Congressman Garamendi: Green Jobs Created through
Recovery Act worth Celebrating on 40th Anniversary of Earth Day

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John Garamendi (D-Walnut Creek, CA), a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, today is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by highlighting the 69 billion ways our planet has been helped by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“This Earth Day, it’s worth remembering that job creation and environmental protection go hand-in-hand,” said Congressman Garamendi. “The economic consequences of inaction on climate change could cripple our economy, yet with sound investments in clean technology and energy efficiency, we are capable of creating millions of jobs while leaving our grandchildren a greener, more hopeful future.”

ARRA invested $69 billion to modernize our electricity grid to make it more efficient and reliable. ARRA also created tax incentives to spur energy savings and to create clean energy jobs. Billions of dollars were set aside for clean energy research.

“When Congress voted for the Recovery Act last year, they created a boon in green jobs, sending Earth and our nation down a more sustainable and prosperous path,” Garamendi added. “With ARRA’s $69 billion investment in clean energy, we are on a track to create more than 700,000 green jobs by 2012, and we will nearly double our renewable energy output over four years.”

Through ARRA, California has received at least $3.9 billion in transportation funding, $2.7 billion to modernize its energy grid, $1.4 billion in science and technology investments, and $1.2 billion for water and environment projects. A sample of green projects in the 10th Congressional District funded through ARRA include:

·         $13 million to BART for a crossover project that will put approximately 5,000 people to work while providing more seating, more trains, and improved on-time service for travelers to and from Contra Costa County;

·         $5 million to the Delta Diablo Sanitation District to help expand the region’s water recycling systems, reducing our demand on scarce water resources;

·         $1 million to the City of Fairfield to modernize its lighting infrastructure, creating jobs and safer streets while reducing Fairfield’s greenhouse gas emissions;

·         $1 million to the City of Concord to improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities, helping to reduce the need for automobile transit in the city; and

·         $418,751 to Solano Community College to launch a green jobs education program that will help area residents land green jobs.

Moreover, tens of millions more went to capitalized maintenance throughout the district. As the State of California slashes billions from local transit budgets, this valued source of federal money helped prevent more drastic cuts to services across the board, including public transportation.

Gov. Schwarzenegger Joins Attorney General in Announcing Arrest Warrants of Over 40 Gang Members as a Result of Coordinated State, Federal and Local Investigation

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today joined Attorney General Jerry Brown and other federal, state and local law enforcement officials in Salinas to announce the arrests of several gang members from arrest warrants issued for more than 40 gang members as part of a state, federal and local coordinated investigation into gang activity in the area.

"Today's action sends a loud and clear message to anyone participating in gang activities - we will track you down and lock you up," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "What you see here today is the result of months of coordination, surveillance and very smart police work. But, the job is not over. We know Salinas still has a serious gang problem, and we aren't going anywhere. We remain committed to fighting the violence and saving lives."

Governor Schwarzenegger is committed to combating gang violence in California and, in 2007, introduced the Governor's California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention (CalGRIP) initiative to confront the dramatic increase in gangs across the state and their proliferation in suburban and rural areas. CalGRIP combines funding from different programs and directs them towards local anti-gang efforts, including job training, education and intervention programs. The Governor also appointed Paul Seave director of the Governor's Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy, to coordinate all state programs and funding for anti-gang activities with local and federal agencies.

Last month, the Governor announced over $9.2 million in competitive grants awarded to 24 cities throughout California under his CalGRIP initiative to help combat and prevent gang violence in these communities. In this round of funding, the city of Salinas received $382,639, and Monterey County received a total of $765,278. The Governor also joined with law enforcement officials in Salinas last year to highlight CalGRIP funding and to announce the first-ever "Gifts for Guns" program in the area, modeled after the program created by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Gangs are responsible for many crimes in California including more than 15,000 homicides since 1981 and other crimes like extortion, narcotic sales and identity theft. In spite of an overall decrease in crime in most California cities since the 1990s, rates of gang-related violent crime have remained steady or increased in many California communities.

Senate Approves Sample Drug Disclosure Bill
SACRAMENTO – With the rising cost of prescription drugs and the ongoing health care coverage crisis, the prevalent use of free sample prescription drugs has drawn increased scrutiny.  The oversight of sample prescription drugs is often incomplete or non-existent, which has resulted in patients receiving drugs with inadequate information regarding dosing schedule, side effects, and potential drug interactions.
On a bipartisan 25-6 vote, the California State Senate today approved legislation authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) that would require sample prescription drugs received at a doctor’s offices or medical clinic to be accompanied with the same written information regarding the drugs that would normally be received from a pharmacist.
“It is vital that consumers receive written information regarding dosage and potential side effects on sample drugs,” said Yee.  “This bill will reduce lawsuits, illnesses, and deaths.”
A study conducted by the Journal of Family Practice found that instructions accompanied the dispensing of sample drugs only 47.8 percent of the time and were predominantly verbal in nature.
The study states, “Dosing appeared to be the main focus, and little to no attention was given to more detailed information, such as whether the medication should be taken with meals. Drug interactions were not routinely discussed.”
SB 1106 is supported by the Consumer Federation of California, CALPIRG, and the California Alliance for Retired Americans.
“As the use of sample prescription drugs continues to rise, the need for consumers to have basic health and safety information on those drugs has never been greater,” said Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California.  “At the end of the day, there’s no reason why patients who get sample drugs at a doctor’s office should be less informed than if they filled a prescription at any licensed pharmacy.”
“The failure to provide basic warning information for sample prescription drugs is a huge loophole that must be corrected,” said Nan Brasmer, President of the California Alliance for Retired Americans.  “This bill could potentially save lives since consumers will have the benefit of all relevant information at their disposal when they receive sample drugs from their doctors.”  
“Sample prescription drugs carry all the same risks and potential side effects as traditional pharmacy-filled prescriptions,” said Pedro Morillas, CALPIRG Consumer Advocate.  “With studies showing an increased reliance on sample drugs for treatment, consumers need the information that SB 1106 would require drug companies to provide.”
SB 1106 must be approved by the State Assembly before consideration by the Governor