SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) released the following statement in response to the unveiling of Governor Gavin Newsom’s January Budget proposal today.
“Governor Newsom’s budget proposal offers hope and a path to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating impact it has had on our communities. Foundational to that is our ability to vaccinate California’s large and diverse population, safely reopen schools for in-person learning, and support job creation and small business recovery. I applaud Governor Newsom’s commitment of $372 million for vaccine distribution, a record $85.8 billion for K-14 education, including substantial funding dedicated to addressing learning loss and equity, and $575 million for grants and nearly $71 million in fee waivers for small business.
“I am particularly appreciative of Governor Newsom’s commitment to supporting the basic needs of college students, proposing $100 million in one-time funding for community colleges, $30 million ongoing for CSUs, and $15 million ongoing for UCs to address housing and food insecurity, mental health, and digital equity. I have heard from hundreds of students across California about their struggles to meet their basic needs, and I’ve championed legislation aimed at easing the burden for our most vulnerable students.
“I look forward to working with Governor Newsom and my colleagues in the Legislature to provide immediate relief to Californians struggling from the COVID-19 pandemic and approving a budget that reflects the values and needs of our great state.”
Contact: Kaitlin Curry, (916) 710-4060