GOT TEST. OKAY, WE ARE GONNA.
NEED MEMBERS TO SHOW UP TO
ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
ESTABLISHED QUORUM. UM BUT IN
THE MEANTIME, LOGISTICS AND
PROTOCOLS UH, YOU KNOW, FOR
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PRESIDENT
IN THIS ROOM WHERE REQUIRED
PHYSICAL DISTANCING, PLEASE
FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF OUR
START OF OUR SERGEANTS AND
POSTED GUIDANCE. THERE IS ONLY
ONE BILL ON OUR AGENDA THIS
AFTERNOON FOR OUR CONSIDERATION
, WHICH IS SENATE BILL 1308 BY
SENATOR CAVALLERO. THERE WILL BE
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. COMMENTS MAY BE MADE IN
PERSON IN THIS ROOM OR BY PHONE.
THE NUMBER. THE PHONE NUMBER TO
MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS IS
877692895. AND THE ACCESS CODE
IS 1315126 NUMBER WILL BE
DISPLAYED TO VIEWERS ON SCREEN.
UM THROUGHOUT THE HEARING AND IS
ALSO POSTED ON THE ASSEMBLY
AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE WEBSITE.
FOR OTHERS WHO WILL BE PROVIDING
COMMENTS TODAY. WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. AND IF
APPLICABLE, THE ORGANIZATION YOU
REPRESENT. AND IF YOU SUPPORT OR
OPPOSE THE BILL, BEING
CONSIDERED ANY MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC IS ALSO WELCOME TO SUBMIT
RING COMMENTS TO OUR COMMITTEE
THROUGH EMAIL. EMAILS MAY BE
SENT TO THE ADDRESS FOUND ON OUR
WEBSITE, WHICH IS A G RI DOT
COMMITTEE. AT ASSEMBLY DOT
CA.GOV IN ORDER TO FACILITATE
THE GOAL OF HEARING AS MUCH FROM
THE PUBLIC WITHIN THE LIMITS OF
OUR TIME. WE WILL NOT PERMIT
CONDUCT THAT DISRUPTS, DISTURBS
OR OTHERWISE IMPEDES THE ORDERLY
CONDUCT OF OUR PROCEEDING.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT VIOLATIONS
OF THESE RULES MAY SUBJECT YOU
TO REMOVAL. OR OTHER ENFORCEMENT
PROCESS BY THE STATE ASSEMBLY.
AND SO WITH THAT WE WILL WAIT
FOR OUR ONLY AUTHOR. TO SHOW UP
TO OUR COMMITTEE, AND THERE SHE
IS WALKING THROUGH. SO SENATOR
CAVALLERO. IT'S ALWAYS A
PLEASURE TO SEE YOU. YOU ARE THE
ONLY BILL ON OUR AGENDA. AND SO
FEEL FREE TO, UH YOU KNOW, UM
THE FLOOR IS YOURS. SO FEEL FREE
TO BEGIN AND AS SOON AS WE
ESTABLISH QUORUM WILL BE ABLE TO
TAKE UP THE BILL. GOOD TO BE THE
ONLY BILL ON THE AGENDA. SO
THANK YOU, CHAIR AND MEMBERS FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT SB 13
OH, EIGHT, WHICH WOULD SUPPORT
CALIFORNIA'S AGRICULTURAL
INDUSTRY AND PROTECT CALIFORNIAN
JOBS BY CLARIFYING AND
STRENGTHENING THE FEDERAL BY
AMERICAN POLICIES FOR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGE MEAL
PROGRAMS. SB 13 OH, EIGHT,
CLARIFIES COMPLIANCE WITH BY
AMERICAN POLICY BY PROHIBITING
CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FROM
PURCHASING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
NOT GROWN. PACKED OR PROCESSED
IN THE US UNLESS THE PRICE OF
DOMESTIC PRODUCTS IS 25% GREATER
THAN NON DOMESTIC PRODUCTS. THE
25% PRICE DIFFERENTIAL PROVIDES
A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE FOR
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS GROWN IN
THE US AND MORE, PARTICULARLY IN
CALIFORNIA, WHICH ARE GROWN
UNDER THE MOST ROBUST LABOR,
ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD SAFETY
STANDARDS. THIS BILL PROTECTS
GOOD JOBS. INVEST IN OUR RURAL
COMMUNITIES AND ENSURES A SAFE,
RELIABLE, HIGH QUALITY FOOD
SUPPLY FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR
ADULTS EATING AT THOSE
FACILITIES SP 13 OH, EIGHT DOES
NOT MANDATE WHAT KIND OF PRODUCT
SCHOOLS MUST PURCHASE. ONLY THAT
THE PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN THE
UNITED STATES. THIS BILL
PROVIDES SCHOOLS WITH THE
FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST MENUS AND
PROCUREMENT TO AVOID INCREASED
COSTS AND GIVES THEM A SAFETY
VALVE IF THERE IS NO AFFORDABLE
DOMESTIC PRODUCT AVAILABLE. BYE
AMERICA PROD, UH, POLICIES INTO
OUR CHILDREN CONSUME FOOD OF THE
HIGHEST QUALITY AND SUPPORTS
LOCAL FARMERS, JOBS AND THE
ECONOMY AS WELL AS REINFORCING
CALIFORNIA'S COMMITMENT AS A
WORLD LEADER ON CLIMATE CHANGE,
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS AND
LABOR PROTECTIONS. THIS BILL WAS
REALLY INFORMED BY A, UM, PLANT
CLOSURE IN THE CITY OF MODESTO.
ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO,
SENECA FOODS CLOSED PERMANENTLY
CLOSED THEIR CANNING FACILITY.
WHICH USED TO CAN PEACHES FOR
THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS. THEY
CLOSED AND CITED FOREIGN IMPORTS
FROM CHINA IS THE REASON FOR
CLOSING THEIR FACILITIES LAYING
OFF 350. FULL TIME WORKERS AND
CLOSE TO 1000 PART TIME WORKERS
VERY SIMILAR TO THE FACILITY IN
HOLLISTER, THAT EMPLOYEES
CANNING FACILITY TOMATO CANNING
FACILITY THAT EMPLOYEES SO MANY
RESIDENTS, UM, LOCALLY THAT
PROVIDE A REALLY GOOD
OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO STAY
LOCAL BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK AND
TO PROVIDE A REALLY HIGH QUALITY
PRODUCT. HERE WITH ME TODAY TO
TESTIFY AND SUPPORT AND ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS IS SARAH FLOCKS
REPRESENTING THE TEAMSTERS FOOD
PROCESSING DIVISION. AND THE
CANIS TREE CANNERY INDUSTRY,
LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, AND
DARREN HOFF, WHO IS A RAISIN
GROWER IN FRESNO, AND HE'LL BE
TESTIFYING VIA PHONE OPERATOR. I
THINK THE COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY
STARTED. I'M WATCHING IT RIGHT
NOW. MM. THANK YOU, SENATOR. AND
SO MISS FLOCKS. PLEASE THANK
YOU, MR CHAIR MEMBERS, UM SARAH
FLOCKS REPRESENTING THE
TEAMSTERS FOOD PROCESSING
DIVISION AND THEN THE CALIFORNIA
CANNERY INDUSTRY LABOR
MANAGEMENT COOPERATION
COMMITTEE. THAT IS A VERY LONG
NAME FOR A COMMITTEE OF UNIONS.
SO THE CANNERY THE TEAMSTERS
CANNERY UNION, REPRESENTS 10,000
UNIONIZED CANNERY WORKERS IN
CALIFORNIA. WE'VE JOINED WITH
OUR EMPLOYERS SPECIFICALLY TO
PASS THIS BILL ON BY AMERICAN
BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO
KEEPING JOBS IN CALIFORNIA AND
TO KEEPING GOOD UNION MIDDLE
CLASS JOBS WITH BENEFITS, UM, IN
CALIFORNIA AS WELL. NOW THE BIO
AMERICAN PROVISIONS FOR SCHOOL
MEALS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR
DECADES AND THEIR ORIGINAL
INTENT, ACCORDING TO THE USDA,
IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
NATION'S CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO
THE SAFEST AND MOST NUTRITIOUS
FOOD AND TO ALSO SUPPORT THE U.
S ECONOMY AT THE SAME TIME. THE
IDEA WAS THAT PUBLIC DOLLARS
TAXPAYER DOLLARS SHOULD GO BOTH
TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR CHILDREN
, BUT ALSO SHOULD GO TO
EMPLOYERS AND TO WORKERS AND TO
MAKING SURE THAT JOB STATE IN
CALIFORNIA AND STAY IN THE U. S.
AND THAT'S THE IDEA BEHIND THIS
BILL. IT'S SIMPLY IS
STRENGTHENING THE EXISTING
FEDERAL LAW AND CLARIFYING IT.
WE WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO
COMPLY BY SETTING A CLEAR
THRESHOLD. AND THIS NOT ONLY IS
SOMETHING THAT SCHOOLS CAN DO,
BUT IT ALSO SENDS A MESSAGE TO
THE MARKET. IT ALSO SENDS A
MESSAGE TO THOSE VENDORS. THE
CISCOS THE ONES WHO ARE
SUPPLYING SCHOOLS THAT THIS IS
IMPORTANT, YOU NEED TO START
LABORING LABORING OUR PRODUCTS
AS MADE IN AMERICA. YOU NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU'RE DOING
SUBSTITUTION IT'S MADE IN
AMERICA BECAUSE THAT REFLECTS
THE VALUES. OF THE TOP FROM
PRESIDENT BIDEN, WHO MADE THIS
ONE OF HIS FIRST EXECUTIVE
ORDERS TO THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, WHICH WANTS TO KEEP
OUR JOBS AND SUPPORT OUR ECONOMY
HERE. UM AND I JUST WANT TO BE
CLEAR ON THIS. 25% WE'VE GOTTEN
SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT
MEANS. THAT THRESHOLD WAS PICKED
BECAUSE IT REFLECTS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MOST
SENSITIVE PRODUCTS. TAKE
SOMETHING LIKE PEACHES. THAT'S
WOULD BE MAYBE THE DIFFERENTIAL
BETWEEN THE GOOD WAGES THE
BENEFITS THE RETIREMENT SECURITY
, THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY THE
SUSTAINABILITY THAT CALIFORNIA
PRODUCERS HAVE AND PRODUCE. UM
AND AN IMPORTED GOOD, WHICH
COULD COME FROM SOMEWHERE THAT
DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME
PROTECTIONS. AND SO THIS BILL IS
ABOUT KEEPING GOOD JOBS IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ALSO THE
SAFETY AND NUTRITIOUS NOUS OF
THE FOOD THAT WE FEED OUR
CHILDREN. UM SO IT'S VERY RARE.
I'M EVER HERE IN A BILL THAT IS
NOT ONLY SUPPORTED BY LABOR AND
EMPLOYERS, BUT THAT WE'VE JOINED
TOGETHER SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS
CAUSE, AND SO I URGE YOUR I
VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS
CLOCKS, AND, UM WE'LL GO TO MR
HOFF, WHO'S JOINING US OVER THE
PHONE. SARAH REVIS. CAN YOU HEAR
ME? OKAY. YES, WE CAN. I
APPRECIATE YOU COMMITTEE MEMBERS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS
AFTERNOON SUPPORT OF THAT SEAT,
13. OH, EIGHT BY SENATOR
CABARET. HELLO YEAH, LIKE, YOU
KNOW, MY NAME IS DARREN HOP ON
THE THIRD GENERATION RAISING
GROWER DOWN IN FRESNO COUNTY.
BOARD MEMBER OF THE SPONSORING
ORGANIZATION, AGRICULTURAL
COUNSELOR, CALIFORNIA AND I'M
MARKETER CROP TO THE
COOPERATIVE, SUN MADE GROWERS IN
CALIFORNIA WHERE SERVED ON THE
BOARD THERE, ADDITIONALLY, DOWN
HERE IN FRESNO COUNTY. I SUPPORT
SP 13 OH EIGHT BECAUSE IT
CLARIFIES THE BUY AMERICAN FOOD
PROCUREMENT POLICIES WITHIN OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE BILL FOR
PRIORITIZING AND SET THE
STANDARD FOR PURCHASING
DOMESTICALLY SOURCED FOOD
PRODUCTS VERSUS NON DOMESTIC OR
IMPORTED FOOD. SPECIFICALLY
WITHIN THE LANGUAGE OF THE
BUILDING ON DOMESTIC AND
IMPORTED PRODUCTS TO BE
PURCHASED IF THEIR PRECIOUS IS
MORE THAN 95% LESS THAN OUR
DOMESTIC PRODUCT. WITH FEW
EXCEPTIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE
BILL, CHAIRMAN SO AS A FARMER
AND COOPERATIVE MEMBER WHO GROWS
HARVESTS IN A MARKET DRIED FRUIT
. I CAN TELL YOU THAT STUDYING
THAT 25% COST DIFFERENTIAL
STATUTE. WILL IMPROVE OUR
ABILITY TO COMPETE. AS WELL AS
YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROVIDING
NUTRITIOUS AND LOCALLY GROWN
FOOD PARKS FOR KIDS. UM AND IN
MY OPINION, ADDITIONALLY, IT
WILL GALVANIZE CALIFORNIA IN THE
POSITION OF LEADING THE RISK THE
NATION INTO SETTING A CLEAR BY
AMERICAN STANDARDS THAT FRANKLY
DOESN'T EXIST YET. SO YOU KNOW,
CONCLUSION INTERACT COMMUNITY,
YOU KNOW, WE TAKE COMPLIANCE
WITH ENVIRONMENTAL, LABOR AND
FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS PRETTY
SERIOUSLY CALIFORNIA FARMERS AND
FOOD PROCESSORS. WE MAKE
CONTINUOUS INVESTMENTS TO MEET
THE STANDARDS PROTECT TO HELP
YOU SAVE YOUR WORKFORCE. WE
PROVIDE FAIR AND CREDIBLE
COMPENSATION. WE ENSURE FOOD
SAFETY. WE MAINTAIN EFFICIENT
WATER AND ENERGY USAGE, AND WE
VERY CAREFULLY MANAGER CROP
PROTECTED TOOLS. WITHIN OUR
INDUSTRY. THEY'RE ALL THIS COMES
AT A SIGNIFICANT COST. UM YET IT
HELPS IMPLEMENT THE CLIMATE
SMART ACT PRACTICES THT ARE A
PRT OF CALIFORNIA. SO YOU KNOW,
WITH ALL THIS, I IN MY
STATEMENT, I JUST ASKED URGE
YOUR COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THE
13. OH EIGHT. APPRECIATE YOU
LISTENING AND TAKING THE TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR HOFF.
AT THIS TIME, I KNOW THAT WE
HAVE UH TO, UM WITNESSES THAT
WILL BE TESTIFYING. OPPOSITION
THE FIRST IS DIANA FU,
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE FOR
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATORS. WHO ISJOINING
US OVER THE PHONE YOU ARE YOU
AVAILABLE? YES. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. OKAY THE GOOD AFTERNOON
CHAIR AND MEMBERS DIANA ZOO ON
BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION OF
COUNTER SCHOOL, ADMINISTRATIVE
AND MORE THAN 17,000 MEMBERS.
SPEAKING OPPOSITION TO SB 13
AWAY. SCHOOL DISTRICTS, RESPECT
, SUPPORT AND FOLLOW FEDERAL BUY
AMERICAN PROVISIONS ALREADY IN
LAW AND DO THEIR BEST TO BUY
LOCAL WHENEVER POPULAR SUPPORT
AND NEIGHBORING FARMERS AND
GROWERS, HOWEVER, THEY'RE
INSTANCES WHEN QUALITY AND
QUANTITY AND QUALITY ARE NOT
AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF SEASON OR
WEATHER OR UNFORESEEN
CIRCUMSTANCES AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS MUST PURCHASE OUTSIDE
OF THE STATE OR OUT OF THE
COUNTRY. S P 13. OH, EIGHT. THE
REQUIREMENT FOR A BID PRICE OF
ADONDE METRIC AGRICULTURE
PRODUCTS AND MORE THAN 25% LOWER
THAN DOMESTIC PROCESSES PRODUCT
. IT'S OVERLY RESTRICTIVE AND IN
FACT WILL PREVENT 40 ALL NON
DOMESTIC PURCHASES. THE BILL
ALSO LIMIT AVAILABLE E A PROTEST
A SEASON WHICH WOULD LEAD TO
INCREASE COSTS. AS A RESULT,
SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD BE ABLE TO
PUT WOULD BE UNABLE TO BUY
CHILDREN WITH THE REQUIRED
ELEMENTS OF A MEAL WITHOUT GOING
INTO DEBT. AND INTO THAT WAY
WHEN A SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM HAS
A DEBT, THAT DEBT MUST BE REPAID
NOT BY THE MEAL PROGRAMS THAT
THEY WERE IN ELIA'S GENERAL
FUND, WHICH WOULD TAKE AWAY
FUNDING FROM STUDENTS, TEACHERS
IN CLASSROOMS. FURTHERMORE THE
BILL'S PROVISIONS BEGINS ON
JANUARY 1ST 2024 DURING THE
MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AFTER
CONTRACTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN
NEGOTIATED, THEREBY DECREASING
ANY IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD STILL
PROVIDE WITH A 2024 OPERATIVE
DATE. THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC
EDUCATION IS, OF COURSE,
STUDENTS, WHICH INCLUDES THEIR
HEALTH AND WELL BEING, IN ORDER
TO DO THAT, HOWEVER, WE NEED TO
BE REASON WE NEED TO HAVE
REASONABLE THINGS THAT SUPPORT
STUDENTS. BEST INTERESTS
EMPLOYED THAT PUBLIC. POLITICS
ASIDE, AND LAST SCHOOLS CONTINUE
TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN. WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOTE
MELMASON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
MISS WU FOR THE TESTIMONY. NEXT
WE HAVE CHERYL I LEGISLATIVE
ADVOCATE FOR THE CALIFORNIA
SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION. IF
YOU'RE AVAILABLE, PLEASE FEEL
FREE T. T MAKE SURE THAT YOU
PROVIDE YOUR TESTIMONY. YES I'M
HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. SHARON
MEMBERS SHIRLEY DOWN ON BEHALF
OF THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL BOARD
ASSOCIATION AND RESPECTFUL
OPPOSITION TO US SPEAKER TO
KNOWING. LOCAL EDUCATION
AGENCIES ARE CURRENTLY RAPIDLY
EXPANDING THEIR EXISTING SCHOOL
MEAL PROGRAMS TO SERVE ALL
STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
ABILITY TO PAY IN THE UPCOMING
22 23 FALL SEMESTER, AND THIS
ADDS AN ADDITIONAL CHALLENGE TO
A PROGRAM THAT'S ALREADY
STRETCHED TO CAPACITY. THIS BILL
NOTWITHSTANDING ITS GOALS HOLD
SCHOOLS TO A HIGHER STANDARD
THAN ALL CALIFORNIA STATE OWNED
AND STATE RUN ENTITIES AT 25%
RATHER THAN A 5% WITH THE STATE
AND UNLIKE ALL THE ENTITIES,
UNIVERSITIES IN CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGES L E. A S HAVE
ONE FUNDING SOURCE PROVIDED BY
THE STATE AND ARE NOT ABLE TO
INCREASE FEES TO MAKE ENDS MEET
AS PRICES INCREASE AND POLICIES
ARE AT IT. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO
WITH $4 RIGHT NOW? AND WHY $4,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR CURRENT
MEAL RE EMBRACE IT RIGHT IS AND
EVERY DOLLAR THAT EXCEEDS THAT
RATE FOR THIS UNFUNDED POLICIES,
A DOLLAR THAT'S TAKEN DIRECTLY
FROM THE CLASSROOM. FROM OUR
TEACHERS FROM OUR CLASS REPORT,
EMPLOYEES OF WHICH ARE ALSO ALL
UNION JOBS. AND IF IT ISN'T THE
INTENT FOR THIS POLICY TO
SALARIES AND JOBS, THE
REIMBURSEMENT RATE AT FOCUS CITY
AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL SHOULD
REFLECT THAT. BUT IT DOESN'T SO
WE DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN. THE
LIMITED RESOURCES WE HAVE. ESPN
LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH THE AUTHOR AND THE
SPONSORS TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE
FUNDING IS PROVIDED FOR THE BILL
SO THAT EVERY DOLLAR SCHOOLS
RECEIVED IS PRESERVED FOR
EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR
CURRENT NEEDS AND MENTAL HEALTH
, RECOVERING LEARNING FROM THE
PANDEMIC AND DO SCHOOL CLOSURES,
AS WELL AS ENSURING A SAFE AND
HEALTHY ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT OR
REACHED THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU
FOR THE TESTIMONY. AND BEFORE WE
GO TO MEMBERS, UM, QUESTIONS
LIKE TO ESTABLISH QUORUM, MADAM
SECRETARY. GRIEVOUS HERE. MATHIS
AGUIAR-CURRY. CUNNINGHAM FLORA.
GRAY IRWIN. JOHN SAWYER,
VALLAPUDUA WILSON. WOULD. WE
HAVE ACQUIRED. WE DO HAVE A
QUORUM. SO DO ANY MEMBERS OF
THIS COMMITTEE HAVE QUESTIONS?
IS SHE GREAT? JUST WANT TO THINK
THAT SENATOR FOR BRINGING THE
BILL FORWARD, UH, ALWAYS START
ADVOCATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND A
GREAT COLLEAGUE IN THAT SENSE OF
REPRESENTING THE SAN JOAQUIN
VALLEY. BUT JUST AS AN
OPPORTUNITY, I'D BE REMISS NOT
TO JUST MAKE A GENERAL COMMENT
THAT WHILE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE HAVE POLICIES LIKE THESE TO
SUPPORT BY AMERICAN AND BY
CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE. IT'S
ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE ACTUALLY
BUILD WATER STORAGE AND DEAL
WITH THE OVER 500% REGULATORY
COST INCREASES THAT PLAGUE OUR
AG BUSINESS PEOPLE UP AND DOWN
THE STATE. WE ARE GOING TO FIND
OURSELVES MEMBERS IN A PLACE IN
THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO SEE A HUGE
REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF ACRES
FARMED HERE IN THE STATE, A
STATE THAT PROVIDES TWO THIRDS
OF THE NATION'S FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES. I KNOW MANY OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ARE
WELL FAMILIAR WITH THAT AND
SUPPORTIVE, BUT JUST A REMINDER
NOT JUST ON THE FEEL GOOD
POLICIES BUT ON THE DIFFICULT
CHOICES AROUND WATER STORAGE AND
BALANCING OUR POLICIES IN A WAY
THAT SUPPORT THE AG INDUSTRY.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING. AND
THANK YOU, SENATOR AND I WILL BE
VOTING IN SUPPORT OF YOUR
MEASURE TODAY. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS SEE NONE WE
WILL MOVE TO, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT
SO IF THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE
ISLANDS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
REGISTER THEIR SUPPORT
OPPOSITION FOR THIS BILL, NOW IS
THE TIME TO DO SO. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MR TERRAN MEMBERS.
TRICIA GEHRINGER WITH
AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL OF
CALIFORNIA, REPRESENTING 15,000
FARMERS AND FARMER OWNED
BUSINESSES, ALL THROUGHOUT THE
STATE. AS ONE OF THE SPONSORS
AND VERY STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS
UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP AND SPECIAL
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AGRICULTURE
AND LABOR. THANK YOU. CODY BOILS
ON BEHALF OF CALIFORNIA, CITRUS
MUTUAL IN CALIFORNIA FRESH FRUIT
ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT MR
CHAIRMAN MEMBERS, ANTHONY
MOLINA, ON BEHALF OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA EGG
FARMERS AND THE CALIFORNIA PEAR
GROWERS ASSOCIATION AND SUPPORT
THANK YOU. MR CHAIR MEMBER SHANE
GUSSMAN ON BEHALF OF THE
TEAMSTERS IN SUPPORT. NEXT WE
WILL GO TO THE PHONE LINES
OPERATOR. DO WE HAVE COLORS IN
THE QUEUE TO PROVIDE, UM PUBLIC
COMMENTS WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OR
OPPOSITION OF THIS BILL. UM, NO
, WE DO NOT HAVE PARTICIPANT
STYLED IN OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM
OPERATOR. AND WITH THAT,
SENATOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR.
CHAIR AND MEMBERS. THANK YOU TO
MY COLLEAGUE FROM MERCED FOR HIS
COMMENTS. HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WATER IS GOING TO BE A BIG
ISSUE. BUT RIGHT NOW, THE ISSUE
IS DO WE SUPPORT THE FARMERS
THAT ARE GROWING IN OUR IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, THE DATA VERY
CLEARLY, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF
FARMER FARMER CO OPERATIVES
FOUND THAT 81% OF THE APPLE
JUICE SERVED IN SCHOOL LUNCH
PROGRAMS IS IMPORTED. AND YOU
KNOW, CALIFORNIA IS A BIG
PRODUCER OF APPLE JUICE AND
APPLES. 50 TO 60% OF THE FISH
STICKS SERVED IN OUR CALIFORNIA
SCHOOLS IS CAUGHT BY RUSSIAN
SHIPS AND PROCESSED IN CHINA.
AND OVER 26 6 STATES PURCHASED
CHINESE CANNED PEACHES, EVEN
THOUGH CALIFORNIA IS THE LARGEST
PRODUCER AND SUPPLIER OF CANNED
PEACHES. SO YOU KNOW, I'M VERY
SENSITIVE TO SOME OF THE ISSUES
THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED BY THE
OPPOSITION. SOME OF THEM ARE
EASILY FIXED THAT THE DATE OF
2024 WAS ACTUALLY NEGOTIATED, UM
, BECAUSE THEY WANTED A YEAR AND
A HALF TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW
THEY WOULD DO THIS IF IT WAS IF
IT IF THE BILL PASSED BUT THE
SCHOOLS ARE GETTING THE RECORD.
AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR ALL OF THE
SCHOOL FUNCTIONS. IT'S THE IT'S
THE HIGHEST. WELL, WE'VE GOT TO
FINISH THE BUDGET. BUT ONCE THE
BUDGET IS FINISHED, UM WE WILL
HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY ON
EDUCATION THAN WE EVER HAVE
HISTORICALLY IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, AND SO THE QUESTION
BECOMES, DO WE? REQUIRE. THAT
THE HIGHEST QUALITY PRODUCE AND
CANNED AND, UM GROWN. PRODUCTS
COME FROM THE STATE THAT
PRODUCES THE HIGHEST QUALITY, OR
ARE WE WILLING TO ACCEPT
INFERIOR QUALITY AND SOME OF IT
THAT IS OF UNKNOWN ORIGINS TO
FEED TO OUR CHILDREN? AND I
THINK THE ANSWER IS VERY CLEAR.
I THINK WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR
FARMERS, AND WE NEED TO PROVIDE
THE HIGHEST QUALITY FOOD THAT WE
CAN UM AND I'D BE MORE THAN
HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ON TRYING TO INCREASE
THE AMOUNT THAT THEY RECEIVE AS
REIMBURSEMENT. I THINK THAT'S
ONLY FAIR. BUT THIS BILL DEALS
WITH STARTING A PROCESS SO THAT
WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
PRODUCING. WE'RE PROVIDING TO
TWO CHILDREN AND TWO COLLEGE
STUDENTS BECAUSE IT INCLUDES THE
UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, THE HIGHEST QUALITY
FOOD, WHICH IS GROWN IN
CALIFORNIA, AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE. WELL, THANK
YOU, MADAM SENATOR. IS THERE A
MOTION TO MOVE THE BILL? AND
MOTION AND A SECOND MR GRAY
MOTION BY, UH, SOME OF THE
MEMBER WILSON. AND SO, MADAM
SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
OTION IS DUE PASS TO THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE. RIVAS RIVAS
. I, MATHIS MATHIS. I AGREE TO
CURRY AGUIAR-CURRY. AYE
CUNNINGHAM FLORA. FLORA I GRAY
GRAY I IRWIN IRWIN I JOAN SAWYER
VALLAPUDUA. BE VALLAPUDUA I,
WILSON WILSON. I WOULD. THAT
BILL IS OUT AND BEFORE WE
ADJOURN. OKAY, OKAY. AND SO WE
HAVE ONE MORE. COMMITTEE
HEARING, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK, AND
SO AT THAT TIME WILL RECOGNIZE
OUR LONGEST STANDING MEMBER, MR
GRAY. AND SO WITH THAT WE STAND
ADJOURNED.