Dear Friends,

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of joining hundreds of volunteers and community members on a bus trip from Riverside to Sacramento in support of Senate Bill 640, which I have co-authored with Senator Ricardo Lara.

This legislative proposal would restore critical funding to developmentally disabled programs. The funding was cut over the past few years as California struggled through the recession and was forced to make significant funding cuts to many state programs.

By restoring the funding through the passage of SB 640, hundreds of developmentally disabled patients will be able to live in homes where they can truly be cared for, in a nurturing and caring environment.

My trip up to Sacramento with members of our community deepened my faith in the tremendous amount of good we can do by bearing the least among us in mind. For this cause, we must all be willing to look to our common humanity and help our fellow citizens, being motivated by a shared sense of duty and compassion.

As always, it is an honor to serve you.

Respectfully,

RICHARD D. ROTH
Senator, 31st District