Over 70 members of California Women for Agriculture (CWA) from all over the state attended legislative and lobbying efforts in Sacramento on May 6th and 7th, 2014.
Last Monday’s meeting provided an overview of legislation currently in front of elected officials in Sacramento.
Attendees gathered talking points and discussed the merits of each bill individually including: SB 1381 (Evans), AB 2033 (Salas), SB 935 (Leno), SB 1410 (Wolk/Nielsen), AB 2362 (Dahle), AB 1961 (Eggman), AB 1871 (Dickenson), AB 2413 (Perez) as well as Williamson Act Subvention Payments and several proposed Bonds addressing water storage and conveyance in California.
With over 70 women committed to lobbying last Tuesday, CWA was able to attend 86 appointments with elected officials. Many of the appointments were secured through CWA’s Adopt-a-Legislator Program.
This program unites urban legislators with CWA Chapters to help educate them about pending legislation and other issues facing agriculture by committing to continue communication with the Adoptee throughout the year.
CWA honored two elected officials with their annual Cornucopia Award. Assemblyman Bill Quirk representing District 20 and Senator Ricardo Lara representing District 33, were honored on the floor in Senate Chambers.
Recipients of the Cornucopia award are from an urban area and have displayed a commitment to agriculture through their work as an elected official.
Assemblyman Quirk currently serves on the Agriculture Committee. As Chairman of the Latino Caucus, Senator Lara has crossed party lines to support Agriculture and unite elected officials.
CWA hosted a Legislative Reception at Downtown & Vine in Sacramento. This well attended event was open to all elected officials, their staff as well as trade organizations and state commissions.
For more information about California Women for Agriculture including membership, donations and chapter activities in your area, please call 916-441-2910 or email info@cawomen4ag.com.
California Women for Agriculture is a non-profit organization boasting 2,000 plus members across the state. CWA is the most active, all volunteer agricultural organization in the state and members are actively engaged in public relations, education and legislative advocacy on behalf of agriculture.
