Senate Leader Atkins Issues Statement on End of Session, Decisive Climate Actions
SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) released the following statement following the end of the 2021-22 Legislative Session:
“We may have ended the month with stifling heat, drought, and fires, but that will not be its legacy—August 2022 will be remembered for the tremendous, decisive action the California Legislature took to protect our communities and rise to the crisis before us. Our state is facing the most extreme temperatures we’ve experienced this year, putting our communities, especially our most vulnerable neighbors, at risk. We’re also continuing to deal with an historic drought and the ongoing threat of wildfires. The challenges of climate change are here, and this week, the Legislature took bold action to address these severe conditions, and mitigate future risk. We established ambitious and necessary goals to reduce carbon emission and increase renewable energy. We provided the tools industry needs to capture and store carbon before it hits the atmosphere. And we invested in critical infrastructure programs that will keep us firmly planted on the path to a greener future, while simultaneously creating high-wage union jobs that will support families across the state.
Over the past several months, we were also able to bring real relief to Californians struggling to afford the cost of fuel and food; put California’s wealth to work for families, businesses, and students, while preparing our state for potential downturns; and make monumental strides on producing the housing for all income levels that our state desperately needs. We were able to take swift, expansive action to protect access to abortion services and reproductive care for all Californians and anyone who is forced to flee here for timely and essential health care they should have every right to receive. With all of that, and more, behind us, I thought I would be exhausted. Instead, I am energized for the work that remains and the new opportunities we will have to make California a better home for all.
I am filled with an enormous sense of gratitude this morning. Gratitude for my colleagues—those who will return for another session and those who have said goodbye—for Speaker Rendon and our Assembly partners, for Governor Newsom and his team, and for our incredible staffs. I’m grateful that with the end of session comes the opportunity to spend more time attending community events and hearing from my neighbors in the 39th Senate District. This has been a remarkable legislative year. I look forward to picking up where we left off and continuing to do the People’s work with as much energy and enthusiasm as ever.”
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Toni G. Atkins is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. Having previously served as Speaker of the California Assembly, she began her tenure in the Senate in 2016. As Senator for District 39, she represents the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Del Mar and Solana Beach. Website of President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins: www.senate.ca.gov/Atkins