Press Releases

Annual Ceremony held in recognition of Women’s History Month

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County) and the California State Assembly honored Ellen Ahn as the 65th Assembly District Woman of the Year 2018. Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva recognized the Orange County leader for her community involvement during the annual Assembly Floor ceremony.

“Ellen Ahn has been exceptionally talented in bringing valuable resources to the Orange County, and especially to the Korean American community.” said Quirk-Silva. “She has started from small, grassroots organizing to large-scale community organizing in order to provide people with a myriad of resources. She is a living example of a leader that gets results for the people of Orange County.”

Ellen Ahn, and her family, has lived in the Fullerton community of North Orange County for more than 20 years. Ellen is an active member of the Fullerton Korean Presbyterian Church and has been very involved with many local non-profit organizations which, help to strengthen the community.

"I try to live by a verse in the Gospel according to Luke: “to whom much was given, of him much will be required,” said Ellen Ahn. “To me, that means taking what I have; my energy and resources, which at times may not seem much to others, and to seize opportunities to be of help in any situation work towards making the community around me a bit better."

(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D – Orange County) has been appointed Chair of the bipartisan Select Committee on Orange County Chronic Homelessness by Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood). Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva’s appointment marks the formation of this committee. Joining Chair Quirk-Silva as committee members, will be Orange County members of the California State Assembly: Cottie Petrie-Norris (D – Laguna Beach), Dr. Steven Choi (R - Irvine), Tyler Diep (R – Huntington Beach), Philip Chen (R – Brea), Bill Brough (R – Dana Point), and more.

“Solving the state’s housing crisis is a priority, and it will demand solutions that are both local and global,” said Speaker Anthony Rendon. “Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva is the ideal person to lead the Legislature’s work to tackle Orange County’s chronic homelessness, and I think her committee’s bipartisan approach will also give us insight into the issues at a state level.”

“I will use my background, experience, and dedication to help get people off the streets in Orange County, give them a roof over their head, and help address the reciprocal public safety implications,” said Quirk-Silva. “There is a lot of work to be done, and we have to constantly strive to do more when confronting the homelessness epidemic in Orange County. I'm glad that my legislative work, and district support, has proved my commitment to this issue, and look forward to my hearings on how we can help Orange County.”

SACRAMENTO — Today, Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva (D - Orange County) has introduced Assembly Bill 816 (AB 816), with 8 coauthors from the Assembly and the Senate, to establish a Flexible Housing Program (FHP) securing quality housing that Californians experiencing homelessness can afford. The State FHP would consolidate funding for people experiencing homelessness into one centralized resource. Cities, counties, and Continuums of Care would then access this single program for a variety of housing options and services. Eligible uses include operating funds for housing developments, move-in assistance and rental assistance, intensive case management and wrap-around services to support residents and promote housing stability, coordination with case managers, and assistance with landlord/neighborhood relations.

“We need a comprehensive approach to homelessness epidemic in California – the first step in this approach must be affordable, stable rental homes for people experiencing homelessness to get back on their feet. But to make this solution a reality requires resources and coordination. That is why we need a united public and private endeavor such as this flexible funding that helps ensure no one in our state is living without a stable, permanent roof over their head,” said Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva. “We must consider every approach in a comprehensive and compassionate manner, so we can improve the quality of life for every Californian, and also provide flexibility to local government to implement solutions that work.”

Housing programs should cross boundaries of health, criminal justice, and child welfare systems to prevent people who are exiting these systems from falling into homelessness. Housing is crucial to health and well-being, education and successful reentry to communities. The State Flexible Housing Program would provide funds to cities, counties, and Continuums of Care to address the varied needs of California’s most vulnerable residents, while bridging the housing, homelessness, health care, criminal justice, and child welfare systems, and the public and private sectors.

2.4 million renters to benefit

SACRAMENTO – California renters who have been drowning in unaffordable housing costs would see much-needed relief under a bill unveiled Wednesday by State Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa), Assembly members Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County), Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), and 28 co-authors.

The legislation, SB 248, would increase California’s renter’s credit for the first time in 40 years and would represent significant help to single parents in particular.

“Housing costs are going through the roof in California and families are struggling to pay the rent,” Glazer said. “Forty years have passed since the last time the renter’s credit was increased, so it’s about time we provide this needed financial relief to renters.”

“It is no secret that our state is facing a homelessness epidemic, and a housing shortage,” said Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva (D – Orange County), a principal co-author. “Hard working families are ending up on our streets because they cannot afford to pay the exorbitant cost of rent in our state. Students in Orange County, in particular, are commuting more than an hour, because their rent is too high. We must do more, and this bill is the solution.”

SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva (D - Orange County) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court reinstated President Trump's ban on transgender service members in the military:

“First off, I thank everyone in military service of this great country for sacrificing so much; including the many transgender people already openly serving. They should understand that they have the support of many of their representatives right now in government.”

“Any citizen with the courage and fortitude to don a uniform of the United States military, and put their life on the line to serve their country deserves the opportunity to do so,” said Quirk-Silva. “No one should be banned from engaging in service to their country solely based on gender identity. This is a civil rights issue, and we should speak out against this discriminatory decision.”

Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom released is 2019-20 initial budget proposal, and shared a mult-tiered approach to address the state’s homelessness and housing crisis. The approach the Governor has proposed aligns with the bills authored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, as she continues her efforts to support the needs of Orange County, and address their homeless and housing issues.

“I look forward to partnering with the Governor in this effort to confront our housing crisis.  Housing affordability is the biggest public policy issue affecting our state today.  Every day, communities are being torn apart as more and more people struggle with affordable housing, and stave off homelessness.” said Quirk-Silva. “This is why I authored affordable housing and homelessness legislation immediately after being sworn-in to serve Orange County in 2019 and 2020. Not responding immediately would continue to create dire consequences on our quality of life and our economy.”

“For California to lead the nation in tackling homelessness and housing shortages, we must use all possible resources at our disposal to combat this crisis on all fronts,” said Quirk-Silva.

Assembly Bill (AB) 139 updates California Housing Element law to reflect the state’s homeless crisis and the need for every community to better assess the number of individuals and families facing homelessness and implement more targeted transition strategies to long term permanent housing for these Californians.

AB 143 expands emergency housing to include homeless shelters and permanent supportive housing when Orange County, or cities within Orange County, declare a shelter crisis.  This will allow for streamlining California Environmental Quality Act processes, a key point of Governor Newsom’s call to action.

AB 146 would authorize CalTrans to lease airspace under state highways or excess real property acquired for highway purposes to provide emergency shelter or feeding programs.  This program has proved effective in communities across the state, and Governor Newsom called for this strategy to be implemented statewide.

AB 148 expands the scope of the Sustainable Communities Strategy to track and report on real housing development as part of implementation.  This includes the development of affordable housing, and provision of emergency shelter beds.  The Governor declared the need for statewide goals, not just target figures set by state agencies, and regional planning focused on housing development.

SACRAMENTO â€“ Moments ago, Governor Gavin Newsom released his 2019-20 Budget Plan which proposes to fully fund two years of free community college in California at a cost of $40 million.  These funds were proposed in the 2019-20 state budget, from the $200 million voter-approved Proposition 98 General Fund. This proposal extends the California College Promise to waive enrollment fees for first-time, full-time students for a second academic year.

Assembly Bill 2 (AB 2), jointly authored by Assemblymembers Sharon Quirk-Silva, Miguel Santiago, David Chiu, Kevin McCarty, Rob Bonta, Laura Freidman, Lorena Gonzalez, and Sabrina Cervantes was introduced to strengthen the California College Promise policy. This budget proposal takes an important step towards guaranteeing a completely free community college experience for California students. 

“We must be sure that California’s students have access to higher education, yet high tuition costs deny students and their families the dream of obtaining a degree,” said Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D – Orange County). “Expanding the College Promise Program will give working class students, and their families, assurance that the cost of higher education, and the American Dream, will be within their reach. A reinvestment in our students is an investment in California; its educated students, skilled workforce, economy, and its future.”

SACRAMENTO  - California State Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva is pleased to announce the committees that she is assigned to for the 2019-20 legislative session. The reelected Assemblywoman has been assigned to the following high-profile committees by the Speaker of the State Assembly, to address the needs of the State of California: Housing and Community Development, Accountability and Administrative Review, Communications and Conveyance, Governmental Organization, and the Assembly Committee on Rules.

The jurisdiction of the Housing and Community Development Committee includes building standards, common interest developments, eminent domain, farm worker housing, homeless programs, housing discrimination, housing finance (including redevelopment), housing, natural disaster assistance and preparedness, land use planning, mobile homes/manufactured housing,
redevelopment: housing, and rent control.

“I am honored that Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon has placed the confidence in me to be involved in these critical policy-making committees that will greatly impact our state,” said Quirk-Silva. “In particular, the Housing Committee is the front line in finding and building constructive solutions for the affordable housing crisis, and homelessness, in our state. I am proud to help lead the focus of this important committee in the years to come, especially for the people of Orange County.”

Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva has met with U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter, state leaders, and local officials of the county and city level over the past years. Quirk-Silva has also taken the time to tour encampments, and talk one-on-one with the homeless advocates in Orange County.

“I have focused a great deal of my attention on thoughtful and necessary mediation between state and local officials, authored legislation (Assembly Bill 448) to establish an agency consisting of local, concerned entities to provide construction of supportive housing units, and brought millions of dollars in funding to shelters in Orange County, ” said Quirk-Silva. “I will continue to push the state to do more for its people, and the housing needs of our communities.”