Maxine Waters RSS Articles

In Memory of Tommy Jacquette

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) gave the following statement on the House floor today in memory of Tommy Jacquette:

"Mister Speaker:

I rise in memory of Tommy Jacquette, my dear friend of over 40 years, who passed away this week. I know that the community of Watts and the greater Los Angeles area are grieving with me, because we’ve all lost a truly unique, larger-than-life friend and activist who had his finger on the pulse of the community.

Born in South Central Los Angeles in 1943, Tommy as a young man became part of the Black Power Movement of the 1960’s and sharpened his leadership skills during his studies at Cal-Poly Pomona. He was acutely aware of the problems and issues facing the African-American community, and he wanted to make a difference.

Tommy especially loved Watts, and he dedicated his life’s work to enriching the community. He was the founder of the Watts Summer Festival at Ted Watkins Memorial Park (formerly Will Rogers Park), which became an annual tradition in the community following the 1965 insurrection, which were riots that shook the Watts community and surrounding areas.

Tommy created the Festival to honor and celebrate our roots, our talents and our culture, and it subsequently helped to spark African-American festivals across the country: today it’s known as the ‘Grandfather’ of all African American cultural events.

Even in years when he struggled to get funding for the Festival, when traditional donors such as the business community and others wouldn’t contribute, he always came through and was able to put on a Festival, using the resources he had and his amazing life skills, largely stemming from being a self-made man. Just this year, I joked with him that if he had two dimes to rub together, there would be a Watts Summer Festival.

I have no doubt, however, that in making the Festival possible each and every year for almost a half-century, Tommy knocked a few heads together. This tall, handsome and fatigue-wearing man made his presence known, often using his penchant for colorful language to drive home the point! His confrontations with City Hall, L.A. County, and other elected officials and community leaders are legendary. He spoke his mind, and was bold and uncompromising in his support of the Black community.

So when he was mad, you knew it. However when he was pleased and happy, you knew it too, because he had a smile that would light up a room and a hearty laugh that would resonate throughout an entire building.

The Watts Summer Festival is uniquely Tommy, bringing people together and focusing both on local and national talent, always with an Afro-centric theme.

Tommy was an inspiration to me and to so many other people. He was daring, fearless and bold, helping us to gain the courage to openly discuss and deal with race, discrimination and inequality in a way that few had been able to before.

I will truly miss his presence and the long conversations we would often have, which would usually start when he’d say “Hey Mac, what do you think about that?” He was an incredibly deep thinker. He was especially an inspiration to young people in the community, often speaking at high schools, colleges and universities to encourage them to succeed, to give back, and to hold their heads up high.

There will never be another Tommy Jacquette, and I know that the legacy he has left behind is enshrined not only in the Watts Summer Festival, but in the larger community. I look forward to working with his family and the Board of Directors to make sure that the Festival continues, though there will be a big hole that can never be filled.

I thank him for all that he was and all that he was not, for all the lives he reached, and for his friendship. I will miss him dearly, but am comforted because I know Tommy Jacquette’s life was one of impact, purpose, and fulfillment.

Thank you."

###

In Memory of Sgt. Eduviges 'Duvi' Preciado Wolf

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) gave the following statement on the House floor today in honor of the life of Sgt. Eduviges Preciado Wolf:

"Mister Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Sgt. Eduviges Preciado Wolf of Hawthorne, CA. Sgt. Wolf was an army sergeant assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, out of Fort Carson, Colorado. Sgt. Wolf was a hero who gave her life in service to her country.

Sgt. Wolf, also known as “Duvi,” dreamed of serving in the U.S. military as a child who emigrated to the United Stated from Mexico with her family. As soon as Duvi was able, she joined the United States military so that she could fulfill her lifelong dream to serve and protect her country. She met her husband Josh at Fort Bragg. Together they had 2 daughters: 3 year old Isabel and 1 year old Valerie. Both Duvi and Josh were deployed to Afghanistan, where they served in separate units. Tragically, Duvi recently died in an insurgent attack while in Afghanistan. She was 24 years old.

Earlier this month on Veterans Day, I had the honor and privilege of participating in events with veterans and their families in my congressional district – in Hawthorne and Inglewood, California. I was deeply moved by the families of our servicemembers. Not only do servicemembers make major sacrifices, but so do their families. They live with the harsh realities of war and its implications on them. Spouses must sacrifice long-term career planning, and children are oftentimes forced to transfer to different schools throughout the country. Tragically, as is the reality of combat theatre, some of our troops do not make it home.

Today, I salute and thank Sgt. Wolf, along with all of our nation’s past and present heroes who sacrificed a great deal in service to their country.

I expressed my condolences to Duvi’s sister Cecilia in Hawthorne on Veterans Day, and I know that her friends and family are still mourning. It is my hope that they will find comfort and peace in the loving memories and the distinguished legacy of service that Duvi leaves behind.

Thank you."

###

Congresswoman Maxine Waters Introduces Alzheimer’s Treatment and Caregiver Support Act

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) today introduced the Alzheimer’s Treatment and Caregiver Support Act (H.R. 4123), a bill to improve treatment services for Alzheimer’s patients and expand training and support services for their families and caregivers. The bill is supported by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) and the Alzheimer’s Association, and it has more than fifty original cosponsors, including Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chairs of the Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease.

“Alzheimer’s disease places tremendous burdens on families,” said Congresswoman Waters. “The Alzheimer’s Treatment and Caregiver Support Act will expand access to training and support services for caregivers and family members. As a result, it will improve the ability of caregivers to provide effective, compassionate care and allow more people with Alzheimer’s disease to remain in their homes with people who love them.”

Alzheimer’s disease currently affects an estimated 5 million Americans, and that number will multiply in the coming decades as our population ages. Most Alzheimer’s patients live at home under the care of family and friends. Caregivers include spouses, children, and even grandchildren of Alzheimer’s patients. Caregivers face a variety of challenges, from helping loved ones with bathing and dressing to managing their legal and financial affairs. Caregiving is extremely stressful; more than 40 percent of caregivers rate the emotional stress as high or very high, and about one-third of caregivers have symptoms of depression.

“This legislation recognizes that families and other caregivers taking care of loved ones with Alzheimer’s must have the dementia care training they need to manage needed care,” said Robert Egge, Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy at the Alzheimer’s Association. “The bill also provides services tailored to the unique needs of each individual with dementia, and expands community based services, especially in underserved communities, to assist families in need.”

“The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is pleased to endorse the Alzheimer’s Treatment and Caregiver Support Act,” said Eric J. Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer of AFA. “This legislation would provide much-needed grants to public and non-profit organizations to improve treatment for individuals with dementia, and expand training and support services for family caregivers. We thank Congresswoman Maxine Waters for her leadership in supporting local services for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and improving quality of life in general for families affected by this disease.”

###

Waters Amendment to H.R. 3996 on Minority Inclusion

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) delivered the following opening remarks on her amendment to create Offices of Minority Inclusion at the Federal financial services agencies under the House Financial Services Committee's jurisdiction. The amendment was offered to H.R. 3996, The Financial Stability Improvement Act of 2009:

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I am joined on this amendment by all of the Congressional Black Caucus Members who sit on this Committee. We have all joined together on this amendment because the inclusion of minorities and women within the Federal government’s financial services agencies is critical to the success of minorities, women, and minority communities.

Our amendment would establish an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion at each Federal financial services agency within the jurisdiction of this Committee, including the Treasury, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Credit Union Administration, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, and any Federal successor agencies.
Our amendment builds off of a provision that was enacted last year in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289) which established Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion at Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks.

These offices are needed simply because minorities, women, and minority- and women-owned businesses continue to face challenges in accessing employment opportunities within these agencies and participating in the contracting opportunities provided by these agencies.

For example, according to the Office of Personnel Management, in 2006 women accounted for 44.2 percent of Federal employees and minorities accounted for 28.3 percent of Federal employees. However, these levels have declined since 2000 when women made up 45 percent of Federal employees and minorities made up 30.2 percent.

In addition, women and minorities are underrepresented in government positions related to the financial services sector. According to the Office of Personnel Management, minorities comprise only 17.4 percent of Federal economists; 18.1 percent of Federal financial management positions; and 18.7 percent of financial institutions examiners. Women comprise 32.5 percent of Federal economists; 39.1 percent of Federal financial management positions; and 34 percent of financial institution examiners.

On the contracting side, despite some efforts from our financial services agencies to increase the participation of minority- and women-owned businesses, qualified minority- and women-owned businesses continue to be excluded from contracting opportunities made available by the government’s historic intervention at banks and other financial institutions. Of the 67 contracts Treasury has entered into as part of its administration of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), 9 were awarded to small, women- or minority-owned businesses. Of the 12 firms pre-qualified by the Treasury to act as fund managers for the Legacy Securities Public-Private Investment Program, only one was a minority-owned business.

Although some minority-owned firms have entered into partnerships with majority firms, those partnerships have not been meaningful and the minority firms have not benefited to the same extent as the majority firms. In addition, because our agencies like to do business with firms that they already have relationships with, minority- and women-owned businesses have had difficulties getting their foot in the door. For example, when it came to time to choose who would manage its $1.2 trillion mortgage-backed securities purchase program, the Federal Reserve used a closed RFP process and only sent the RFP to firms they knew. These types of deals that exclude the participation of minority- and women-owned businesses must stop.

This is why we are offering our amendment. Specifically, our amendment would

• Require to the maximum extent possible the inclusion of women, minorities, and minority- and women-owned businesses at all levels of business activities, including in procurement, insurance, and all types of contracts.

• Authorizes the Office to advise the head of the agency of the impacts of policies and regulations of the agency on minority- and women-owned businesses. The Office will be responsible for all matters of the agency relating to diversity in management, employment and business activities, including the coordination of technical assistance.

• Requires for contracts greater than $50,000 and the contractor employs more than 50 employees, a written assurance that the contractor shall ensure, to the maximum extent possible, the inclusion of women and minorities in its workforce, and, as applicable, by its contractors.

The inclusion of minorities and women in our financial services programs is long overdue. I urge my colleague to support this amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time."

###

Washington Post: Congressional Black Caucus celebrates Jesse Jackson's first presidential run

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

By Krissah Thompson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 2:18 PM

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus paid tribute to the 25th anniversary of the Rev. Jesse Jackson's first run for president Wednesday morning on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

In successive one-minute speeches, caucus members praised Jackson as a trailblazer whose presidential runs in 1984 and 1988 were important steps toward President Obama's election last year.

The decision to honor Jackson comes at a time when the meaning of black political power is being debated and redefined. The CBC's recognition of his career, which will continue at a "Discussion on Race" event Wednesday night, is a nod to the history he represents and their belief that issues of race are still central for black politicians.

Wednesday, Jackson looked on with pride as his son Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) presided over the first hour of House business and CBC members stepped to the microphone.

"We really benefited from his unbelievable work," said caucus chairman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who was twice a Jackson delegate at Democratic Party conventions. "He paved the way for many of us to run for Congress and other elected offices. He showed us how to build a serious grass-roots movement that cut across race and class."

Lee was followed by 11 other CBC members and Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio). They spoke to a nearly empty chamber.

Jackson called the tributes "a joy." "I remember talking to President Barack about it," he said. "He was a student at Columbia in 1984, watching the debate. To see so many people gain traction in that season is really gratifying, but I see many people whose spirits are now challenged as they grapple with this sinking economy."

Jackson, the second African American to seek a major party's presidential nomination -- after New York's Shirley Chisholm -- won five primaries in 1984 and captured 6.9 million votes and 11 contests in 1988. Lee said it was the coalition Jackson tried to build that elected Obama.

Jackson is part of a generation of black political leadership that grapples with Obama's emergence and talk of a "post-racial" society, an idea that the president himself has rejected, noting that racial disparities still exist. Yet, his administration has been criticized by some for appearing to shy away from direct discussions of the topic. Jackson, who endorsed Obama, made his own controversial statements about the then-candidate during last year's campaign.

Lee was not the only CBC member who recalled working for Jackson's early efforts. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) was his national co-chairman. Del. Donna M. Christian-Christensen (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) led his campaign in the Virgin Islands.

The Congressional Black Caucus has itself been a part of the debate about the meaning of black political power during the Obama presidency, and the discussion on race Wednesday night is intended to "examine the critical role of race in our society and how race continues to shape the legislative priorities of the caucus."

"By honoring Rev. Jackson they want to say that there would be no Barack Obama if there had not been a Jesse Jackson," said Andra Gillespie, a professor of political science at Emory University and editor of a forthcoming book, "Whose Black Politics? Cases in Post-Racial Black Leadership." "They are trying to assert that they are still here, and that they are still relevant."

Wilbur Rich, a professor of political science at Wellesley College, agreed. "Both Jackson and Obama have come out of the same Chicago political tradition, but they occupy very different spaces. It is time for [Jackson] to relax and get all his accolades."

###

Honoring the 25th Anniversary of Jesse Jackson's Run for the Presidency

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) delivered the following statement today on the House floor, honoring the 25th anniversary of Jesse Jackson's 1984 run for the Presidency:

"Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker and members, 1984 and 1988 were the proudest and most productive periods of my life.

Jesse Jackson ran for president, both in 1984 and 1988, and I served as national co-chair and the chair of the California campaign.

I was so pleased to be a part of the Rainbow Coalition that he formed, that included African-Americans, Hispanics, Arab-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, family farmers, the poor and working class, homosexuals as well as white progressives: it truly was a Rainbow Coalition.

Listen to Jesse Jackson’s campaign platform: jobs, creating a Works Progress Administration-type program to rebuild America’s infrastructure, reversing Reaganomics-inspired tax cuts, cutting the budget of the Department of Defense by as much as 15 percent over the course of his administration, supporting family farmers by reviving many of Roosevelt’s New Deal-era platforms, creating a single payer system of universal health care, and applying strict enforcement of the Voting Rights Act.

Jesse Jackson, thank you for the leadership that you provided. It is because of you, and the hope that you created, that has caused Barack Obama to be the president today.

Thank you."

###

Congresswoman Maxine Waters Promotes Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness and Memory Screening

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced H. Res. 910 today, National Memory Screening Day, to promote awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, to support the development of a national health policy on dementia screening and care, and to encourage Americans concerned about memory loss to be screened. The resolution has bipartisan support.

“I am promoting awareness of Alzheimer’s disease because scientific research has demonstrated that early medical treatment would be beneficial to millions of Americans who suffer from Alzheimer’s and early access to counseling and support services is helpful to those who are caregivers,” said Congresswoman Waters. “Awareness and early detection of memory loss therefore are essential.”

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America established an annual National Memory Screening Day at which qualified health care professionals administer free, confidential, face-to-face memory screenings at thousands of sites throughout the United States.

Memory screening is not used to diagnose Alzheimer’s or any other illness but rather is used as an indicator to determine if additional examination is recommended.

“A memory screening is a safe and cost-effective way to help at-risk individuals determine whether they would benefit from further testing and follow-up care. As with so many illnesses, individuals benefit from being screened so they can receive the appropriate care and reduce symptoms later on. In addition, screening allays the fears of people who have their memory checked and receive normal scores,” said Congresswoman Waters.

The resolution introduced by Congresswoman Waters is a House companion to S. Res. 185, which was introduced in the Senate earlier this year by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA).

###

USC Daily Trojan: Class helps draft foster care bill

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

By Sydney Champion · Daily Trojan

Most class projects never leave the classroom, but one class’s effort has traveled 2,600 miles away — to Washington, DC.

School of Social Work Professor Ralph Fertig’s social welfare policy class developed a draft of a resolution for the House of Representatives that addresses the issue of homelessness and the foster care system. The draft made it to Congress, where Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) presented it to the House.

"Our bill concentrates solely on children and describes the plight of homelessness of children," Waters said.

The resolution was initially developed as part of a class project, to teach Fertig’s students about the legislative process and the importance of social work.

The class split into different groups that looked at statistical information, advocated for support from the community and legislatures, interviewed homeless people and developed a documentary of the whole process.

"Fertig has been working on this draft, and he thought it would be a great learning experience for us to take a draft and then submit it to [Rep.] Maxine Waters," said Stanley Wipfli, a graduate student studying mental health.

The resolution states that children have a right to have a home and recognizes the effect the recession has had on the number of homeless families and homeless youth. It encourages the government to reprioritize the system so homeless children can be housed with their families instead of being immediately entered into the foster care system.

"You certainly can’t blame children for being homeless," Fertig said. "There’s nothing more perilous or dangerous [for children] than living on the streets."

Fertig explained that the current system has a flaw when it comes to housing homeless children.

"Parents have to make a choice: either keep the child with them on the streets or surrender them to foster care," he said. "But they can’t get the child back unless they get housing, and they can’t get the housing without the children. It’s a catch-22."

After Fertig and his students drafted the resolution, it was presented in a town hall meeting at LA Southwest College where Waters heard the presentation.

"Maxine Waters, that day when she heard the resolution, she accepted it and said, ‘OK, I’m taking this to Washington,’" Wipfli said. "She finessed it again to make it more sellable as a resolution, and she then presented it to Congress."

Waters said she does not often see students initiating legislation.

"It seems that USC is helping to direct and train [students] in a combination of community organization and the kind of social work that takes you out from behind the desk," she said.

Though Fertig said he thought there could be some resistance to the bill, Waters said the resolution likely won’t face obstacles.

"Most members [of Congress] are acutely aware of homelessness and the plight of children," said Waters. "Whenever there’s a story about homelessness … it captures the heart."

Fertig said that the resolution could be passed in the fall of 2010.

This is the first time a class in the School of Social Work has presented a resolution to Congress, but Fertig said he intends to continue with this type of project.

Fertig said he and State Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada have agreed to submit a bill addressing other issues of homelessness and the foster care system.

"We will be introducing another bill in January, and the class will be totally involved," Fertig said.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters Salutes Veterans

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) expressed her appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans, service members and military families as she participated in several Veterans Day events.

On Wednesday she spoke at an event hosted by the Hawthorne Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2075 with participation from the American Legion. In her remarks, she thanked veterans for their contributions while in uniform and noted that many of the two million veterans currently living in California continue to make a difference in our neighborhoods and communities. “Today we honor our veterans – our heroes,” Congresswoman Waters said. “Today we remember the millions of brave men and women who answered the call to serve in our nation’s military throughout history, and we thank them all.”

She also paid tribute to Eduviges “Duvi” Preciado Wolf, an Army sergeant from Hawthorne killed in Afghanistan and expressed her condolences to Duvi’s sister Cecilia who was present and recognized by Congresswoman Waters.

Congresswoman Waters emphasized that our nation must express appreciation for our veterans, not only in words but also in deeds. “We do this by fulfilling our obligations to veterans – and also to service members and military families. We must make sure that they have access to and know about the wide range of programs and services designed to help them. We are obligated to ensure our veterans have timely access to healthcare, including mental health treatment, receive the full disability benefits they deserve and need, are provided opportunities for higher education, receive assistance to transition back into society and civilian jobs, and have housing and available services,” she said.

The 111th Congress has worked in a bipartisan manner to help veterans and to support service members and military families. With the help and advocacy of organizations like the VFW and the American Legion, this Congress has passed landmark legislation and unprecedented funding to benefit our military and their families. We have passed the largest increase in funding for veterans health care in the 77 year history of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The stimulus package and supplemental bills increased 2009 veterans funding by $1.4 billion. In addition, the House successfully passed an appropriations bill that would add $14.5 billion to the budget in 2010 and voted to provide funding for Fiscal Year 2011 to ensure the best care for America’s wounded warriors in the future.

Earlier on Wednesday, Congresswoman Waters addressed a crowd at the Veterans Day breakfast in Inglewood hosted by U.S. Vets, a non-profit organization which helps veterans with housing and employment assistance.

Congresswoman Waters attended the third annual “Honor a Hero, Hire a Vet” Career Expo and Resource Fair in Los Angeles on Tuesday, where she presented U.S. Vets with a certificate in recognition of its efforts to assist homeless and at-risk veterans.

The Veterans Affairs Department estimates that approximately 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night and approximately 260,000 veterans experience homelessness over the course of a year. Veterans comprise as much as one third of the nation’s homeless population.

“While many federal programs have been aimed at assisting families, the VA has struggled to reach many single homeless veterans, leaving many veterans to seek assistance from local government agencies and service organizations in their communities. U.S. Vets does an outstanding job meeting the needs of veterans and providing assistance,” Congresswoman Waters said.

She added, “I am convinced that the Obama Administration is committed to addressing these issues. Last week, during the VA Department’s summit “Ending Homelessness among Veterans,” Secretary Shinseki announced a comprehensive plan to end homelessness among veterans using resources of the federal government, business and the private sector. This plan includes preventive measures like discharge planning for incarcerated Veterans re-entering society, supportive services for low-income Veterans and their families and a national referral center to link Veterans to local service providers. Additionally, the plan calls for expanded efforts for education, jobs, health care and housing. I will be working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure these programs are implemented effectively.”

# # #

Congresswoman Maxine Waters Praised for Service to South Bay

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) was honored by the South Bay Workforce Investment Consortium for her "outstanding commitment and contribution to the South Bay community". Congresswoman Waters received the prestigious Esther Williams Award from SBWIC, the nonprofit arm of the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) at its annual awards breakfast today.

"I appreciate this recognition and will continue to work with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the entire South Bay community", said Congresswoman Waters.

Congresswoman Waters spoke highly of the job training and job placement programs that SBWIB provides under the leadership of Executive Director Jan Vogel. She also cited the staff, the board, local elected officials, committed area employers and other supporters and thanked them all for their ongoing efforts to support workforce development programs in the South Bay.

Today’s event also recognized the outstanding graduates from SBWIB job and vocational training programs, as well as alumni of these programs who are now employed and contributing to economic activity in the South Bay.

Congresswoman Waters noted that the economic stimulus package Congress passed earlier this year has helped save and create jobs in the South Bay and provided important funding for SBWIB for employment and training services in fields including clean energy or "green" jobs.

Acknowledging high levels of unemployment currently, Congresswoman Waters said, "Certainly right now many families and businesses in California are facing real challenges as we continue to emerge from a severe recession and continue on the path to economic recovery. Too many people, especially young people, are still out of work, and we must all do whatever we can to foster economic development and support job creation. I am confident that the collaboration of government, businesses, community organizations and others responsible for SBWIB’s success will continue to sustain essential workforce initiatives in the South Bay."

###