In Her 6th & Final Year, Assemblymember Yamada Earns Lifetime Achievement Award

On Tuesday, the California Senior Legislature (CSL) kicked-off its 34th Annual Legislative session with an Opening Ceremony and swearing-in on the California State Assembly Floor.

In 2013, the CSL recognized Assemblymember Mariko Yamada with the Henry J. Mello award for her longtime work in the field of aging and long-term care policy.

With five weeks left in her sixth and final year in the California State Assembly, she was presented with the Lifetime Achievement award as the outgoing Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long Term Care.

“I am honored to join you and privileged to receive this recognition--although I am not retiring,” quipped Assemblymember Yamada. “Thanks go to each of the Senior Legislators who are here to advance needed legislative proposals to improve the lives of seniors and those who care for them throughout California.”

The 40 Senior Senators and 80 Senior Assemblymembers are selected in elections supervised by the Advisory Councils in the 33 Planning and Services Areas (PSAs) in California which were established by the federal Older Americans Act of 1965. Each October, CSL members participate in hearing testimony, debating issues, and voting to approve or disapprove up to 120 legislative proposals which form the basis of legislative advocacy throughout the California Legislature’s next session.

The 4th Assembly District includes all or parts of Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.

--Photo: Assemblymember Yamada with this year’s California Senior Legislature, Lifetime Achievement award and her 2013 - Henry J. Mello award.

--Image and information courtesy of Assemblymember Yamada