Senate District 4 Week in Review April 2024

Voices of Resilience: Insights from California’s Native Communities and Urgent Legislative Initiatives

Mobile Office Hours:

• Tuesday, April 9th 2024 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
  Mariposa County Library Community Room
  4978 10th Street
  Mariposa, CA 95338
   
• Tuesday, April 9th 2024 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
  San Andreas Library
  1299 Gold Hunter Road
  San Andreas CA 95249
   
• Friday, April 12th 2024 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
  North Tahoe Community Alliance, Conference Room 
  100 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
  Tahoe City CA 96145

Happy Friday Senate District 4,

The Tribal Listening Tour this Spring Recess was undeniably powerful. Over nine days and thousands of miles, I immersed myself into California’s Native communities, beginning with the Yurok Tribe in Del Norte and Humboldt counties, where I learned about their economic challenges, particularly regarding water systems and healthcare access. As I made my way south, I participated in the Native American/Indigenous Education Summit at CSU San Bernardino, and enjoyed the Yaamava’ Spring Celebration with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, where I learned basket weaving. Meetings with the Big Pine/Bishop Paiute Tribes, Mono Lake Kutzadika’a Tribe, and others unveiled inspiring stories of resilience and community empowerment. The tour continued with visits to the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, each providing invaluable insights into tribal history, preservation efforts, and cultural significance. Throughout my tour, the importance of tribal sovereignty, safety, and economic empowerment was emphasized, echoing the sentiment that funding must align with tribal priorities. My experience was enlightening and underscores the urgency of collaborative action for meaningful change to California Natives. 

While I was on the Tribal Listening Tour, my Modesto district team had the privilege to honor our veterans in Turlock during a tribute to our Vietnam Veterans. They presented a certificate of recognition on my behalf to Turlock City Mayor Amy Bublak for recognizing the sacrifice and service of these heroes. 

“Will my child be safe at school today?” – it’s a question I found myself asking when my children were in school. Recent statistics reveal a staggering 60% increase in school threats across the U.S. Several alarming incidents have occurred over the past year in Senate District 4 alone. It’s time for action. Read my Op-Ed and learn about the urgent need for Senate Bill 796 to protect our schools and places of worship.

This week, I presented SB 1197, a groundbreaking bill aimed at providing vital in-home respite services to caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities. Caregivers, we hear you. We understand the relentless demands you face every day, and that’s why SB 1197 is here to offer the relief you deserve. SB 1197 goes one step further by including our Tribal families in addition to clarifying the availability of these services for certain children and non-minor dependents in the foster care system. My bill now moves forward to the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

I’m proud to announce the Sierra Nevada Conservancy has awarded $8 million in grants to five crucial projects in Senate District 4, focusing on wildfire recovery and forest resilience. These grants, awarded through SNC’s Wildfire Recovery and Forest Resilience grant program, represent a significant step towards mitigating wildfire risks and restoring watersheds in the region. Read my press release here. 

I am urging Governor Gavin Newsom to prioritize saving the Family Urgent Response System (FURS). With 5,000+ annual requests, FURS is a vital lifeline for foster youth and families statewide, ensuring 24/7 support & stability. We must invest in our future. Read my press release here.

Good news for college students! California’s priority Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) deadline has been extended. This extension grants students attending four-year universities until May 2nd to complete their FAFSA applications, ensuring they have enough time to secure essential federal student aid. Additionally, students enrolled in community colleges will have until September 2nd to complete their applications. This extension underscores our commitment to supporting students in accessing the financial assistance they need to thrive academically. For more information, please visit: https://studentaid.gov.

Read #TeamAlvarado-Gil’s Annual Report for a comprehensive look at our legislative journey in 2023.

In the News

We're Hiring!

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE – MODESTO
$64,608-$122,928 SALARY RANGE 

I’m looking for a highly experienced District Representative to join my Modesto office! The successful candidate will have strong project management skills and is expected to perform at a high level with independence. Additionally, the successful candidate will thrive in situations that call for engaging with the public and local officials, provide ongoing support to constituents with pressing state-related issues, and strongly represent myself at events and meetings across Stanislaus County.

If you think you have what it takes to succeed in a fast-paced and dynamic working environment, apply here today! 

Applications are open for the 2024 California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation Scholarship program.

To be eligible for scholarship consideration students must meet the following requirements:

• Be a full time student (undergraduate or graduate) in good academic standing at an accredited college or university, OR
• Be a graduating high school senior with written proof of acceptance at an accredited institution of higher learning. 
• Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
• Submit a completed application along with all required supplementary documents by the application deadline.

Deadline for submission is June 1st 2024, by 5:00 p.m. Apply here.

Sincerely, 
 

Senator
Marie Alvarado-Gil