ADVOCACY UPDATE

Major legislative foci this week have included the continued success of BREATHE LA's legislation to ban smoking on hospital campuses (AB 574), developments related to federal transportation bills that have a direct impact on local public transportation efforts, and evolving efforts to regulate tobacco substitute products (notably e-cigarettes) to prevent youth consumption.

BREATHE LA Advocacy is organized to address FOUR Prinicples:

PRINCIPLE 1

• CALIFORNIA : Advocate for the implementation of California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (known as AB32) educate local businesses and community groups about subsequent voluntary or required actions that will affect them.

• FEDERAL: Advocate for the implementation of California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (known as AB32) educate local businesses and community groups about subsequent voluntary or required actions that will affect them.

PRINCIPLE 2:

• Advocate for the promotion of improved lung health

PRINCIPLE 3:

• Advocate for the adoption, implementation, and enforcement of regulations and policies governing stationary and mobile sources of harmful emissions, including diesel pollution (e.g., refineries, ships, trucks, buses and off-road diesel equipment) that will achieve the maximum feasible reductions in diesel particulate matter.

PRINCIPLE 4:

• Advocate for the increased use of clean energy and technologies, particularly renewable energy, through consumer education and outreach.

Visit this page for WEEKLY UPDATES during legislative session as well as topical advocacy news published in our ADVOCATE portal like this article on California Budget and Coastal Oil Drilling.

Bill	Legislator	Topic	Update	Principle
Federal bill	Waxman-      Markey	Clean Energy Act	Bill passed in House of Representatives on June 26th. Bill now going to US Senate (keep our collective eyes and ears on Senator Boxer for leadership), for Committee hearings to take place probably in September.	1
AB 118	Logue	Global Warming To repeal AB 32	No Change	1
AB 19	Ruskin	Global Warming Carbon Labeling Act,a program for the voluntary assessment, verification, and standardized labeling of the carbon footprint.	As of July 7th, the bill passed the Committee on Environmental Quality and has been re-referred to Committee on Appropriations.	1
AB 222	Adams & Ma	Energy	Sen Environmental Quality	1
AB 234	Huffman	Economic Recovery To align stimulus funding to energy efficiency projects	As of July 8th, the bill is still in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. The hearing has been further postponed by committee.	1
AB 1404	De Leon, Carter, Perez	Global Warming	The bill has been re-referred to the Committee of Appropriations for a vote scheduled on July 20th.	1
AB 1405	De Leon & Perez	Global Warming	As of July 16th, the bill has been re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.	1
SB 333	Hancock	Global Warming To create the Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Emission Offset Program Fund	As of May 28th, the bill is in Senate Appropriations, and set after first hearing. It is being held in the committee and under submission.	1
SB 31	Pavley	Air Quality Creates Air Pollution Control Fund	No change	1
SB 696	Wright	CEQA exemptions to Pollution Credits Permits regional state agencies (AQMD) to distribute emissions credits without Environmental Impact Reports	CEQA exemptions to Pollution Credits Permits regional state agencies (AQMD) to distribute emissions credits without Environmental Impact Reports June 16, passed in Senate EU&C Committee, now going to Sen. Environ and Quality Cmte **BREATHE California joined fellow environmental organizations on record to OPPOSE.	1
HR2524	Waxman-Markey	Clean Energy Act	Bill passed in House of Representatives on June 26th. Bill now going to US Senate (keep our collective eyes and ears on Senator Boxer for leadership), for Committee hearings to take place probably in September.	1 Federal
HR 1329	Blumenauer	CLEAN TEA (Clean Low Emission Affordable New Transportation Efficiency AcT)	Establishes the Low Greenhouse Gas Transportation Fund. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for each of calendar 2012-2050, to auction 10% of emission allowances established under any EPA program providing for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the auctioning of emission allowances. Requires states and eligible regional or local entities representing populations of more than 200,000 people to: (1) establish goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector for the next 10 years; and (2) develop transportation greenhouse gas emission reduction plans. As of May 6th, the bill has been referred to eh Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.	1 Federal
HR 2724	Holt-Inslee-Carnahan	National Transportation Objectives Act	Establish national transportation objectives and performance targets for the purpose of assessing progress toward meeting national transportation objectives. Jun 5, 2009: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials	1 Federal
HR 2521	DeLauro	National Infrastructure Bank	Establish national infrastructure bank with up to $250 billion in subscribed capital and $625 billion in total loan making capability	1 Federal
SAFE TEA LU	Oberstar	Federal Transportation Reauthorization Bill	Not intended to last. Oberstar has stated that if a long-term transportation bill is not done by September 30, he would allow the programs to expire, forcing lawmakers to answer to states that lose their federal transportation support.	1 Federal
AB 574	Hill	Smoke-Free Hospital Campuses Smoke-Free Hospital Campuses; Sponsored by BREATHE CA	Bill is expected to reach the Senate Floor in July and then go to the Governor's desk for his signature later this summer	2
SB 600	Padilla	Cigarette Tax	SUPPORT; $1.50 tax increase; 07/09/09 Placed on Rev & Tax suspense file	2
SB 601	Padilla	Retail Tobacco Licenses	Passed on Senate Floor, now held in Assembly Rules. Bill would permit Board of Equalization to assess fines and withhold tobacco licenses in areas of overconcentration.	2
SB 603	Padilla	Tobacco License fees	BREATHE CA OPPOSED Senator Padilla has pulled this bill and is considering reintroducing it next year	2
SB 400	Corbett	Tobacco alternative regulations	Include within the definition of tobacco product tobacco substitutes. As of July 9th, the bill is re-referred to Assembly committee on appropriations. SB 400 to regulate tobacco substitute products and prohibit sales to minors. BREATHE California on record to support.	2
US Senate Bill S.866 (federal)	Reed	No Child Left Inside	Introduced on April 22 (Earth Day), this bill would mandate a nationwide Environmental Education Initiative similar to what has been established in California. This bill also includes $100 million/year for five years to fund statewide efforts.	2 Federal
SB 632	Lowenthal	Air Quality Clean Ports Bill	As of July 13th, the bill has been placed on the inactive file by the request of Assembly Member Torrico. Supported by AQMD	3
AB 64	Krekorian & Bass	Sen Energy, Utilities & Communications	Energy	4
AB 394	Fuentes	Energy Increase installation of solar energy systems	As of July 8th, the bill is in the Senator Governmental Organization. It is set for a second hearing, but it has been canceled at the request of the author.	4
SB 560	Skinner	Air Quality	No change; To permit GHG credits for wind, solar and biomass projects in Sustainable Communities Strategies	4
SB 14	Simitian	ASM Natural Resouces	Energy	4