Press Releases

Sacramento, CA – A plan to ban dangerous chemicals took a step forward today in the California Senate.  

Senate Bill 1044 by Senator Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, would ban the manufacture, sale and use of firefighting foam that contains chemicals known as per-and poly-fluoralkyl substances, or PFAS, except for where it is federally required. Used in commercial and industrial products like carpet, clothing and non-stick coatings since the 1950s, PFAS resist heat, stains and water. PFAS is used in firefighting foam and commercial products and is linked to health problems such as cancer, hormone disruption, kidney and liver damage, thyroid disease, birth defects, harm to developing infants and children, and drinking water contamination.

Sacramento, CA -- Today, Senator Ben Allen (D - Santa Monica), Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, released the following statement:

"Like many Jewish organizations, the California Legislative Jewish Caucus has supported ethnic studies. While our Caucus and the Jewish Community had serious concerns about certain aspects of the draft model curriculum, we are hopeful that further discussions and modifications will result in a curriculum that everyone can feel good about."

Sacramento, CA – The work of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy preserving open space in the Santa Monica Mountains would be made easier with a bill that just passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

The legislation, proposed by Senator Ben Allen, would save the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) time and resources by cutting red tape and allowing for more direct coordination between Conservancy staff and property owners during land encroachment negotiations.  

Sacramento, CA – Following hours long waits and a slew of complaints from frustrated Los Angeles County voters on Super Tuesday, planned legislation was announced requiring L.A. County to provide voters with more access by increasing the number of vote centers on election day or by providing vote-by-mail ballots for the Fall 2020 election.

Sacramento, CA – Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), Chair of the California State Senate's Committee on Environmental Quality, released the following statement today:

Sacramento, CA – The 2019 Session adjourned on Friday, September 13th after months of intense deliberation and decision-making. This year, Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) championed issues of election integrity, consumer safety, student debt, religious discrimination, and barriers to affordable housing, among many others. In total, nine of the Senator’s bills were approved by the Legislature, and Governor Newsom has already signed two of them into law. Following passage in the Legislature, the Governor has 30 days to determine the fate of a bill.

Sacramento, CA – Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) released the following statement regarding the State Assembly’s inaction on his legislation, SB 54, during the 2019 session:

"I am disappointed that the State Assembly failed to take up a vote on SB 54 before adjourning for the year last Friday. This important measure would have established a first-of-its-kind framework to drastically reduce single-use plastic and packaging waste by 2030.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) has named The Albright as Small Business of the Year for Senate District 26. The Albright, which was chosen for its commitment to sustainability and dedication to the Santa Monica community, received the award at a Sacramento luncheon sponsored by the California Small Business Association on Wednesday, June 19  (see photo below).