Sacramento, CA – While celebrating advocacy for protection of natural resources during Ocean Day at the State Capitol, legislators announced a package of bills to address the mounting waste crisis affecting California’s coastline, landfills, and ratepayers. Led by Senator Ben Allen (D - Santa Monica), the group includes Senator Scott Wiener (D - San Francisco), Assemblymember Phil Ting (D - San Francisco), Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D - Ventura), Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D - San Diego), Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager (D - Los Angeles), Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D - Los Angeles), and Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D - Glendale).

Sacramento, CA – Responding to Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed $227 billion state budget, State Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) released the following statement:

Sacramento, CA – At the start of the 2021-2022 legislative session, today, Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) released the following statement:

“These are difficult times, and Californians are hurting today. With the COVID-19 vaccine on its way, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. However, the medical, epidemiological, psychological, and economic consequences of this crisis continue to be alarmingly dire. We must get through this pandemic and fully restart our economy again as quickly as possible.

Sacramento, CA – A bill to ban dangerous chemicals was signed into law yesterday in California.

Senate Bill 1044 by Senator Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, will ban the manufacture, sale and use of firefighting foam that contains chemicals known as per-and poly-fluoralkyl substances, or PFAS. Used in commercial and industrial products like carpet, clothing and non-stick coatings since the 1950s, PFAS resist heat, stains and water. PFAS is used in firefighting foam and commercial products and is linked to health problems such as cancer, hormone disruption, kidney and liver damage, thyroid disease, birth defects, harm to developing infants and children, and drinking water contamination.