b'SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERAlex PadillaUnited States Senator S enator Alex Padilla, a progressivePadilla serves as Chairman of the Senate problem-solver, is the first Latino toJudiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, represent California in the U.S. Senate.Citizenship, and Border Safety. He is a He was appointed in January 2021member of the Senate Committees on to complete the Senate term of ViceBudget; Environment and Public Works; President Kamala Harris. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Judiciary; and Rules. The son of immigrants, Padilla grew up in the San Fernando Valley andPadilla lives in the San Fernando Valley studied Mechanical Engineering at thewith his wife, Angela, and their three sons, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Roman, Alex and Diego. He was drawn to politics in response to Californias anti-immigrant Proposition 187. Padilla was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1999 and the State Senate in 2006. As Californias Secretary of State, he oversaw a historic expansion of voting rights and voter participation.6'