In 2016, I partnered with Susan G. Komen to announce AB 1795. SB 945 builds on that bill.

Before I entered public service in the 1990s as an aide to Christine Kehoe, who was then a member of the San Diego City Council, I served as director of clinic services at Womancare Health Center. During that time, I saw firsthand how important it is to provide safety-net healthcare services for people who are uninsured or underinsured and can't afford medical care.
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Last year, I passed SB 230, making it easier to convict human traffickers. SB 970 will help us stop them.

In 2017, the first year of the current two-year session, Governor Jerry Brown signed all 12 of my bills that were sent to him by the Legislature. As I get set to become the Senate President pro Tem later this month, I am carrying a smaller bill package this year, but my 2018 bills improve California in important ways.
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In February, I helped announce Free Tax Prep San Diego.

Tax season is in full swing, and last month, I helped launch Free Tax Prep San Diego, a program run by the San Diego Housing Commission, in partnership with the City-County Reinvestment Task Force and the San Diego Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition, with financial support from Citi Community Development.
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One of my highest priorities is helping students in San Diego and all of California achieve their educational goals, to give them the best chance to thrive as adults. That's why I want my constituents to know about assistance opportunities in our region.

Here are some free upcoming SAT / ACT preparation workshops provided by Cal-SOAP -- the California Student Opportunity and Access Program:

• One-day Preparation Workshops for Juniors: Cal-SOAP offers one-day test preparation workshops on various dates and locations. Register online under the "Test Prep" tab. SAT Prep dates include March 3 at UCSD, April 21 at Chula Vista High, or May 12 at UCSD. ACT Prep dates include April 7 at Chula Vista High or May 19 at UCSD.

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My district staff is always available to help constituents navigate a complex web of state agencies.

Recently, we received a call from a constituent who needed help with CalFresh, the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. She had re-enrolled in the program but experienced an interruption in her benefit. Unable to connect with anyone at the CalFresh office, she reached out to my office, and we contacted the San Diego Hunger Coalition on her behalf.
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