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Securing California’s Future Through Infrastructure Investments

The State of California continues to face various challenges to its natural and built environment. Natural disasters have always been part of the state’s history, but the impacts of climate change are increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, mudslides, drought, extreme heat, storms, and other events that jeopardize the lives and livelihoods of Californians. To secure a safe, resilient, and prosperous future, California needs to prioritize investments in its built and natural infrastructure.

UCC supports robust, ongoing investments into a variety of infrastructure, including: 

  • Water – In keeping with UCC’s water policy adopted in January 2022, support a combination of state and federal resources to increase and support sustainable water supply and conservation statewide, sustain our state’s agricultural economy, and address food insecurity.
  • Broadband – Support the development of the Statewide Middle-Mile Broadband initiative, including last-mile investments to ensure counties can bring critical connectivity to unserved and underserved communities and for all Californians who need reliable, high-speed connectivity to work, attend school, and access healthcare.
  • Climate Change and Resiliency – Support investments to reduce the overall risk of climate-driven events including catastrophic wildfires, flooding, mudslides, extreme heat, and drought. Support funding to adapt existing infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change.
  • Energy – Support widescale investments to increase California’s supply of green energy while also maintaining existing energy resources during the green energy transition to ensure the state has a robust and reliable energy supply.
  • Transportation – Protect existing transportation funding to support the maintenance and rehabilitation of the local street and road system. Support increased funding to repair and replace locally owned bridges, make critical safety improvements to reduce serious injuries and fatalities, add additional bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and adapt the local system to the impacts of climate change.
  • Housing – Support funding for housing at all ranges of affordability, including tax credits and other direct subsidies for lower-income housing, subsidies for construction and operation of permanent supportive housing, and investments in supportive infrastructure for housing at all income levels, especially water, sewer, and public facilities to facilitate infill growth. Support policy changes that align with infrastructure investments, including advancing streamlined approval of infill housing projects in unincorporated areas and ensuring that county land use planning obligations under the Regional Housing Needs Assessment process and state housing laws are aligned with climate and infrastructure goals.