THE ASSEMBLY IS NOW IN SESSION.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER SANTIAGO NOTICES
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. THE
SERGEANT AT ARMS WILL PREPARE
THE CHAMBER AND BRING IN THE
ABSENT MEMBERS. THE CLERK WILL
CALL THE ROLL. ADDIS
AGUIAR-CURRY. ALANIZ. ALVAREZ
ARAMBULA. BAYNES. BARRON KHN.
BENNETT. BERMAN BERNER. BONTA.
BRYAN CALDERON, JUAN. CARILLO.
WENDY CARRILLO. CERVANTES. CHEN
CONNELLY. DALLEY. DAVIES DIXON.
ISOLE. FLORA MIKE. FONG.
FRIEDMAN, GABRIEL. GALLAGHER.
GARCIA. GIBSON GRAYSON. HAYNIE.
HART HOLDEN. HOOVER. IRWIN
JACKSON. JONES-SAWYER. CORA
LACKEY. LEE. LOWE LOWENTHAL.
MAYNE. SHINE. MATHIS MCCARTY.
MCKENNA. MURATSUCHI NGUYEN.
ORTEGA. PACHECO PAPPIN, JIM.
PATTERSON, JOE. PATTERSON.
PELLERIN. PETRIE-NORRIS
QUIRK-SILVA. RAMOS. RENDON
REYES. THREE OF US RODRIGUEZ.
RUBIO. SANCHEZ. SANTIAGO
SCHIAVO. SORIA. TO TING.
VALENCIA. VÆ. VALLAPUDUA
WALDRON. WALLACE. WARD WEBER.
WICKS. WILSON WOOD. ZUBER. MR.
SPEAKER.
MEMBERS A QUORUM IS PRESENT. WE
ASK OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS IN
THE REAR OF THE CHAMBER AND IN
THE GALLERY TO PLEASE STAND FOR
THE PRAYER AND THE FLAG SALUTE.
THE DAY'S PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED
BY OUR ASSEMBLY CHAPLAIN, IMAM
YASIR KHAN. IN THE NAME OF GOD,
THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST
MERCIFUL. ALMIGHTY GOD, IN THIS
ASSEMBLY WE BOW BEFORE YOU,
SEEKING YOUR DIVINE GUIDANCE.
GRANT US THE VISION TO SEE
BEYOND OURSELVES THE COMPASSION
TO EMPATHIZE WITH OTHERS, AND
THE COURAGE TO ACT WITH
RIGHTEOUSNESS. AS WE DELIBERATE,
MAY YOUR PRESENCE FILL THIS
CHAMBER, ILLUMINATING OUR MINDS
AND HEARTS WITH UNDERSTANDING
AND GRACE. INSPIRE US TO INSPIRE
US TO WORK TOGETHER,
TRANSCENDING DIFFERENCES FOR THE
COLLECTIVE WELFARE OF ALL. IN
YOUR INFINITE WISDOM, WE PLACE
OUR FAITH. AMEN. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER QUIRK-SILVA WILL
LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. PLEASE
JOIN US IN SALUTING OUR FLAG. I
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT
STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL. YOU MAY BE
SEATED. READING OF THE PREVIOUS
DAY'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY CHAMBER,
SACRAMENTO, THURSDAY, MAY 2ND,
2024. THE ASSEMBLY MET AT 9 A.M,
AND MR. FLORES SECONDS THAT THE
READING OF THE PREVIOUS DAY'S
JOURNAL BE DISPENSED WITH.
PRESENT ACTIONS AND PETITIONS.
THERE ARE NONE. INTRODUCTION AND
REFERENCE OF REFERENCE OF BILLS
WILL BE DEFERRED. REPORTS OF
COMMITTEES WILL BE DEEMED READ
AND AMENDMENTS DEEMED ADOPTED.
MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR.
THERE ARE NONE. MESSAGES FROM
THE SENATE. THERE ARE NONE.
MOVING TO MOTIONS AND
RESOLUTIONS. THE ABSENCES FOR
THE DAY WILL BE DEEMED READ AND
PRINTED IN THE JOURNAL. MOVING
TO OUR PROCEDURAL MOTIONS,
ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER
SANTIAGO, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. I
REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
SUSPEND RULE 45.5 TO ALLOW
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS WARD WEBER
FRIEDMAN TO SPEAK ON A GERMAN
AND MEMORIES TODAY. WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SUCH SHALL BE THE
ORDER. I REQUEST UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO SUSPEND RULE 118 A TO
ALLOW SOME MEMBERS HANEY,
GIBSON, DICKSON, JUAN CARRILLO
MANCINI TO HAVE GUESTS AT THE
REAR OF THE OF THE CHAMBER AND
TO ALLOW SENATE MEMBERS HANEY,
JUAN CARRILLO, AND RENDON TO
HAVE SEATS. GUEST SEATS. SORRY.
GUESTS SEATED AT THEIR DESKS
TODAY. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SUCH
SHALL BE THE ORDER, AND I'M
GIVING ONE DAY FINAL NOTICE TO
REMOVE BILLS FROM THE INACTIVE
FILE FILE ITEM A DASH SB OH
EIGHT, AT THE REQUEST OF A
SEMINAR, SANTIAGO, MYSELF AND
FILE ITEM A DASH 17 SB 537
BECKER, AT THE REQUEST OF
ASSEMBLY MEMBER HART. CLERK WILL
NOTE AND AT THE AND ALSO AT THE
REQUEST OF AUTHORS TO PLEASE
MOVE THE FOLLOWING BILLS TO
ENACT THE FILE. FILE ITEM SIX AB
3155 FRIEDMAN FILE ITEM SEVEN AB
2168 CAR CAR TO FILE ITEM EIGHT
AB 2201. ADDIS CLERK WILL NOTE.
THIS IS A REMINDER FOR THE RULES
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES
, SO PLEASE GO TO ROOM 126 UPON
ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION FOR THE
OFFICIAL COMMITTEE PHOTO. I WANT
TO THANK THE ON TIME CAUCUS.
TODAY GREW TO 24 MEMBERS. MUCH
APPRECIATED. ALSO TODAY IS
NATIONAL MINT JULEP DAY FOR ALL
THOSE WHO CELEBRATE. BUT NOT
NOW. PLEASE. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
CARRILLO, JUAN CARRILLO, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR GUEST
INTRODUCTIONS. MEMBERS. YOUR
ATTENTION PLEASE. FOR ASSEMBLY
MEMBER JUAN CARRILLO. THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER. MEMBERS, I'M
PLEASED AND HONORED TO PRESENT
TO YOU MY TWIN BOYS, WYATT AND
SAGE, WHO JUST TURNED TEN LAST
WEEK, WAS A SPECIAL TRIP FOR
THEM TO BE HERE. WE ACTUALLY
PLAYED A SOCCER CUP LAST NIGHT,
SOME MEMBERS KEPT KEEPING SCORE.
FOR SOME REASON. I JUST WASN'T
KEEPING SCORE. I JUST DID IT FOR
THE FUN. WAS SPECIAL TO ME
BECAUSE I ALWAYS TOOK HIM TO
PLAY SOCCER. ALWAYS BEEN ON THE
SIDELINES WATCHING THEM PLAY.
SAME THING WITH MY OLDER SON AND
MY WIFE IN THE BACK OVER THERE,
THIS TIME IT WAS THEIR TURN TO
WATCH ME ON THE SIDELINES AND
WATCH THE OLD MAN PLAY SOCCER,
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO
THIS. AND ALSO A SPECIAL
OCCASION FOR ME. MY WIFE AND I
WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 28TH
ANNIVERSARY ON SATURDAY, JUNE
1ST, AND REALLY HAPPY TO BE
HERE. THANK YOU. MEMBERS THANK
YOU. SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CARRILLO.
WELCOME TO YOUR FAMILY AND
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY. MEMBERS WE HAVE
WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF GUESTS
INTRODUCTIONS TODAY. AND SO WE
ARE GOING TO BE MOVING AROUND IN
IN THE FILE ORDER. WE ARE GOING
TO GO TO ASSEMBLY THIRD READING.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO FILE ITEM 12
ACR 195 BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER LO.
THE CLERK WILL READ ASSEMBLY
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 195 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LO AND OTHERS
RELATIVE TO THE VIETNAMESE
HERITAGE AND FREEDOM FLAG
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LO, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. SPEAKER. AND COLLEAGUES, FOR
ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT ASSEMBLY
RESOLUTION, CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION 195, RECOGNIZING
VIETNAMESE HERITAGE AND THE
FREEDOM FLAG. IT'S, OF COURSE,
WITH GREAT DISTINCTION AND HONOR
AS THE CHAIR OF THE CALIFORNIA
ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS THAT I JOIN
IN, MY COLLEAGUES OF VIETNAMESE
DESCENT TO, INCLUDING THAT OF
STEPHANIE NGUYEN, THE FIRST
DEMOCRATIC VIETNAMESE WOMAN TO
BE ELECTED IN STATE HISTORY, AS
WELL AS MY COLLEAGUE MR. TO FROM
ORANGE COUNTY. MAJOR POPULATIONS
ARE ALSO REPRESENTED BY
INCREDIBLE CHAMPIONS. LIKE MY
OTHER COLLEAGUE FROM SAN JOSE,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER CHOLERA. I'M
HONORED TO INTRODUCE THIS
RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE
VIETNAMESE HERITAGE AND THE
FREEDOM FLAG FOR OUR VIETNAMESE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY. AFTER THE
FALL OF SAIGON ON APRIL 30TH IN
1975, MORE THAN 1 MILLION
REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS FROM THE
FORMER REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES.
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN
HOME TO MANY, WHICH IS NEARLY.
MY APOLOGIES, MR. LO. MEMBERS,
PLEASE. YOUR ATTENTION TO MR.
LO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
SPEAKER. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
HAS BECOME HOME TO NEARLY 1
MILLION VIETNAMESE AMERICAN
RESIDENTS, AND WE ARE SO PROUD
TO WELCOME THEM IN THESE
COMMUNITIES AGAIN, THESE MAJOR
METROPOLITAN AREAS OF ORANGE
COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE BEAUTIFUL
CITY OF SAN JOSE, WITH
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, WE IN THE
ASSEMBLY AND SENATE RECOGNIZE
THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF
THE VIETNAMESE AMERICAN
COMMUNITY AND FORMALLY RECOGNIZE
THE VIETNAMESE HERITAGE AND
FREEDOM FLAG, WHICH IS A SYMBOL
OF FREEDOM FOR THE VIETNAMESE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAT RESIDES
IN OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, THE UNITED STATES,
AND BEYOND. AND AGAIN,
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS DAY AND EFFORT. THIS IS
ALSO THE REFLECTION AND THE
EMBODIMENT AND SYMBOLISM OF
FREEDOM. AND I WANT TO ALSO
THANK OUR COLLEAGUE, SENATOR
NGUYEN FOR ALSO GIFTING THIS TO
ME AS WELL. TO BE ABLE TO SHOW
AND DEMONSTRATE THIS, I
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT AND I VOTE ON ACR 195.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER LO.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER TOR, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS, I'M HERE
TO SUPPORT OF ACR 195 WHICH
HONORED THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FALL OF SAIGON ON APRIL 30TH,
1975, AND HONOR THE VIETNAMESE
HERITAGE AND FREEDOM FLIGHT AS
THE IDENTITY OF THE VIETNAMESE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY. THE SOUTH
VIETNAMESE FLAG MEANS SO MUCH
MORE FOR ME AND MY VIETNAMESE
COMMUNITY WHO LOST OUR HOME AND
WHEN I AND MY AND HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF MY VIETNAMESE
FELLOW LEFT OUR COUNTRY AND CAME
TO THIS GREAT STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
FLAGS STAND FOR FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY. AND AS YOU ARE AWARE
THAT. 49 YEARS AFTER THE FALL OF
SAIGON, THE VIETNAMESE OVERSEA,
WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOR VIETNAM.
THAT'S THE REASON THAT I HAVE
THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE FLAG ON MY
DESK SINCE MY FIRST DAY OF BEING
HERE. SO I TRULY, TRULY
APPRECIATE MR. LAU FROM SAN JOSE
FOR INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION.
THAT MEANS A LOT TO THE
VIETNAMESE OVERSEAS AROUND THE
WORLD. AND I, AND I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR I VOTE BECAUSE THIS
RESOLUTION THÀNH IS REALLY,
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE
VIETNAMESE AMERICAN. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. MR. TO MR. KALRA, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. MEMBERS, I RISE IN
SUPPORT OF ACR 195, WHICH
RECOGNIZES THE VIETNAMESE
HERITAGE AND FREEDOM FLAG AS A
SYMBOL OF THE VIETNAMESE
COMMUNITY'S RESILIENCE AND
CONTINUED STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FROM SAN JOSE FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AND AS HE MENTIONED,
CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO ONE OF THE
MOST VIBRANT AND OUTSTANDING
VIETNAMESE COMMUNITIES AROUND
THE WORLD, AND I'M PROUD TO
REPRESENT LITTLE SAIGON IN SAN
JOSE. SAN JOSE, WHICH IS A CITY
THAT HAS THE LARGEST VIETNAMESE
POPULATION OF ANY SINGLE CITY
OUTSIDE OF VIETNAM. MANY
VIETNAMESE AMERICANS HAVE
EMBRACED THE VIETNAMESE HERITAGE
AND FREEDOM FLAG AS A
REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATION OF
THEIR HERITAGE, AND TO HONOR
THEIR RICH CULTURE AND HISTORY,
BUT ALSO TO HONOR THEIR
RESILIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, AND
CONTINUED FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. IN
SUPPORTING ACR 195, WE SHOW OUR
SOLIDARITY WITH THE VIETNAMESE
COMMUNITY IN THEIR COMMITMENT TO
THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY,
JUSTICE AND THE PROTECTION AND
ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. SO
WHEN YOU GO, WHETHER IT'S SAN
JOSE OR ORANGE COUNTY OR EVEN
HERE IN SACRAMENTO, WHETHER IT'S
A VIETNAMESE EVENT OR A
VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT, YOU WILL
OFTENTIMES SEE THIS SYMBOL, SEE
THIS FLAG, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY IT'S
SO IMPORTANT TO THE VIETNAMESE
COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE TO RAISE
THIS FLAG, TO CONTINUE TO HONOR
IT. AND I'M PROUD OF THE FACT
THAT HERE IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP AND
STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR
VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY IN HONORING
THE VIETNAMESE HERITAGE AND
FREEDOM FLAG. RESPECTFULLY ASK
FOR YOUR AYE. VOTE ON ACR 185.
THANK YOU, MR. KALRA, MR. JIM
PATTERSON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU. MEMBER MEMBERS AND
SPEAKER, I NOTICED THAT, A
MILLION VIETNAMESE CAME TO THE
UNITED STATES. IT'S ONE OF THOSE
1 MILLION WAS A LITTLE 18 MONTH
OLD VIETNAMESE CHILD WHO WAS
FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN
APRIL OF 1975, WHEN OUR FORCES
WERE EVACUATING AND SAIGON WAS
FALLING, THOSE TWO, AMERICAN GIS
STOPPED THEIR OWN EVACUATION TO
PICK THIS LITTLE GUY UP AND TAKE
HIM TO A CATHOLIC ORPHANAGE. HE
WAS CARED FOR THERE FOR SEVERAL
WEEKS. AND THEN, PRESIDENT FORD
SENT THE C-5A OVER FOR THE FOR
THE BABYLIFT. AND BJ WAS ON THE
VERY FIRST FLIGHT. THAT FIRST
FLIGHT CRASHED. HE SURVIVED
THAT. PUT ON ANOTHER FLIGHT,
FLOWN TO THE UNITED STATES. I
HAVE A FLAGPOLE IN MY FRONT YARD
. I FLY THE AMERICAN FLAG THERE
REGULARLY TODAY. THAT FLAGPOLE
ALSO HAS THE VIETNAMESE FREEDOM
FLAG FLYING FROM A BOY. HE IS
SUCH A FRESH REMINDER OF WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE FREE. AND IN THE
UNITED STATES, HE'S A PLUMBING
CONTRACTOR. HE'S 52 YEARS OLD,
MARRIED TO AN ACCOUNTANT.
EVERYBODY NEEDS A PLUMBER AND AN
ACCOUNTANT IN THEIR FAMILY,
RIGHT? THAT'S A GOOD THING. BUT
HE WILL REMIND ME OFTEN. HE'LL
SAY, DAD, IF THOSE GUYS HADN'T
PICKED ME UP, IF THAT CATHOLIC
ORPHANAGE HADN'T CARED FOR ME,
IF PRESIDENT FORD HADN'T SENT
THE C-5AS, AND IF YOU AND MOM
HADN'T ADOPTED. I'D BE IN A
COMMUNIST COUNTRY, PROBABLY
BEHIND A WATER BUFFALO IN A RICE
PADDY. BUT I'M IN AMERICA. I OWN
MY OWN HOME. I HAVE MY OWN
BUSINESS. I'M FREE, AND I'M
GRATEFUL. AND SO I LIVE AS A
DAD. I GUESS THERE'S I GUESS I'M
THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE
VIETNAMESE FATHER CAUCUS. I
ANYBODY I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT,
BUT ALL I'M SAYING IS. HIS
ENTRANCE INTO OUR LIVES REALLY
DID CHANGE OUR LIVES SO
SUBSTANTIALLY BECAUSE WE HAD
BEEN MARRIED TEN YEARS,
FERTILITY ISSUES. OUR THREE KIDS
ARE NOW ALL ADOPTED. BUT BJ
OPENED THAT DOOR, AND THAT LED
TO JASON, A COUNTY BABY, AND TO
LINDSAY, A PRIVATE ADOPTION. AND
SO I JOINED WITH MY COLLEAGUES
HERE AND FIRST AND FOREMOST,
REITERATING OUR WELCOME AND
GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR
THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE IN OUR
MIDST WHO ARE NOW OUR FRIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES, COWORKERS, AND
ALL THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY IN
FRESNO, INCREASINGLY IS TAKING
LEADERSHIP ROLES IN, IN, IN
BUSINESS AND EDUCATION, IN THE
LAW, WE NOW HAVE THIRD
GENERATION VIETNAMESE
VALEDICTORIANS AS STRAIGHT A
STUDENTS AND IT'S A JOY TO STAND
HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE FREEDOM
FLAG. BUT YOU KNOW SOMETHING
ELSE? THERE'S ANOTHER FREEDOM
FLAG FLYING AT MY HOUSE, AND
IT'S THE STARS AND STRIPES. AND
SO WE'RE TOGETHER ON THIS
FREEDOM HERE AND FREEDOM FOR MY
VIETNAMESE BOY, BUT ALSO FREEDOM
FOR EVERYBODY. THAT'S THE GREAT
GIFT OF BEING IN THE UNITED
STATES. AND BJDW RECOGNIZES IT,
LOVES HIS ADOPTED COUNTRY AND IS
ONE OF THE MOST PATRIOTIC YOUNG
MEN I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO
KNOW. SO SO I RISE IN SUPPORT,
NOT JUST ON BEHALF OF SHARON AND
THE FAMILY AND ALL OF THAT, BUT
30S FROM A BOY. THIS THIS ONE'S
FOR BJ. YOU GOT HERE. YOU'RE
FREE OWN BUSINESS, OWN A HOME,
AND YOU'RE AMERICAN. AND SO I'M
JOINING WITH EVERYBODY IN
SALUTING OUR VIETNAMESE FRIENDS,
FAMILY MEMBERS, AND ALSO
REMINDING OURSELVES THAT, YES,
WE SUPPORT FREEDOM FOR OUR
VIETNAMESE FOLKS. BUT LET'S NOT
FORGET THE ORIGINATOR OF THE
FREEDOM FLAG IS THE STARS AND
STRIPES. THANK YOU, MR.
PATTERSON. THANK YOU. AND I ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER NGUYEN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. MEMBERS THIS FLAG WAS
FIRST ADOPTED IN 1948, AND AFTER
THE FALL OF SAIGON IN 1975, THIS
FLAG STILL REMAINS WITH US TODAY
AS A SYMBOL OF HOPE AGAINST THE
RESISTANCE OF OPPRESSION, AND
THAT THIS FLAG HERE SYMBOLIZES
THE FACT THAT WE CONTINUE TO
HAVE HOPE, HOPE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND HOPE FOR OUR
PEOPLE. THE GOLD REPRESENTS THE
UNITY OF THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE,
WHILE THE THREE RED HORIZONTAL
LINES REPRESENT THE NORTH, SOUTH
AND CENTRAL REGIONS OF VIETNAM.
IF YOU WERE TO GOOGLE THE
VIETNAMESE FLAG RIGHT NOW, CHAU
OR LOOK IT UP ON THE INTERNET,
THIS ISN'T WHAT YOU SEE. BUT
THIS IS THE ONLY FLAG THAT I
KNOW. THIS IS THE ONLY FLAG THAT
MY CHILDREN WILL KNOW, AND THIS
IS THE ONLY FLAG THAT I ASK EACH
AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU TO
NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE, BUT EDUCATE
THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS OUR
FLAG, THIS IS OUR FREEDOM FLAG,
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT
FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR
COUNTRY, AND FOR OUR PEOPLE. I
WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR
SPEAKING TODAY, BUT MORE THAN
ANYTHING, I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUE FROM SACRAMENTO
ASSEMBLY MEMBER KEVIN MCCARTY,
BECAUSE HE DID SOMETHING REALLY
SIGNIFICANT HERE IN SACRAMENTO.
A HISTORICAL MOMENT FOR US WHEN
WE DEDICATED SOUTH SACRAMENTO,
WHERE MANY OF THE VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES WHO FLED DURING THE
FALL OF SAIGON NOW RESIDE, WHERE
MY FAMILY RESIDE, WHERE I GREW
UP, BECAME LITTLE SAIGON
DISTRICT, AND WE PROUDLY WE
DISPLAY THIS FLAG RIGHT HERE.
AND WHAT AN HONOR IT IS FOR ME
TO NOW BE ABLE TO BE THE
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THAT
DISTRICT. I WANT TO THANK
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOWE FOR
CARRYING THIS AND FOR EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY ON THIS FLOOR HERE. I
ASK NOT ONLY FOR YOUR VOTE, BUT
I ASK. I ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO
HELP US IN HONORING AND
RECOGNIZING THIS FLAG, BECAUSE
IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST US. IT
TAKES EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE
OF YOU GOING BACK TO YOUR
DISTRICT, TO SAY, THIS IS THE
FLAG OF THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE FLAG THAT THEY WANT.
THIS IS THE FLAG THAT THEY
RECOGNIZE, AND THIS IS THE FLAG
THAT SHOULD BE DISPLAYED. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RESPECTFULLY
ASK FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK
YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER NGUYEN.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOWE, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO CLOSE? THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER. AND
COLLEAGUES. I THANK THOSE WHO
SPOKE IN RECOGNITION OF THE
REFLECTION OF WHAT THE FLAG
MEANS, THAT IT IS THAT OF THE
UNITED STATES IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA THAT SO MANY HAVE
FOUGHT FOR, MARCHED FOR, BEEN
JAILED FOR, AND DIED FOR THE
VALUES AND PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM
THAT WE ENJOY HERE TODAY. AND SO
THIS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT IN
A BIPARTISAN FASHION TO THAT OF
DEMOCRACY, LOVE AND INCLUSION
AND THE WORK THAT WE HAVE AHEAD
OF US. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR
AYE VOTE ON ACR 185. AND, MR.
LOWE, WOULD YOU LIKE THE FIRST
ROLL OPEN FOR COAUTHORS? YES,
PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR. LOWE. WITH THAT, THE CLERK
WILL OPEN THE ROLL. ALL THOSE
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE AS A
COAUTHOR. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO
DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTE
WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. THE CLERK
WILL CLOSE THE ROLL AND TALLY
THE VOTES. THERE ARE 58
COAUTHORS ADDED. WITHOUT
OBJECTION, WE'LL TAKE A VOICE
VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. ALL IN
FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE OPPOSED? SAY
NO. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. AND WE'RE
MOVING BACK TO GUEST
INTRODUCTIONS. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
HAYNIE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR GUEST INTRODUCTIONS. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I AM VERY
PROUD TO WELCOME BACK TO THE
CHAMBER THE TWO PEOPLE YOU MAY
RECOGNIZE, WHO I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR LAST YEAR.
MY GRANDPARENTS, ALLEN AND
DOROTHY, WHO CELEBRATED THEIR
BIRTHDAYS 96 AND 94 YEARS OLD.
AND HERE VISITING US AGAIN. AND
I HAVE TWO OTHER VERY IMPORTANT
PEOPLE, MY COUSINS ARE HERE
VISITING FROM ISRAEL, TAMAR AND
ODED, WHO ARE SITTING BEHIND ME
HERE. SO IF YOU'LL PLEASE, JOIN
ME IN WELCOMING THEM TO THE
ASSEMBLY FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MR. HANEY. WELCOME TO
YOUR FAMILY. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
DIXON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR GUEST INTRODUCTION. GOOD
MORNING, MR. SPEAKER AND
COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. I'M
HONORED TO WELCOME THIS MORNING
THE CALIFORNIA INTERSCHOLASTIC
FEDERATION, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
CIF 2024 SCHOLAR ATHLETES OF THE
YEAR. QUINN HARTMANN FROM
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 72, MY
DISTRICT. AND KARISSA LEE FROM
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 24. SINCE
1982, THE CIF SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
RECOGNIZES COLLEGE BOUND HIGH
SCHOOL SENIORS WHOSE ACADEMIC
AND ATHLETIC CAREERS HAVE BEEN
TRULY EXEMPLARY, WHOSE PERSONAL
STANDARDS OF HONESTY, INTEGRITY,
AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR
SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES ARE A
POSITIVE MODEL FOR OTHERS TO
STATE. WINNERS EACH RECEIVE A
MALE AND FEMALE, EACH RECEIVE A
$10,000 SCHOLARSHIP. QUINN
HARTMANN IS STANDING AT THE BACK
, IS A THREE SPORT ATHLETE AT
MARINA HIGH SCHOOL IN HUNTINGTON
BEACH, SERVING AS TEAM CAPTAIN
OF THE SOCCER CROSS COUNTRY AND
BASEBALL TEAMS. IN HIS HIGH
SCHOOL CAREER. QUINN SERVED AS A
FRESHMAN MENTOR, PRESIDENT OF
THE SCIENCE NATIONAL HONOR
SOCIETY, VICE PRESIDENT OF CSF,
AND A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL
HONOR SOCIETY. HE ADDITIONALLY
FOUNDED THE MEDICAL CAREER CLUB
AND IS FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF
THE MARINA MATH CLUB. OUTSIDE
THE CLASSROOM, QUINN SERVES HIS
COMMUNITY AS AN AQUARIUM OF THE
PACIFIC BILINGUAL EXHIBIT
INTERPRETER, YOUTH BASEBALL
ASSISTANT COACH, AND YOUTH
SOCCER COACH AND REFEREE.
WELCOME MADAM QUINN. THANK YOU.
I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF
WELCOMING KARISSA. KARISSA LEE
ON BEHALF OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER LEE
FROM MILPITAS HIGH SCHOOL. SHE
IS THE CAPTAIN OF THE CROSS
COUNTRY TEAM AND THE PRESIDENT
OF THE MATH CLUB. HER PASSION
EXTEND WELL BEYOND THE FIELD AND
THE CLASSROOM, AND KARISSA HAS
DEDICATED HERSELF TO GIVING BACK
TO THE COMMUNITY. KARISSA IS THE
BOARD DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL'S
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
OPPORTUNITY CLUB, WHICH OFFERS
COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
LIKE PARK CLEANUPS AND VOLUNTEER
SERVICES AT SENIOR FACILITIES.
SHE ALSO FOUNDED THE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION SAGE EDUCATION TO
PROVIDE EXTRA CURRICULAR
OPPORTUNITIES FOR K THROUGH 12
STUDENTS, SUCH AS COMPETITIVE
MATHEMATICS, READING
COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY.
THESE TWO HONOREES CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THEIR SCHOOL AND BROADER
COMMUNITY IS TRULY INSPIRING.
JOIN ME IN WELCOMING QUINN
HARTMAN AND KARISSA LEE. THANK
YOU.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER DIXON
, AND WELCOME TO THE SCHOLAR
ATHLETES.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER MCCARTY, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED FROM THE MAJORITY
LEADER'S DESK FOR YOUR GUEST
INTRODUCTIONS AS MEMBERS. YOUR
ATTENTION, PLEASE, TO ASSEMBLY
MEMBER MCCARTY. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME
SOME GUESTS UP HERE IN THE
GALLERY FROM THE UC DAVIS
MEDICAL SCHOOL. SUMMER SELECTIVE
PROGRAM ON HEALTH POLICY AND
ADVOCACY. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT
KNOW THAT THE UC DAVIS MEDICAL
SCHOOL IS NOT IN DAVIS, BUT
RIGHT HERE IN SACRAMENTO, IN THE
HEART OF MY DISTRICT. AND THESE
STUDENTS WILL BE HERE FOR THE
MONTH OF JUNE ATTENDING HEARINGS
, LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS TO LEARN
ABOUT OUR STRUCTURE OF
GOVERNMENT AND HOW IT RELATES
WITH OUR HEALTH POLICIES
THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, BRIDGING
WHAT THEY LEARN IN THEIR MEDICAL
PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE WORK WE
DO HERE AT OUR STATE CAPITOL AND
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT, IMPACTING
40 MILLION PEOPLE AND THE HEALTH
OF OUR OF OUR STATE. SO LET'S
PLEASE, GIVE THEM A WARM WELCOME
TO OUR STATE CAPITOL. AND THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. IN
THIS SUMMER.
THANK YOU, MR. MCCARTY, AND
WELCOME TO THE STUDENTS. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
MEMBERS, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
BACK IN FILE ORDER TO FILE ITEM
NUMBER 17, H.R. 103, BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GIBSON. MEMBERS YOUR
RESPECTFUL ATTENTION TO ASSEMBLY
MEMBER DIXON. EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE
ME, DR. GIBSON. I'M SORRY. WE
DID. WE WERE. THERE'S THIS A LOT
OF CONVERSATION. PLEASE. YOU'RE
YOUR ATTENTION TO ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GIBSON. CLERK WILL READ
THE HOUSE RESOLUTION 103 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GIBSON. RELATIVE
TO NATIONAL MARITIME DAY.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GIBSON. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. GOOD MORNING,
MEMBERS. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
AND MEMBERS, I RISE TODAY TO
PRESENT A TO PRESENT H.R. 103,
THE NATIONAL MARITIME DAY LAST
WEEK, ON MAY 22ND, WE CELEBRATED
NATIONAL MARITIME DAY. THIS DAY
IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE
IN THE STATE TO CELEBRATE OUR
PORTS AND OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS
AT EACH AND EVERY PORT IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AS THE
CHAIR OF THE CHAIR OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON PORTS AND GOODS
MOVEMENT, I HAVE VISITED EVERY
PORT IN THE STATE AND HAVE SEEN
THE IMPORTANCE FIRSTHAND OF THE
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT
THESE PORTS PROVIDE ON A DAILY
BASIS. CALIFORNIA'S DOMESTIC
MARITIME INDUSTRY PROVIDES, AN
ANNUAL OF $12.2 BILLION TO OUR
AND CONTRIBUTES TO OUR ECONOMY
AND MAKING OUR STATE GROW,
INCLUDING 3.6 BILLION IN LABOR
INCOME ACROSS MORE THAN 51,000
JOBS. THOSE ARE WELL PAYING
JOBS, UNION JOBS. AND THEY OFFER
THE TYPE OF JOBS THAT OFFERS THE
TYPE OF PAY AND BENEFITS NEEDED
TO SURVIVE IN THE SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES. AND THESE POSITIONS
ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO THE
EFFICIENCY OF THE SUPPLY CHAINS
AND BOLSTERING CALIFORNIA'S
ECONOMY. RECENTLY, IN BALTIMORE,
WE SAW CONSEQUENCES OF NOT
HAVING MARITIME ABILITIES. THE
SHIP THAT RAN INTO AND DESTROYED
THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE DID
NOT HAVE A TUGBOAT ESCORT OUT AT
THE BAY DURING THAT PARTICULAR
TIME. AS A RESULT, SIX
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS LOST THEIR
LIVES AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN HAS
BEEN AFFECTED AND IMPACTED
CONSIDERABLY AS A RESULT OF THAT
BRIDGE BEING OUT IN THE CRASH.
IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SAY
THAT CALIFORNIA IS THE FIFTH
WORLD LARGEST ECONOMY, WE MUST
CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE MARITIME
INDUSTRY, SO WITH THAT BEING
SAID, I WOULD LIKE THE FIRST ROW
TO BE OPEN ON H.R. 103 AND ASK
RESPECTFULLY FOR I VOTE. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER GIBSON,
SEEING AND HEARING NO FURTHER
DEBATE, THE CLERK WILL OPEN THE
ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE AS A COAUTHOR. ALL THOSE
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL
THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE.
AS A COAUTHOR. CLERK WILL CLOSE
THE ROLL AND TALLY THE VOTES.
THERE ARE 58 COAUTHORS OUTED
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL TAKE A
VOICE VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE.
OPPOSED? SAY NO. THE AYES HAVE
IT. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
AND MOVING TO SAU AT THIRD
READING FILE ITEM 20, SCR 116,
SENATOR JONES BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MAIENSCHEIN. THE CLERK WILL
READ. SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION 116 BY SENATOR JONES.
RELATIVE TO FRONTOTEMPORAL
DEGENERATION AWARENESS WEEK, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. AND MEMBERS, TODAY I
RISE TO PRESENT SCR 116, WHICH
RAISES AWARENESS FOR
FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION,
COMMONLY KNOWN AS FTD. FTD IS A
TERMINAL AND INCURABLE
NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE. IT
CAUSES IMPAIRMENTS TO SPEECH,
PERSONALITY, K¾T BEHAVIOR, AND
MOTOR SKILLS. FTD FTD PRIMARILY
AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR 40S
TO 60S, BUT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED
IN INDIVIDUALS AS YOUNG AS 14.
THE DISEASE ACCOUNTS FOR 5 TO
15% OF ALL DEMENTIA CASES, AND
AFFECTS AN ESTIMATED 60,000
PEOPLE IN THE US, DESPITE ITS
PREVALENCE, IT IS OFTEN
MISDIAGNOSED DUE TO ITS WIDE
RANGE OF SYMPTOMS AND THE LACK
OF AWARENESS AMONG THE PUBLIC
AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.
FTD AWARENESS WEEK IS CRUCIAL AS
IT SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON THIS
OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD DISEASE. IT
EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF
EARLY DETECTION, ACCURATE
DIAGNOSIS, AND ACCESS TO
APPROPRIATE CARE AND SUPPORT
SERVICES. THIS RESOLUTION
DECLARES SEPTEMBER 20TH 2ND TO
SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2024 AS FTD
AWARENESS WEEK IN CALIFORNIA.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RAISING
AWARENESS OF THIS IMPORTANT
DISEASE BY VOTING IN SUPPORT OF
SCR. SCR 106. THANK YOU, AND I
RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR AYE
VOTE AND MR. MAIENSCHEIN YOU
WOULD LIKE CO AUTHORS ADDED I
WOULD. MR. MAIENSCHEIN IS
REQUESTING CO AUTHORS SEEING AND
HEARING NO FURTHER DEBATE. THE
CLERK WILL OPEN THE ROLL. ALL
THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE AS
A COAUTHOR OF THE RESOLUTION.
ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE TO
VOTE. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE. CLERK WILL CLOSE THE
ROLL AND TALLY THE VOTES. THERE
ARE 59 COAUTHORS ADDED. WITHOUT
OBJECTION, WE'LL TAKE A VOICE
VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. ALL IN
FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED?
SAY NO. THE AYES HAVE IT. THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. AND, MR.
MAIENSCHEIN, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
FOR YOUR GUEST INTRODUCTIONS.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I WOULD
LIKE TO INTRODUCE EMMA WILLIS,
SUSAN DICKINSON AND WANDA SMITH.
EMMA WILLIS IS A WIFE, MOTHER
AND BUSINESS OWNER WHO BECAME AN
ADVOCATE FOR FTT AWARENESS AFTER
HER HUSBAND, ACTOR BRUCE WILLIS,
RECEIVED AN FTD DIAGNOSIS IN
2023. TODAY, SHE WORKS WITH THE
AMERICAN FRONTOTEMPORAL
DEGENERATION ASSOCIATION TO
ENSURE THAT LEGISLATORS, HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS AND THE PUBLIC
UNDERSTAND THE ILLNESS AND ITS
IMPACT ON PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS
AND FAMILIES. SUSAN DICKINSON IS
THE CEO OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR
FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION AND
BRINGS MORE THAN THREE DECADES
OF EXPERIENCE FACILITATING
COMMUNICATION AMONG SCIENTIFIC
AND MEDICAL COMMUNITIES. UNDER
HER LEADERSHIP, FTD HAS EXPANDED
PROGRAMS TO MEET AND ADVOCATE
FOR THE CARE AND SUPPORT OF FTD
FAMILIES AND INVESTED IN
SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE
FTD RESEARCH AND DRUG
DEVELOPMENT. JUAN DE SMITH, A
CONSTITUENT IN MY DISTRICT, IS A
LIFELONG ADVOCATE FOR
FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION.
SINCE DISCOVERING HER MOTHER HAD
ONE OF THE GENES ASSOCIATED WITH
FTD, IT HAS BEEN HER MISSION TO
SPREAD INFORMATION ABOUT THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ALZHEIMER'S
AND FTD AND THE SERVICES
AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES IMPACTED
BY THE DISEASE. I WOULD LIKE TO
ALSO REQUEST YOUR ATTENTION TO
THE GALLERY, WHERE A GROUP OF
PEOPLE FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR
FRONTOTEMPORAL DEGENERATION IS
HERE SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. THANK
YOU, MR. MAIENSCHEIN. WELCOME TO
YOUR GUESTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ADVOCACY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE TODAY. PLEASE, IF YOU LIKE.
OKAY. JUST A NOTE UNDER
RECONSIDERATION. ALL ITEMS SHALL
BE CONTINUED. WE'RE MOVING BACK
IN FILE ORDER TO ASSEMBLY TO
FILE ITEM NUMBER FIVE, ACR 193
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN. THE
CLERK WILL READ. ASSEMBLY
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 193 BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN AND
OTHERS. RELATIVE TO FOSTER CARE
AWARENESS MONTH. REMEMBER,
BRIAN, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER AND COLLEAGUES,
I RISE TO PRESENT ACR 193 THAT
WOULD MAKE MAY FOSTER CARE
AWARENESS MONTH. WE DIDN'T DO
THIS LAST YEAR, WE DID THIS
EVERY YEAR BACK WHEN OUR
COLLEAGUE KEN COOLEY WAS HERE
FROM SACRAMENTO. AND I'M GLAD
WE'RE DOING IT THIS YEAR BECAUSE
THERE'S A GAP. FOSTER CARE
ISSUES ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
TO ME, I WAS BORN TO A TEENAGE
MOTHER. MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT
SHE SURVIVED A RAPE, THE
CONDITIONS OF WHICH ARE SO
TERRIBLE, I WILL NEVER KNOW WHO
MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER IS. SHE
GAVE ME UP AT BIRTH. THERE WERE
NO FAMILY PLACEMENTS FOR ME.
DEEP POVERTY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE. I
WENT INTO A TEMPORARY FOSTER
HOME IMMEDIATELY AT BIRTH AND
THEN WAS A FOSTER CHILD OF THE
BRIAN FAMILY AND ADOPTED BY THE
BRIAN FAMILY. IT'S FUNNY, I SAY
THE BRIAN FAMILY KNOWING THAT
YOU ALL DON'T HAVE ANY CONTEXT
FOR THAT, BUT EVERYWHERE I GREW
UP, THE BRIAN'S WERE KNOWN, AND
THE REASON WE WERE KNOWN IS
BECAUSE MY MOM AND DAD WERE
CRAZY. THEY DID FOSTER CARE FOR
26 YEARS, NEARLY 200 KIDS. IF
YOU ASK MY MOM WHY THEY BECAME
FOSTER PARENTS, SHE WOULD SAY,
GOD TOLD HER TO. AND IF YOU ASK
MY DAD, HE WOULD SAY THEY WERE
SITTING IN CHURCH ONE SUNDAY.
THERE WAS A SIBLING GROUP OF
FIVE AND THE PREACHER SAID HAD
NO PLACE TO GO THAT DAY. CHURCH
OF ABOUT 500 PEOPLE. MY MOM
SAID, CAN WE DO IT? AND MY DAD,
BEING THE SHARP AND SAVVY GUY
THAT HE IS, TO SCORE BROWNIE
POINTS AND KEEP GOOD WITH GOD,
LEANED OVER AND SAID, IF NOBODY
ELSE WILL DO IT. CHURCH OF 500.
HE LEAVES SERVICE. HE GETS THE
CAR, PULLS UP TO THE FRONT.
SHE'S WALKING OUT WITH FIVE
KIDS. THAT'S HOW THEY STARTED
THEIR JOURNEY. THEY DID FOSTER
CARE IN FOUR STATES TEXAS,
FLORIDA, UTAH AND CALIFORNIA.
THEY ADOPTED NINE OF US. I HAVE
HAD OVER 100 FOSTER SIBLINGS. I
CAN'T NAME ALL OF THEM FOR YOU,
BUT I CERTAINLY REMEMBER EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF THEM. AND I ALSO
RECOGNIZED EARLY ON THAT BEING
IMPACTED BY THE CHILD WELFARE
SYSTEM HAS AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT
ON YOUR POTENTIAL LIFE OUTCOMES.
THERE'S ALMOST NOTHING THAT MY
FAMILY HASN'T SEEN. WE'VE SEEN
FETAL COCAINE EXPOSURE, FETAL
ALCOHOL EXPOSURE, ADHD, WE'VE
SEEN SCHOOL PUSH OUT. I HAVE
SIBLINGS ON LEVEL FOUR PRISON
YARDS RIGHT NOW. I HAVE SIBLINGS
WHO ARE UNHOUSED. AND YOU SEE
THE WAY WHEN YOU'RE TOUCHED BY
THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, YOU'RE
LESS LIKELY TO PERFORM WELL
ACADEMICALLY. LGBTQ FOSTER YOUTH
ARE PUSHED OUT OF SCHOOL AT AN
INCREDIBLY ALARMING AND
ASTONISHING RATE. ONCE YOU ARE
PUSHED OUT OF SCHOOL, YOU ARE
MORE LIKELY TO COME TO CONTACT
WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.
ONCE YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH
THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, IT IS
UNLIKELY THAT YOU EVER LEAVE
THAT CONTACT. THAT'S WHY THE
WORK WE DO HERE IS SO INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. AND I KNOW THAT THERE
ARE FOSTER PARENTS ON THIS
FLOOR. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE
FOSTER FAMILIES ACROSS OUR
STATE. I KNOW THAT FOR I BELIEVE
THE FIRST TIME IN THE ASSEMBLY'S
HISTORY, THERE ARE TWO ADOPTEES
ON THIS FLOOR. AND I JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING
AWARENESS TO THE NEEDS OF OUR
FOSTER COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IN A
GOOD BUDGET YEAR AND IN A DOWN
BUDGET YEAR, IT'S THE GAPS THAT
WE CAN CLOSE THAT ULTIMATELY
CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY OUTCOMES
THAT ALLOW FOR ALL CHILDREN AND
ALL FAMILIES ACROSS CALIFORNIA
TO THRIVE. AND WITH THAT, I ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ACR 193.
THANK YOU, MR. GIBSON. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER QUIRK-SILVA. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS, I RISE TO
PROUDLY SUPPORT ACR 193 AND
WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FROM LOS ANGELES FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS RESOLUTION
AND HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO
THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN
AND FOSTER YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE,
AND ESPECIALLY TO THANK HIM FOR
SHARING HIS PERSONAL STORY. I
BELIEVE THESE STORIES AND HIS
NARRATIVE REALLY ALLOWS US TO
UNDERSTAND MORE. CALIFORNIA'S
FOSTER SYSTEM IS HOME TO
CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO DESERVE
SAFE AND STABLE AND NURTURING
HOMES. THESE CHILDREN NAVIGATING
THE COMPLEXITIES OF FOSTER CARE,
NEED ENDURING BONDS WITH LOVING
ADULTS AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT
TO THRIVE. HISTORICALLY, FOSTER
YOUTH HAVE FACED SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES, INCLUDING
HOMELESSNESS, AS THEY TRANSITION
OUT OF CARE. UNFORTUNATELY,
DESPITE THE STRIDES WE HAVE
MADE, MANY FOSTER YOUTH STILL
STRUGGLE TO FIND STABILITY. WE
MUST RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE
INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
RELATIVES, FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE
PARENTS WHO OPEN THEIR HEARTS
AND HOMES TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN
AND YOUTH. COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS
AND ORGANIZATIONS WORK
TIRELESSLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AND IN AND
OUT OF TRANSITIONING OUT OF
FOSTER CARE, HELPING TO MAINTAIN
VITAL CONNECTIONS TO THEIR
SIBLINGS AND SUPPORTING THEIR
PATH TO ADULTHOOD AS ELECTED
LEADERS, WE MUST REMAIN
DEDICATED TO ADDRESSING THE
DISPROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION
OF YOUTH OF COLOR IN THE FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM. WE MUST IMPROVE
OUTCOMES, ENSURING ALL CHILDREN
EXPERIENCE FEWER PLACEMENTS AND
HIGHER RATES OF FAMILY
REUNIFICATION BY DECLARING MAY
24TH AS FOSTER CARE AWARENESS
MONTH, WE CONTINUE OUR
COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE
VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN
OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. I
RESPECTFULLY URGE, AND I VOTE ON
ACR 193. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER QUIRK-SILVA ASSEMBLY
MEMBER HART, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. TODAY I
RISE AS A PROUD JOINT COAUTHOR
OF ACR 193 TO RECOGNIZE FOSTER
CARE AWARENESS MONTH. THERE ARE
ROUGHLY 60,000 CHILDREN WITHIN
THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM IN
CALIFORNIA. LIKE MY COLLEAGUE
FROM LOS ANGELES, I WAS VERY
FORTUNATE TO BE ADOPTED INTO A
LOVING, SUPPORTIVE FAMILY THAT
WAS A LOT SMALLER THAN HIS. MY
PARENTS ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT THEY
HAD SO MUCH LOVE IN THEIR HEARTS
THAT THEY WAITED PATIENTLY FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ME INTO
THEIR LIVES. FOSTER PARENTS
PROVIDE THAT SAME STABLE,
NURTURING ENVIRONMENT THAT
CHILDREN IN SUPPORT NEED UNTIL
THEY CAN SAFELY UNITE WITH THEIR
FAMILY. AND FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE
A HIGH NUMBER OF FOSTER YOUTH
AND NOT ENOUGH RESOURCE FAMILIES
TO MEET THE NEED. IF YOU HAVE IT
IN YOUR HEART TO BE A RESOURCE
FAMILY, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES. YOU CAN HELP PROVIDE
THE SAFE, SUPPORTIVE HOME THAT A
FOSTER CHILD NEEDS. I'D ALSO
LIKE TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE
LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, SOCIAL
WORKERS, AND FAMILIES ALL MAKING
THEIR BEST EFFORT TO CARE FOR
FOSTER CHILDREN WHO NEED THEIR
HELP. MEMBERS. WITH THAT, I ASK
FOR YOUR AYE VOTE. THANK YOU,
MR. HART. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
FRIEDMAN, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND
MEMBERS, I WAS NOT INTENDING TO
SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION, BUT
HEARING THE VERY INSPIRATIONAL
WORDS OF MY COLLEAGUE FROM LOS
ANGELES REALLY COMPELLED ME TO
WANT TO STAND UP AND JOIN IN
SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION. AND
I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE
TO REMIND US THAT OUR RESOLUTION
LIKE THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING
THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT
TODAY AND VOTING ON, BUT
SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD REALLY
TAKE TO HEART IN TERMS OF THE
POLICIES THAT WE WORK ON, AND
PARTICULARLY IN THIS TIME, THE
FUNDING THAT WE ALLOCATE TOWARDS
FOSTER PROGRAMS. AS WE SPENT MY
FAMILY SPENT A FEW YEARS GOING
THROUGH THE FOSTER SYSTEM ON OUR
ADOPTION ROAD AND FROM THE
ADOPTIVE PARENTS FOSTER ADOPT
PARENTS PERSPECTIVE, I CAN TELL
YOU THAT THAT SYSTEM IS, FOR
MANY PEOPLE, VERY GRATIFYING AND
EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. BUT FOR
FAR TOO MANY PARENTS, IT'S A
LABYRINTH THAT BECOMES
IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE AND
SOMETHING THAT OFTEN ENDS IN
HEARTBREAK. CERTAINLY FOR THE
FAMILIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY
FOSTER CARE AND BY THE CHILDREN
MAGNIFY THAT LABYRINTH AND THAT
FRUSTRATION. 100 TIMES FOLD, WE
CAN DO BETTER FOR OUR FOSTER
FAMILIES. WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER
FOR OUR FOSTER YOUTH. I'VE DONE
LEGISLATION EVERY YEAR FOCUSING
PARTICULARLY ON EMANCIPATING,
FOSTER YOUTH, A POPULATION THAT
WE OFTEN DON'T THINK ABOUT. AND
THIS STATE DOES DO CARE. GOING
BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL AGE OF
EMANCIPATION, WHICH IS
WONDERFUL. BUT WE STILL SEE
FOSTER YOUTH DISPROPORTIONATELY
REPRESENTED ON OUR STREETS AS
OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, YOUNG
PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM DISPROPORTIONATELY
REPRESENTED IN OUR PRISONS. WE
DON'T HAVE TO ALLOW THAT TO
HAPPEN. THESE ARE CHOICES THAT
WE HAVE MADE THROUGH POLICY
BECAUSE DATA SHOWS THAT PUTTING
RESOURCES VERY EARLY ON FOR
WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT AND
VULNERABLE, PARTICULARLY WOMEN
IN DEEP POVERTY, MAKES A HUGE
DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S ABILITY
TO PARENT AND ALSO THEIR ABILITY
TO HAVE HEALTHY CHILDREN,
PUTTING RESOURCES INTO
EMANCIPATING FOSTER YOUTH
RESOURCES TOWARDS MAKING SURE
THEY HAVE HOUSING BEFORE THEY
EMANCIPATE RESOURCES, TO MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS
THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. SOMETHING
THAT IS NOT ALWAYS DONE IN OUR
THROUGH OUR AGENCIES CAN HELP
PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND HELP TO
GIVE THE FOUNDATION THAT THAT
YOUTH NEEDS TO SUCCEED. THE FACT
THAT WE STILL ALLOW FOSTER YOUTH
WHO ARE OUR CHILDREN, THESE ARE
A POPULATION THAT WE HAVE TAKEN
RESPONSIBILITY FOR AS A STATE
THAT WE ALLOW SO MANY OF THEM TO
NOT HAVE THE EXTRA SUPPORT THEY
NEED, BECAUSE THEY ARE
TRAUMATIZED. THIS POPULATION,
THEY ARE OFTEN TRAUMATIZED, AND
THEY DON'T HAVE THE KIND OF
SUPPORT THAT OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE
HAVE. THEY NEED EXTRA SUPPORT,
AND THAT'S ON ALL OF US AS
POLICYMAKERS, THROUGH THE
POLICIES WE PASS AND THROUGH THE
RESOURCES THAT WE PUT INTO THAT
SYSTEM. AND THAT SYSTEM IS
UNDER-RESOURCED. SO I WANTED TO
TAKE A MINUTE TO SEND THAT PLEA
OUT IN A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR, WHEN
WE HAVE SO MANY NEEDS TO NOT
FORGET THIS GROUP, BECAUSE THESE
ARE OUR CHILDREN. WITH THAT, I
WOULD URGE AN AYE VOTE AND
CONTINUED ACTION AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER FRIEDMAN, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GIBSON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER
. AND MEMBERS, I LIKE MY
COLLEAGUE FROM THE VALLEY, WAS
NOT PREPARED TO SPEAK ON THIS
ITEM. TODAY, BUT I'M GLAD I'M
RAISING MY MICROPHONE TO DO SO.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FROM LOS ANGELES, A MEMBER OF
THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK
CAUCUS, FOR BEING TRANSPARENT TO
UPLIFTING HIS NARRATIVE. THAT
BRINGS US ALL IN. WHEN I WAS
ELECTED IN 2014, TRYING TO
FOLLOW AFTER THE END SPEAKER
KAREN BASS, TO MAKING SURE THAT
WE NEVER LEAVE OUT OR FORGET
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO LIVE IN LOS ANGELES
COUNTY. AND I SET OUT ON THAT
MISSION TO DO EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
THERE'S NOT A YEAR THAT'S GONE
BY THAT I HAVE NOT WORKED IN
THIS SPACE. BUT UNTIL YOU GOT
ELECTED, UNTIL YOU GOT ELECTED
TO TALK ABOUT YOUR NARRATIVE,
HOW YOU HAVE FOUGHT TO GET HERE
ON THIS, ON THIS FLOOR, TO
CHANGE THE LIVES OF FOSTER YOUTH
NOW IN THIS STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
AND BE AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS. IT
IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT
THE WORK THAT WE NEEDED A
CHAMPION, SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN
IN THIS SPACE. AND I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR NEVER
FORGETTING ABOUT YOUR PAST,
BECAUSE YOUR PAST HAS PREPARED
YOU FOR A TIME LIKE THIS TO
MAKING SURE THAT YOUR MICROPHONE
IS ELEVATED EACH AND EVERY TIME
THAT WE TALK ABOUT A NARRATIVE,
LOOKING AT OUR CHILDREN IN THE
FOSTER CARE SPACE, THEY NEED
CHAMPIONS. THEY NEED HEROES.
THEY NEED SOMEONE THEY CAN
EMULATE AND LOOK UP TO. AND I'M
GLAD TO CALL YOU A COLLEAGUE.
WHEN I HEARD OVER THE YEARS THAT
I'VE CARRIED LEGISLATION WHERE
FOSTER YOUTH HAVE BEEN DISPLACED
32 DIFFERENT TIMES, WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS 32
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, 32 DIFFERENT
BEDS, AND THEY HAVE THE AUDACITY
TO BRING A TRASH BAG TO SCHOOL,
TO PUT THEIR BELONGINGS IN A
TRASH BAG AND TAKE THEM TO THE
31ST NEW PLACEMENT AND SET IT
OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
TRAUMA DOESN'T CONTINUE ON. AND
WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AND THE
TRAJECTORY. SO I STAND IN TOTAL
SUPPORT AND THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FROM LOS ANGELES AND ASK FOR A
STRONG AYE VOTE ON ACR 193.
THANK YOU, MR. GIBSON. SO,
MEMBER BRIAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
CLOSE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THE
FIRST ROLL BE OPEN FOR
COAUTHORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
MR. BRIAN CLERK WILL OPEN THE
ROLL. ALL THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE
TO VOTE AS A COAUTHOR. ALL THOSE
VOTE WHO DESIRE TO VOTE. ALL
THOSE VOTE WHO DESIRE AS A C
THE VOTE AS A COAUTHOR CLERK
WILL CLOSE THE ROLL AND TALLY
THE VOTES. THERE ARE 63
COAUTHORS ADDED, WITHOUT
OBJECTION, WE'LL TAKE A VOICE
VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. ALL IN
FAVOR, SAY AYE. OPPOSED? SAY NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT. THE RESOLUTION
IS ADOPTED. AND MR. BRIAN, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR GUEST
INTRODUCTIONS. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH
CONNECTION IS A YOUTH LED
ORGANIZATION THAT DEVELOPS AND
GROWS LEADERS WHO EMPOWER EACH
OTHER AND OUR COMMUNITIES TO
TRANSFORM THE FOSTER CARE AND
INTERSECTING SYSTEMS THROUGH
COMMUNITY LED ORGANIZING,
LEGISLATIVE, POLICY AND
PRACTICE. CHANGE Dð TO SIX
ADVOCACY OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.
I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE
THANK THEM IN ALL OF THE YOUTH
FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO
BETTER THE LIVES OF FOSTER YOUTH
HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THEY'RE JOINING US UP IN THE
BALCONY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. BRIAN. WELCOME TO
YOUR GUESTS. MR. GIBSON, ARE YOU
. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR.
GIBSON FOR HIS GUEST
INTRODUCTION FROM THE MAJORITY
LEADER'S DESK. MR. GIBSON, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. SPEAKER. AND MEMBERS,
I RISE TO WELCOME THE ACTOR, THE
PRODUCER, THE HUMANITARIAN, THE
POLITICAL ACTIVIST, THE LEGEND
HIMSELF, MR. DANNY GLOVER.
MR. GLOVER WAS BORN AND RAISED
IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. AS
A GRADUATE OF SAN FRANCISCO OF
SAN FRANCISCO UNIVERSITY IN THE
LATE 1960S, WHILE ATTENDING SAN
FRANCISCO UNIVERSITY, HE PLAYED
ROLES IN THE 1968 STUDENT
STRIKE, WHICH LED TO THE
CREATION OF THE FIRST ETHNIC
STUDIES DEPARTMENT IN THE
COUNTRY. ADDITIONALLY, MR.
GLOVER, HIS CAREER AS AN ACTOR
BEGAN IN COLLEGE, WHERE HE
PLAYED NUMEROUS ROLES IN PLAYS.
IN 1979, HE WENT ON TO ACT IN
HIS FIRST FEATURE FILM, ESCAPE
FROM ALCATRAZ. MR. GLOVER HAS
BEEN NOTED FOR HIS ROLE IN THE
COLOR PURPLE, THE POPULAR LETHAL
WEAPON SERIES PREDATORS TWO TO
SLEEP WITH ANGER, AND ANGELS IN
THE OUTFIELD. HE SERVED AS A
NARRATOR OF THE ANIMATED FILM
THE PRINCE AND EGYPT AND OUR
FRIEND MARTIN. IN 1994, MR.
GLOVER, CO-FOUNDER OF THE ROBEY
THEATER COMPANY, A LOS ANGELES
BASED NONPROFIT WITH A MISSION
TO DEVELOP NEW PLAYS ABOUT THE
BLACK AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. MR.
GLOVER WIDE REACH COMMUNITY
ACTIVIST AND PHILANTHROPY
EFFORTS, EMBRACED ECONOMIC
JUSTICE AND ACCESS TO HEALTH
CARE AND EDUCATION ACROSS THE
WORLD. HE WAS APPOINTED TO BE
THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL
CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY FUND
GOODWILL AMBASSADOR IN NINTH
EXCUSE ME. IN 2004. THIS
INVOLVED HIM TO TRAVEL TO
AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN. HE FIRST WENT TO
ETHIOPIA, AFRICA, WHERE HE MET
AND LISTENED TO STORIES OF
CHILDREN. MR. GLOVER IMMEDIATELY
CALLED ON THE NATION TO, TO
SPEAK AGAINST THE OPPRESSION AND
RATIFY THE MINE BAN BAN TREATY.
MR. GLOVER HAS A GREAT CREDIT
AND ACCOLADES. SOME OF THOSE
ACCOLADES INCLUDE A 1991 THE
INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD, BEST
MALE LEAD AS HARRY IN THE SLEEP
WITH ANGER IN 2011 PIONEER AWARD
FROM THE NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS
MUSEUM, AND THE LIST GOES ON.
2018 THE NAACP PRESIDENT AWARD
THEY'RE ON THIS FLOOR IS
CERTAINLY A LIVING LEGEND. HE,
WITH HIS WIFE AND HIS DAUGHTER
MEMBERS, WOULD YOU PLEASE HELP
ME WELCOME THE LEGEND? MR. DANNY
GLOVER ON THE GREEN CARPET IN
THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE
WITH US, MR. GLOVER. I HOPE YOU
FEEL THE LOVE COMING FROM OUR
COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ADVOCACY. AND WELCOME TO THE
FLOOR OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY.
MR. GABRIEL, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
FOR YOUR GUEST INTRODUCTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER
. WE HAVE SOME OTHER VIP GUESTS
WITH US TODAY, 50 TWO FOURTH
GRADE STUDENTS FROM WHITE
SCHOOL. A ARE IN THE GALLERY,
ALONG WITH EIGHT TEACHERS LED BY
TATIANA BEROUKHIM. WEISS IS ONE
OF THE LARGEST REFORM JEWISH
SCHOOLS AND SYNAGOGUES IN THE
WORLD. IT IS A WONDERFUL
COMMUNITY WITH WONDERFUL
FAMILIES AND WONDERFUL STUDENTS,
MEMBERS, PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME
SOME AMAZING FUTURE LEADERS TO
THE STATE ASSEMBLY.
THANK YOU, MR. GABRIEL, AND
WELCOME TO YOUR GUESTS.
OKAY. MEMBERS THE QUORUM CALL IS
LIFTED. PLEASE TAKE YOUR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR. WE
DO HAVE ADJOURNMENTS IN MEMORY
TODAY, BUT PLEASE TAKE YOUR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR. THE
QUORUM CALL IS LIFTED. MEMBERS,
PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS
OFF THE FLOOR.
MEMBERS EITHER HAVE A SEAT OR
TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OFF THE
FLOOR. MEMBERS, PLEASE TAKE YOUR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
ONE MORE TIME. MEMBERS PLEASE
TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS OFF THE
FLOOR.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE GIVE YOUR
RESPECTFUL ATTENTION TO THOSE
WHO WERE GRANTED PRIOR
PERMISSION TO SPEAK ON AN
ADJOURNMENT IN MEMORY. MOVING TO
ASSEMBLY MEMBER FRIEDMAN, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR
ADJOURNMENT AND MEMORY. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND MEMBERS, I
RISE TO ASK THAT WE ADJOURN IN
THE MEMORY OF RAUL PORTO SENIOR,
THE PATRIARCH OF THE VERY FAMOUS
PORTO'S BAKERY EMPIRE. MANY OF
YOU HAVE, I AM SURE, ENJOYED THE
YELLOW BOX OF CUBAN PASTRIES
FROM PORTO'S. IN FACT, JUST A
FEW WEEKS AGO, I WAS ON THE
SOUTHWEST PLANE COMING UP FROM
BURBANK AND THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT
SAID, OKAY, IT'S TIME TO LEAVE.
BE SURE YOU PUT UP YOUR SEAT
BACK AND CLOSE YOUR SEAT BELTS
AND PUT AWAY THOSE PORTO'S
BOXES. THAT'S HOW WELL KNOWN
PORTO'S IS IN MY PART OF THE
WORLD. PORTO'S HAS BEEN A PART
OF CELEBRATE AS PART OF
GRADUATIONS, A PART OF LIFE IN
LOS ANGELES FOR DECADES. RAUL
PORTO SR AND HIS WIFE ROSA CAME
TO THE UNITED STATES FROM
MANZANILLO, CUBA, TO BUILD A
BETTER LIFE. THEY PLACED
THEMSELVES ON THE WAITING LIST
DURING FIDEL CASTRO'S RULE,
DURING A PERIOD WHEN RAUL WAS
SENT TO A LABOR CAMP AND ROSA
LOST HER JOB, ROSA BEGAN BAKING
CAKES AND PASTELS TO SUPPORT THE
FAMILY AND THOSE RECIPES CAME
WITH HER WHEN THEY EMIGRATED IN
1971. THOSE RECIPES WERE THE
FOUNDATION OF THE AMAZING LEGACY
THAT WAS TO COME. WHEN THEY
ARRIVED IN LOS ANGELES, RAUL
FOUND WORK AS A JANITOR AND
OTHER JOBS WHILE ROSA'S BAKERY
BUSINESS TOOK OFF. AFTER SEVERAL
YEARS OF TIRELESS WORK, RAUL WAS
ABLE TO JOIN ROSA FULL TIME.
THEIR PARTNERSHIP, THEIR HARD
WORK, THEIR HUMILITY AND
DEDICATION NOT ONLY BUILT A
BUSINESS, BUT THEY BECAME A
COMMUNITY CORNERSTONE. AND I CAN
TELL YOU, AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES
IN GLENDALE WITH ONE OF THE MAIN
PORTO'S BRANCHES DOWN THE ROAD
FROM ME, PORTO'S IS WELL KNOWN
AS AN EXCELLENT EMPLOYER WHO
TRULY CARES ABOUT THEIR DOZENS
AND DOZENS OF EMPLOYEES,
PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THE
CHILDREN OF THEIR EMPLOYEES,
PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE,
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS
REQUIRED BY LAW. THEY ALSO ARE
KNOWN FOR DONATING THEIR AMAZING
BAKED GOODS TO NONPROFITS WHEN
THEY ASK FOR THEIR EVENTS FOR
THEIR FUNDRAISERS, PORTO'S IS
ALWAYS THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THEY ALSO TAKE PRIDE IN KEEPING
THEIR PRICES LOW, BECAUSE BETTY
PORTO ALWAYS TELLS ME THEY WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY CAN
AFFORD PORTO'S, THAT IT'S NOT
SOMETHING RAREFIED, THAT IT'S AN
EVERYDAY THING FOR THE PEOPLE OF
HER COMMUNITY. THAT IS VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT TO PORTO'S AS
WELL AS THEIR INCREDIBLE
QUALITY. AND IF YOU'VE EATEN,
YOU'LL KNOW THEY NEVER PHONE IT
IN. THEY TAKE CARE WITH EACH AND
EVERY ITEM THAT THEY PRODUCE.
WHAT BEGAN IN A SILVER LAKE
STRIP MALL IN 1976 HAS GROWN TO
THEIR FLAGSHIP IN GLENDALE AND
SHOPS IN BURBANK, DOWNEY, BUENA
PARK, WEST COVINA AND
NORTHRIDGE. FOR YEARS, THE
PORTO'S HAVE DONATED TO
COUNTLESS CHARITIES ACROSS THE
REGION, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF
DONATING BAKED GOODS, BUT IN
MONETARY DONATIONS. THEIR
DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY HAS
IMPACTED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS.
THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST ONE OF
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. THEY HAVE
MADE THEMSELVES AS INTEGRAL TO
OUR COMMUNITY AND A PARTNER TO
ALL OF THE PHILANTHROPISTS IN
THE AREA. NOW, RAUL HIMSELF WAS
KNOWN FOR BEING HUMBLE. HE WAS
DEVOTED TO ROSA, TO HIS
CHILDREN, AND TO THEIR BUSINESS.
RAUL IS SURVIVED BY HIS THREE
CHILDREN MY FRIEND BETTY PORTO,
RAUL JR AND MARGARITA. HE LEAVES
A LEGACY OF LOVE FOR THE
COMMUNITY AND OF COURSE, THE
MOST AMAZING POTATO BALLS YOU'LL
EVER TRY. OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO
THE PORTO FAMILY, BUT WE ARE
HERE TO CELEBRATE A LIFE WELL
LIVED. MAY HIS INCREDIBLE MEMORY
BE A BLESSING TO ALL. THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER FRIEDMAN, SOME MEMBER
WARD, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR ADJOURNMENT AND MEMORY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER AND
MEMBERS, I RISE TODAY TO ADJOURN
IN THE MEMORY OF MY CONSTITUENT,
THE GREAT BILL WALTON. BILL WAS
A PROUD SAN DIEGAN, A SIX FOOT
11 CENTER, BASKETBALL STAR,
AWARD WINNING SPORTS ANALYST,
CYCLIST, PHILANTHROPIST,
ACTIVIST, SELF PROCLAIMED
LUCKIEST GUY IN THE WORLD AND
DIE HARD GRATEFUL DEAD FAN. ONCE
GIVEN THE TITLE MR. SAN DIEGO
BORN AND RAISED IN LA MESA, BILL
ATTENDED HELIX HIGH SCHOOL
BEFORE HEADING TO UCLA, WHERE HE
PLAYED COLLEGE BASKETBALL FOR
THE BRUINS. WHILE THERE, HE LED
THE TEAM TO THE NCAA
CHAMPIONSHIPS ON AN 88 GAME
WINNING STREAK AND WON THE
NATIONAL COLLEGE PLAYER OF THE
YEAR THREE YEARS IN A ROW.
FOLLOWING HIS COLLEGE SUCCESS,
BILL JOINED THE NBA, WINNING THE
1977 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP WITH THE
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS, WHERE HE
WAS NAMED MVP. HE SOON RETURNED
HOME TO SAN DIEGO TO PLAY WITH
THE CLIPPERS BEFORE HIS
RETIREMENT WITH THE BOSTON
CELTICS. FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA, AN AVID FAN, SAID THIS
WEEK THAT WALTON WAS ONE OF THE
GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF
ALL TIME, A CHAMPION AT EVERY
LEVEL AND THE EMBODIMENT OF
UNSELFISH TEAM PLAY, WHILE ALSO
A WONDERFUL SPIRIT FULL OF
CURIOSITY, HUMOR AND KINDNESS.
OFF THE COURT, BILL WAS AN
UNOFFICIAL AMBASSADOR TO SAN
DIEGO, KNOWN FOR HIS SUNNY
DISPOSITION. BILL OFTEN ATTENDED
A PADRES BASEBALL GAME,
CONCERTS, AND PLAYED DRUMS IN A
GRATEFUL DEAD COVER BAND, THE
ELECTRIC WASTE BAND. A TRUE SAN
DIEGAN, HE WAS OFTEN HEARD
REMARKING THAT HE LOVED HIS
BIKE. SAN DIEGO AND SOLAR POWER
WHEN HE WASN'T OUT RIDING HIS
BIKE, BILL WAS ADVOCATING FOR
HIS COMMUNITY, HELPING TO PUSH
FOR PEDESTRIAN ONLY AREAS OF
BALBOA PARK, SUPPORTING VARIOUS
PHILANTHROPY INITIATIVES LIKE
THE CHALLENGED ATHLETES
FOUNDATION AND THE LUCKY DUCK
FOUNDATION, AND MORE. I WAS
PROUD TO KNOW BILL AS A NEIGHBOR
AND HIS WIFE, LORI, AND HE WAS
HUMBLE AND GRACIOUS TO EVEN SO
MUCH AS OPEN HIS HOME TO INVITE
NEIGHBORS OVER TO HAVE COFFEE
AND PASTRIES WITH THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES, SOMETHING WE
SHOULD DO MORE OF TO TALK
THROUGH VERY SERIOUS ISSUES LIKE
NEIGHBORS, BILL IS AN ICON AND A
ROLE MODEL FOR SAN DIEGO, WHO
WORKED EVERY DAY TO MAKE HIS
HOMETOWN A BETTER PLACE FOR
EVERYONE. BILL PASSED AWAY THIS
MONDAY AT THE AGE OF 71, LEAVING
BEHIND HIS WIFE LORI, AND FOUR
CHILDREN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN
KEEPING BILL WALTON AND HIS
FAMILY IN OUR THOUGHTS AS WE
ADJOURN IN HIS MEMORY TODAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. WARD.
DOCTOR WEBER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
FOR YOUR ADJOURNMENT AND MEMORY.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. I RISE
FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS MONTH
TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF ANOTHER
ONE OF SAN DIEGO'S CHAMPIONS
THAT HAVE MADE THEIR TRANSITION.
BILL WALTON WAS BORN IN MY
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT IN LA MESA,
CALIFORNIA, WHERE I SERVED AS
COUNCIL MEMBER AND VICE MAYOR.
HE ALSO ATTENDED HELIX HIGH
SCHOOL IN LA MESA BEFORE HE WENT
TO UCLA TO PROPEL HIS BASKETBALL
CAREER. BILL'S PASSING THIS WEEK
DUE TO A BATTLE WITH CANCER
LEAVES A VOID NOT ONLY IN THE
WORLD OF SPORTS, BUT IN THE
WORLD OF HEARTS. HE TOUCHED WITH
HIS INCREDIBLE TALENT AND
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO
COMMUNITY SERVICE. BILL WAS
LITERALLY A TOWERING PRESENCE,
BUT IF YOU EVER MET HIM, YOU
KNOW JUST HOW TALL HE WAS. BUT
HE WAS JUST AS HUMBLE AND DOWN
TO EARTH WITH THE BIGGEST SMILE.
FROM HIS COLLEGIATE DAYS AT
UCLA, WHERE HE LED THE BRUINS TO
TWO CONSECUTIVE NCAA
CHAMPIONSHIPS TO HIS
PROFESSIONAL CAREER, INCLUDING
NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS AND AN MVP
TITLE. BILL'S SKILLS ON THE
COURT SET A STANDARD FOR
EXCELLENCE. HE WENT ON TO BECOME
AN EMMY AWARD WINNER, SPORTS
BROADCASTER FOR. SINCE BILL'S
PASSING, MANY PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN
A LOT OF LOVE FOR WHO BILL IS
OFF THE COURT HERE, A DEDICATION
TO COMMUNITY SERVICE. HE USED
HIS PLATFORM TO ADVOCATE FOR
CAUSES HE BELIEVED IN, INCLUDING
HOMELESSNESS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
HIS EFFORTS TO MAKE A WORLD A
BETTER PLACE CONTINUES TO BE
INSPIRING TO HIS FAMILY. WE
EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES
DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
MAY THEY FIND SOLACE IN THE
MEMORIES OF A MAN WHO NOT ONLY
EXCELLED IN HIS CRAFT, BUT ALSO
LIVED A LIFE OF PURPOSE AND
COMPASSION. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, DOCTOR WEBER. MEMBERS,
PLEASE BRING THE NAMES TO THE
DESK TO BE PRINTED IN THE
JOURNAL. I'LL REQUEST YOU
ADJOURN. IN MEMORY WILL BE
DEEMED READ AND PRINTED IN THE
JOURNAL. MOVING TO
ANNOUNCEMENTS. COMMITTEE
HEARINGS UPON ADJOURNMENT, THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL MEET IN
THE SWING SPACE ROOM 1100
SESSION SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS.
FRIDAY, MAY 31ST, NØ FLOOR
SESSION. NO CHECK IN SESSION.
MONDAY, JUNE 3RD FLOOR SESSION
AT 1 P.M. ALL OTHER ITEMS WILL
BE PASSED AND RETAINED. ALL
MOTION SHALL BE CONTINUED.
SEEING AND HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS. MR. MURATSUCHI. WELL,
ACTUALLY, I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN
A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MR.
MURATSUCHI MOVES. DOCTOR WEBER
SECONDS THAT THIS HOUSE STAND
ADJOURNED UNTIL MONDAY, JUNE
3RD, AT 1 P.M. THE HOUSE IS
ADJOURNED.