Requires policy for handling technology disruptions, misconduct

Also, changes rules for officials’ remote participation in meetings and on social media, reporting of compensation for top staff

By Allen D. Payton

Just like during COVID, members of the public again have the opportunity to participate remotely in city council and other government meetings, either by phone call or online via videoconferencing. Passed in 2025 and signed into law last Oct. 3, Senate Bill 707 modernizes the Ralph M. Brown Act, California’s open meeting law, went into effect July 1, 2026, and lasts until January 1, 2030. It requires that “all open and public meetings include an opportunity for members of the public to attend via a two-way telephonic service or a two-way audiovisual platform.” In Antioch, the law applies to all public meetings “of the City Council and all eligible subsidiary bodies as directed by the City Council,” such as commissions, boards, committees and council subcommittees.

The Council previously voted to end remote participation by both officials and members of the public in February 2023.

In addition, the law requires, “an eligible legislative body, on or before July 1, 2026, to approve at a noticed public meeting in open session a policy regarding disruption of telephonic or internet services occurring during meetings subject to these provisions, as specified, and would require the eligible legislative body to comply with certain requirements relating to disruption, including for certain disruptions, recessing the open session for at least one hour and making a good faith attempt to restore the service.”

The new law also requires “that the eligible legislative body take specified actions to encourage residents to participate in public meetings.” District 3 Councilman Don Freitas suggested at the meeting on Tuesday, July 28th, that the council make an effort to inform the public of the new, remote process.

During their meeting on April 14, 2026, the Council was provided a presentation on SB707 (agenda Item 13) which included various changes to the state’s open meeting law.

Orderly Conduct – Mayor Can Cut Off Disruptive Remote Participants

The new law “Clarifies statutory authority to remove disruptive remote participants to maintain the orderly conduct of the meeting” for proper decorum. “The Chair must issue a specific warning before muting or disconnecting a disruptive user” to prevent “Zoom Bombers” as occurred during COVID with comments that included profanity and racial epithets by some who called in during public comments. The Council must also “Establish clear conduct rules (e.g., time limits, profanity) and apply them neutrally to all speakers.”

Technology Disruptions

The City Council approved Antioch’s policy regarding technology disruptions during their meeting on May 12, 2026 (See agenda Item 9). According to the staff report on the policy, it “ensures transparency, public participation, and continuity of government during technology disruptions if the City Council finds the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access.”

If a technology disruption occurs, “the meeting must remain in recess for up to one hour or until remote access is restored, whichever occurs first. If service is restored within that time, the Council will reconvene and proceed with the agenda.”

According to the April 14th presentation, technology disruptions require a:

• Mandatory Pause: If remote access service fails, the legislative body must recess to attempt to restore the connection before adjourning;
• Public Notification: Staff must immediately post real-time status updates on the meeting webpage and announce the delay on all available social channels.
• Physical Access to Meeting Room: The physical meeting room must remain open and accessible to the public during the entire recess period.
• The “Public Interest” Finding:If remote service is not restored after one hour, the Council may make a formal finding that the “public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the lack of remote access.” This finding must be adopted by a recorded roll call vote before any further business occurs.

Meetings of Other City Legislative Bodies

The presentation explains that meeting of other eligible city boards, committees, commissions and council subcommittees “include bodies that serve exclusively in advisory capacities, cannot take final action and do not have primary subject matter jurisdiction. (Example: APOC – Antioch Police Oversight Committee). These can include bodies constituted with elected officials. (Example: Cannabis Subcommittee).”

However, “the City Council must formally direct these bodies follow two-way requirements. To do so, the Council must find that circumstances justify use of two-way communication, such communication would enhance public access, and would promote attraction, retention and diversity of the bodies’ memberships. Findings would have to be made by resolution of the City Council.”

Finally, “if two-way communication is required, there must be one physical meeting location, at least one board and staff member must be present there and the present board member must appear on camera. Special standards apply if any member appears via teleconferencing.”

More Reasons & Opportunities for Officials’ Remote Participation in Meetings

SB707 also adds more reasons why public officials can participate in meetings remotely and increases from two to a maximum of five uses per year. Valid reasons labeled, “Just Cause” and “Emergency Circumstances”, now include family medical emergencies, childcare or caregiving needs, military service and contagious illness.

Members must “provide notice and public disclosure at the start of the meeting in accordance with local procedure” and

“explicitly disclose if any individuals over the age of 18 are present in the room with them, and state their relationships…during roll call.”

“The City is required to publish a member-by-member utilization report annually to ensure accountability,” the presentation added.

But a majority of the members must be present in-person to have a quorum to conduct a meeting.

Officials’ Participation on Social Media

The law also changes how public officials can engage with the public on social media. According to the April 14th presentation, officials may now engage with the public’s posts on city matters (e.g., answering questions on a resident’s post, but it includes a strict prohibition that “officials cannot respond to, like, share, or repost other council members’ content on the same topic to avoid ‘serial meetings’” of a majority of members outside the setting of a publicly noticed meeting.

Reporting of Staff Compensation Before Council Vote

Also, according to the presentation, the new law requires that the Council provide, “An oral report…in open session before taking final action on compensation” for all department heads not just for executives such as the City Manager and City Attorney. “The verbal report will include the position title, a summary of compensation elements, and any contract changes.”

Antioch Virtual Speaker Rules & Procedure

According to the Speaker Rules published in each council meeting agenda, “The public has the opportunity to address the City Council on each agenda item. No one may speak more than once on an agenda item or during ‘Public Comments’.

“To provide oral public comments during the meeting, please click the following link to register in advance to access the meeting via Zoom Webinar:

https://antiochca.zoom.us/j/85331467540?pwd=FBgvevB5PJqaMItpDMQhf9pNjqFNb0.1

Meeting ID: 853 3146 7540

Passcode: 167974

Dial-In Number: +1 (669) 444-9171

“You will be asked to enter an email address and a name. Your email address will not be disclosed to the public. After registering, you will receive an email with instructions on how to connect to the meeting. When the Mayor announces public comments, click the “raise hand” feature in Zoom.

“When calling into the meeting using the Zoom Webinar telephone number, press *9 on your telephone keypad to ‘raise your hand’. Please ensure your Zoom client is updated so staff can enable your microphone when it is your turn to speak. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak.

“When you are called to speak, please limit your comments to the time allotted. The City cannot guarantee that its network and/or the site will be uninterrupted.”

To discuss Sheriff’s Office response to ICE civil immigration enforcement activities

By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County & Jimmy Lee, PIO, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office

(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County TRUTH Act Community Forum to discuss civil immigration enforcement activities is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25, during the regular Board of Supervisors meeting.

The forum discussion will present Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office 2025 data on responses to ICE Requests for Notification for serious and/or violent offenders currently in custody, in compliance with state law. The annual forum has been held since 2017 in accordance with California’s Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds (TRUTH) Act, which requires local jurisdictions to hold a public forum and report on certain interactions with federal immigration authorities.

Jourdan and Lee were asked why they are referred to as, “civil immigration enforcement activities” when the forum will discuss “responses to ICE Requests for Notification for serious and/or violent offenders currently in custody” and shouldn’t they be considered criminal immigration enforcement activities.

Jourdan responded, “we use ‘civil immigration enforcement’ in alignment with the definition of ‘ICE access’ under section 7283(d).”

“The annual TRUTH Act forum reflects our commitment to strengthening trust through open dialogue,” said Board Chair Diane Burgis, District 3 Supervisor. “By creating a space for the public to ask questions, hear information directly from local law enforcement, and share their concerns, we ensure these conversations are grounded in transparency that keeps our community informed and engaged.”

According to the California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General, “Effective January 1, 2017, California’s Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds (TRUTH) Act ensures that local law enforcement agencies provide individuals in their custody with basic due process and information about their rights should federal immigration authorities seek to make contact with them. Specifically, the law requires:

• Before subjecting an individual in its custody to an interview by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a local law enforcement entity shall provide the individual with a written consent form, in a language that is understandable to the individual, that explains all of the following:
  • The purpose of the interview;
  • That the interview is voluntary; and
  • That he or she may decline the interview or may choose to be interviewed only with his or her attorney present.
• Upon receiving any detainer, notification, or transfer request, the local law enforcement agency shall:
  • Provide a copy of the request to the individual; and
  • Inform the individual whether the law enforcement agency intends to comply with the request.
• If a local law enforcement agency chooses to provide ICE with notification that an individual will be released from custody on a certain date, the local law enforcement agency must promptly provide the same notification in writing to the individual and to his or her attorney or other person designated by the individual being held.
• All records relating to ICE access provided by local law enforcement agencies, including all communication with ICE, are public records for purposes of the California Public Records Act, but to protect the privacy of individuals, personal identifying information may be redacted prior to public disclosure.”

Ways to Participate:

• Attend the forum in person on August 25 at 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez 
• Watch live at www.contracosta.ca.gov or on CCTV:
  • AT&T U-verse Channel 99, Comcast Channel 27, or WAVE Channel 32.
• Provide comments or questions in person, by phone, or Zoom during the meeting, or provide public comment in advance by emailing it to TRUTHAct@cob.cccounty.us or mailing it to the Clerk of the Board, 1025 Escobar St., 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553.
• The meeting will include real-time closed captioning and live translation through Wordly.

Phone and Zoom participation details will be included in the Aug. 25 agenda, posted at least 96 hours before the meeting.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

“The law requires that every school campus have at least one all-gender restroom option available to students.”

By Greg Burt, Vice President, California Family Council

SACRAMENTO, CA — California is quietly moving toward mixed-sex bathrooms in K-12 public schools, and the state’s own Department of Education is leading the way.

A new law California Family Council opposed, SB 760, now requires schools to provide at least one “all-gender” restroom option on campus.

Passed in September 2023, the bill was cosponsored by then-State Senator Steve Glazer (D-Orinda). He, then-State Senator Nancy Skinner, now-State Sen. Tim Grayson and Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Buffy Wicks, and Lori Wilson who represent Contra Costa County, voted for the bill.

The stated goal was to make transgender-identified students feel safer from bullying. But in the rush to accommodate those students’ feelings, lawmakers apparently gave little thought to a different safety question: what happens when boys are given access to girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms?

The State Is Already Building the Roadmap

The California Department of Education has an entire webpage dedicated to “All Access Restrooms,” describing it as a resource offering background information, planning and design resources, laws and regulations, and references for implementing “gender-inclusive” restrooms in K-12 schools.

The background information on that page acknowledges that “the designs of all-access restrooms have been trending in schools throughout the state, the country, and the world,” while noting there are currently no California design standards for these facilities. In other words, the trend is already underway, and the standards are still catching up.

The planning section of the CDE page is even more candid about the scope of what is being proposed. It describes “shifting from multi-user gendered restrooms and single-user all-gender restrooms to offering blocks of restroom facilities for all students;” meaning the goal is not just a single converted nurse’s bathroom tucked in a hallway. The ambition is to redesign entire blocks of school restroom facilities so that boys and girls share the same space.

What Would It Look Like?

The new all-gender bathroom designs typically eliminate urinals entirely, replacing them with individual private stalls accessible to everyone. The CDE’s resources page recommends an academic article published in the Education Sciences Journal titled “Expanding the Scope of Universal Design: Implications for Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation,” by Ellyn Couillard and Jeanne L. Higbee (2018), as a guide for implementation. That an academic paper on gender identity ideology is among the state’s recommended planning resources tells you something about the ideological framework driving these design decisions.

But keep in mind, SB 760 doesn’t require a complete redesign of a single-sex bathroom for it to become all-gender. 

You Already Saw It at the State Capitol

If you want to get a glimpse of what legislators have in mind when they convert a single sex bathroom into an all gender bathroom, take a look at one of the converted male bathrooms at the state capitol, used by legislative staffers, adult visitors, and elementary school children visiting on field trips. California Family Council recently took a video of the empty bathroom located to one side of the Capitol Dome.

“I’m pretty sure most parents would object to their young children sharing a bathroom while men are using the urinals,” Burt said. “Even without the adult issue, I’ve witnessed the chaos that occurs when young boys are pouring into the same bathrooms as the girls while visiting the Capitol. The girls are not happy about it.” (Watch video tour of Capitol bathroom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okTcKcP3ACQ) 

So, what should parents expect when multi-stall bathrooms are converted to all gender at their child’s school?

What the Law Actually Requires — And What It Doesn’t

It is important to be clear about what SB 760 does and does not mandate. The law requires that every school campus have at least one all-gender restroom option available to students. It could be single-stall or multi-stall. It must be supplied with menstrual products starting in 3rd grade, and it must be unlocked and easily accessible. But there are no requirements that urinals be removed or that additional privacy measures be added to stalls.

Sex-separated restrooms are still permitted, and most schools will continue to have them.

Burt explained what this means in practice for families. “How each school fulfills this new requirement is entirely up to the local school board. A conservative district might simply relabel a single-occupancy nurse’s bathroom and call it done. A progressive district could use this law as a green light to convert entire multi-stall restroom facilities to mixed-sex use. Parents need to find out right now what their district is planning,” he said.

The CDE’s planning resources make clear that the broader vision goes well beyond a single-stall accommodation in the corner of the building. It points toward a wholesale redesign of school bathroom facilities, one that treats sex-separated restrooms as a problem to be solved rather than a common-sense protection for children.

The Question Nobody in Sacramento Answered

SB 760’s supporters argued the law was needed to protect transgender-identified students from harassment, but the legislature never seriously asked the parallel question: does giving boys access to girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms create new opportunities for harassment and assault of girls?

California has seen case after case in recent years where policies designed to accommodate gender identity have created unsafe situations for female students. The discomfort of girls sharing intimate spaces with biological males is not a lesser concern. Lawmakers who refused to weigh it have not protected children. They have simply chosen which children’s safety matters.

Parents: Now Is the Time to Speak Up

Because each school board will decide how to implement SB 760 on its own campuses, parents have a real opportunity to influence what happens at their child’s school, but that window will not stay open indefinitely. Decisions about restroom redesigns and facility changes get made early in the budget and planning process, often before most parents are even aware the conversation is happening.

If you want a say in how your district handles this new requirement, call your school board member and school administrators now. Ask them directly: how does our district plan to fulfill the SB 760 all-gender restroom requirement? Will existing sex-separated restrooms be preserved? Will multi-stall facilities be converted? Every parent deserves to know the answers. 

Here is one of the committee hearings from 2023, when SB 760 was discussed, and CFC provided opposition testimony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwk7J82Prn8&t=1s

About California Family Council

California Family Council works to advance God’s design for life, family, and liberty through California’s Church, Capitol, and Culture. By advocating for policies that reinforce the sanctity of life, the strength of traditional marriages, and the essential freedoms of religion, CFC is dedicated to preserving California’s moral and social foundation.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Google, FBI partnering on lawsuit against major criminal scam syndicate in China

Google endorsing Harder’s Stop SCAMS Act to create all-of-government response to organized cybercrime

By Kevin Winslow, Communications Director, Office of Congressman Josh Harder

WASHINGTON – On Monday, June 15, 2026, Rep. Josh Harder (D, CA-09) announced that his anti-scam advocacy led to a major coordinated crackdown on international scammers. Google, major tech companies, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a lawsuit today against the China-linked cybercriminal network “Outsider Enterprise” alongside Google’s endorsement of Harder’s “Stop Schemes, Cyberfraud, Abuse, Manipulation, and Swindles Act” or Stop SCAMS Act, H.R. 7215, which would establish a government-wide task force to respond to cyberscams.

Organized crime rings are overwhelming law enforcement and victims alike:

• Groups like Outsider Enterprise have created over 9,000 fake websites, 1 million fraudulent URLs, and supported over 2.5 million scam texts to Android users alone.
• Californians lost as much as $2.5 billion to online scams in 2024, in the form of robocalls, texts, fake tax collections, phony job ads, card-declined alerts, and cryptocurrency schemes targeting seniors, veterans, and working families.
• Severe scams like identity theft are growing rapidly and increasingly targeting previous victims multiple times.

“International cybercriminals are robbing our families of their hard-earned savings, and we need a permanent solution to bring them to justice,” said Rep. Harder. “My Stop SCAMS Act would bring every level of government together to aggressively crack down on scams and the organized crime rings behind them. I’m grateful to have Google’s support and look forward to partnering with law enforcement and industry partners to stop cyber scams once and for all.”

“We strongly support the Stop SCAMS Act,” said Halimah DeLaine Prado, Google General Counsel. “Shutting down scammers takes a coordinated effort, and this bill will help government agencies work better together to keep Americans safe. Thank you to Representatives Harder and Fitzpatrick for championing this vital consumer protection.”

How the Stop SCAMS Act cracks down on organized cybercrime:

• New Task Force – Directs the FBI to organize a coordinated, government-wide task force to prevent and respond to modern scams.
• Better Data – Aligns inter-agency actions, definitions, and data to improve the efficiency of scam-fighting efforts.
• Prevention – Measures the effectiveness of scam prevention efforts and improves public education campaigns. 

Harder represents California’s 9th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The new district boundaries under Prop 50 will include Antioch and other portions of Eastern Contra Costa County following the November election.

Funds new units across California

By Cameron Niven, Communications Director, Office of Congressman John Garamendi

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08) issued the following statement after the Senate passage of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which includes his HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act—a bill to significantly increase the amount of federal funding available for affordable housing across the country:

“Hardworking Californians face a severe shortage of affordable housing options, and minimum wage workers must work an average of 88 hours per week to afford a modest one-bedroom rental at fair market rates. The HOME Act will help change that,” said Representative Garamendi.

“The Senate’s affordable housing legislation includes my HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which, for the first time since 1994, will bring this crucial program into the 21st century,” Garamendi continued. “It will provide states and local governments with the funding needed to construct and rehabilitate affordable rental housing, as well as expand homeownership opportunities for working families. I’d also like to thank Senator Masto for introducing this bill in the Senate and Representative Beatty for co-leading in the House.”

On February 9th, Garamendi voted in favor of the Housing for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 6644), which passed the House with strong bipartisan support. Then, on March 12, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The bipartisan bill combines elements of both the House and Senate-passed legislation. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes 18 sections drawn from both the House and Senate bills, including Garamendi’s HOME Act.

This comprehensive housing package will take important steps to boost the nation’s housing supply, improve affordability, and increase oversight and efficiency of federal regulators and housing programs.

HOME Background

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) is the largest federal affordable housing block grant and is HUD’s flagship affordable housing production program.

Since 1990, HOME has helped state and local housing agencies support a wide variety of housing needs, from financing new construction and home repairs to funding down payment and rental assistance. It also provides additional funding to housing developments financed by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, helping the program serve more extremely low-income people, including seniors, veterans, those experiencing homelessness, and people with disabilities.

Since 1992, the HOME program in California has:

• Invested $5.27 billion into housing across the state;
• Built or preserved 121,727 homes;
• Given rental assistance to 43,840 families;
• Supported 277,318 jobs; and
• Generated $19.2 billion in local income.

The program was last re-authorized in 1994 and needs critical updates to better address today’s housing crisis. Garamendi’s HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act would reauthorize the HOME program and make several much-needed improvements. Specifically, it would:

• Authorize $5 billion in HOME funding for fiscal year 2024 and boost the funding for the program by five percent annually through 2028. Garamendi’s legislation would address chronic underfunding of the affordable housing investment program, which received only $1.5 billion in 2023;
• Improve HOME’s ability to provide downpayment assistance to homebuyers and home repair assistance to homeowners;
• Enable HOME funds to support Community Land Trusts and other shared equity homeownership programs; and
• Increase access to HOME funds for nonprofits and provide state and local governments loan guarantee options that would allow them to leverage their future HOME funds for investments today.

Representative Garamendi has spent his entire career advocating for affordable housing, robust homeowner protections, and rental assistance programs. As California’s first-ever elected Insurance Commissioner, Garamendi successfully implemented Proposition 103, which reformed the homeowner insurance industry and lowered homeownership insurance rates.

In 2023, Garamendi and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) led members of California’s congressional delegation in sending a letter to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara urging him to use his power under state law to protect homeowners in the face of an insurance crisis. During his congressional tenure, Garamendi worked with Habitat for Humanity to establish a financing mechanism that utilized existing funding to build new veteran housing units.

Garamendi originally introduced the HOME Investment Partnership Reauthorization Act in 2020 and has continued to champion the legislation in Congress. He is also a cosponsor of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which would support the financing of more affordable housing by expanding and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.

The Office of Congressman John Garamendi has also worked with local partners to increase access and support the development of affordable housing projects throughout California’s 8th Congressional District including: Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, East Bay Housing Organizations, Tiny Village Spirit, Eden Housing, Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition (MFAC), Hope Solutions, Interfaith Council of Contra Costa, Crankstart Foundation, and the California Association of Housing Authorities.

The bill is endorsed by: Hercules Vice Mayor Alexander Walker-Griffin, Hercules Council Member Dilli Bhattarai, Richmond City Council Member Cesar Zapeda, National Council of State Housing Agencies, Institute of Real Estate Management, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, National Association of Realtors, Enterprise Community Partners, National Apartment Association, National Multifamily Housing Council, National NeighborWorks Association, National Community Development Association, National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations, National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, Council of State Community Development Agencies, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Grounded Solutions Network, and Habitat for Humanity.

Garamendi represents California’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives which includes the northern and western portions of Contra Costa County and a majority of Solano County.

Budget requests for infrastructure, transportation, community development, public and environmental health and safety

$1.7 million for Antioch Police Real-Time Operations Center

$10 million for Vasco Road safety & mobility improvements

By Mairead Glowacki, Communications Director, Office of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced that he advanced over $46.7 million for 20 projects to benefit Contra Costa and Alameda Counties for consideration by the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations process. These projects would help to improve quality of life for the people of California’s 10th Congressional District by upgrading infrastructure and transportation accessibility and increasing public and environmental safety. 

“Simply put, my number one priority in Congress is to make life better for the people I represent, and the $46.7 million we are advancing will help to do just that by investing in safety and easing congestion for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians alike, housing, emergency preparedness, crime prevention, and more,” said DeSaulnier. “I am continuously grateful to our local governments and organizations for their thoughtful project submissions, and I look forward to fighting to see the projects through the legislative process to bring this important funding home.”

Infrastructure Upgrades, Transportation Accessibility and Community Development Projects:

• $5,000,000 for the County of Contra Costa to design a new roadway connection that will improve regional mobility between Contra Costa and San Joaquin Counties using a connector route that shifts interregional traffic from Byron Highway and local roads in the Town of Byron to Vasco Road, to accommodate higher traffic volumes.
• $5,000,000 for the County of Contra Costa to construct safety countermeasures along a 12.1-mile segment of Vasco Road between Marsh Creek Road and the Alameda County line in unincorporated Byron, California to decrease the number of accidents on this busy thoroughfare.
• $4,000,000 for the City of Brentwood to construct infrastructure and site improvements to prepare a site to house the Brentwood Agricultural Technology Innovation Center.
• $2,800,000 for the City of Lafayette to construct the Brown Avenue to Pleasant Hill Road segment of the Aqueduct Pathway, a fully accessible Class I separated bicycle and pedestrian facility located within the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) aqueduct corridor in downtown Lafayette, California.
• $2,000,000 for East Bay Regional Park District to construct a dedicated bus staging and drop-off area designed to accommodate regional transit agencies and other visitors, and remove aging rail infrastructure to replace it with accessible, multi-use pathways as part of the second phase of a project to allow for the Thurgood Marshall Regional Park to be opened up to the public.
• $2,000,000 for the City of Lafayette to construct a 48-unit development of supportive and affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• $2,000,000 for the City of San Ramon to continue buildout and close gaps in the citywide fiber optic network supporting transportation operations, public safety, and future smart city technologies.
• $1,750,000 to the City of Walnut Creek to install a new traffic signal at the intersection between Treat Boulevard and Arkell Road in Walnut Creek, California, which is currently controlled by stop signs.
• $1,500,000 for the County of Contra Costa to construct separated wheeled (bicycle, e-bike, and scooter) and pedestrian pathways in the Iron Horse Corridor from Bollinger Canyon Road to Crow Canyon Road in the City of San Ramon to separate wheeled and pedestrian modes and improve user safety.
• $1,300,000 for the County of Contra Costa to construct a new youth center in Brentwood, California that will provide academic counseling and employment training in the culinary field.
• $1,296,000 for the City of Orinda to complete pavement rehabilitation work and widening on the Camino Pablo Pathway in Orinda, California to expand and maintain aging infrastructure that currently sees heavy pedestrian use.

Public and Environmental Health and Safety:

• $5,000,000 for the City of Concord to make improvements to the City of Concord’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to ensure that it can continue to function as a critical hub for regional preparedness, response, and recovery efforts during emergencies and disasters.
• $3,150,000 for Central Contra Costa Sanitary District to add Densified Activated Sludge (DAS) technology to Central San’s existing large-scale Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) demonstration site and share results with wastewater agencies across the region. DAS and MABR are complementary, cutting-edge technologies that could enhance nitrogen removal and environmental protection while leveraging existing treatment facilities.
• $2,000,000 for the City of San Ramon to replace the Police Department’s aging Records Management System (RMS), associated software, and supporting equipment. The project will modernize the City’s public safety technology infrastructure by implementing a next-generation RMS, preserving and migrating existing police records, and integrating with electronic files. The project may also incorporate a unified interface that allows officers and investigators to securely access data from multiple regional law enforcement systems within a single platform, improving efficiency, and reducing the need to switch between separate applications.
• $1,800,000 for the County of Contra Costa to build two mobile communications sites to enhance the resiliency of first responder radio communications in the event of a natural disaster or other widespread threat.
• $1,684,990 for the City of Antioch to establish a Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC) to serve as the Antioch Police Department’s central hub for intelligence and information-sharing, integrating existing technologies—including gunshot detection, public safety cameras and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)—into a unified, citywide system that enhances crime monitoring, investigative efficiency and officer response.
• $1,650,000 for the County of Contra Costa to expand Contra Costa County’s ability to prioritize and investigate unsolved nonfatal and fatal violent crime, prevent future crimes, and enhance victim/witness safety through coordinated, data driven investigations, focused prosecution, and survivor support services.
• $1,000,000 for the City of Orinda to maintain and improve the North Orinda Shaded Fuel Break to reduce the probability of catastrophic fire spread while improving firefighter access and operational effectiveness, specifically by maintaining previously treated areas, conducting hazard tree identification and abatement, and expanding interagency coordination.
• $936,930 for the Town of Moraga to replace and upgrade existing police radios, a combined total of 65 handheld portable radios and 44 vehicle mounted mobile radios, used by the Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda police departments.
• $923,000 for Mt. View Sanitary District to initiate pump station and collection systems upgrades by studying the root causes of system stress and the most efficient and effective repair methods.

“We are grateful to Congressman DeSaulnier for advancing Antioch’s Real-Time Operations Center project for federal consideration. This investment reflects the kind of forward-looking public safety infrastructure cities need to serve growing communities, improve coordination across government functions, and deliver smarter, more effective services to the public,” said Bessie Marie Scott, Antioch City Manager.

“For over 135 years the Iron Horse Trail has connected communities in Contra Costa, with the railroad running from 1891-1978, followed by its use as the much-beloved pedestrian and bicycle trail we enjoy today. This $1.5 million investment in the Iron Horse Trail Double Tracking Pilot is about improving safety and enhancing its use as an active transportation corridor. Creating trail separation allows pedestrians to enjoy their walks on the trail without safety concerns related to faster moving bikes. Bicyclists will be able to use their separated bikeway to get to and from work, school, and transit centers more efficiently,” said Candace Andersen, Contra Costa County Supervisor (District II).

“We are deeply grateful to Mark DeSaulnier for selecting the Downtown Aqueduct Pathway Project for Community Project Funding consideration. The Congressman’s support is instrumental in helping Lafayette advance a transformative project that will create a safe, continuous, and car-free route between neighborhoods, downtown destinations, and regional transit,” said Carl Anduri, Mayor of Lafayette.

“We are deeply grateful to have the Congressman’s support of these projects, which reflect San Ramon’s commitment to modernizing critical infrastructure, enhancing public safety, and investing in technology that improves the daily lives of our residents,” said Mark Armstrong, Mayor of San Ramon. “We value the Congressman’s continued partnership and advocacy on behalf of the San Ramon community and appreciate the opportunity to advance to Committee review of these transformative investments that will strengthen mobility, resilience, and public safety citywide.”

“Thank you to Congressman DeSaulnier for championing innovative solutions to one of the Bay Area’s most critical regulatory challenges: reducing nitrogen discharges to the Bay while keeping costs manageable for wastewater customers. The MABR and DAS Bay Area Regional Demonstration Site will advance technologies aimed at better protecting our beautiful Bay, while potentially saving billions of dollars across our region and beyond. We’re grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s vision, leadership, and commitment to clean water infrastructure that benefits our communities and the environment both now and, in the future,” said Roger Bailey, General Manager of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District.

“Thank you to Congressman DeSaulnier for his leadership and support in strengthening community safety and supporting survivors of violence. The Contra Costa Unsolved Violent Crime & Victim Safety Initiative expands the county’s ability to prioritize and investigate unsolved shootings and increase clearance rates – which is the percentage of crimes that result in an arrest or other official resolution. Moreover, the initiative pairs data-driven investigations with survivor-centered services to keep victims and witnesses safe, rebuild community trust, and make sure families affected by violence received the justice and attention they deserve,” said Diana Becton, Contra Costa County District Attorney.

“We appreciate Congressman DeSaulnier for championing investments that expand opportunities for young people in East County. The Brentwood Youth Center Project will create a new 15,000 square foot facility offering culinary training in healthcare, culinary arts and skilled trades, academic support, and mental health counseling spaces—providing local youth with safe, modern, and accessible resources right in their community. This project strengthens workforce development into career pathways, supports whole person development, and ensures Brentwood’s young residents have the tools they need to thrive,” said Tamia Brown, Executive Director, Contra Costa County Workforce Development Board.

“On behalf of Contra Costa County, I want to thank Congressman DeSaulnier for his steadfast support of Contra Costa County projects that will provide wide-benefits to the community—from transportation safety improvements on Vasco Road and the Byron Highway, to critical investments in youth development, public safety communications, and solutions that strengthen justice for victims and families. His continued partnership ensures we can deliver safer roads, stronger emergency response, expanded youth opportunities, and improved community safety for residents across all of Contra Costa and beyond. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and his commitment to bringing meaningful federal resources home to Contra Costa,” said Diane Burgis, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.

“We are grateful to Representative DeSaulnier and his team for their support of this critical wastewater infrastructure work,” said Lilia Corona, Mt. View Sanitary District General Manager. “The Next-Generation Pump Station and Collection System Projects will bolster the process of replacing equipment at the end of its service life. We’re excited by this major step forward for sanitary operations in Contra Costa County, which will allow Mt. View Sanitary District to continue delivering exceptional service quality to our customers.”

“We are grateful to Congressman DeSaulnier for supporting these important infrastructure and wildfire mitigation projects. The Camino Pablo Pathway will enhance pedestrian mobility and connect key parts of our community, while the North Orinda Shaded Fuel Break will significantly reduce wildfire risk and strengthen emergency response capabilities across the broader Lamorinda region. These projects represent critical investments in Orinda’s safety, sustainability, and quality of life,” said Brandyn Iverson, Mayor of Orinda.

“We are grateful for the support of Congressman DeSaulnier in advancing the Lamorinda Public Safety Radio Replacement project for funding.  Through replacing and upgrading the radios used by the Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda Police Departments, this project will enhance public safety throughout the region and ensure that law enforcement officers are equipped to address emergency situations, evacuations, and other critical incidents. Congressman DeSaulnier’s efforts are helping to keep our communities and law enforcement officers safe with this critical investment in public safety communications equipment,” said Jon King, Chief of Police for the Moraga Police Department.

“Thank you to Congressman DeSaulnier for supporting our community’s continued efforts to make Vasco Road safer for all who rely on it. The Vasco Road Safety Improvements – Phase 3 Project delivers targeted, community‑supported safety upgrades along the corridor, including proven Federal Highway Administration countermeasures designed to reduce collisions and improve visibility. These improvements will help protect commuters and enhance regional mobility along this critical East County route,” said Warren Lai, Director of Public Works, Contra Costa County.

“We are grateful to Congressman DeSaulnier for his continued leadership and support of vital East County transportation investments,” Lai continued. “The Vasco Road–Byron Highway Connector Project will reduce cut-through traffic in Byron, improve regional mobility between Contra Costa and San Joaquin counties, and enhance safety by providing a more efficient route for commuters and goods movement. This project represents an important step toward long term connectivity and economic opportunity for the region.”

“Brentwood has a robust agricultural history, and a long-standing legacy of providing fresh produce and products from our locally-owned farms to tables across America. This funding investment represents the next chapter in this story and the future of farming. The Agricultural Technology Innovation Center will bring together agriculture, education, and technology to create jobs, support workforce development, and strengthen our nation’s food systems. Federal investment in critical infrastructure is the key to unlocking this opportunity, and we are grateful for Congressman DeSaulnier’s leadership and vision in advancing a project that delivers both regional and national impact,” said Susannah Meyer, Mayor of Brentwood.

“We are grateful to Congressman DeSaulnier for his strong support of Concord’s Emergency Operations Center upgrades. This investment strengthens our ability to protect residents, coordinate a regional response, and ensure our community is prepared when it matters most,” said Laura Nakamura, Mayor of Concord.

“Thank you to Congressman DeSaulnier for his commitment to strengthening public safety and emergency response across the East Bay. The East Bay Regional Communications System – Mobile Communications Sites on Wheels Project will provide deployable, towable mobile towers that ensure backup radio coverage during disasters, domestic terrorism, or large-scale incidents—significantly enhancing the resiliency, reliability, and interoperability of communications for first responders in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. This investment ensures that when emergencies strike, our communities and safety personnel can rely on a stable, redundant system that keeps critical communications operational when they’re needed most,” said David Swing, Executive Director of the East Bay Regional Communications Authority.

“The City of Walnut Creek greatly appreciates Congressman DeSaulnier’s leadership and continued support in advancing safety for our residents. This critical infrastructure project for a new traffic signal will improve the efficiency of regional traffic, emergency vehicle response times, and safety for all modes of transportation,” said Kevin Wilk, Mayor of Walnut Creek.

Selection and submission of projects to the Appropriations Committee is the first stage of the process for Community Project Funding. Each project submitted must meet the criteria set forth by the Committee, which can be found here, and must then be passed in the Committee and by both the House and Senate before it becomes law. The projects are subject to a strict transparency and accountability process, which is detailed here by the Appropriations Committee. Examples of this vetting include certifying that Members have no financial interest in these projects, an audit of a sampling of these projects by the Government Accountability Office, and a requirement for demonstrated community support and engagement for each submission. More information on each project and the certifications of no financial interest can be found here.

Will instead include proposed Inclusionary Housing Ordinance in General Plan Update process; could come back in “a year or so”

“We need to take a comprehensive view of how all these things are going to impact our community and to do this piecemeal is wrong.” – Mayor Pro Tem Freitas

“Antioch…is still the most affordable place in the East Bay and if we don’t keep it affordable then it won’t be.” – Councilwoman Torres-Walker

By Allen D. Payton

During their meeting Tuesday night, March 10, 2026, the Antioch City Council voted 4-1, with District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker voting against, to postpone a decision on the proposed Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO) and include it in the General Plan Update process. Since, according to City staff, that process will take one to three years, it could allow enough time for the remaining proposed, new-home subdivisions in the Sand Creek Focus Area to be approved. That’s the part of Antioch where upscale homes have been planned for more than 30 years to meet the higher-end portion of the city’s housing mix.

It’s also the part of Antioch that Mayor Pro Tem and District 3 Councilman Don Freitas said he wants excluded from the ordinance.

The expectations have been the Sand Creek area homes will attract business owners to Antioch to create local jobs and employ residents in the 200-acre East Lone Tree Specific Plan area off Laurel Road near the J.C. Penney store, and allow them to escape the commutes on Highway 4 and Vasco Road. Only four more potential developments on the west side of Deer Valley Road including the Richland Communities-Leung, Zeka Ranch and Oak Hill Park LLC/Richfield-Bridle Hills projects, and one on the east side, referred to as the Chen property, located south of the Kaiser Antioch Medical Center and west of Dozier-Libbey Medical High School, are remaining to be submitted, processed and/or approved.

In addition, two more new single-family housing projects on Somersville Road, known as Rialto Place, and on James Donlon Blvd., known as Sorrento Village, are also in process, and would probably be approved before an ordinance is adopted. That would leave mostly in-fill, single-family housing and multi-family housing projects throughout the city to which an ordinance would apply. Those include five of the 10 Commercial Infill Housing Overlay District affordable apartment projects and multiple other projects, including the currently on-hold Rancho Meadows on the north side of Antioch, that have yet to be built, as well. (See related articles here and here)

Following an hour of the staff presentation and public input, mostly by representatives of out-of-town organizations and a few residents in support, and opposition from one resident, the council then took up the matter for another hour asking questions of staff and the consultant and discussing it before the vote. (See council meeting video beginning at the 5:27:30 mark)

Council Questions, Discussion & Comments

District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha asked if the IHO would apply to developments already approved. Planning Manager Zoe Merideth responded, “This would be for new development moving forward.”

Asked by Mayor Ron Bernal about the point in time when the ordinance would be applicable to a new housing project, she responded, “It would generally be deemed complete also under SB330 if you file a complete preliminary development application, that vests your rights at the time…which are most housing projects at this point.”

Torres-Walker, referring to the comments of local homeless and affordable housing advocate Andrew Becker, was concerned “the ordinance would essentially do nothing based on the developments that are currently in the pipeline.”

“Is it a paperweight?” she asked.

“No,” was the reply from Greg Goodfellow, Associate Principal for PlaceWorks, the consulting firm that helped develop the City’s proposed IHO. “The big picture for me, here is to think of the IHO as one tool in such a large shed of tools for affordable housing.”

“I don’t do things to be symbolic. I want this to mean something,” the councilwoman said.

“My point is it’s not going to do everything,” Goodfellow responded.

Mayor Pro Tem Freitas then asked about the chart staff provided in their presentation showing that “there are only seven cities listed” that have IHO’s and that most had much lower percentages than the 15 percent recommended by staff and 20 percent requested by some members of the public and organization representatives.

“That’s not all of them. Those were just examples,” the consultant stated. “I don’t know the exact number. I’m sorry.”

Freitas then mentioned, “The City would have to hire three to six individuals to oversee this,” and the fact the City is facing deficits this and next year. “Where would we get the money?” he asked. “Would we get it out of the (IHO) Trust? The Trust can’t pay those fees?”

“No,” Goodfellow responded. “This IHO…could be taken care of with the leadership of existing staff.”

Part of the costs of the annual review for the program would be covered by developer fees Merideth explained.

A discussion over adequate staffing for all housing programs in the city ensued.

Freitas then asked about the need outlined on page 8 of the staff report for “additional building height” to accommodate density increases “required to make rental projects feasible” and “potential parking regulation exemptions.”

“What concerns me is engineering says, even if you approve this project, you are at Level F for traffic. That’s gridlock,” the councilman stated. He was referring to, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Level of service for traffic flow, which measures automobile congestion and travel time delay, on a scale of A, which is the best, to F, which is the worst.

“I’m concerned that the qualify of life in Antioch will deteriorate,” Freitas added. “The citizens of Antioch I know, they don’t want to have high-density, three- and four-story buildings. They don’t.”

“Antioch, historically, since I was born here, has always been a haven for affordable housing,” he continued. “Yes, I know it’s screwed up, now. But is it going to help us or hurt us?”

“We are now going to be doing the General Plan, number one,” Freitas stated. “Number two, we do have Senate Bill 300, Senate Bill 330 and now we have a proposal on inclusionary housing. We need to take a comprehensive view of how all these things are going to impact our community and to do this piecemeal is wrong.”

“The reality is, we do have an issue of affordability,” he said. “My feeling is, this is not the place, tonight to make that decision. Our legal requirement is to do the study. We have fulfilled that. But I believe we fold it in to the General Plan review.”

“I want staff to tell me how are we going to oversee this. How are we going to implement this. We have no plan,” Freitas continued. “It’s just a policy, let’s do it, let’s put it in. That’s irresponsible as far as I’m concerned.”

“It’s an amazing study,” he said. “I just think it would be wrong to approve this tonight.”

Freitas Says Ordinance Shouldn’t Apply to Sand Creek Area Developments

“The other problem to me is….quote, unquote, it is citywide,” Freitas said about another of his concerns with the ordinance. “I spent three years of my life doing the last General Plan (which was adopted in 2003 when he previously served as mayor)…and we consciously made a decision that there are parts of our community we don’t want high rises, we don’t want high-density. We want executive housing primarily in the area which was Urban Area number one, the Sand Creek Area. I don’t think this should be applied citywide.”

“We need to make some qualitative judgments and some areas I don’t think it should apply,” he reiterated. “Because I think cities want the whole gamut…from executive housing to absolutely affordable housing.”

“I guess I’m frustrated with this. I think it’s the wrong approach. I think we need to delay this,” Freitas stated.  “I think we need to fold it into the General Plan and do a much better job of how we’re going to pay for this because it’s not here. Reading this report scares me more than anything with how we’re going to financially do it and the exemptions that are being called out.”

“Thank you for letting me rant and rave,” he concluded to laughter from Torres-Walker and others. “I’m OK. I feel good,” he said with a smile on his face.

Torres-Walker States Her Support

The District 1 councilwoman then said, “I support this. I always have. Antioch…is still the most affordable place in the East Bay and if we don’t keep it affordable then it won’t be. I know there is definitely NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) that exists in the city. I know there are places people do not want this kind of housing and we have to figure things out. I think this is important.”

Then speaking of the staffing issue to support the proposed IHO and City’s other housing programs Torres-Walker concluded, “I don’t think residents who are trying to afford to live in Antioch should have to suffer because we haven’t figured out our institutional challenges.”

Wilson Supports Inclusionary Housing “Whenever” Council Votes

District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson spoke next saying about Torres-Walker’s comments, “a lot of it I agree with.” Then to Freitas she said, “I get your frustration…but on the other hand we need affordable housing. I hear about people who are either couch surfing, living in their homes, living on the street and they have a job. We need to do something. I get we need to have a plan with programs that are going to work, be successful and be maintainable. We need to do something for housing to be affordable.”

“I support this. Regardless, if we vote on it today or whenever, I’m in support of inclusionary housing,” Wilson concluded.

Rocha Supports “the Concept” But Approving it Now Would be “Winging It”

Rocha spoke next saying, “I support the concept all along. But I have more questions and concerns about…how we do it right, how we structure it.”

“So, if we’re going to vote tonight, my answer would be ‘no’,” he stated. “If we’re going to have staff look at it, get some feedback to look at how we can make it feasible, workable for us, with staffing, with all of the questions that have come up, then I can consider that.”

“Looking at this, tonight, I can’t support this vote, tonight based on so many questions and concerns,” Rocha continued. “Otherwise, I think we’re just winging it.”

Freitas then said, “I’m generally supportive, but, you know, we have to do it right. We all support affordability. In my opinion, this is too critical to screw up.”

Staff Says General Plan Update Will Take “Two to Three Years”

Torres-Walker then asked staff, “How long is it going to take to finish the General Plan?”

Interim Community Development and Economic Development Director David Storer responded, “We’re saying anywhere from two to three years depending on the process.”

Bernal Also Supports Including IHO with General Plan Process

Mayor Bernal then weighed in saying, “My biggest concern with this…is the fact that we’ve been thrown for a loop when it comes to the housing legislation that has come out of Sacramento. We’ve only had two projects approved, we have eight or 10 in the pipeline. We have three-story units going up right in the back of residential on Golf Course Road which is going to be a nightmare firestorm.” He was referring to the Joyfield at Lakeview Center Apartments for extremely-low, very-low and low-income residents.

“So, we don’t even know the impacts of current legislation on our city let alone adding one more moving part to it that’s just going to complicate things,” the mayor continued. “The other part of this, and I keep harping on it, is we need to get our budget under control…in order to know where we’re headed as a city, how we’re going to afford to pay for things like extra staffing.”

“The other thing that has always frustrated me is RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Allocation) numbers are just dumped on us,” Bernal stated. “We’re going after these arbitrary numbers that a group in the larger Bay Area (speaking of MTC & ABAG) has come up with and I don’t know if that’s what’s best for our community.”

“I know it’s what we’re mandated to do but I don’t know if that’s best for our community. That’s where the General Plan comes in and I think that folding this in with the General Plan process…,” concurring with Freitas. “Because what the General Plan process is going to do is tell us how many units we have left in our 25-year building sphere that we’re going to be building, that then we would know how many units we’re going to get out of this. Right now, there isn’t any certainty of that.”

“My point is I think there are a lot more questions than there are answers,” he continued. “I think there are a lot of moving parts, right now, when it comes to Sacramento, development and how it’s going to impact Antioch with so much vacant land and so much residential opportunity, and I just think this would add one more element of complication to it.”

“So, I’m not going to be supportive of moving it to a date certain…because I don’t see the benefit or the purpose of it,” Bernal concluded.

Housing in Land Use Element of General Plan Update Could Be Done in “a Year or So”

Freitas then confirmed with Storer, that the first of seven issues to be dealt with during the General Plan Update is the Land Use Element, which includes housing policy, and said, “Some of the questions we’re all asking…I think we could move that forward…we could bring back the IHO within a year or so for action.”

Bernal then advocated to “bring it back organically when it’s time.”

Freitas then asked City Manager Bessie Scott, “Does the city manager want to offer any words of wisdom?” to which she simply replied, “Um, no,” to laughter from the council members and those still in the audience as it was after 11:50 p.m.

“That’s called a wise city manager,” Bernal stated in jest.

Freitas then made the motion to move the item off-calendar, “with the understanding that the General Plan will prioritize this entire discussion.” Rocha seconded the motion and it passed 4-1 with Torres-Walker voting “no”.

One in five emergency calls are for overdoses, exposing first responders to contamination and infection

New law spearheads nationwide effort to stop overdose deaths and crack down on trafficking

By Julie S. Kramer, Press Secretary, Office of Congressman Josh Harder

WASHINGTON – On Dec. 11, 2025, Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA-09) announced that his bipartisan bill to protect law enforcement from fentanyl exposure has been signed into law, unlocking $57 million every year through 2030 for overdose training for local law enforcement. Led with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), the Safer Response Act was included in a broader package of substance use prevention and recovery legislation that passed the Senate in September, alongside the rollout of a brand-new nationwide initiative to combat the fentanyl crisis.

Fentanyl in our community puts everyone at risk:

• Despite declines, fentanyl overdoses continue to be the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45, killing nearly 50,000 people last year alone.
• This creates an escalating crisis for first responders, with up to one-in-five emergency medical service calls involving overdose response.
• First responders are at risk of accidental exposure, contamination, and infection when responding to overdose emergencies.

“Our brave first responders never hesitate to answer the call and step in to save lives every single day, and they shouldn’t have to worry about self-exposure while they’re working to reverse life-threatening fentanyl overdoses,” said Harder. “This bill is going to bring millions for better training and modern resources to Valley departments, which will mean fewer lives lost to the deadly fentanyl epidemic. I’m grateful that lawmakers from across the aisle joined together to send this to the President’s desk, and I’m committed to ensuring our community continues to benefit from common-sense laws like this.” 

How the Safer Response Act supports law enforcement:

• New technical assistance for local first responders to address overdoses.
• Additional training on how first responders and emergency medical services can protect themselves in the event of exposure.
• Outreach coordination teams to bridge gaps between public and private medical and emergency response partnerships.

Harder has made cracking down on the growing fentanyl crisis a top priority – he helped pass a bipartisan bill to put more fentanyl traffickers behind bars, and he is leading new legislation to close drug manufacturing loopholes that traffickers use to escape justice. Earlier this year, Harder met with more than 200 narcotics officers representing state associations across the country, including in California, as part of the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition’s (NNOAC) 2025 Delegate Conference. 

Congressman Harder represents the 9th Congressional District of California. Following the passage of Prop. 50 last November, the new district boundaries will include Pittsburg, Antioch and portions of Oakley and other areas in Eastern Contra Costa County. Harder is expected to run for re-election in the new district.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.