Sacramento, CA — TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, today named Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin as California Legislators of the Year.

“We are honored to recognize and award Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin as TechNet’s Legislators of the Year for 2016,” said Andrea Deveau, TechNet’s Vice President of State Policy and Politics.  “These legislators are true champions of technology, and we thank them for their leadership and ongoing support of the innovation economy.”

Senator Ben Allen has a deep understanding of the issues facing the innovation economy and has championed meaningful legislation of relevance to the technology industry.  As Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Allen continues to fight for California’s youth by helping provide access to 21st-century skills education and training, including increased focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.  Senator Allen has supported historic climate change legislation, and he continues to fight for increased access to the arts in schools, especially in disadvantaged communities.