Protecting Our Environment & Combatting Climate Change

As an environmental attorney and former Chair of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, Rebecca has made protecting our environment a top priority.

Her determination to protect our environment and battle climate change is informed by her background as an environmental lawyer and her passion for solving problems. She is proud to have earned a lifetime 98% rating from California Environmental Voters.

Rebecca has increased penalties for illegal water diversion and those who illegally dump garbage, worked to electrify and modernize California's ports to reduce pollutants from fossil fuels, and is pushing to fund a new hydrogen-fueled public transportation system extending to the Tri-Valley. She's helped small farmers reduce water consumption and protected drinking water, and has secured millions for local projects including parks, creek restoration, and toxic cleanup.

Key Accomplishments:

• Preserving Tesla Park – Led the decades-long fight to preserve 3100-acre Tesla Park as open space and parkland

• Stopping Water Theft (AB 460) – Increased penalties for illegal water diversion

• Protecting Our Water Supply (AB 1205, AB 2857, AB 2805) – Combatted profiteering, improved groundwater sustainability, and enhanced water conservation programs

• Clean California Package (AB 363, AB 267, AB 234, AB 426) – Banned toxic neonicotinoid pesticides to protect bees and pollinators, removed harmful chemicals from tents and products with microplastics, and strengthened air quality regulations

• Securing Local Funding – Delivered $2.29 million for Dublin parks, $4 million for McCosker Creek restoration, $125,000 for San Pablo Creek, and $1 million for PFAS cleanup

• Pesticide Transparency (AB 1042) – Required labeling of pesticide-treated seeds sold in California

• Eliminating Plastic Bags (AB 2236, SB 1053) – Closed the loophole allowing plastic grocery bags; ensured all bags will be paper or reusable

• Electrifying Our Ports (AB 1594) – Modernized California's ports to reduce fossil fuel pollution

• Illegal Dumping Penalties (AB 1216) – Increased penalties for illegal garbage dumping

• Park Preservation (AB 618, AB 1150) – Put in place responsible park reservation practices so more Californians can enjoy access to the environment
  

• Saved the Wagner Ranch Nature Area – Secured $1.5M to enable John Muir Land Trust to acquire the 16-acre Orinda outdoor classroom after the site had been closed since 2023

• Protecting the Diablo Range (AB 1426, ACR 107) – Established the Diablo Range as an official state conservation priority with dedicated Wildlife Conservation Board funding, preserving it for generations
  

Rebecca continues fighting for ambitious climate action as a member of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, working to protect and expand open spaces while addressing the urgent threat of climate change.