CLCV is thrilled to honor California Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) at our annual Environmental Leadership Awards on December 1.
Assemblymember Garcia’s work in the last legislative session gave rise to greater environmental equity while demonstrating the connection to climate change and air quality leadership. A steadfast advocate with a lifelong devotion to his community, Assemblymember Garcia’s legislative victories have solidified his status as a champion for environmental protection of California’s most vulnerable communities.
A native of Coachella Valley, Garcia was elected in 2014 to represent his home district — the 56th California Assembly District — and appointed to chair the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy the same year. He became leader of the Select Committee on Renewable Energy Development and Restoration of the Salton Sea in 2015.
Garcia became the most successful freshman California assemblymember in history this year when Governor Jerry Brown signed 16 of his bills and resolutions. Included in these bills was AB 197, Garcia’s groundbreaking legislation aimed at curbing carbon emissions and cutting air pollution in low-income communities. The bill will create a new oversight committee, impose term limits on members of the California Air Resources Board, and require that they consider new factors when implementing regulations — like prioritizing local impacts on communities to improve health outcomes for impacted families.
This improved accountability will have a major impact on communities like the ones in Garcia’s district, where one out of every five residents lives below the poverty line, the unemployment rate is 24%, and asthmatic children visit emergency rooms at twice the statewide rate.
“In order for California to remain an economic and environmental leader, the state also needs to be a leader on issues related to equity. Placing the health and economic impacts of climate policy on vulnerable populations will stunt the state’s prosperity,” Garcia said in September, when the bill was passed.
“AB 197, with SB 32, represents a recognition that greenhouse gas reduction has local impacts and that we must have revenue for critical investments in our state’s most disadvantaged communities.”
Garcia lives with his wife and children in Coachella Valley, where he continues to fight for an environmentally just future for all Californians. We’re proud to honor him with his award December 1st. Tickets available at: http://www.ecovote.org/awards.
