(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) will receive the Legislative Leadership award from the California Building Industry Association (CBIA) tonight during their 2009 Legislative Award dinner in Napa.

This award will be presented during CBIA’s Fall board meeting to set the legislative and general policy agenda for the coming year. CBIA will be honoring members of the legislature who made a difference to the housing and homebuilding industry in California during the 2009 legislative session.  

 "The housing agenda in 2009 was a jobs and economic growth agenda," said Tim Coyle, Senior Vice President of CBIA. ”Assemblymember Caballero was an advocate and a leader for policies that would help the homebuilding industry back on its feet again."

“I am honored to receive this award. I was very pleased to work closely with the building industry this year to help stimulate our economy, create more jobs and put people back to work,” Caballero said.

The Assemblymember authored two bills to help jump start the homebuilding industry. AB 300 a water conservation bill would create a process for water agencies to provide credit for new homes built with water efficiency measures. The bill is currently in the Senate Natural Resources Committee and will be taken up next year when the legislature reconvenes.

AB 765 would extend the popular $10,000 tax credit for buyers of new unoccupied homes in California to another 4,300 buyers.  The bill reduces the inventory of vacant homes, which helps cities and counties who are struggling to maintain neighborhood safety around homes. It also provides needed revenue in the form of sales of property taxes, and as homes are sold stabilizes the housing market. Builders report that as homes are sold homebuilders have been able to re-hire crews who were laid off, therefore reducing unemployment.

“This bill is part of our economic stimulus efforts. The building industry had two very practical bills that I was happy to author. With my local government experience, I was able to craft bills that work in the real world, and that can make a big difference,” Caballero added. 

"The leadership of CBIA is grateful with the Assemblymember for her work on legislation to increase water supplies; expand mortgage credit for home purchases and foreclosure relief; and for extending the successful California homebuyer tax credit program,” Coyle added.