Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, along with partners, addressed a crowd of faculty and community members at the Sacramento State Alumni Center on Friday concerning federal priorities and the local impact of the economic recovery package.

Among those in the audience were Sacramento Municipal Utilities District general manager and CEO John DiStasio, Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez and professor of communication studies Barbara O’Connor.

The four main topics of the speech were higher education and student loans, a comprehensive health care package, federal commitment to green technology and energy efficiency and the economic stimulus bill.

This summer the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which will direct the government to originate all student loans.

This will save taxpayers and the federal government approximately $100 million in the next 10 years, Matsui said.

“Students in Sacramento will see a dramatic increase in their Pell grant awards in the coming years with total amounts being awarded going from $44 million to over $110 million in our community alone,” Matsui said.

She also introduced H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which Matsui said will make health care affordable for the middle class and give access to health insurance for people who are not insured.

“This will improve employer-based coverage for 365,000 Sacramentans and provide affordability credits to help pay for coverage for up to 181,000 households,” Matsui said. “This bill will allow over 14,000 local small businesses to obtain affordable health care coverage and provide tax credits to help reduce health insurance costs for up to 12,700 Sacramento businesses.”

In June, the American Clean Energy and Security Act was passed. This will help reduce harmful emissions and invest in a clean energy economy, Matsui said.

Matsui, along with DiStasio also introduced the audience to the Smart Grid project and the grant that was received last month through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“This is the largest alternative energy investment in the nation’s history, Matsui said.

In addition to Matsui, DiStasio presented an overview of the $127.5 million Smart Grid federal grant through a stimulus package to SMUD, Sac State and their other partners to develop and apply clean energy and green technology through the greater Sacramento area.

“We are thrilled to have been selected by the US department of energy for this energy infrastructure grant,” DiStasio said.

DiStasio attributed the success of the grant to Matsui for her involvement and letters of recommendation she put out in favor of the Smart Grid project in Sacramento.

“At Sacramento State we strive to strengthen our partnership with our leaders of our region and this event was a perfect example of the kinds of activities we have engaged in over time,” Gonzalez said.

Yeimi Lopez, Associated Students Inc. Director of Undeclared, said she came to the address to better understand the destination of Sac State and the region.

Lopez said she enjoyed Matsui’s talk about closing the gap between the lower income families and having access to the internet.

“I remember it was really hard for me when I was applying to college and my family didn’t have internet at home,” Lopez said.

Lopez was happy to hear that students are at the forefront, that Matsui is taking the budget cuts into consideration and that she understands it is hard for students to obtain financial aid.

“I think she has a good vision for Sac State and the Sacramento region,” Lopez said. “I think she is doing great things especially with the Smart Grid grant.”

Blazej Bruzda can be reached [email protected].