Press Releases

(Sacramento, CA) – Today, Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) will introduce Senate Bill 1084, the California Safe Dispensing Act, a measure to eliminate opioid pilfering – a powerful on ramp to the nation’s current opioid addiction crisis.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) introduced Senate Bill 999 today, a measure that would restore local control and stem the tide of rapidly increasing rental rates for mobilehomes across California. The County of Los Angeles and Golden State Manufactured Home Owners League are cosponsors of the bill, representing a strong coalition between local government and residents.

ORANGE COUNTY, CA – Senator Tom Umberg (D – Orange County), Chairman of the State Senate Select Committee on the Growing Impact of Artificial Intelligence in California, will convene a hearing on November 20, 2019 on “The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Law Enforcement Context.” The hearing will conduct a broad overview on the state of artificial intelligence, including policy implications and effects on law enforcement.

WESTMINSTER, CA – On Saturday, October 26, a memorial service will be held in the City of Westminster’s Freedom Park to honor the 81 unknown airborne soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) that were shot down in a United States military aircraft during the Vietnam War. There will be a full military ceremony honoring their service in Westminster, often known as Little Saigon, where the remains of the soldiers will be interred. Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D – Orange County) will honor the brave soldiers with a legislative resolution, to be presented during the memorial service, which recognizes the ultimate sacrifices made by the South Vietnamese soldiers as they fought side-by-side with the United States Military 54 years ago in support of democracy.

In late 1965, an American C-123 aircraft was shot down, killing all four American crew members and 81 South Vietnamese Airborne soldiers. The crash site was located in a contested area and was not visited until 1974. Because there was no flight manifest for the combat mission, the names of those soldiers were lost. The American crew members were later identified through DNA testing and were given a proper interment, though the 81 Vietnamese are as yet identified only as members of an elite airborne battalion of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. The Hanoi government has declined to accept them for a proper burial in Vietnam. Since they were not American citizens or soldiers, they were not buried and properly honored in the United States. 

“These soldiers that fought as a band of brothers with American armed forces may be unknown by name, but they will never be forgotten for their efforts. They will be remembered with honor and dignity by all for giving their lives, and fighting bravely in the name of freedom,” said Senator Umberg. “At this solemn ceremony and onward, all Americans shall hold in high esteem the lives of those who stood beside us during incredibly difficult times, and never turn a blind eye to true heroes like these 81 Vietnamese soldiers.”