★ Climate Launch 🌎: Last week, we announced our new climate initiative, Climate 100! We’re calling on California’s leaders to put 100 percent of our taxpayer dollars to work in a manner that is consistent with our state’s climate goals — sign up to stay in the loop about upcoming updates and ways to get involved.

★ Op-Ed from NGP’s Executive Director: In conjunction with the Climate 100 launch, our Executive Director Arnold “Arnie” Sowell Jr. published an op-ed which outlines why this project is so urgently needed. California leaders have the chance to address the climate crisis in a significant way, but they need to act now. Read the full piece here, then share with your networks.

★ Biden Extends Student Loan Payments: We applaud the Biden Administration’s “Fresh Start” program which will ensure that student borrowers are in good standing coming out of the pandemic. However, we want the President to go further and cancel student debt before payments resume — extending the payment pause is appreciated, but it is only a band-aid on the student debt crisis.

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Take our “Equity Survey” (Pssst, it’s only one question!)

At NGP, we strive to make California more equitable by advancing policies and programs that will address systemic and institutional racism. That is why SB 17, which will establish the Office of Racial Equity, is such an important bill for ALL of us.

SURVEY

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★ Did You Know? On the last day of Women’s History Month, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis — who was serving as Acting Governor — became the first woman in California to sign a bill into law! She signed AB 2179 (Grayson) to extend eviction protections, and she also signed SB 504 (Becker) to make voting more accessible for military and overseas voters.

★ Member Spotlight: Thank you, Broadband Champions! Take a minute to tweet your thanks to Assemblymembers Chris Holden and Eduardo Garcia for sponsoring two key bills — AB 2748 and AB 2751 — to modernize and reform the state’s broadband system.

★ What’s Next: While the California Legislature was on Spring Recess, NGP prepared for the work and months ahead — the deadline for Senators and Assemblymembers to submit their budget requests and pass bills out of policy committees. A few weeks ago, we promised you our 2022 priority bill list, wait no more! Here is our 2022 Legislative package, read up on our priority bills.

NextGen Policy fights for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, and economic inequities through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement.

Thank you,

NextGen Policy