Legislative Wrap-Up: Guns, Grants, Preschools

From grants to guns, here's some of what representatives in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., were doing this week.

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa) is co-hosting a round-table discussion on background checks with gun owners and law enforcement officials on Friday afternoon.

The event is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. at the Napa Police Shooting Range. Capt. Mark Kelly, the former NASA shuttle commander and husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords of Arizona, will join Thompson at the discussion.

An important note: This event is not open to the public. A recap of what was discussed will be made available by the congressman's office.

Thompson has co-authored H.R. 1565 with Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.). The legislation would expand existing background checks to cover all firearms sales, including those at gun shows, over the Internet and in classified ads.

Also on the gun issue, state Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) co-authored SJR 1, a joint legislative resolution calling on Congress and the president to support comprehensive gun violence prevention policies. The resolution was approved by both chambers of the state Legislature this week.

In addition, the Assembly Appropriations Committee approved legislation by Wolk this week that increases penalties for long-term care providers that hinder investigations by the state ombudsman's office. SB 609 now goes to the Assembly floor for a vote.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) announced this week more than $950,000 in federal grants for U. C. Berkeley. The money will be used for three research projects. The grants are part of the National Science Foundation's program to support research in science, technology and education.

The state Senate this week approved a resolution by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D-Concord) that urges California and other states to partner with the federal government to make sure every child has access to high quality preschool.

Specifically, AJR 16 urges Congress to approve President Obama's budget proposal to increase funding for preschool and early childhood education.

Bonilla also introduced legislation to protect the health and safety of children who participate in full contact martial arts events.

AB 1186 would clarify that the California State Athletic Commission is authorized to regulate all forms of full contact martial arts contests involving participants 18 years of age or younger.

In addition, Bonilla criticized the veto this week by Gov. Jerry Brown of AB 926, a bill she sponsored that would have lifted the current prohibition on compensation for women who donate eggs for medical research.

“The Governor’s veto of AB 926 is a regressive action that denies thousands of women the prospect of medical fertility breakthroughs," said Bonilla.