Recent News in the 49th District

(Sacramento) – Between triple digit fee increases and the struggling economy middle class Californians are being squeezed out of the opportunity to get a higher education. Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Alhambra) is joining with Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) to renew the promise of a higher education for middle class students and their families. Speaker Pérez has introduced the Middle Class Scholarship Act (www.middleclassscholarship.com) to reduce the cost of attending a CSU, UC or community college by two-thirds, saving thousands of students thousands of dollars every year. Assemblymember Eng says the Middle Class Scholarship Act will bring hope to students, their families and their communities. Here’s more from Assemblymember Eng in this Assembly Access Video.

California Assemblyman Mike Eng is the author of an anti-bullying legislation. He joins Colleen Williams on Nonstop News LA to talk about the new law that goes into effect January 1, 2012.

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(Sacramento) – In a dark chapter of America's past, the government banned Chinese immigrants from entering or leaving the United States. Today, that past is remembered, and a new, brighter chapter of our country is celebrated with the "Day of Inclusion." California State Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) led the festivities and shared some personal stories about how discrimination against those of Chinese descent, personally affected his family. Learn more in this Assembly Access Video.

(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) believes millions of Californians should be allowed to have acupuncture covered in their health care service plans. Acupuncture can be an effective treatment for a number of conditions, and it may well be the best course of treatment for some people with certain conditions. It's cost effective and typically much cheaper than the surgeries for which it is often an alternative. Assembly Bill 72 makes acupuncture a part of the basic health plan benefit package by ensuring that all health service plans and health insurers cover acupuncture. In this Assembly Web Report Assemblymember Eng introduces you to one man whose life was changed by acupuncture.

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) knows adult education can be a path to fulfilling the dream of a better life for hundreds of thousands of Californians and their families. More than a million Californians were enrolled in adult education classes last year. Still, more than five million Californians do not have a high school diploma. Assemblymember Eng has introduced AB 189 to require school districts to provide better notice to the public when adult education programs are in danger of being eliminated. Assemblymember Eng and actor/activist Edward James Olmos have teamed up to bring this message to you. View their message in this Assembly Access video.

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) believes adult education is a path to fulfilling the dream of a better life for hundreds of thousands of Californians and their families. Last year more than a million Californians were enrolled in adult education classes. However, more than five million adult Californians still do not have a high school diploma. Assemblymember Eng has introduced AB 189 to require school districts to provide better notice to the public when adult education programs are in danger of being eliminated. Assemblymember Eng and actor/activist George Takei have teamed up to bring this message to you. View their message in this Assembly Access video.

(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) was joined recently by Assemblymember Alyson Huber (D-El Dorado Hills) and State Controller John Chiang for a Financial Literacy Fair at the State Capitol. The event brought together credit counselors, banks, financial service providers, and education, consumer protection and community-based organizations to tackle the challenge of enhancing financial skills for California families. “A well-informed and financially literate consumer can save thousands of dollars, avoid abnormal fees and charges and build up savings for retirement,” said Assemblymember Eng. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), Chair of the Assembly Committee for Banking and Finance, recently chaired a special joint committee hearing, with Assemblymember Norma Torres (D-Pomona), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development, to review the four federally funded foreclosure abatement programs collectively called Keep Your Home California. Assemblymembers Eng and Torres, along with CalHFA officials, had announced last month the full implementation of the programs to fight the ongoing foreclosure crisis in California. Here’s more from Assembly member Eng in this Assembly Access video. (For a full description of the programs visit www.KeepYourHomeCalifornia.org)

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), other legislators, safe water advocates, faith-based community members, concerned residents, and a UN expert held a press conference at the State Capitol to announce a package of bills to ensure all Californians have access to safe and clean drinking water. The six-bill package is an unprecedented legislative collaboration that includes Assemblymember Eng’s AB 685, which would make the human right to water a policy of the state.  “In far too many communities, the sole water supply is contaminated and families unable to afford treatment are left entirely without safe water,” said Assemblymember Mike Eng. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), Chair of the Assembly Committee for Banking and Finance and Assemblymember Norma Torres (D-Pomona), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development, and CalHFA have announced the full implementation of four programs to fight the ongoing foreclosure crisis in California, with the primary goal to help families remain in their homes. “We all need to work together to address this very, very serious problem,” said Assemblymember Eng. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

(Sacramento) - In his annual State of the State address to a joint session of the State Legislature California Governor Jerry Brown presented lawmakers with details of the state's economic troubles and what needs to be done to move California forward. Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), a veteran of four years in the legislature, says it's the first time a Governor has proposed a budget plan that's honest, realistic and heartfelt. Here's more from Assemblymember Eng in this Assembly Access video.

Assemblymember Eng discusses why protecting the environment is important at an Earth Day town hall organized by the Monterey Park Environmental Commission. Assemblymember Eng’s speech stresses the need for residents to be more aware of the environment and how to best protect their quality of life and still preserve the environment for future generations. His remarks address pending environmental legislation, water policy, and the role the Monterey Park Environmental Commission plays in protecting the city's environment.

Assemblymember Eng releases a synopsis of the legislative town hall and call to action on "The State of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Mental Health in California" which was held on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, at the University of Southern California (USC) Aresty Auditorium. The report contains written testimony from speakers, resources and a reference tool for those who are interested in learning more about the mental health needs of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

The legislative town hall audience convened on the USC campus to hear testimony from a variety of mental healthcare experts, primary care physicians and service providers, patients, healthcare and educational researchers, and community advocates, in an effort to better understand and address the me

Click here to read the report (PDF, 7.94 MB)

Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 Project upcoming scoping meetings.

Assemblymember Mike Eng addressed attendees at the vigil for Augustin “Bobby” Salcedo. A rising star in the San Gabriel Valley community, Mr. Salcedo was a teacher, football and track coach, and served the students and faculty as assistant principal for El Monte High School. Mr. Salcedo was tragically murdered while on vacation with his family in Mexico on New Year’s Eve.

December 17 is officially the Day of Inclusion in California, recognizing the repeal of the 19th-century Chinese Exclusion Act. For decades, that law made it difficult for Chinese and Chinese-descended people to live and work in California. Although the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed a long time ago - in 1943 - the Day of Inclusion is new as a result of ACR 76, authored by Assemblymember Mike Eng.

The Assemblymember talks with Capitol Public Radio's "Insight" host, Jeffery Callison, on why this day is important to California’s history and future.

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For more information about Day of Inclusion, please visit www.Dec17.org

(Los Angeles) – Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Transportation, convened the first of two informational hearings on "The Future of California Transit" this morning (12/04/2009) at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) building.  The primary purpose of the informational hearing was to explore the current status of transit operations in California and to ascertain how that status will impact regional transportation planning agencies as they proceed to implement SB 375.

Part 1 (41:36) | Part 2 (32:01) | Part 3 (30:08) | Part 4 (34:21) | Part 5 (25:06)

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Mike Eng, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Transportation, convened the last in a series of informational committee hearings on “The Future of Transit in California” on Tuesday, December 8, 2009, at the Sacramento Regional Transit Administrative building. The primary purpose of the informational hearing is to explore the current status of transportation in Northern California and to ascertain how that status will impact regional transportation planning agencies as they proceed to implement Senate Bill 375.

Part 1 (27:38) | Part 2 (30:25) | Part 3 (22:05) | Part 4 (22:39)

Assemblymember Mike Eng is praising mental health research that shows the distinctions between various groups of people lumped under the Asian/Pacific Islander moniker. During a legislative town hall on the University of Southern California campus Assemblymember Eng said the information provides insights into the mental health needs of Native Hawaiians, Samoans, Tongons and Fijians. “Asian Pacific Islanders come from over forty ethnic groups and each group has its own specific characteristics, especially when it comes to health issues,” Assemblymember Eng stated. “Traditional research has often lumped all of these groups together into one ethnic category that some times appears to be free of serious problems. But as this town hall has demonstrated, there is a need to conduct further studies on each separate community so that we can more effectively use our resources for prevention and treatment.” Learn more in this Assembly Access video.

Steven Shadley of Capitol Public Radio talks with Assemblymember Mike Eng about the issue of setting speed limits, how speed limits are set, and the importance of uniformity throughout the state.

Click here to listen (mp3)

(Sacramento) The flu season is here and California State Assemblymember Mike Eng (D- Monterey Park) is asking everyone to help in the fight to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. Watch this public service announcement from Assembly Access videos to learn more about how you can be part of the effort to control the H1N1 flu.