Legislative Wrap-Up: Skinner Named Budget Chair, Lee Announces Housing Grant

Here's some of what East Bay elected representatives in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento were doing this past week.

Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) was named as chair of the Assembly Budget Committee.

Among other duties, Skinner will now oversee the annual budget process that determines state government expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year.

In a press release, Skinner said: "I look forward to taking on this new and challenging role. Filling the shoes of Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield, whose leadership and vision has helped California pass a balanced on-time budget for a third year in a row, is an honor. As budget chair, I look forward to putting education first, delivering essential services and strengthening California’s economic prosperity.”

Skinner will give up her chair of the Assembly Rules Committee. She'll continue to serve on the other committees she now sits on.

In Washington D.C., Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) announced $814,000 in federal HUD grants to the NID Housing Counseling Agency. The money will be used to help families and individuals with housing needs and prevent future home foreclosures.

This was part of $40 million in grants given to 334 organizations across the country.

The East Bay congresswoman also applauded the defeat in the House of the Republican-sponsored Farm Bill. Lee had criticized the measure because it contained $20 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“Now, it’s time to go back to the drawing board and get a Farm Bill that is fair, doesn’t undermine the dignity of our nation’s vulnerable, and protects our nation’s social safety net," Lee said.