The World Ag Expo hosted 100,000 people from countries all over the world to celebrate 45 years of excellence in agriculture. The Expo included informational seminars on international trade, the dairy industry and irrigation. There were also Concerts for a Cause and The Ag Warriors Gala, which benefit agricultural education and providing veterans with the opportunity to enter in to the agricultural industry.

The World Ag Expo also helps to bring agricultural buyers and seller together and assists in spreading information on the continuous advancement of agricultural technology. “This technology helps to make agriculture more efficient and provides more opportunities for the field to expand,” Dr. Pan said. “As I scientist I am intrigued by the innovations that are boosting our export economy, creating jobs and building a better future for California.”

When Student Action Committee students graduate, many of them can continue advocating for education and other issues as part of the new Hornets Policy and Politics Chapter of Sacramento State University Alumni Association. Dr. Pan recently attended the Chapter's kick-off, joining with Sacramento State Alumni including Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna, Sacramento City Councilmember Kevin McCarty and Capitol Chief of Staff Eric Guerra.

"Sacramento State University Alumni are helping Californians get through historic challenges," Guerra said. "Alumni in their professional roles are meeting with constituents who have lost their jobs or their homes, then moving legislation to address their problems at a more systemic level. We're managing agencies that 37 million Californians depend on now more than ever because of the recession. Our fellow Alumni are also in the political strategy and communications field helping to elect the next leaders of our Legislature and local governments. Sacramento State University gave us the training to begin these careers and now through the Hornets Policy and Politics Alumni Chapter of the Alumni Association, we will help each other help California."

This Spring the Student Action Committee and Dr. Pan hosted Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez and Assemblymembers Roger Dickinson and Alyson Huber to discuss the Middle Class Scholarship Act. Over a 100 students attended the event to find out more about how the act could help them.

"As a college student the Middle Class Scholarship Act will allow me to focus more on my education rather than having to worry about how many years I will spend buried in debt just to pay for tuition," said UC Davis junior Andrea Grech. "I thought it was great that so many students attended the event to show their support and I hope their efforts will convince the 2/3rds of the legislature necessary for this Act to pass to approve it."

The Middle Class Scholarship Act would make attending college more affordable for middle income families by cutting fees by two-thirds. This would help prevent families from having to take out loans and help students leave college not in debt. It would also allow for those who were previously not thinking about attending college due to its rising cost, to have the opportunity to continue their education.

Hundreds of Planned Parenthood patients and staff rallied at the steps of the Capitol in support of increasing reproductive and preventive health care services provided by Planned Parenthood Health care centers. Dr. Pan joined several speakers from the Assembly and Senate supporting the wide range of preventive care services offered by Planned Parenthood. These services are vital in keeping California individuals, families, and local communities healthy. "Make our voices heard again and show our power at the ballot box!" Dr. Pan said.  Planned Parenthood’s  health care centers offer many options for clients, such as breast and cervical cancer screening, contraception, STD prevention and treatment.  The event also focused on sexual health education and Planned Parenthood’s Male Involvement Program.  The rally and education fair on the West steps of the Capitol also highlighted entertainers and motivational stories from the Sacramento community.  Planned Parenthood’s Capitol Day Rally strives to make California the number one state for family planning and other reproductive services.

SeaWorld San Diego transformed the capitol lawn into a petting zoo on May 10th, bringing animals to visit with both employees and visitors in an effort to highlight wildlife conservation and care. The staff and interns from Dr. Pan's district office at Sacramento State University said hello to an alligator and a porcupine, held a parrot, and observed both reptiles and a kangaroo with her joey. The event also featured two penguins and a lemur, which the staff was unfortunately unable to locate. Aside from providing a vast array of animals, the event also offered opportunities to learn about California wildlife conservation as well as other institutions, such as the San Francisco Bay Aquarium. "The animal conservation issues raised by events such as this provide the Sacramento community with a better understanding of the threats these animals face while being able to enjoy their presence," explained intern Lauren Michaels. "It was a great opportunity to be outdoors with local families and employees brought together by a mutual interest in wildlife."

At the State Capitol, Dr. Pan, in partnership with the California Healthcare Institute, presented an Assembly resolution recognizing Feb. 29, 2012 as Rare Disease Day for the families and healthcare professionals caring for millions of Californians living with nearly 7,000 rare diseases.

"As a UC Davis educator and pediatrician focused on public health, I know that awareness is often key to bringing forth the resources needed to provide proper treatment," Dr. Pan said. "This is why I am proud to partner with CHI to recognize Rare Disease Day and help bring to light the fact that almost 30 million Americans suffer from rare diseases, 15 million of whom have no treatment specific to their disease."

In 1983, Congress enacted the Orphan Drug Act to provide incentives for medical pharmaceutical and product developers to focus on treatments for victims of rare diseases. Since that time, there have been more than 18,000 products studied as possible treatments for rare diseases, and 326 of those have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Most of these were for diseases that had no approved treatment.

CHI President and CEO David L. Gollaher, Ph.D said, "Rare Disease Day serves as a reminder that the problems families and caretakers of patients with rare diseases face -- timely and accurate diagnosis, little research and few treatments, reimbursement and regulation affecting patient access to treatment -- are enormous. It's important for these families to know they are not alone."

The Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center was the site of a celebration for today's 2-1 decision by a three judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals which ruled that California's Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. The 2-1 majority summed up its ruling: "By using their initiative power to target a minority group and withdraw a right that it possessed, without a legitimate reason for doing so, the people of California violated the Equal Protection Clause (of the federal Constitution). We hold Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional on this ground."

"Today's ruling is an historic moment in the long and epic battle for marriage equality for the LGBT community…But we know today is not the final word as this matter is sure to be settled by the U.S. Supreme Court," said Shara Perkins Murphy, Executive Director of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center. Matt Bunch, local activist and government affairs specialist further said, "We have to fight for our brother and sisters in the other states."

"Today's ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is a historic step toward the day when all Californians, and all Americans, have the rights to which they are entitled," Dr. Pan said. "The battle for full equality for LGBT Americans is far from over, but today's victory shines a light on the path ahead and the challenges we will need to overcome."

Approximately fifty members of the public, agency managers and NGO leaders joined together at Sacramento State to discuss the National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy. The goal of the Strategy is to inspire and enable natural resource administrators, legislators, and other decision makers to take action to adapt to a changing climate.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide the opportunity for the public to comment on the draft Strategy to provide recommendations as well as criticisms. In his public comment on the Strategy, Dr. Pan said, “I appreciate the emphasis the Strategy puts on public education, adaptive management and, above all, sound science.” The meeting was the first of many meetings across the country to receive public comments about the Strategy.

Attendees of the workshop were able to vote their opinion using polling devices, with immediate results on the PowerPoint presentation. Lauren Haley, intern for Dr. Pan said, “It was great hearing opinions and ideas from people who will be directly involved in the implementation of the Strategy, to give the Strategy Management Team additional input.” Please visit www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov for more information. Dr. Pan posted his public comment and you can post yours until March 5th.

Last Wednesday, Dr. Pan and his office made a special visit to the Dart Plant in Lodi. The Dart company employs hundreds of Californians in the creation of disposable food service products which are then shipped locally and internationally throughout the world. Dart recycles the products at its Lodi facility and is working with local municipalities to implement curbside recycling for polystyrene.

"At our Lodi facility, DART is helping recycle many of the foodservice containers that make it so convenient for consumers to enjoy take-out food at home," said Dart Lodi Plant Manager Ron Crookham. "Our company is proud of the work we're doing with communities throughout California to recycle foam and turn them into new products right here in our golden state."

Sacramento leaders joined Environment California at St. Francis High School to announce that Sacramento is among the top producers of solar energy according to a new study of “Top Solar Cities” in California. “Solar power is booming in Sacramento,” according to Bernadette Del Chiaro, Director of Clean Energy Programs at Environment California Research and Policy Center. “Despite the slow economy, Sacramento has found a way to grow one of the most promising clean energy solutions, bringing clean air and jobs to the city.”

St. Francis High School recently installed solar panels on their rooftops that will reduce the amount of their carbon dioxide emissions by 294 tons, provide the school with 31% of their needed electricity and save nearly $1 million in energy costs over the next 20 years. Kate Ely, a senior at St. Francis, helped initiate the installation through an essay that she wrote and by working with the school. “It is hoped that the solar panels will not only contribute to St. Francis High School, but also inspire other schools and organizations in the community to adopt similar eco-friendly policies,” said Ely. Kate and St. Francis and Valley were honored for their commitment to renewable energy by Mayor Kevin Johnson and City Councilmember Steve Cohn, a former SMUD employee and St. Francis parent.

In the state of California alone, there are 3000 solar companies that employ 25,000 people. Brad Price, President of Sacramento’s Valley Solar, also joined the event and discussed how solar energy installation projects are creating permanent jobs for skilled workers in the region.