For many California families, back to school season is typically marked by trips to the store to gather up binders, glue sticks, and other essentials for the coming academic year.

This year, instead of filling new backpacks with supplies to stuff in classroom desks, families are gathering the essentials their students need to start the school year from home. Software and scissors. Monitors and masks.

And for so many parents, the questions flow in a constant stream, melting into one constant concern – how do I best help my student prepare for and successfully complete another round of distance learning?

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I am happy to share that our region and Senate District 39 have been awarded more than $60 million in state grants within the past month. These key funds will help environmental, housing and equity projects move forward.

A total of $15 million in California Department of Water Resources grant funds are coming to our region to help fund several water recycling and conservation projects in the county.

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Given the lower-than-average precipitation and snowpack this winter, 2020 is likely to be an active fire year. As wildfire season ramps up, California is using new tools, like the state's recently acquired Black Hawk helicopters, to limit fire damage and is implementing new policies to lower the chances of COVID-19 transmission during wildfire emergencies. Despite having an interrupted legislative session this year, the Legislature successfully crafted a budget that further enhances our state's wildfire prevention and suppression efforts.

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Like other highly populated areas of the state, San Diego County saw a substantial increase in COVID-19 cases in late-June and July, resulting in its placement on the state's County Monitoring List. The Governor has asked counties on this list to ratchet back on reopening to reduce the opportunities for community transmission. Most businesses remain open but are operating under modified health guidelines until case numbers and hospitalizations are low enough to safely resume our phased approach to reopening. During this time, it is more important than ever that we take personal responsibility for keeping our community safe; this includes wearing a face mask in all public settings, practicing physical distancing whenever possible and washing your hands often. Together we can slow the spread of coronavirus and safely reopen our economy.

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senate created a Working Group on Economic Recovery to offer ideas for California's fiscal rebound without raising taxes, while also focusing on the needs of all Californians, millions of whom have been adversely impacted by this crisis. I am pleased this has grown into a collaborative, bicameral effort with the Assembly.

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The U.S. Constitution clearly states that every person who resides in the country must be accounted for in the Census, regardless of immigration status, native language, or zip code. Being counted is every person's right. This count not only determines Congressional representation; it also determines how much actual money is allocated to our communities for critical services that we rely on every day. Funding for schools, public transit, hospitals, and much more is determined by Census data.

So far, 68% of San Diego County has responded, but those who haven't will be visited at home by a Census worker. If you don't want a knock on your door, fill out your Census today. You can submit it online or by calling 844-330-2020. We need everyone, in every neighborhood to participate to ensure we get the funding that we need and deserve.

I was pleased to participate virtually in the 30th annual San Diego Housing Federation Ruby Awards held on July 23rd. I had the honor of commemorating the late Richard Juarez, a visionary who was deeply devoted to our community and to advocating for affordable housing. I was also given the opportunity to present two awards to Affirmed Housing for their Bluewater and Stella, and Zephyr developments.

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