Press Releases

California’s Chair of Senate Transportation Committee Dave Cortese Introduces a Bill to Study the Major Economic Opportunities Connected to the High Speed Rail Project As the New Administration and Republican Legislators Raise Questions

SACRAMENTO –  California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley), who serves as the chair of the state Senate Transportation Committee today introduced Senate Bill 545  that will commission a study on the extraordinary commercial and residential economic development



Food Security, Wildlife, Water Quality & Development Protections All Included in Senator Cortese’s Senate Bill 462 To Permanently Preserve California Agricultural Land

SACRAMENTO – In a move to safeguard food security by maintaining productive farmland, California State Senator Dave Cortese today introduced Senate Bill 462 requiring a yearly $20-million appropriation to the California Farmland Conservancy Program (CFCP) to permanently preserve California agricultural lands through conservation easements.



Silicon Valley State Senator Dave Cortese Supports First-In-The-Nation Public Wildfire Catastrophe Model

SACRAMENTO –  California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley)  joined state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and several lawmakers to unveil a first-in-the nation public wildfire catastrophe model.



Silicon Valley State Senator Dave Cortese Wants the State to Audit Two Transportation Agencies Over Lack of Accountability

SACRAMENTO – California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley), chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, is asking the state auditor to audit both the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) because both agencies need to be held accountable for how they spend taxpayers’ money including toll money. 

Recent toll hikes are the latest example of the public’s confusion about how MTC and BATA spends their money.  



California State Senator Dave Cortese Introduced Legislation To Stop California From Exporting Dirty Pollution

SACRAMENTO – California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley), who serves as the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, has introduced Senate Bill 30 prohibiting the resale, donation, or transfer of decommissioned diesel locomotives for continued use.