Senate Leader Toni Atkins Appoints Sen. Patricia Bates asVice Chair of COVID-19 Response Committee

SACRAMENTO – Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) announced today that Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) has appointed her vice chair of a special committee that will review California’s response to COVID-19.

The Special Committee on Pandemic Emergency Response, a bipartisan committee of 11 senators, is tasked with reviewing the state’s response to the COVID-19 health crisis – what has gone right and what could be improved. The committee also will make findings and recommendations for future preparedness if the coronavirus returns later in the year, or if the state faces a subsequent pandemic.
 
“We have seen heroic responses from healthcare professionals, first responders, grocery employees, truck drivers, educators and so many more,” said Senator Bates. “We also know that over 750 Californians have died and over 23,300 have tested positive for COVID-19. They and all Californians deserve a thoughtful review of what has worked well and what could have been and can be done better. I appreciate Senator Atkins’ leadership on this important issue and the efforts of my Senate colleagues who will join me on this committee.”
 
The special committee will be chaired by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and vice-chaired by Senator Bates. The other committee members are Senators Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), Bill Dodd (D-Yolo), Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), Brian Jones (R-Santee), Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana), and Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco).
 
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Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) represents the 36th Senate District in the California Legislature, which covers South Orange County, North San Diego County, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Click here to download her official Senate photo.