First elected in 2008 and now in his second term, State Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez represents the 80th Assembly District, comprised of eastern Riverside and Imperial counties.
As chair of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, Manuel's top priority is the state’s economic recovery, which he believes can be achieved through local economic development, supporting small business, and protecting local government. He also strongly advocates for continued investments in education, while ensuring a safety net for our most vulnerable communities.
Manuel is also a member of the Assembly Committees on Aging and Long-term Care; Government Organization; Health; and Veterans Affairs. He is also the chair of the Select Committee on the Renewable Energy Economy in Rural California. Click here to learn more about his committee assignments.
Included among Manuel's many legislative accomplishments are:
- the reinstatement of the Small Business Loan Guarantee program;
- securing the approval for a clean-burning, natural gas power plant that is bringing $900 million in investment, hundreds of jobs, and energy reliability to the region;
- securing $2.3 billion in clean tech economic recovery bonds to help local governments attract business and create jobs;
- expediting the state permitting process for renewable energy projects in the desert region;
- focusing state level attention on the heavily polluted New River and securing funds to draw down nearly $4 million in federal grants to begin its clean up;
- ensuring fair access to the Safe Routes to School program to help promote more walkable and pedestrian friendly communities;
- authorizing the Cal Vet home loan program to provide refinancing services to eligible veterans to help them avoid foreclosure; and
- protecting the Enterprise Zone program from elimination during recent budget negotiations.
Click here for summaries of Manuel's current and prior legislation.
Manuel lives in Coachella and is a lifelong resident of the 80th Assembly District. Born in Indio and raised in Coachella, he grew up in a close-knit family that taught him the value of hard work, determination, respect, and service to others. He attended public schools, graduated from U.C. Riverside, and earned a Master's degree in Education from Harvard University. Manuel has served as a school teacher, a youth advocate, and a community healthcare director. Before being elected to the Assembly, he served on the board of the Coachella Valley Unified School District.
