Tens of millions of dollars in ongoing funding for initiatives spearheaded by Berman included in Legislature’s budget
SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) released the following statement in response to the Legislature’s passage of the 2021-2022 State Budget:
“Today we passed a state budget that will strengthen California’s recovery after fifteen long months of uncertainty and hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While millions of Californians are struggling, this budget makes critical investments in homelessness and housing, education, and small business support, all of which will contribute to the California Comeback.
“I am particularly excited that two student-centered initiatives that I led are receiving funding in the budget. Hundreds of thousands of California community college students are having to ask themselves, ‘Do I pay rent this month or buy textbooks for my classes? Should I take an extra shift at work to afford groceries or should I attend class?’ After several years of advocating for students’ basic needs, I am thrilled we are allocating $30 million in ongoing funds so that every community college campus can establish a basic needs center and hire a basic needs coordinator. In addition, we are investing $10 million in a common course numbering system for community colleges, which will save students much needed time and money by making it easier to earn their degree and transfer to a four-year institution if they want to. Student success is critical to the California Comeback, and with these critically important investments we are well on our way.”
Contact: Kaitlin Curry, (916) 319-2024