced legislation to create greater access to childcare for our agricultural workers in the hours needed to support their jobs.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our community – those who uproot their lives to provide the food we eat must have access to childcare for the hours they work,” said Senator Hurtado. “California must do whatever it can to meet the needs of these workers and their children.”

SACRAMENTO, CA – State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) released the following statement upon the announcement of additional Central Valley Project water contract conversations by the United States Bureau of Reclamation:

“These contracts will ensure water for thousands of farmworkers, farmers and a reliable food supply chain for two-thirds of the United States. Water is life and when there is a shortage, lands are fallowed, farmworkers are displaced and crops are gone forever. I want to thank President Joe Biden and his team for acting quickly to secure these negotiated clean water deals that will benefit many families in need for my district, California and this Nation.”

SANGER, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) issued the following statement urging Governor Gavin Newsom to change California’s COVID-19 strategy to include increased access to monoclonal antibody treatment:

“We are nearly a year into this pandemic and it has been one crisis after another. Vaccine approval and distribution has brought hope to our communities, but we need to be realistic about the current movement. We are facing a surge, and vaccine distribution has been slow to say the least...