With our new governor, Gavin Newsom.

Gavin Newsom got off to an active start as he began his tenure as California's 40th governor, proposing several ambitious policy changes and releasing a draft state budget in his first few days in office.

On Day 1, the governor announced new health care policy proposals, including making all residents up to age 26 eligible to obtain health insurance through the Medi-Cal program, helping middle-class Californians afford health insurance, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs through increased bulk purchasing power.

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With Rick Gentry of the San Diego Housing Commission at the Free Tax Prep San Diego launch.

In January, I was proud to participate in a 2019 launch event for Free Tax Prep San Diego, an initiative spearheaded by the Housing Commission and Citi Community Development that raises awareness of federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits and supports efforts to help working San Diegans file their tax returns.

While I was Speaker of the Assembly, I had the opportunity to play a key role in shaping incredibly important policies. But none made me prouder than leading the effort to create California's first state-level Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

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With Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher and Mark Levine at the shelter on Christmas Day.

As part of his proposed state budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom is recommending $20 million to establish an Immigration Rapid Response Program and fund it for three years, as well as $5 million to address immigration-related emergencies that are occurring during the current fiscal year.

This announcement is a relief to the organizations in San Diego that since late October have been managing a growing emergency in our city, and it should come as welcome news to all caring San Diegans.

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Matt Miller (left) and Dan Poirier

Solana Beach Company Awarded State Energy Grant

In January, the Solana Beach startup company Nativus received a $450,000 CalSEED grant from the California Energy Commission to develop and test a prototype of a portable room air conditioner that uses half the energy of a conventional unit. This award followed an earlier concept-stage grant of $150,000.

Nativus was founded in 2014 by Solana Beach resident and San Diego native Dan Poirier and his friend Matt Miller. Matt, the CEO and chief engineer, and Dan, the COO and head of business development, met while attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and kept in touch over the years.

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My district staff is always available to help constituents navigate a complex web of state agencies. If you're having trouble working out an issue with any state agency, please call my office at 619-645-3133, and my staff will do everything in their power to help.

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James was one of the San Diegans my spouse Jennifer and I spoke to early in the morning on January 25, during the annual Point in Time Count of people who are homeless. It's always such a moving experience.

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