Legislative Leaders Announce Joint Budget Agreement and Assembly Member Santiago Responds

(Sacramento, CA) – Following the legislative joint budget agreement that will deliver prosperity and strengthen the future by putting California’s $97.5 billion surplus to work, Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) released the following statement:

“Californians are already struggling to pay for necessities such as groceries, gas and rent and as the cost of living continues to skyrocket, we need direct financial relief immediately,” said Assembly Member Miguel Santiago.

“We cannot leave behind those who need it the most, including people who do not own cars and use public transit. The joint budget agreement provides $10 million in financial relief to millions of people by giving $200 to single filers who make up to $125,000 and an additional $200 per child. This budget plan also expands access to higher education by allotting millions of dollars for free community college. The budget expands the college promise program to allow returning students to get two years of free community college.”

This year, Assembly Member Santiago and Assembly Member McCarty introduced AB 2266 to expand the California College Promise program by removing the first-time requirement and allow all full-time students to receive two tuition-free years at any CCC. Giving free community college for all will encourage more students to enroll in CCCs, help more students graduate with less debt, and will grow the number of degree and certificated workers needed to compete in the global economy.

Assembly Member Miguel Santiago is the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization and Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Los Angeles County Homelessness. He also sits on the Assembly Committees on Public Safety, Health, Higher Education and Utilities and Energy. He represents the 53rd District composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Huntington Park, and Vernon.