California Legislators Announce Formation of California Millennial Caucus

Bi-partisan and Bi-Cameral Millennial Caucus to Focus on Civic Engagement

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) announced the launch of the California Millennial Caucus today.  The Caucus comprises a bi-partisan group of Legislators who view this as a statewide effort to ensure that California addresses the unique challenges facing Millennials across the state.

“I am proud to serve as a founding member of the California Millennial Caucus.  Millennials across the state are struggling to find jobs, pay their student loans, and afford their housing. We must confront these issues head on if we want to continue having a vibrant and prosperous state,” said Majority Leader Calderon.

Though Millennials are on track to have the highest percentage of college degrees of any generation, they are more likely to be underemployed.  Workers who start their careers in a recession, as many Millennials did, earn 2.5 to 9% less per year than those who do not for at least 15 years after starting a career.

Additionally, the median compensation for a 30-year-old today is below that of a 30-year-old in 2004 and roughly the same as a 30-year-old in 1984, despite the facts that Millennials are 50% more likely to have graduated from college and that the current economy is 70% more productive. Perhaps most troubling of all, under 13% of Millennials own their own home.

According to a 2014 study by Harvard University, 58% of millennials believe elected officials don’t share their priorities, and 62% believe elected officials are motivated by selfish reasons. A major focus of the California Millennial Caucus will be to increase involvement, civic engagement, and rebuild trust with Millennials.

“The California Millennial Caucus will meet Millennials across the state, have conversations with them, and above all listen to their concerns and the problems they face,” stated Majority Leader Calderon. “Our primary goal is to learn from and engage with Millennials on a personal level and to use those conversations to craft policies that better address the problems affecting our generation.”

CAUCUS MEMBERS INCLUDE:

• Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon
• Assemblymember Kevin Kiley
• Assemblymember Marc Berman
• Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes
• Assemblymember Matt Dababneh
• Assemblymember Heath Flora
• Assemblymember James Gallagher
• Assemblymember Evan Low
• Assemblymember Devon Mathis
• Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas
• Senator Henry Stern

Majority Leader Ian C. Calderon was elected in November 2012 to represent California’s 57th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Industry, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, La Puente, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, South El Monte, Whittier and the unincorporated communities of Avocado Heights, Bassett, East La Mirada, East Whittier, Los Nietos-West Whittier, South San Jose Hills, South Whittier, and Hacienda Heights.