• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) joined a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives that calls on the Biden administration to increase efforts to deliver life-saving aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, renew the humanitarian ceasefires that previously helped facilitate safe delivery of that aid, and secure the release of the remaining hostages, according to a Jan. 5 statement from the congressman’s office. Specifically, the resolution will scale up the flow of aid convoys to reach civilians in Gaza, allow humanitarian organizations to deliver aid in Gaza without impediment or interference, distribute fuel to humanitarian organizations, and provide proper oversight to ensure the assistance has been delivered. The resolution also reemphasizes the need for Congress to pass the supplemental funding request for humanitarian aid made by President Joe Biden in October 2023, according to Carbajal’s office. “Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks and continued holding of innocent hostages must be addressed, but we cannot lose sight of the Palestinian civilians that have been used as human shields and who now face a growing humanitarian crisis that is deepening the terrible toll of the conflict in Gaza,” Carbajal said in the statement. “As we saw from the last ceasefire, a pause in fighting can facilitate both the safe release of those still being held hostage and the increased delivery of life-saving medicine, food, and other necessities. It is critical for the Biden administration to continue pushing for this aid to reach those in need and for us in Congress to pass their request for additional support to save lives and ensure there is a pathway to restoring a durable peace in the region.”
• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California), Laphonza Butler (D-California), Gary Peters (D-Michigan), Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) led 28 of their colleagues in urging 13 nonunionized automakers not to block United Auto Workers (UAW) unionization efforts at their manufacturing plants, according to a Jan. 4 statement from Padilla’s office. After historic agreements were ratified between UAW and the Big Three automakers in Detroit, thousands of nonunion autoworkers are publicly organizing to join the UAW. The senators wrote to the chief executive officers of Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. “We are concerned by reporting at numerous automakers that management has acted illegally to block unionization efforts,” the senators wrote in their letter. “These retaliatory actions are hostile to workers’ rights and must not be repeated if further organizing efforts are made by these companies’ workers. We therefore urge you all to commit to implementation of a neutrality agreement at your manufacturing plants.”
• In partnership with the state Legislature, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed landmark legislation in 2023 to support the reproductive rights of Californians, increase affordable housing, hold Big Oil accountable, and protect the safety, health, and well-being of all Californians, according to a Dec. 29 statement from Newsom’s office. “California is more than just a state of dreamers, we’re a state of doers. Thanks to the Legislature’s strong partnership in 2023, the state is leading by example to create opportunity and advance and protect the rights of all Californians,” Newsom said in the statement. New laws will take effect on Jan. 1, including AB 352, which requires companies managing electronic health records related to abortion, gender-affirming care, pregnancy loss, and other services to protect all Californians’ and visitors’ electronic medical records—closing a major loophole in privacy protections for people traveling to California for abortion or gender-affirming care. AB 663 allows for more mobile pharmacies in communities across the state and allows them to dispense treatment medications for opioid use disorder. SB 616 expands the number of sick days available to workers from three to five. SBX1-2 grants the California Energy Commission new authority to penalize refineries and set maximum gross gasoline refining margins (if necessary) to help combat price gouging.
