Assembly Member Carter, who supported the Firefighter Bill of Rights, was named honorary Rialto Firefighter for a Day at Rialto Fire Station #204. From left: Captain Randy Ammons, Assembly Member Carter, Fire Paramedic Justin Veloz and Fire Engineer George Tucker.

A happy and healthy New Year to all!!!

As I begin my second year in the California State Assembly, I am pleased that I had the opportunity to learn a lot about important policy issues facing our state, to meet with many constituents, and to host and attend innumerable community events.

I realize my success in striving to bring about important changes in our community is due, in part, to your unwavering support and encouragement. I trust that with your continued help this coming year, I will be even more successful.

Again, I thank you so much for supporting my work for the constituents of the 62nd Assembly District and for all Californians.

With Warm Regards,

Wilmer Amina Carter
Assembly Member - 62nd District

Assembly Member Carter Scores High Among Advocacy Groups

Every year different organizations rate state lawmakers on how they voted on legislation important to their constituencies. For the 2007 legislative session, Assembly Member Carter excelled on many Legislative scorecards, including:

Sierra Club - This organization rates legislators on their support for bills relating to various important environmental areas such as: air quality/global warming, forestry, energy, parks, and water.

Assembly Member Carter: 100%

California Alliance for Retired Americans - CARA rates legislators for their support of priority issues like health care reform, prescription drugs, affordable housing, long-term care, and pension protection.

Assembly Member Carter: 100%

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - AFSCME protects the rights of workers in county governments, school districts, cities, special governmental workers, hospitals, private sector health and transportation agencies and the State of California and rates lawmakers on how they vote on issues related to workers.

These results are not posted on the web.

Assembly Member Carter: 100%

Consumer Federation of California - CFC rates legislators for their key votes on consumer rights bills. CFC rates legislators on a range of issues including financial privacy, health care reform, cell phone customer rights, food safety, truth in advertising, and consumer product safety standards.

Assembly Member Carter: 100%

Congress of California Seniors - CCS analyzes and rates all legislators on their voting record in relation to key senior issues.

Assembly Member Carter: 100%

California League of Conservation Voters - CLCV rates legislators for their support of California's environment.

Assembly Member Carter: 95%

Important bills signed into law co-authored by Assembly Member Carter

AB 1470 (Huffman), known as the Solar Hot Water and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007, creates a broad market for solar water heating technologies by offering $250 million in rebates for the state's consumers over the next ten years.

SB 41 (Battin) and AB 384 (Portantino) provides assistance and benefits to the families of fallen federal firefighters who were California residents.

AB 159 (Jones) creates 50 new judgeships throughout the state.

AB 1712 (Committee on Veterans Affairs) requires the Military Department to submit a report to the Legislature on the status and physical condition of all California Armories.

Important bills signed into law in 2007

Education

AB 428 (Carter) requires school districts offering grades 9-12 to provide students and parents with written notification and an explanation of the A-G curriculum requirements for admission to the California State University and the University of California school systems. AB 428 also requires that students be presented with options and choices for Career Technical Education courses.

Consumer

AB 1108 (Ma), known as the toxic toy law, bans six types of phthalates (chemicals that make plastic soft) from children's toys sold in California starting in January 1, 2009.

Criminal Justice

AB 900 (Solorio) sets aside more than $7 billion in revenue-bond financing to build facilities for up to 52,000 prison inmates and boost rehabilitative programs.

Health

SB 7 (Oropeza) makes it an infraction to smoke a pipe, cigar, or cigarette in a motor vehicle when a minor is present. It will take effect January 1, 2008.

Mortgage Crisis

SB 385 (Machado) requires California lenders to provide federal guidelines to traditional and sub-prime loans. It will take effect January 2008.

Public Safety

SB 33 (Simitian) prohibits individuals under the age of 18 from using a wireless telephone while driving; this law goes into effect on July 1, 2008.

Help Available For Homeowners Facing Foreclosures

Assembly Democrats have pending legislation that will help minimize the financial crisis caused by mortgage foreclosures that is affecting our neighbors in the Inland Empire. Assembly Member Carter plans to introduce legislation that will assist homeowners this year.

There is a new website designed to assist current homeowners who may be facing home foreclosure. The site provides an ongoing update of the mortgage crisis and its impact on California, along with information and organizations that can help troubled homeowners get through the difficult times and maybe keep their homes.

Seeking Excellent Science Teachers

Students, parents and teachers are being asked to nominate an extraordinary teacher for the Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. Thirty-two winners will receive an unrestricted cash award of $5,000 in addition to a $5,000 cash grant to the recipient's school specifically intended for the expansion of a school science program, science resources, or the professional development of the school's science teachers. Apply by January 31. Click here for the application.

Assembly Fellow Joins Carter's Team

Jesús Munguia Andrade

Jesús Munguia Andrade, a 2007 graduate of California State University, Sacramento, has joined Assembly Member Carter's staff as a Jesse Marvin Unruh Assembly Fellow for the 2007-08 legislative year.

Andrade was one of 18 individuals selected from a statewide pool of more than 400 applicants to participate this year in the Assembly Fellowship Program. Founded in 1957, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious legislative fellowship programs in the nation. The program was renamed in 1987 to honor Jesse Marvin Unruh, California's former Assembly Speaker and State Treasurer.

The year-long fellowship program provides an introduction to public policy formation and adoption in the California Legislature through full-time work as a professional legislative aide to an Assembly Member.

Andrade, who is from Stockton, gained valuable experience and earned awards as an outreach counselor and student body president at Sac State. He majored in philosophy with a concentration in law and ethics. Prior to joining Carter's staff he interned at the State and Consumer Services Agency in Sacramento.

2007 District Interns Highlighted

One of the best ways to understand government is through a State Assembly volunteer internship program. Bright, motivated people interested in public service can make a difference by working on community and legislative projects in the District Office in Rialto. Interns get experience in working with constituents and community organizations, and have opportunities to meet important and influential people.

Contact the District Office staff if you are interested in becoming an intern (909) 820-5008.

Artour Aslanian Artour, a Redlands High School graduate, is majoring in political science at California State University, San Bernardino. He plans to attend graduate school.	Brenna Pye Brenna is a California State University, San Bernardino student majoring in history with an emphasis on oral/public history. A past intern for the Simon Wiesenthal Center Library and Archives, she plans to attend graduate school.
Wilmer Loaiza Wilmer is a San Bernardino Valley College student studying business administration, and a graduate of the School of Commercial Science in Guatemala. He plans to transfer and graduate from a four-year university and attend graduate school.

Carter in the Community

American Legion Post Annual Turkey Basket Give-Away. From left, Josephine Marie Thomas, Gene Brown, Michael Reeves, Assembly Member Carter, and Post 710 Commander Charles J. Love.	Third Annual Hardy Brown Birthday Gala: Assembly Member Carter Hardy Brown and Cheryl Brown.
Veteran's Day 2007 in San Bernardino: Assembly Member Carter with Dr. Will Roberts a Veteran of the Guy Wynton Morris, American Legion Post 710.	Selby Mabanga, publisher of School Talk newspaper, businessman Sthe Thembiso, visiting from South Africa visiting with Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod and Assembly Member Carter.
Assembly Member Carter with California State University, San Bernardino President Al Karnig at winter commencement ceremonies.	Assembly Member Carter speaks at the Greater San Bernardino Kiwanis meeting.
Assembly Member Carter joins San Bernardino's Lincoln Elementary School 4th grade class for reading time.	Assembly Member Carter with Rialto Skate on Ice Olympian Ms. Lindsay Davis.

District Office:
335 N. Riverside Ave.
Rialto, CA 92376
Tel: (909) 820-5008
Fax: (909) 820-5098