THE ASSEMBLY IS NOW IN SESSION.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER DIXON 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. AT THIS
AGUIAR-CURRY, ALANIZ, ALVAREZ.
ARAMBULA BAINES. BAUER-KAHAN
BENNETT. BERMAN. BERNER BONTA.
BRYANT CALDERON. JUAN. CARRILLO
WENDY. CARRILLO. CERVANTES CHEN.
CONNALLY DALLEY. DAVIES DIXON.
EASILY FLORA. FONG FRIEDMAN,
GABRIEL. GALLAGHER. GARCIA
GIBSON. GRAYSON. HANEY HART.
HOLDEN HOOVER. IRWIN JACKSON.
JONES-SAWYER CORRE. LACKEY. LEE
LO. LOWENTHAL MAYNE. SHYNE.
MATHIS MCCARTY. MCKENNA
MURATSUCHI. NGUYEN ORTEGA.
PACHECO PAPIN, JIM. PATTERSON
JOE. PATTERSON. PELLERIN
PETRIE-NORRIS. QUIRK-SILVA
RAMOS. RENDON REYES. THREE OF US.
RODRIGUEZ. RUBIO SANCHEZ.
SANTIAGO SCHIAVO. SORIA TO
TEAGUE. VALENCIA. VÀ. VALLAPUDUA
WALDRON. WALLACE WARD. WEBER
WICKS. WILSON WOOD. ZUBIATE. MR.
SPEAKER.
MEMBERS. THE ASSEMBLY IS IN
SESSION. PLEASE REPORT TO THE
FLOOR. IT'S NOW 916. PLEASE
REPORT TO THE FLOOR.
MEMBERS, PLEASE REPORT TO THE
FLOOR. STAFF WATCHING. PLEASE
ASK YOUR MEMBER TO REPORT TO THE
FLOOR. WE HAVE BUSINESS BEFORE
US TODAY. SO PLEASE REPORT TO
THE FLOOR SO WE CAN GET STARTED.
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. CHAPMAN.
CHAPLAIN. IMAM YASIR KHAN. IN
THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST
GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL.
ALMIGHTY GOD, AS WE CONVENE
TODAY, WE SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE AND
BLESSING. GRANT US CLARITY TO
UNDERSTAND THE MATTERS AT HAND.
WISDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT
REFLECT YOUR JUSTICE AND
COMPASSION. TO SERVE WITH
SINCERITY. GUIDE OUR DISCUSSIONS
AND ACTIONS SO THAT THEY ARE
MARKED BY MUTUAL RESPECT AND A
COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD.
HELP US TO FIND COMMON GROUND
AND WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS
POSITIVE AND MEANINGFUL
OUTCOMES. MAY OUR EFFORTS BE
FRUITFUL AND OUR INTENTIONS
PURE, CONTRIBUTING TO THE
WELL-BEING OF ALL THOSE WE
SERVE. WE PLACE OUR TRUST IN
YOUR DIVINE WISDOM AND GRACE.
AMEN. THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JONES SAWYER AS
HE LEADS US IN THE PLEDGE. PUT
YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART.
READY? BEGIN. 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. THANK YOU, MR.
JONES-SAWYER. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
READING OF THE PREVIOUS DAY'S
JOURNAL, ASSEMBLY CHAMBER.
SACRAMENTO. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST
7TH, 2024. THE ASSEMBLY MET AT 7
A.M. THE HONORABLE MOVES AND MR.
FLORES SECONDS THAT THE READING
OF THE PREVIOUS DAY'S JOURNAL BE
DISPENSED WITH. PRESENTATIONS
AND PETITIONS. THERE ARE NONE.
INTRODUCTION AND 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. MEMBERS.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO PROCEDURAL
MOTIONS JUST TO GET YOUR
ATTENTION TO THE MAJORITY
LEADER. PLEASE LET ME GET THE
ATTENTION TO THE MAJORITY
LEADER, PLEASE, FOR HER
PROCEDURAL MOTIONS. MADAM
MAJORITY LEADER. GOOD MORNING,
MR. SPEAKER. LOTS OF EXCITEMENT
IN THIS ROOM TODAY. I REQUEST
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SUSPEND
ASSEMBLY RULE 118. Ã TO ALLOW
SPEAKER RIVAS TO HAVE GUESTS
SEATED AT MEMBER DESKS AND IN
THE REAR OF THE CHAMBER. WITHOUT
OBJECTION. SUCH SHALL BE THE
ORDER AT THE REQUEST OF THE
AUTHOR, PLEASE MOVE THE
FOLLOWING BILLS TO THE INACTIVE
FILE. ITEM 76 SB 1134 CABALLERO.
ITEM 227 SB 225. CABALLERO.
CLERK WILL NOTE I'M GIVING A ONE
DAY NOTICE TO REMOVE ITEM 87 SB
450. ATKINS AT THE REQUEST OF
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WICKS. CLERK
WILL NOTE. THANK YOU. AS WE MOVE
INTO OUR GUEST INTRODUCTIONS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS, I JUST WANT TO
NOTE TODAY IS NATIONAL BACON
LOVERS DAY. AND FOR THOSE WHO
DON'T DO THAT, IT'S NATIONAL
LEMON DAY LEMONADE DAY AS WELL.
SO TO OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS
TODAY, FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU'RE A
GUEST, DO NOT PUSH THE BUTTONS,
PLEASE DON'T PUSH ANY BUTTONS.
ALSO, STATE LAW PROHIBITS
PERSONS IN THE GALLERY FROM
INTERFERING WITH LEGISLATIVE
PROCEEDINGS OR DISRUPTING
DISRUPTING THE ORDERLY CONDUCT
OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS PERSONS,
DISRUPTING LEGISLATIVE
PROCEEDINGS ARE SUBJECT TO
REMOVAL, ARREST, AND OR OTHER
APPROPRIATE LEGAL REMEDIES.
MEMBERS. AS A REMINDER, YOU HAVE
MANY BILLS ON THE SENATE FLOOR
WITHOUT FLOOR MANAGERS. PLEASE
WORK WITH THE SENATE TO IDENTIFY
FLOOR MANAGERS SO YOUR BILLS CAN
BE TAKEN UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND LAST, MR. ZUBIATE, TO MAKE
HIS WAY UP HERE.
MEMBERS TODAY WE HONOR OUR
COLLEAGUES WHOSE TENURE WITH THE
ASSEMBLY IS ENDING. WE WILL
PROCEED ALPHABETICALLY BY LAST
NAME UNTIL ALL DEPARTING MEMBERS
HAVE BEEN HONORED. BEFORE WE
BEGIN THE TRIBUTES, OUR
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CHAIR, RICK
ZUBER, WILL DELIVER SOME OPENING
REMARKS. ASSEMBLY MEMBERS OF
BURR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MEMBERS, AS
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS CHAIR, I'M
HONORED TODAY TO OPEN THIS
CEREMONY TO OFFICIALLY
RECOGNIZE, THANK AND CELEBRATE
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MEMBERS
OF THIS BODY WHO ARE COMPLETING
THEIR SERVICE AS MEMBERS OF THE
ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR. I BELIEVE
THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS A NOBLE
CALLING. TODAY, WE RECOGNIZE THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUTGOING
MEMBERS WHO HAVE DEVOTED THEIR
TIME, ENERGY AND TALENTS TO
IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL
CALIFORNIANS. TO THE DEPARTING
MEMBERS OF THIS BODY, WE THANK
YOU FOR BEING PART OF A PROCESS
THAT REQUIRES THAT WE BRING OUR
BEST SELVES TO WORK EVERY DAY TO
ADDRESS CALIFORNIA'S MOST
PRESSING PROBLEMS. WE THANK YOU
FOR OPENING YOUR HEARTS TO
DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS OVER THE
YEARS. SOMETIMES WORKING LATE AT
NIGHT OR EARLY IN THE MORNING.
YOU HELPED OTHERS IN THIS BODY
LEARN AND UNDERSTAND, AND YOU
LISTENED AND LEARNED YOURSELVES.
WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE
VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE YOU
REPRESENT FROM ACROSS OUR
BEAUTIFUL AND DIVERSE STATE INTO
OUR CHAMBER AND INTO OUR
COMMITTEES, SO THAT THE
PERSPECTIVES OF ALL CALIFORNIANS
ARE HEARD. EACH OF YOU HAVE
BROUGHT UNIQUE SKILLS,
BACKGROUNDS, AND LIVED
EXPERIENCES AND GOALS TO YOUR
WORK. EACH OF YOU HAVE MADE
UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
IMPROVING THE LIVES OF
CALIFORNIANS AND MAKING OUR
COMMUNITIES STRONGER. EACH OF
YOU HAVE SERVED YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, HELPING MAKE SURE
THAT CALIFORNIANS COMPLEX
GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR THE
INDIVIDUALS YOU REPRESENT. WE
JOIN TODAY IN RECOGNIZING AND
CELEBRATING YOUR SERVICE, AND WE
WILL HEAR ABOUT THE UNIQUE
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU HAVE MADE
FROM THE MEMBERS WHO HAVE WORKED
MOST CLOSELY WITH YOU. YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE HAVE HELPED
TO CREATE A STRONGER, SAFER
CALIFORNIA, ONE THAT IS MORE
JUST AND EQUITABLE FOR THE
DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT CALL
CALIFORNIA HOME. YOUR ASSEMBLY
FAMILY EXTENDS ITS SINCERE
GRATITUDE FOR YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS, BIG AND SMALL,
OVER THE YEARS. I HAVE NO DOUBT
THAT YOU WILL CARRY THE SAME
SPIRIT OF SERVICE INTO ALL YOUR
FUTURE ENDEAVORS, AND I KNOW
THAT THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY
CONCUR IN THAT VIEW. WE WILL
MISS YOU AND WISH YOU THE VERY,
VERY BEST AS YOU ENTER THE NEXT
CHAPTER OF YOUR LIVES AND
CAREER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR. ZUBER, FOR EACH OF OUR
HONOREE HONOREES, WE WILL HEAR
REMARKS FROM TWO PREVIOUSLY
DESIGNATED MEMBERS, FOLLOWED BY
REMARKS FROM THE HONOREES. SO
THERE'S ONLY TWO. SO DON'T RAISE
YOUR MIC IF YOU WANT TO ADD ON.
JUST JUST DO THAT PRIVATELY
LATER ON, THIS MIGHT FEEL A
LITTLE LIKE SPEED DATING. THE
SENATE CONVENED THEIR HONORING
YESTERDAY AT 2:00. THEY MIGHT
STILL BE GOING AT THIS POINT,
BUT WE ARE ASKING OUR MEMBERS TO
LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO TWO
MINUTES FOR THE PURPOSE OF
DELIVERING THEIR REMARKS TO THE
OUTGOING ASSEMBLY MEMBER. SO
EACH MEMBER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK AND THEN THE
MEMBER THEMSELVES WILL GET TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK. SO WE WILL
START WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER WENDY
CARRILLO. RECOGNIZING ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CARRILLO IS ASSEMBLY
MEMBER TING, THE FIRST SPEAKER.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. IT'S MY
HONOR TO RISE FOR MY FABULOUS
COLLEAGUE FROM LA. SHE CAME HERE
AS A LABOR LEADER, A DJ, AND OF
COURSE, A HIPSTER. BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, SHE CAME HERE AS NO
LAUGHING. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY,
SHE CAME HERE TO FIGHT FOR HER
COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY THAT
SHE GREW UP IN, FOR IMMIGRANTS,
FOR WORKING PEOPLE, FOR PEOPLE
WHO REALLY TRADITIONALLY HAVEN'T
HAD MUCH OF A VOICE IN THIS
BODY. I'M GOING TO PERSONALLY
TREASURE OUR TIME TOGETHER,
ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOKED FOR THE
BEST FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH IN
SACRAMENTO. I'M STILL WAITING TO
TRY YOUR DAD'S FRIED RICE, OUR
COLLEAGUE TOLD ME HER DAD MAKES
THE BEST FRIED RICE IN LA, SO
I'M GOING TO BE THE JUDGE OF
THAT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I
THINK ABOUT YOUR BODY OF WORK
AND ALL THE WORK YOU DID TO
FIGHT FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY IMMIGRANTS AND
WORKING PEOPLE, WHETHER IT WAS
AROUND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
YOU WERE OUR BUDGET CHAIR DURING
THAT HORRIFIC TIME, DURING
COVID, WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT
TIME PAYING PEOPLE NUMEROUS
HEARINGS, YOU HELD REALLY MAKING
SURE THAT YOU WERE HOLDING THAT
DEPARTMENT, HOLDING ITS FEET TO
THE FIRE. WHEN I WAS GOING BACK
AND TALKING TO BUDGET STAFF,
THERE WAS ONE PARTICULAR HEARING
THAT YOU HELD, AND IT SPEAKS
POORLY OF US AS A STATE, BUT
THAT YOU HAD A ROOM FULL OF
IMMIGRANTS WHERE YOU HAD TO
PROVIDE THE SPANISH TRANSLATION,
AND YOU DID SO WITH AMAZING
CLASS AND GRACE. BUT
DEMONSTRATING THAT YOU WERE
THERE FOR THEM. YOU WANTED TO BE
THEIR ADVOCATE, AND YOU ALSO
WANTED TO BE THEIR PUBLIC
OFFICIAL. YOU WERE THERE TO HEAR
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY, BUT ALSO
TO FIGHT FOR THEM. THAT FIGHT
ALSO STOOD WHEN WE WERE LOOKING
AT THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE
FILM, TAX CREDIT. YOU WERE THAT
STALWART, MAKING SURE THAT
DIVERSITY AND EQUITY WERE
ABSOLUTELY TOP OF MIND AND
MAKING SURE THAT THAT WAS ON THE
TABLE, EVEN AS WE WERE GIVING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TAX
CREDITS. AND OF COURSE, WE
WORKED HAND IN HAND TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE WAS MAJOR FUNDING IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS. THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT YOU HAD TALKED ABOUT, HOW
IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR YOUR CITY,
HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR OUR
STATE. YOU WERE THERE AT THE
TIME WHEN WE REALLY LAUNCHED THE
WORK, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
WERE TAKING A MUCH LARGER ROLE
PRIOR, PRIOR TO REALLY WENDY
TAKING OVER THAT COMMITTEE
CHAIR, WE HAD REALLY GOTTEN OUT
OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BUSINESS. WE WERE ACTUALLY
SPENDING LESS MONEY ON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WENDY REALLY MADE
SURE THAT SHE CHAMPIONED. BUT
JUST ALSO THINKING ABOUT TWO.
TWO ISSUES THAT I WAS THINKING
ABOUT FOR YOU THAT YOU REALLY
LOOKED AT THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO
DON'T HAVE A VOICE, ONE WAS ON
THAT MEDI-CAL ASSET TEST, MAKING
SURE THAT FOLKS, JUST BECAUSE
THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN GET A CAR,
JUST BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN
THEY GOT A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY
FROM THEIR RELATIVES, DIDN'T GET
THEM KICKED OUT OF MEDI-CAL. AND
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SO
IMPORTANT THAT WE REALIZE THAT
IT'S SO HARD TO GET INTO MANY OF
OUR PROGRAMS, BUT IT'S SO EASY
TO GET KICKED OUT AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT YOU FOUGHT FOR,
THAT YOU USED YOUR VOICE, YOUR
POWER TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE STOOD UP AND FOUGHT FOR
THEM. AND THEN GOING BACK AND
LOOKING AT THE COMPENSATION
VICTIMS FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE HAD
FORCED STERILIZATION. AND HAVING
GONE THROUGH THAT AWFUL, AWFUL,
TRAUMATIC SITUATION AND MANY
TIMES IT'S WE, YOU KNOW, WE DO
THESE AWFUL THINGS AS A
GOVERNMENT. AND WE JUST SAID,
YOU KNOW, WE SAY WE'RE SORRY AND
WE MOVE ON AND WE KNOW THAT
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. AND I THINK
YOU YOU STOOD UP AND SAID,
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO SAY
WE'RE SORRY. OUR BAD, THAT THERE
HAS TO BE COMPENSATION, THAT
THERE HAS TO BE AMENDS, THAT
THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT
REALLY HAS TO HAPPEN. AND I
THINK IF YOU WEREN'T THERE, THAT
WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. IF
YOU WEREN'T THEIR VOICE, IT
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE. AND I
GO BACK, AND I'LL JUST CLOSE ON
THIS LAST THING I REMEMBER. YOU
KNOW, WITH WITH MEMBERS, WE ALL
HAVE ITEMS THAT WE FIGHT FOR IN
THE BUDGET, BUT THE ONE THING
THAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE
MONEY. YOU GOT FOR YOUR
HOSPITAL. BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T
FOR THAT, IT WOULD HAVE
COLLAPSED. IT WOULD HAVE NOT
BEEN FUNCTIONING. AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE VERY
FOCUSED ON, THAT YOU WORKED WITH
YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR LEADERS AT
HOME. BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
IS WHERE YOU PUT YOUR RESOURCES,
THE MONEY THAT YOU COULD FIND
WAS REALLY TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE
PROTECTING YOUR COMMUNITY. AND
SO WHEN I THINK OF YOU, I WILL
MISS SEEING YOU, YOU KNOW,
EVERY, EVERY DAY UP HERE. BUT I
KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE
HOME. YOU'RE GOING TO BE
FIGHTING FOR THOSE SAME PEOPLE
YOU FOUGHT FOR HERE. YOU'RE
GOING TO BE REMEMBERING ALL THE
IMMIGRANTS AND THE WORKING
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN YOUR
COMMUNITY EVERY DAY. THEY'RE
GOING TO BE READY FOR YOU. THEY
HAVE THEY HAVE A LOT OF THINGS
FOR YOU TO DO WHEN YOU GET HOME.
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S
NEXT AND TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE DOING. OKAY.
THANK YOU, MR. TANG, JUST AS A
LEVEL SET. THAT WAS SIX MINUTES.
SO WE WERE ASKING TWO MINUTES,
PLEASE. SO WE HAVE 20 MEMBERS
TODAY, SO, DOCTOR ARAMBULA, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. AND MEMBERS NOW,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CARRILLO, YOU
HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU
ASK FOR. IF YOU ASK ME TO SPEAK
UP BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT EXACTLY
SURE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET.
BUT TODAY I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR TIME
HERE, AND IT STARTED WITH
CHALLENGING FIRST STEPS. FOR
THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T
REMEMBER, THERE WAS JAVIER
BECERRA, WHO HAD JUST BEEN
APPOINTED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL,
AND THERE WAS AN OPENING FOR A
CONGRESSIONAL SEAT THAT I THINK
YOU PLACED FIFTH IN. IF I
REMEMBER CORRECTLY, TO OUR
COLLEAGUE HERE AND YOUR
PREDECESSOR, JIMMY GOMEZ. BUT IT
WAS IN THAT SUBSEQUENT RACE
WHERE YOU CHALLENGED AND STOOD
UP AND KNEW THAT YOU NEEDED TO
DO MORE, THAT WE SAW YOUR TRUE
COLORS BECAUSE YOU NEVER GAVE IN.
SISTER. YOU STOOD UP AND WE GOT
TO SEE YOU AS THE TRUE
PROGRESSIVE CHAMPION THAT YOU
ARE SOMEONE WHO STOOD UP FOR
IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS. SOMEONE WHO
STOOD UP FOR HEALTH EQUITY AND
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. WE
SAW YOUR PROGRESSIVE IDEALS AS A
BUDGET CHAIR, AS YOU STOOD UP
FOR THOSE WHO ARE THE MOST
VULNERABLE. I WITNESSED IT
FIRSTHAND AS YOU STOOD SHOULDER
TO SHOULDER WITH ME IN THE
HEALTH FOR ALL MOVEMENT. NONE OF
US COULD HAVE DONE THIS BY
OURSELVES, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO
EXPAND HEALTH CARE ACCESS TO A
MILLION PEOPLE TOGETHER. AND I
WAS THERE. AS WITH YOU AND
OTHERS, WE WERE ABLE TO TURN THE
LATINO CAUCUS INTO THE LATINA
CAUCUS BECAUSE OF THE GROWING
NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING
RIGHT HERE ON OUR FLOOR. BUT I
ALSO WITNESSED, AS YOU ARE, THE
FIRST EL SALVADORIAN IN OUR
STATE'S HISTORY TO SERVE ON THIS
FLOOR. AND SO IT WAS IN 2018
THAT I WENT WITH YOU AND OUR
SPEAKER EMERITUS AND OUR CAUCUS
CHAIR AND YOURSELF TO EL
SALVADOR AND THERE WERE MEMORIES
I HAD ON THAT TRIP AS WE WENT TO
THE MURDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
AND WHAT WE SAW WAS WHAT WAS
DRIVING PEOPLE HERE TO OUR
COUNTRY. AND WHAT I WITNESSED IS
YOU STANDING UP TO THE SPEAKER
AND TO THE PRESIDENT AND
SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT YOU WANTED
TO, WHICH WAS ABORTION. AS A
WOMAN IN THOSE HALLOWED HALLS TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VOICE WAS
HEARD. I WAS SO PROUD OF YOU,
SISTER. AND IT WAS THERE IN
FRANCE, AS WE WERE STUDYING
EXTREME HEAT AND WHAT WAS THEN
THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD, THAT
WE WENT TO A FARMHOUSE IN FRANCE
WITH OLIVIER, AND YOU AND I HAD
FISH IN THIS RANDOM FARMHOUSE,
AND WE LEARNED ABOUT URBAN
GREENING AND THE IMPORTANCE. AND
I LEARNED FROM YOU THAT YOU
MIGHT NOT KNOW THE FRENCH WORD
FOR CHEERS, BUT YOU DO KNOW THE
FRENCH WORD FOR FISH. AND I WAS
IMPRESSED WITH YOU AS WE LEARNED
FROM OSCAR ROMERO, WHO IS THE
ARCHBISHOP FROM EL SALVADOR, WHO
REMINDS US THAT THERE ARE MANY
THINGS THAT CAN ONLY BE SEEN
THROUGH THE EYES OF THOSE WHO
HAVE CRIED FOR THOSE OF US WHO
HAVE HAD OUR UPS AND DOWNS, FOR
THOSE OF US WHO WILL NOT BE
DEFINED BY OUR WORST MOMENTS. IT
HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO GET TO KNOW
YOU. MY FRIEND AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
FOR YOU. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES,
AS WE HELP TO BID FAREWELL TO
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CARRILLO. THANK
YOU, DOCTOR ARAMBULA. JUST THAT
WAS 3.5 MINUTES. WE'RE GETTING
BETTER HERE. SO, TWO MINUTES
FROM ASSEMBLY MEMBER CARRILLO,
PLEASE. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
AND MEMBERS, DISTINGUISHED
GUESTS AND THOSE WATCHING FROM
HOME. AS I STAND BEFORE YOU
TODAY, I AM FILLED WITH A DEEP
SENSE OF GRATITUDE AND
REFLECTION. MY TIME IN THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY HAS
BEEN ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND
EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. AND NOW,
AS I PREPARE TO STEP AWAY FROM
THIS ROLE, I JUST WANT TO SHARE
A FEW THOUGHTS. FIRST AND
FOREMOST, I AM GRATEFUL.
GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SERVE THE COMMUNITY THAT I GREW
UP IN, FROM EAST LA TO ECHO PARK
TO NORTHEAST LA AND SOUTH
GLENDALE, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE
GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO
REPRESENT THEIR VOICES, TO WORK
ALONGSIDE ALONGSIDE SUCH
DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE GROUP
OF MEMBERS AND INDIVIDUALS OF
THIS INSTITUTION. THE ASSEMBLY
IS A PLACE WHERE I DÍAS ARE
EXCHANGED, CHALLENGES ARE FACED
HEAD ON AND PROGRESS IS MADE. IT
HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO BE A PART
OF THIS PROCESS. THROUGHOUT MY
TIME HERE. I HAVE LEARNED SO
MUCH NOT ONLY ABOUT GOVERNANCE
AND POLICY, BUT ABOUT MYSELF. I
HAVE MADE MISTAKES AS WE ALL DO,
BUT EACH MISSTEP HAS BEEN A
LESSON, PUSHING ME TO STRIVE TO
BE THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF
AND HAVE A DEEPER CONNECTION TO
THE PEOPLE THAT I SERVE. AND
ALONGSIDE THOSE LEARNING CURVES,
I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE
ALSO ACCOMPLISHED SO MANY THINGS
TOGETHER. WE HAVE PASSED
LEGISLATION AND TACKLE DIFFICULT
ISSUES, GOT THROUGH THE OTHER
SIDE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, AND
WORK TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE
FOR CALIFORNIANS. THE FUNDING
AND RESOURCES SERVING IN THIS
BODY THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
DELIVER TO MY DISTRICT ARE SEATS
TO A GARDEN THAT WILL CONTINUE
TO BLOOM FOR YEARS TO COME. AS
PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY ONCE
SAID, LET US NOT SEEK THE
REPUBLICAN ANSWER OR THE
DEMOCRATIC ANSWER, BUT THE RIGHT
ANSWER. LET US NOT SEEK TO FIX
THE BLAME FOR THE PAST. LET US
ACCEPT OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE FUTURE. SERVING THE
PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN MY
GREATEST PRIVILEGE. THE
RESILIENCE, DIVERSITY AND HOPE
HAVE INSPIRED ME EVERY DAY. I
HOPE THAT IN SOME SMALL WAY I
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES AND IN
THE FUTURE OF OUR STATE. AS I
LEAVE THIS ROLE, I DO SO WITH
THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE THAT THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF CARING FOR
CALIFORNIA IS IN GOOD HANDS.
MEMBERS, EACH OF YOU HAVE
DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN
IN YOUR OWN WAY, YOUR UNWAVERING
COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT THE
40 MILLION PEOPLE THAT CALL
CALIFORNIA HOME CAN BE PROUD.
AND I HAVE LEARNED FROM EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU. I TRUST THAT
TOGETHER YOU WILL CONTINUE TO
BUILD A BETTER FUTURE THAT
REFLECTS THE BEST OF OUR STATE.
I AM SO DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
INCREDIBLE GROUP OF PEOPLE I'VE
HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH.
MY COLLEAGUES, ALL OF YOU, MY
TEAM HERE IN THE CAPITOL AND IN
THE DISTRICT WHO ARE HERE
PREVIOUS MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM ARE
AMAZING BUDGET STAFF AND ALL OF
THE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT HAVE
ENCOURAGED ME AND OFFERED ME
SUPPORT AND ADVICE THROUGHOUT
THIS JOURNEY. YOUR WISDOM, YOUR
GUIDANCE AND CAMARADERIE HAVE
BEEN INVALUABLE AND I WILL CARRY
THIS MEMORIES WITH ME ALWAYS. AS
I CLOSE THIS CHAPTER, I WANT TO
THANK MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BUT
I DO SO WITH A HEART FULL OF
GRATITUDE AND COMMITMENT TO
CONTINUE LEARNING AND GROWING.
IT IS A DEEP HONOR TO BE A
FORMERLY UNDOCUMENTED YOUNG
CHILD FLEEING A CIVIL WAR FROM
EL SALVADOR, AND TO KNOW THAT I
WAS ABLE TO SERVE WITH ALL OF
YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT IMMENSE
PRIVILEGE TO KNOW THAT NO MATTER
WHERE YOU COME FROM, WHAT YOU
LOOK LIKE, WHAT LANGUAGE YOU
SPEAK, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY CREATE
A CALIFORNIA AND A SOCIETY AND A
NATION THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD
OF. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. FOR
THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CARRILLO. I APOLOGIZE. I DO FEEL
A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE TEACHER
HERE. THAT WAS 3.5 MINUTES. SO
THAT'S TEN MINUTES FOR THE FIRST
MEMBER. MEMBER TWO MINUTES FOR
EACH MEMBER SPEAKING IN THE
TRIBUTE AND TWO MINUTES FOR THE
MEMBER. PLEASE PLEASE DO YOUR
BEST. WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE
HONORING ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CERVANTES, THE FIRST SPEAKER FOR
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CERVANTES IS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GARCIA. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND
COLLEAGUES, IT IS WITH GREAT
HONOR TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR
COLLEAGUE, YOUNG WOMAN HERE WHO
I REFER TO AS A HOMEGIRL. GIVEN
THAT WE COME FROM THE SAME PART
OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND
AS YOU ALL KNOW, VERY PROUD TO
REPRESENT THE COACHELLA VALLEY.
I WANT TO WELCOME HER FAMILY,
HER PARENTS, HER WIFE, HER
BEAUTIFUL THREE CHILDREN AND
SISTER TO THIS AMAZING PLACE
THAT WE CALL WORK. THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY FLOOR.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT HER
LEADERSHIP, NOT ONLY HOW SHE
GETS HERE THROUGH HARD WORK AND
DEDICATION. AFTER GRADUATING
FROM UC RIVERSIDE AND CALLING
RIVERSIDE HOME, BEGINNING TO
BUILD A COMMUNITY THERE, A
COMMUNITY WHERE SHE PROVIDED
SERVICE AND WORKED WITH PAST
LEGISLATOR. OUR FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE JOSE MEDINA, WHO
HELPED KIND OF MENTOR AND
DEVELOP WHAT ULTIMATELY BECAME
HER DISTRICT DIRECTOR, WHO WAS
IN THE BEST POSITION TO SUCCEED
HIM, WHEN SHE GETS HERE. FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARRIVED BEFORE
OR AFTER 2020, YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW CHALLENGING THIS AREA FOR A
DEMOCRAT TO GET ELECTED WOULD
BE, AND HOW CHALLENGING IT WOULD
BE TO MAKE SURE THAT A DEMOCRAT
WOULD STILL BE HERE TODAY. AND
SABRINA DEMONSTRATED A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GRIT,
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMMITMENT,
AND DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE
FIGHTER THAT WE'VE ALL COME TO
KNOW HERE TODAY. SABRINA
REMEMBERS. AND SHE SHARED WITH
ME A STORY ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT POSITIONS TO TAKE
POLITICALLY ON HER FIRST TERM
HERE, AND THAT WAS TO ENSURE
THAT CALIFORNIA HAD THE ADEQUATE
RESOURCES AT THE MOMENT TO BUILD
OUT THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE
FOR OUR ROADS AND OUR BRIDGES
THAT FOREVER HAVE BEEN
CHALLENGED. AND IT WAS SABRINA,
THE PRESSURE WAS PUT ON OUR NEW
FRESHMAN COLLEAGUE TO TAKE A
REALLY DIFFICULT VOTE. BEING ONE
OF THE MOST FOCUSED AND TARGETED
MEMBERS OF OUR CAUCUS. AND
REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL
PRESSURES, REGARDLESS OF THE
POLITICAL DYNAMICS AND POTENTIAL
RAMIFICATIONS, THAT A VOTE ON
THAT ISSUE COULD HAVE, SHE STOOD
TALL. SHE STOOD STRONG, NOT ONLY
SIDE BY SIDE WITH ALL OF THOSE
WHO TOOK THAT TOUGH VOTE, BUT
FOR HER CONSTITUENTS IN HER
DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT
SHE CAME TO DO WAS MAKE THOSE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN ORDER TO
BRING BACK THE NECESSARY
RESOURCES TO HER COMMUNITY, TO
ENSURE THAT HER REPRESENTATION
WOULD MATTER HERE AND WOULD
MATTER TO THE PEOPLE OF
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, FAST FORWARD,
SHE HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB
REPRESENTING RIVERSIDE COUNTY,
THE COMMUNITIES OF JURUPA,
RIVERSIDE, MANY OF THOSE BRAND
NEW COMMUNITIES THAT SHE GETS TO
REPRESENT. AND SHE HAS
DEMONSTRATED TREMENDOUS,
TREMENDOUS VISION TO ALSO BEGIN
TO FOSTER NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE
REGION. BUT I WANT TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT NOW AS WE GET CLOSER
TO OUR TWO MINUTES ABOUT HER AS
A MOTHER. 30S HER AS A PARTNER,
HER AS A DAUGHTER, WE ALL
WITNESSED HER GO BACK AND FORTH
TO THE DISTRICT AS SHE WAS
BEARING THOSE THREE BEAUTIFUL
CHILDREN THAT ARE HERE WITH US
TODAY, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT
ANY OF YOU, BUT I REMEMBER
WATCHING HER IN THE PROCESS OF
THESE CHILDREN BECOMING, YOU
KNOW, READY TO FACE THIS WORLD,
THAT SHE WAS HERE EVERY SINGLE
DAY WORKING, GOING BACK AND
FORTH TO THE DISTRICT TO MAKE
SURE THAT SHE WAS DOING THE WORK
OF THE PEOPLE IN HER DISTRICT.
AND SHE DEMONSTRATED THAT THERE
WAS NO TASK TOO BIG AND TOO BIG
OR TOO SMALL, THAT ULTIMATELY
WOULD GET IN HER WAY TO DO THE
WORK THAT SHE'S DONE. IT'S BEEN
TRULY AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH
SABRINA, WHO I'VE SEEN AS A
YOUNG WOMAN GROW UP AS MANY OF
YOU KNOW, HER FATHER HAS BEEN A
MENTOR TO MANY OF US WHO ARE IN
POLITICS IN THE COACHELLA
VALLEY, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO
HIM, TO HIS, DAUGHTER, FOR BEING
HERE AND BEING SUCH A GOOD
COLLEAGUE, PARTNER, FRIEND AND
SISTER THAT I CAN CALL MY
HOMEGIRL SABRINA CERVANTES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE ALL
OWE YOU A GREAT ATTITUDE, A
GRATITUDE EVERY TIME WE CROSS A
BRIDGE, WE GO OVER A NEW ROAD
BEING BUILT IN CALIFORNIA. IT
WAS YOU WHO HELPED US MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA. I
WOULD JUST NOTE THAT WAS FIVE
MINUTES. SO, MR. RAMOS, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. WELL, THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. AND TODAY, IT'S AN
HONOR TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY
FRIEND SABRINA CERVANTES AND HER
FAMILY. SABRINA IS A FIGHTER IN
LIFE. SABRINA HAS PUSHED FOR
CHANGE IN CALIFORNIA ON ISSUES
IMPORTANT TO OUR STATE. SHE
CONTINUES TO RAISE REYES, A
VOICE THAT HAS BEEN SILENT IN
THE STATE'S HISTORY. AS CHAIR OF
THE LATINO CAUCUS, SHE HAS
WIDENED THE AREA OF FARMWORKER
RIGHTS, REDUCE FINANCIAL
BARRIERS FOR FINANCIAL AID, JUST
TO NAME A FEW OF THE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS SHE HAS DONE AS
A MEMBER OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS, SHE
HAS CONTINUED TO STAND FIRM FIRM
ON BRINGING AWARENESS TO MISSING
AND MURDERED NATIVE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, BRINGING THE TRUE
HISTORY OF EDUCATION TO THE
FOREFRONT IN K THROUGH 12 AND
CONTINUING TO WORK ON SUICIDE
PREVENTION, A HISTORY AND A
LEGACY THAT'S NOT ONLY HER OWN,
BUT A LEGACY OF HER FAMILIES, OF
STANDING WITH THE CALIFORNIA'S
FIRST PEOPLE. SABRINA IS A
CHAMPION THAT HAS SEEN AND LIVED
THROUGH TOUGH TIMES, LIVED
EXPERIENCES THAT I KNOW ALL TOO
WELL AS A STATE THAT BROUGHT
PERSECUTION TO THE STATE'S FIRST
PEOPLE. WE SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE
OF ACCEPTANCE OF WHO WE ARE AS
PEOPLE. SABRINA HAS CHAMPIONED
LGBTQ PLUS ISSUES TO SHOW OTHERS
THAT BEING WHO THEY ARE IS A
GREAT GIFT THAT CAN BE USED TO
MAKE A GREAT CHANGE IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. AND BECAUSE OF
SABRINA'S WORK, SHE HAS PAVED
THE WAY FOR ALL OF US TO STRIVE
TO MAKE CALIFORNIA AWARE THAT
ALL, ALL WHO BELONG AND
CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR
COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, SHOWING THAT AS
PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS IN LIFE,
THAT WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AS
ONE, WE ALL MAKE IT A SAFE PLACE
TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN IN A WORLD
THAT TRULY ACCEPTS US ALL FOR
WHO WE ARE, FOR THAT, I THANK
YOU, MY FRIEND SABRINA CERVANTES.
THANK YOU, MR. RAMOS. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CERVANTES, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. I WANT TO FIRST OFF,
THANK MY COLLEAGUES, MY FRIENDS,
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS FROM COACHELLA
AND FROM HIGHLAND FOR SUCH KIND
WORDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
FRIENDSHIP. IT IS TRULY BEEN AN
HONOR SERVING IN THIS HOUSE WITH
ALL OF YOU AND WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE SERVED IN
THE LEGISLATURE SINCE I FIRST
GOT HERE IN 2016. NOW IT IS MY
FERVENT HOPE THAT THIS IS NOT
THE LAST YOU SEE ME. I DO HOPE
TO BE PART OF THIS CAPITAL
COMMUNITY IN 2025, AND BEYOND.
AND WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
YEARS, LET ME SAY THAT THIS IS
SUCH A PRIVILEGE AND A RELIEF
THAT I AM PART OF THIS DEPARTING
MEMBER CEREMONY IN 2024, AND NOT
EARLIER THAN THAT. WHEN I FIRST
GOT HERE, MANY PEOPLE ASSUME
THAT I WOULD LAST JUST ONE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THAT I
WOULD BE FORCED TO RELINQUISH MY
SEAT AND BE GONE IN 2018. IT WAS
SUCH AN EXPERIENCE TO WORK HARD
TO GET HERE, AND TO BE SWORN IN
AS A MEMBER IN 2016, AND THEN
WITHIN JUST A FEW MONTHS, PUT IT
ALL BACK ON THE LINE TO DO THE
RIGHT THING AND FINALLY GET THE
INLAND EMPIRE ITS FAIR SHARE OF
RESOURCES THAT IT DESERVES. FROM
SACRAMENTO, WE WEATHERED THE
STORM AND WE PERSEVERED, AND I
COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT
MANY OF YOU. MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE ON THIS
FLOOR, ALONG WITH MANY MEMBERS
OF YOUR TEAM WHO CAME OUT TO
CORONA, TO RIVERSIDE, HOOPA
VALLEY, EASTVILLE, TO COME KNOCK
ON DOORS AND TALK ABOUT THE WORK
THAT WE ARE DOING TO
COLLECTIVELY FOR OUR WORKING
FAMILIES. YOUR TEAM DEDICATED SO
MUCH TIME AND ENERGY, AND I WANT
TO THANK YOU. WHILE IT MAY SEEM
OBVIOUS THAT EXPERIENCE SHOWED
ME THAT AS A MEMBER, WE ARE BEST
SERVED BY SIMPLY LISTENING TO
THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT. IT
IS MY BELIEF THAT OUR
CONSTITUENTS ARE WILLING TO
CONTINUE TO SEND US BACK AND
SEND US HERE TO FIGHT FOR THEM
AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHEN WE DO
WHAT WE THINK IS RIGHT AND FOR
THEIR BEST INTERESTS, AND THAT
WE TAKE THE TIME TO ALSO EXPLAIN
WHY WE VOTED THE WAY WE DO. I
WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS A
TESTAMENT TO THE WORK OF MY
TEAM, THAT I AM STILL STANDING
HERE NOW, IN MY FOURTH
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, MY TEAM
BELIEVED IN ME EVERY STEP OF THE
WAY. THEY BELIEVED IN OUR
ABILITY TO DO RIGHT BY THE
PEOPLE OF WESTERN RIVERSIDE
COUNTY, AND FOR THAT I AM
ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO MY CHIEF
OF STAFF, CESAR, TO MY DISTRICT
DIRECTOR, DISTRICT DIRECTOR
RACHEL, AND TO EVERY SINGLE
PERSON WHO HAS SERVED ON TEAM
CERVANTES IN THE CAPITOL AND IN
THE DISTRICT OFFICE. YOU HAVE MY
DEEPEST THANKS AND APPRECIATION.
WHILE I MAY BE LEAVING THIS
ASSEMBLY FLOOR, I LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOU ALL AS WE WALK
THESE HALLOWED HALLS TOGETHER IN
THE MONTHS AND THE YEARS TO
COME. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
THANK MY PARENTS, MY MOTHER AND
MY FATHER, WHO ARE HERE WITH ME
TODAY FOR BEING MY SUPPORT
SYSTEM, FOR HELPING ME TO TEACH
ME THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT AND REPRESENTING THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WE COME FROM. I
WANT TO THANK MY SISTERS FOR
BEING BY MY SIDE AND BELIEVING
IN MY DREAMS AND ALLOWING ME TO
SHOW UP AS WHO I AM. TO MY THREE
BEAUTIFUL, SMART, KIND KIDS
JULIAN, NOAH AND PENELOPE FOR
BEING MY INSPIRATION AND FOR
SERVING AS MY DAILY REMINDER
THAT WE ARE ULTIMATELY HERE TO
MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME. AND
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, TO
MY AMAZING WIFE COURTNEY, WHO
HAS BEEN MY PARAGON OF PATIENCE
AND OF SUPPORT AS I ALWAYS AM
AWAY FROM THE FAMILY, TRAVELING
BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN HOME AND
SACRAMENTO TO DO THE PEOPLE'S
WORK FOR ALWAYS BEING MY
SOUNDBOARD, FOR BEING MY TOP
SUPPORTER AND MY PARTNER IN
LIFE. I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU TO
EACH OF YOU WHO HAS MADE A
DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE AND HAS
MADE ME A BETTER REPRESENTATIVE.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
CERVANTES. AND NOW WE WILL HONOR
ASSEMBLY MEMBER MEGAN DOLLY.
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, DOLLY IS OUR REPUBLICAN
LEADER, JAMES GALLAGHER. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND MEMBERS, I
HOPE I CAN GET THROUGH THIS.
OKAY IT'S AN HONOR TO STAND HERE
AND RECOGNIZE THE GREAT SERVICE
OF ASSEMBLYWOMAN MEGAN DOLLY,
WHO I FIRST MET AT A CONFERENCE
FOR RURAL COUNTIES WITH HER
HUSBAND, WHEN SHE WAS VERY
PREGNANT WITH ROSALIND, AND EVER
SINCE THEN, I FEEL LIKE I'VE HAD
A GREAT, AMAZING RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE DOLLY FAMILY. AND YOU
REALLY CAN'T TALK ABOUT MEGAN
WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE DOLLY
FAMILY. THEY ARE AN AMAZING
GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND THEY'VE
DONE ALL OF THIS TOGETHER SINCE
DAY ONE, THROUGH LOCAL
CAMPAIGNS, THROUGH LEGISLATIVE
CAMPAIGNS, THROUGH A GOVERNOR'S
CAMPAIGN. I'VE WATCHED THIS
FAMILY, AND THEY THEY ARE TRULY
REMARKABLE. AND THE WAY THAT
THEY WORK TOGETHER AND THEY,
THEY MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S
TAKEN CARE OF, AND I, I THINK
I'M OKAY SHARING THIS STORY
BECAUSE I REMEMBER BRIAN SHARING
IT WITH ME, FROM HIS FIRST TERM
WHEN HE WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH
FROM BIEBER TO SACRAMENTO. IT'S
A LONG DRIVE, AS YOU GUYS KNOW.
WE REPRESENT REALLY BIG
DISTRICTS IN THE NORTH. AND
BRIAN TALKING TO THE FAMILY AND
IT WAS HARD. IT WAS A HARD TIME,
YOU KNOW, AND BUT HIS KIDS
SAYING, DAD, DON'T WORRY ABOUT
IT. WE CAN HANG. I BELIEVE THAT
WAS THE RIGHT WORD. AND THEY
CERTAINLY HAVE, AND SO I, YOU
KNOW, WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
THAT AMAZING FAMILY. BUT ALSO,
YOU KNOW, MEGAN ALONG THAT
JOURNEY DECIDED, HEY, I'M GOING
TO STEP UP AND RUN. YOU KNOW, I
COULD DO THIS. AND WHEN SHE WAS
ELECTED, SHE BROKE THE RECORD
FOR WOMEN SERVING IN THE
LEGISLATURE. SHE ACTUALLY WAS
THE ONE THAT WHEN SHE CAME IN,
IT BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR
THE AMOUNT OF WOMEN SERVING IN
THIS LEGISLATURE. AND I THINK
SHE HAS LIVED UP TO THAT RECORD
IN HER IN HER TIME HERE, SHE
INSTANTLY BECAME THE MOTHER OF
OUR CAUCUS, THAT'S FOR SURE, AND
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS REALLY THE
HEART OF OUR CAUCUS, SHE'S SHE'S
AN ENCOURAGER, AND I AND I MEAN
THAT IN THE TRUEST SENSE OF THAT
WORD, IT'S NOT A YES PERSON.
IT'S SOMEONE WHO WILL TELL YOU
EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR
WHEN YOU NEED TO HEAR IT, WHO
ISN'T AFRAID TO PUT YOU IN A
HEADLOCK? WE JOKE ABOUT THAT,
BUT ACTUALLY, LITERALLY, I THINK
SHE DOES SOMETIMES. YOU KNOW,
BUT WE'LL WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT
YOU NEED TO HEAR. AND SHE PUSHES
YOU TO BE BETTER. AND I FOUND
THAT IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE, AS
I'VE TAKEN ON THIS LEADERSHIP
ROLE, SHE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, BEEN
THERE FOR ME MANY TIMES, IN THAT
ROLE. BUT I KNOW FOR MANY PEOPLE
THROUGHOUT THE CAPITOL COMMUNITY
BECAUSE I'VE HEARD SO MANY
DIFFERENT STORIES, AND I KNOW I
LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM, PEOPLE
CAN ATTEST THAT WHERE MEGAN HAS
BEEN, THERE FOR YOU, SHE'S A
STRONG WOMAN OF FAITH, AND I'VE
SEEN THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
BUT NOT JUST IN WORD IN ACTION,
PRAYING FOR PEOPLE SHOWING UP
AND CARING FOR PEOPLE, WHEN
THEY'RE ILL, WHEN THEY'RE GOING
THROUGH TOUGH TIMES. AND I KNOW
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN
PROBABLY ATTEST TO THAT IN THIS
CAPITOL COMMUNITY, SHE ONCE GAVE
MY WIFE A BOOK, AND I CAN'T
REMEMBER THE EXACT TITLE, BUT IT
WAS ABOUT BEING A LIONESS. AND I
THINK THAT'S REALLY TRUE. I
THINK THAT'S WHO MEGAN IS. SHE
IS A LIONESS. I MEAN, SHE, FIRST
OF ALL, SHE WILL FIGHT FOR HER
CUBS AND HER KIDS, AND SHE DOES
EVERY DAY. BUT SHE'S THERE, AS,
YOU KNOW, A FIGHTER FOR HER
FAMILY AND FOR HER COMMUNITY AND
A PROTECTOR, AND SHE'S, YOU
KNOW, BEEN AMAZING IN THAT ROLE.
SHE'S EMPOWERED A WHOLE LOT OF
REPUBLICAN WOMEN, BOTH STAFF AND
ELECTEDS IN THIS BUILDING. I
KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN ATTEST
TO THAT. AND STARTING THE
REPUBLICAN WOMEN LEADERSHIP
GROUP, AND HELPING CONNECT AND
WOMEN AND HELP WITH NETWORKING
OF WOMEN IN THIS BUILDING. SHE'S
DONE AN AMAZING JOB. SHE FIGHTS
FOR HER DISTRICT, AND YOU'VE
SEEN HER GET RESULTS. HOSPITALS
HEALTH CARE, WILDFIRE, SMALL
BUSINESSES, SHE HAS AMAZING
COMMUNICATIONS. THE BEST, YOU
KNOW, IN OUR CAUCUS. AND SHE
ACTUALLY, SHE DOESN'T BRAG A
LOT, BUT SHE DOES BRAG ABOUT
THIS, THAT SHE HAS THE BEST OPEN
RATE OF HER EMAILS. BUT THAT'S
TRUE. SHE DOES. AND SHE'S
CONSTANTLY COMMUNICATING WITH
HER, WITH HER DISTRICT, AND SHE
SHARED THAT AND MADE OUR CAUCUS
BETTER ABOUT HOW WE REACH OUT TO
OUR COMMUNITY, HOW WE REACH OUT
TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND KEEP
THEM INFORMED. OBVIOUSLY THIS
WAS A VERY HARD YEAR, AND IT WAS
REALLY HARD FOR US NOT HAVING
MEGAN WITH US, I CAN TELL YOU. I
MEAN, I FELT LIKE WE WERE
WITHOUT, OUR RUDDER MANY TIMES.
BUT AS MUCH AS IT WAS HARD FOR
US, I KNOW IT WAS EVEN HARDER
FOR HER, BECAUSE OF WHO SHE IS.
BECAUSE SHE'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW,
CARING FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU
KNOW, AND MAYBE THIS WAS THE
FIRST TIME THAT SHE HAD TO BE
SOMEONE CARE FOR HER. AND I, I
AGAIN SAW THIS FAMILY JUST STEP
UP AND STARTING WITH HER
HUSBAND, WHO MAN HAD. I DON'T
KNOW HOW YOU DO IT ALL, BUT YOU,
YOU WERE THERE IN A Kò. YOU WERE
AMAZING HUSBAND TO YOUR WIFE,
DURING THAT TIME, AND EACH OF
YOU KIDS, YOU KNOW, WERE AMAZING
IN HOW YOU STEPPED UP IN SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS. AND I KNOW THAT
WAS HARD FOR YOU, SO HARD FOR
US. BUT I KNOW YOU KNOW VERY
TOUGH, FOR YOU. BUT PERHAPS
THROUGH ALL OF THIS, AS YOU'RE
SAYING, HERE TODAY, AND WE
COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE IT
COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A MORE JOYFUL
DAY IN THIS CAPITOL WHEN MEGAN
CAME BACK HERE TO US, AND STOOD
ON THIS FLOOR, SO MANY FROM
ACROSS THIS ROOM WHO CAME OVER
AND GAVE HER WORDS OF COMFORT
AND, AND IT WAS JUST GREAT. IT
WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. AND I THINK
IT'S A SYMBOL, ALL OF THIS AS
TERRIBLE AS THAT TIME HAS BEEN,
IT'S A SYMBOL OF, RESILIENCE.
AND I THINK OF JUST LIKE OUR
DISTRICT WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH A
LOT, AND WE'VE HAD TO BE THERE
THROUGH A WHOLE LOT OF ADVERSITY
IN OUR DISTRICT, HOW WE
OVERCOME. AND YOU OVERCAME AND,
WE SAW THE STRENGTH OF FAMILY.
WE SAW THE POWER OF PRAYER, THE
HUGE POWER OF PRAYER, SO MANY
PRAYERS THAT WERE PRAYED OVER
HER, AND WE SAW GOD BREAK
THROUGH IN BIG WAYS. AND, YOU
ARE A MIRACLE. BUT MORE SO, YOU
ARE A BLESSING TO OUR CAUCUS.
YOU'VE BEEN A BLESSING TO THIS
INSTITUTION AND TO SO MANY
MEMBERS THAT ARE PART OF THIS
INSTITUTION. BUT THE GOOD NEWS
IS, THIS ISN'T GOODBYE. I KEEP
SAYING THIS IS NOT DEPARTING
BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD
TO YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE AND WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CALLING
YOU SENATOR DOLLY, AND THE
CONTINUED SERVICE OF YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY. SO THANK YOU,
MEGAN. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND
GODSPEED. THANK YOU, MR.
GALLAGHER. ASSEMBLY MEMBER DOLLY,
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MY
FAMILY AND MY STAFF SPEAKS HARD,
BUT I'M DOING IT SO.
THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
DOLLY. AND I JUST WANT TO
RECOGNIZE SENATOR DOLLY, FORMER
ASSEMBLY MEMBER DOLLY JOINING
HER TODAY. WE WILL NOW HEAR
REMARKS FOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER
FRIEDMAN. FIRST TO SPEAK WILL BE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PELLERIN. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND MEMBERS,
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SHARE WITH
YOU ALL IN TWO MINUTES.
EVERYTHING I LOVE AND ADORE
ABOUT MY PHENOMENAL SEATMATE,
LAURA FRIEDMAN. BUT HERE I GO.
SHE IS WICKED SMART,
COMPASSIONATE, TRUSTWORTHY,
FUNNY, A FASHION ICON,
CONFIDENT, LOYAL, EDGY, A POOL
SHARK, LOVING, DEDICATED,
CARING, INDEPENDENT, BRAVE,
RESILIENT, TENACIOUS,
THOUGHTFUL, COURAGEOUS,
CREATIVE. BEST THRIFT SHOPPER
EVER. WARM. INCLUSIVE.
INDUSTRIOUS. CONSCIENTIOUS
DILIGENT. I GUESS I COULD HAVE
JUST SAID LAURA IS BRAT MORE
THAN ANY OF THAT. LAURA IS A
DEVOTED MOTHER AND WIFE AND MY
DEAR FRIEND FOR LIFE. THAT'S A
LITTLE POEM. WHEN I FIRST MET
LAURA, I WAS IN AWE AND IN FEAR.
SHE SPOKE AT A TRAINING ON HOW
TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR
CAMPAIGNS. SHE WAS A MASTER AND
HAD EARNED THE TITLE OF TOP
FUNDRAISER IN THE LEGISLATURE,
MAINLY FROM THOUSANDS OF SMALL
DONORS. HER INTENSITY WAS SUPER
SCARY. AND THEN WHEN I WALKED
ONTO THIS GREEN CARPET ON
SWEARING-IN DAY, I DISCOVERED I
WAS ASSIGNED A SEAT NEXT TO
LAURA. YIKES I WAS A LITTLE
APPREHENSIVE, BUT MY FEAR TURNED
TO REVERE AS SHE TOOK ME UNDER
HER WING AND MENTORED ME ON THE
INS AND OUTS OF LEGISLATING,
COLLABORATING, AND BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS. LAURA HAS AN
AMAZING JOURNEY IN PUBLIC
SERVICE, WHICH BEGAN LONG BEFORE
HER TIME IN THE ASSEMBLY AND
TOOK HER FROM WORKING IN THE
FILM INDUSTRY TO SERVING IN
GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL. I
RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT SHE
PARTICIPATED IN A CONGRESS
COMPETITION AS A YOUNG STUDENT.
CLEARLY, LAURA, YOU WERE
DESTINED TO END UP IN CONGRESS.
AND OF COURSE, THERE IS HER
IMPACT OF LEGISLATIVE WORK. WHEN
LAURA BECAME CHAIR OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, IT
MARKED A CHANGE OF COURSE FOR
TRANSPORTATION IN CALIFORNIA.
LAURA LED THE WAY IN INNOVATIVE
PLANNING FOR MORE LIVABLE,
WALKABLE COMMUNITIES. IN
ADDITION, SHE HAS CHAMPIONED
POLICIES AIMED AT REDUCING
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS,
PROMOTING PUBLIC TRANSIT,
INCREASING HOUSING SUPPLY,
PROTECTING TENANTS, ENSURING
THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
INCLUSIVE AND VIBRANT, AND
ADVANCING THE USE OF CLEAN
ENERGY, SHE IS A BALL OF FIRE
AND ENERGY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO
LOOK ANY FURTHER THAN HER
DAUGHTER, RACHEL TO KNOW WHAT
INSPIRES LAURA TO BUILD A BETTER
TOMORROW FOR EVERYONE TO THRIVE.
RACHEL, IN THIS CRAZY WORLD
WHERE TIME IS ESPECIALLY
PRECIOUS AND LIVES ARE IMMENSELY
BUSY, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE
YOUR MOM'S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
SHE LOVES YOU INTENSELY AND SHE
IS INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU. SO
WHILE SHE WILL BE IN DC SERVING
IN CONGRESS, WORKING ON POLICIES
TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA AND
IMPROVE LIVES, AND CONVINCING
HER NEW COLLEAGUES TO
PARTICIPATE IN A FRIENDLY GAME
OF BILLIARDS, SHE WILL ALWAYS,
ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS AND WE
WILL REMAIN IN HERS FOREVER AND
ALWAYS. THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER PELLERIN. NOW TO
RECOGNIZE SELMA MEMBER FRIEDMAN.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER REYES. ALL
RIGHT. SHE IS ALL OF THAT. SHE
IS ALL OF THAT. LAURA AND I
JOINED THE LEGISLATURE IN 2016
TOGETHER. AND WHEN I MET HER, I
THOUGHT, OH, THIS IS A STRANGE
ONE. HOW AM I GOING TO HOW AM I
GOING TO GET TO KNOW HER? SHE'S
SMART. SHE KNOWS ALL THIS STUFF.
SHE'S BEEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
OH, MY GOODNESS. AND WE SERVED
ON THE. SHE WAS CHAIR OF THE
JOINT COMMITTEE ON RULES,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON SEXUAL
HARASSMENT PREVENTION. AND
RESPONSE. THIS WAS DURING THE
METOO MOVEMENT. SHE TOOK ON THAT
LEADERSHIP ROLE AND I SAID, OH
MY GOODNESS, I'M LEARNING A
WHOLE LOT FROM THIS WOMAN. AND I
HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING PART
OF THAT. AND THROUGHOUT THE
PROCESS, SHE STAYED ON TASK.
WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO? WE
WANT TO PROTECT THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN HARASSED, WHO FILED THEIR
COMPLAINTS, WHO ARE TOO AFRAID
TO FILE THE COMPLAINTS, AND DID
SUCH A MAGNIFICENT, MAGNIFICENT
JOB. SHE MADE SURE WE RECTIFIED
OUR OWN PROTOCOLS AND POLICIES.
BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT NOW,
IT REALLY WAS A DRASTIC CHANGE
TO WHAT HAD BEEN BEFORE. WE NOW
HAVE WHAT IS THE A SEPARATE
ENTITY FROM OUR HR THAT PROVIDES
SEPARATION AND FUNDAMENTALLY
CHANGES HOW OUR LEGISLATURE
HANDLES HARASSMENT CLAIMS. THIS
WORK HAS SERVED AS A MODEL FOR
OTHER STATES AND HAS CONTINUED
TO IMPROVE WHAT WE DO HERE.
LAURA WAS ALSO CHAIR OF TWO
CRITICAL COMMITTEES NATURAL
RESOURCES AND TRANSPORTATION,
AND HER PASSION SHOWED THROUGH
BOTH. I LOVED WHEN SHE WOULD
NEGOTIATE WITH SOME OF YOU ON
YOUR BILLS. NOPE. YOU'RE TAKING
THAT OUT? NOPE. THAT'S OUT.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO PUT THIS IN
AND I WOULD JUST WATCH. I WOULD
JUST WATCH AND I WOULD LISTEN.
BUT HER PASSION FOR
SUSTAINABILITY, FOR MOVING TO A
ZERO EMISSION FUTURE, FOR
CREATING MORE WORKABLE AND
WALKABLE LIVABLE COMMUNITIES IS
SO IMPRESSIVE. SHE DOESN'T JUST
TALK ABOUT BIKE LANES. SHE
DOESN'T JUST TALK ABOUT TRANSIT.
SHE HAS MADE IT HER HER LIFE'S
MISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO
LEAVE A CLEANER COMMUNITY FOR
OUR RACHEL'S OF THIS WORLD. NOW
AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, WE DIDN'T
AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT I COULD
NEVER QUESTION LAURA'S PASSION.
NOW, IN 2020, WHEN WE LOST
SABRINA AS OUR ROOMIE, WE THEN
HAD TO FIND A NEW ROOMIE. AND
THAT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK
BECAUSE WE WANTED SOMEBODY THAT
WE COULD LIVE WITH AND WE CHOSE
LAURA. THAT WAS THE BEST CHOICE
WE COULD HAVE MADE. LAURA HAS
BEEN THE BEST ROOMIE I HAVE
LEARNED, NOT JUST THIS TOUGH
LEGISLATOR SIDE, BUT WHO SHE IS
AS A MOTHER, AS A WOMAN, AS A
WIFE, AS A FRIEND. AND I'M JUST
SO PROUD THAT SHE IS MY FRIEND
AND MY ROOMIE. THERE WERE TIMES
WHEN WE WOULD SAY, HEY, LET'S,
LET'S, LET'S WE NEED TO MAKE
SOME SOME HOME COOKED MEAL. I
VOLUNTEER, I'LL MAKE THE MEAL,
BUT I DON'T WANT TO CLEAN UP.
LAURA WAS ALWAYS THE SHE ALWAYS
TOOK CARE OF WASHING THE DISHES.
SO I WAS I WAS WILLING TO COOK
AND BAKE ANYTHING. AND WHENEVER
RACHEL WOULD COME OVER, WE'D
BAKE TOGETHER. IT WAS ONE TIME
WHEN LAURA WAS DRIVING AROUND
AND YEAH, SHE'S THE THRIFT STORE
QUEEN, BUT SHE WAS DRIVING
AROUND AND WE'D BEEN TALKING
ABOUT MAKING A CHERRY PIE AND
SHE CAME HOME WITH A FLAT OF
CHERRIES. WE THEN WORKED TO PUT
THEM WELL, I WORKED TO PIT THEM,
WE MADE CHERRY PIES AND THEY
WERE THE BEST. AND IF ANY OF YOU
GOT TO TASTE THEM, YOU KNOW WHAT
I'M TALKING ABOUT. SHE ALWAYS
SAYS THAT SHE'S NOT. SHE DOESN'T
KNOW HOW TO COOK. I CAN TELL YOU
IF YOU'VE EVER TRIED HER
MEATLOAF. IT IS THE ABSOLUTE
BEST. YOU HAVEN'T. GUILLAUME.
NOW I LOVE GUILLAUME. WHEN? WHEN
FRANK AND GUILLAUME SIT AT THESE
CONFERENCES THAT LAURA AND I GO
TO, THEY JUST SIT ON THE SIDE
AND SAY, OUR WOMEN, OUR WOMEN.
BUT NOW YOUR WOMAN IS GOING TO
DC. THAT'S GOING TO BE A
SEPARATE TRIP ALTOGETHER.
GUILLAUME AND WE'RE GOING TO
LOOK WE LOOK FORWARD TO JOINING
YOU THERE ON ANOTHER NOTE, I
ALSO LEARNED FROM LAURA THE MORE
SERIOUS SIDE I LEARNED FROM HER
WHAT IT WAS. BEING A JEWISH
REPRESENTATIVE IN THIS BODY. AND
WE HAD LONG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THAT AND HER COMMITMENT TO WHO
SHE IS AND THE STRUGGLES OF THE
JEWISH COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE
YEARS, AND HISTORY AND BRINGING
US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. AND
I'VE DEVELOPED A STRONGER,
STRONGER LOVE FOR WHO SHE IS IN
THAT REGARD, HAVING HER SHARE
THAT SERIOUS SIDE ABOUT HER. I
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WHAT
HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON DC WHEN
YOU'RE THERE, BUT I KNOW THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO BRING NOT ONLY
YOUR SERIOUS SIDE, BUT YOU'RE
ALSO GOING TO BRING YOUR FUN
SIDE. AND WHOEVER YOUR ROOMIES
ARE THERE, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD
TO MEETING THEM AS WELL TOO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ROOMIE. WE
LOVE YOU. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER FRIEDMAN, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, THIS IS
REALLY HARD FOR ME. I MEAN, I, I
FEEL A LITTLE EMBARRASSED RIGHT
NOW IN A GOOD WAY. AND I DIDN'T
PREPARE. AS YOU CAN SEE. I THINK
I SCRIBBLED A FEW THINGS HERE. I
DIDN'T PREPARE FOR THIS BECAUSE
I THINK I'M REALLY IN DENIAL
ABOUT LEAVING THIS PLACE. THIS
PLACE THAT I LOVE SO MUCH, AND
MY COLLEAGUES WHO I LOVE SO
MUCH. THIS BEING A LEGISLATOR,
BEING AN ASSEMBLY MEMBER HAS
BEEN THE UTMOST HONOR OF MY
ENTIRE LIFE. AND EVERY SINGLE
DAY THAT I WALK INTO THIS
BUILDING AND I MEAN EVERY DAY,
EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE THIS
BUILDING, I GET A THRILL. STILL,
I GET A THRILL. I CAN'T BELIEVE
THAT I HAVE GOTTEN FOR THE PAST
EIGHT YEARS THE CHANCE TO WORK
IN THIS BUILDING AND TO DO THE
INCREDIBLE, IMPACTFUL WORK THAT
WE ALL DO EVERY DAY. AND I HOPE
THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU
KNOWS THAT EVERY VOTE THAT YOU
CAST, EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE,
IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES REALLY
PROFOUNDLY. YOU KNOW, I HAVE
TRIED OVER THE YEARS TO REALLY
TO LEGISLATE THROUGH LISTENING,
LISTENING TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR
DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES. AND EACH
ONE OF YOU BRINGS AN INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE THAT I
DON'T HAVE. AND THAT NO ONE,
NONE OF YOUR OTHER COLLEAGUES
HAVE, BUT ALSO TO LISTEN TO THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE SO OFTEN
VOICELESS. THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T
HAVE THE LOBBYISTS, THE PEOPLE
WHO AREN'T ABLE TO RAISE THEIR
OWN VOICES TO ADVOCATE FOR
THEMSELVES. AND I TRY, EVERY
TIME I MAKE A DECISION TO CENTER
THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE
THE MOST VULNERABLE. YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE SOMETIMES HAVE AN
IMPRESSION OF SACRAMENTO
POLITICIANS AS BEING A CERTAIN
WAY. AND I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE
WHEN THEY BRING THIS UP THAT
SACRAMENTO POLITICIANS ARE
PEOPLE WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT
THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHO TRY TO
MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT THEY
THINK ARE THE BEST FOR THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND FOR THE PEOPLE
OF CALIFORNIA. I AM PROUD TO
CALL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU,
MY FRIEND AND MY COLLEAGUE AND I
WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU AND
ALSO THE STAFF AND THE SERGEANTS
FOR THE WELCOME AND THE CARE
THAT YOU GIVE TO ME AND TO MY
FAMILY. YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND,
GUILLAUME, WHEN I'M GONE DURING
THE WEEK, HE'S A SINGLE DAD AND
IT'S HARD FOR HIM. AND WHEN HE
GETS LOST WALKING AROUND THE
BUILDING WHEN HE'S UP HERE,
THOSE FEW TIMES EVERYONE IS SO
WONDERFUL ABOUT GUIDING HIM BACK
TO THE RIGHT PLACE, AND THEY
UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S GOING
THROUGH AND MY DAUGHTER RACHEL,
WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, SHE
WALKED DOWN THIS AISLE WITH A
BINKY IN HER MOUTH. SHE WAS
THREE YEARS OLD AND I HAD BEEN
CAMPAIGNING FOR TWO YEARS WHEN
SHE WAS A LITTLE BABY. THIS IS
ALL SHE'S EVER KNOWN, AND THAT'S
A HUGE BURDEN ON A CHILD TO HAVE
HER MOMMY GONE DURING THE WEEK.
YOU KNOW, TO SEE ME WHEN I'M
HOME OUT AT EVENTS EVERY SINGLE
NIGHT. THAT'S SO HARD FOR YOU,
RACHEL. AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL
LOOK BACK AND RECOGNIZE THAT
THIS IS THE WAY THAT WE GIVE
BACK, AND THAT YOU'VE BEEN A
HUGE PART OF THAT SERVICE, THAT
WE'VE DONE, AND THAT I DO THIS
WITH LOVE FOR YOU EVERY DAY AND
A CONCERN FOR YOUR FUTURE. AND
YOU'RE WITH ME EVEN WHEN YOU'RE
HOME. YOU'RE WITH ME. EVERY
SINGLE DAY. I REMEMBER WHEN SHE
WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD AND I
WAS TAKING HER HOME FROM
DAYCARE, AND SHE LOOKED AT ME IN
THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SHE WAS
ALL MAD. AND I SAID, WHAT ARE
YOU MAD ABOUT? AND SHE SAID, NOT
ALL MOMMIES GO TO SACRAMENTO.
AND IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT SHE
THOUGHT THAT EVERYONE'S MOMMY
WENT TO SACRAMENTO, AND THAT SHE
WAS REALLY GOT THE SHORT END OF
THE STICK IN THIS LIFE. BUT I
HOPE THAT SHE'LL COME TO
APPRECIATE MAYBE THAT SHE'S
GOTTEN TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING
REALLY, REALLY SPECIAL. NOW, YOU
KNOW, WE ALL WE TAKE A LOT OF
CREDIT AS LEGISLATORS FOR THE
THINGS THAT WE DO, BUT IT'S NOT
JUST US. YOU KNOW, WE ALL, AS
LEGISLATORS HAVE A HUGE ARMY OF
PEOPLE WHO MAKE EVERYTHING THAT
WE DO POSSIBLE. AND I WANT TO
TAKE A SECOND TO THANK THEM
BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY THE, YOU
KNOW, ANYTHING THAT I'VE DONE
THAT YOU DISLIKE IS PROBABLY
PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF THEM. AND
CERTAINLY ANYTHING THAT I'VE
DONE THAT YOU THINK IS POSITIVE
IS REALLY COMPLETELY BECAUSE OF
MY STAFF. SO I WANT TO NAME MY
PRESENT AND MY FORMER STAFF.
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ORDER OF
HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN WITH THE
TEAM. FIRST, MY CHIEF, ALLISON
RUFF SHERMAN. YOU KNOW, ONE OF
THE SADDEST THINGS FOR ME ABOUT
GOING TO CONGRESS IS THAT
ALLISON'S NOT COMING WITH ME.
AND I HAVE A DEEP SENSE OF FEAR
BECAUSE THIS IS A PERSON WHO
HANDLES EVERYTHING AROUND ALL OF
OUR OFFICES SEAMLESSLY. SHE IS
TRULY THE STAFF WHISPERER, AND
THE MEMBER WHISPERER, ONE OF THE
CALMEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET,
AND JUST ONE OF THE KINDEST AND
MOST DEDICATED PEOPLE I'VE EVER
MET. THANK YOU, ALLISON, FOR
BEING MY FRIEND, JIM METROPOLIS,
MY LEAD DIRECTOR. AGAIN,
ANYTHING YOU DON'T LIKE HIS
FAULT? ANYTHING YOU DO LIKE?
DEFINITELY HIS FAULT. HE'S ONE
OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER
MET IN MY LIFE. SOMEONE WHO'S
NEVER BEEN AFRAID TO TELL ME.
WHAT IS IT YOU WANT TO DO? I
DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT.
AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR
THAT. AND THEN I'M JUST GOING TO
GO DOWN THE LIST. I'D LOVE TO
TALK ABOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE,
BUT I KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO GET
STOPPED BY THE BY THE PRO TEM.
TIFFANY MORRISON, THE OG
SCHEDULER, BLAKE DELLINGER,
SAROJINI LAL, SEAMUS GERAGHTY,
VICTORIA DILLONLIAM, GERALD
MENDOZA, JULIA KINGSLEY, LILIANA
UDANG, MARIA ASLANIAN, ISAIAH
KING, JENNIFER GUZMAN, ALONDRA
LOPEZ, CHRISTOPHER CACADOR,
SEBASTIAN AGUILAR PINERO, JENNY
CHANG, SEBASTIAN. LOZANO, DIANE
REINA, CARRIE WEST, AMANDA.
FAISAL, ANTHONY. MAHOOD, JAY
GIMA YOU ARE ALL ALL PART OF,
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE
DONE HERE. AND I COULDN'T HAVE
DONE ANY OF IT WITHOUT EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU. I WANT TO
THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF
MY HEART. THE SERGEANTS, THE
INCREDIBLE STAFF, THE MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THESE LAST
EIGHT YEARS SOME OF THE BEST
YEARS OF MY LIFE.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
FRIEDMAN. AND NOW, TO PAY
TRIBUTE TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GARCIA. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS
ASSEMBLY MEMBER RAMOS. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND IT'S AN
HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON
YOUR BEHALF. MY BROTHER, EDUARDO
GARCIA, WHO SHOWS GREAT TENACITY
IN ALL THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE
HERE IN THE STATE CAPITAL.
EDUARDO EDUARDO HAS LED SEVERAL
BIG BILLS ON CLIMATE, HOUSING
AND INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE.
EDUARDO STARTED WORKING WITH
TRIBES BACK AS A STAFF AND
STUDENT. HE WORKED AT THE
TORRES-MARTINEZ INDIAN
RESERVATION, WHERE HE LEARNED
CAHUILLA LANGUAGE AND WAS
INTRODUCED TO THE TRADITIONAL
BIRD SONGS OF OUR PEOPLE. HE HAS
ALWAYS TAKEN A HANDS ON APPROACH
TO ALL THAT HE DOES, AS IN THE
STATE AND AS THE MAYOR OF
COACHELLA, HE CARRIED THAT WORK
ETHIC HERE TO THE STATE ASSEMBLY,
WHERE HIS LEGACY, HIS LEGACY,
WILL SHOW. HE WAS INVOLVED WITH
MAJOR, IMPORTANT PIECES OF
LEGISLATION AND BALLOT
INITIATIVES THAT WERE ON THE
NOVEMBER BALLOT TO CREATE A
BETTER CALIFORNIA. HE HAS STOOD
SIDE BY SIDE WITH CALIFORNIA'S
FIRST PEOPLE. HE STOOD SIDE BY
SIDE ON ISSUES ISSUES EARLY ON
IN HIS LIFE THAT BROUGHT
AWARENESS AROUND A FEDERAL LAW
CALLED PUBLIC LAW 280 THAT
STRIPPED CALIFORNIA TRIBES OF
THEIR TRUE POLICING AUTHORITY.
EDUARDO, AT AN EARLY AGE, WAS
ENGAGED WITH HANDS ON ETHICS AS
HE SEEN TRIBAL POLICE PULLED
OVER BY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND ARRESTED
FOR IMPERSONATING LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. EDUARDO IS
A TRUE CHAMPION THAT CONTINUES
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE WORK
ETHIC AND THE TENACITY TO MOVE
FORWARD ON THESE BILLS HERE IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. WE HAVE
COME A LONG WAY, BUT WE STILL
HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND
EDUARDO WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A
LEGACY IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. MY BROTHER, EDUARDO
GARCIA, HAS SAID HE WAS THE
NATIVE AMERICAN CHAMPION BEFORE
MY ELECTION, WHICH IS TRUE.
EDUARDO WORKED ON MANY PIECES OF
LEGISLATION FOR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES, AND HE HAS
CONTINUED TO STAND FOR TRIBAL
ISSUES ON HOUSING, WATER, EQUAL
RIGHTS AND THE RETURN OF NATIVE
AMERICAN REMAINS. EDUARDO Dð
DOES AND HAS A WEALTH OF
KNOWLEDGE AND MOST IMPORTANT, MY
BROTHER HERE HAS A PASSION, A
PASSION TO USE THAT KNOWLEDGE TO
LIFT UP A VOICE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES THAT HAS NOT HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, EDUARDO
IS THAT VOICE FOR SO MANY OF US
IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I
WANT TO THANK YOU, MY DEAR AND
CLOSE FRIEND EDUARDO GARCIA, FOR
YOUR COMMITMENT TO BE THAT VOICE
FOR THE DIVERSITY OF THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CERVANTES, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. AND MEMBERS, IT IS MY
DISTINCT HONOR TO SPEAK ABOUT
OUR ASSEMBLY COLLEAGUE FROM
COACHELLA, MY GOOD FRIEND
EDUARDO GARCIA. AS MANY OF YOU
KNOW, I GREW UP IN THE COACHELLA
VALLEY, AND SO EDDIE AND I GO
WAY BACK. IN FACT, EDDIE BECAME
THE FIRST ELECTED MAYOR OF THE
CITY OF COACHELLA. IN MANY WAYS,
WE ARE ALL LESSER FOR THE FACT
THAT EDDIE WILL NO LONGER BE A
MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE, A MEMBER
OF OUR LEGISLATURE. YES. EDDIE
IS VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT THE
COACHELLA VALLEY AND IMPERIAL
COUNTY. HE SHOWS IT IN THE SWAG.
I THINK THAT MOST OF US HAVE,
WHETHER IT'S WEARING A CV HAT OR
A JERSEY, A T SHIRT, OR THE NEW
HAIR COMB HE'S PASSING AROUND.
HIS TIRELESS ADVOCACY ON BEHALF
OF THE COMMUNITY IS KNOWN TO ALL
OF US. HE REPRESENTS ONE OF THE
GEOGRAPHICALLY LARGER DISTRICTS
IN THE ASSEMBLY, SO HE HAS TO DO
A LOT OF WORK TO SHOW UP IN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT HE REPRESENTS.
IT IS NO WONDER THAT HIS HASHTAG
OF CHOICE ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS
GARCIA ON THE GO. VERY FITTING.
AND AS PART OF THOSE DUTIES,
EDDIE HAS BEEN SUCH A FORCE
REPRESENTING THE MANY NATIVE
AMERICAN TRIBES THAT CALL HIS
DISTRICT HOME. OUR FIRST PEOPLE
HAVE SUCH A STRONG ADVOCATE AT
OUR STATE CAPITOL IN YOU, BUT
BESIDES UPLIFTING AND AMPLIFYING
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SENT
HIM HERE TO SACRAMENTO, EDDIE IS
A LEGISLATIVE WORKHORSE. I WOULD
CHALLENGE ANY OF YOU TO FIND A
LEGISLATOR WHOSE BODY OF
LEGISLATIVE WORK SURPASSES WHAT
EDDIE HAS ACHIEVED IN HIS TEN
YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE
LEGISLATURE. IN PARTICULAR,
EDDIE HAS BECOME ONE OF OUR
STATE'S MOST STOUT LEADERS ON
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. AS MANY OF
YOU KNOW, EARLY IN HIS SERVICE
IN THE LEGISLATURE, HE WORKED ON
A BIG PIECE OF LEGISLATION WITH
FORMER SENATOR FRAN PAVLEY ON SB
32, WHICH EXTENDED THE
CALIFORNIA'S CAP AND TRADE
PROGRAM IN 2016. THAT WAS THE
BEGINNING OF EDDIE'S STORIED
CAREER AS AN ADVOCATE FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN THIS
LEGISLATURE. FROM THE PARK BOND
TO HIS WORK ON THE SALTON SEA,
HE HAS WALKED THE WALK AND IT IS
NO SMALL FEAT THAT SOMEONE WHO
COMES FROM OUR LATINO COMMUNITY
HAS BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ON THAT
ROLE. I PREDICT THAT ONE DAY
WHEN HISTORIANS COMPILE A LIST
OF THE GREAT ENVIRONMENTALIST
LAWMAKERS THAT THIS LEGISLATURE
HAS PRODUCED, EDUARDO GARCIA'S
NAME WILL BE PART OF THAT
PANTHEON, ALONG WITH ICONS LIKE
FRAN PAVLEY AND BYRON SHER. MY
FRIEND, YOU HAVE MORE THAN
FULFILLED YOUR OATH OF OFFICE.
AND WE ARE ALL BETTER MEMBERS OF
THIS BODY BECAUSE WE'VE SERVED
WITH YOU. IT HAS BEEN SUCH AN
HONOR TO NOT ONLY CALL YOU A
FRIEND, BUT IT'S BEEN AN HONOR
TO SERVE WITH YOU. AND I KNOW
THAT YOUR WIFE, STEPHANIE, AND
YOUR CHILDREN HAVE ALSO ENDURED
A LOT WITH YOU TRAVELING BACK
AND FORTH, BUT I KNOW THEY'RE
EQUALLY AS PROUD BECAUSE YOU'VE
BEEN ONE OF THE STRONGEST VOICES
THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS EVER HAD.
SO THANK YOU FOR FIGHTING FOR US
EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE WILL MISS
YOU, BUT I KNOW YOUR WORK
CONTINUES. CONGRATULATIONS MY
FRIEND. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER CERVANTES. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. GARCIA, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. AND COLLEAGUES, I AM. I
AM TOUCHED BY THE WORDS OF OUR
COLLEAGUES, AND I APPRECIATE THE
ATTENTIVE ATTENTION TO ALL OF
YOU AS I GIVE MY THANK YOUS, MY
APPRECIATIONS, MY GRATITUDE TO
HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SERVE IN THIS GREAT INSTITUTION.
I'LL START BY YOU KNOW,
RECOGNIZING, YOU KNOW, THE TWO
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE JUST
SPOKEN, YOU KNOW, JAMES, MY
COLLEAGUE FROM HIGHLAND, WHEN HE
HEARD THAT I TOLD SOME OF YOU
THAT I WAS THE JAMES RAMOS
BEFORE JAMES RAMOS GOT HERE
CHAMPIONING TRIBAL ISSUES. YOU
BETTER BELIEVE I GOT A CALL FROM
HIM VERY QUICKLY. AND IT GOT OUT
THERE FAST, AND I SAID, IT'S
JUST A FACT, BUT WE ARE PROUD WE
ARE. WE'VE LEARNED A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT FROM THE ARRIVAL OF OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM HIGHLAND, WHO HAS
SHED LIGHT ON MANY ISSUES THAT
OUR FIRST PEOPLE FACE, THAT I
HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT A STUDENT
WHEN IT COMES TO HOW MUCH OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM HIGHLAND HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO THIS BODY, TO
THIS INSTITUTION, TO BUILD ON
THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE WAY
BEFORE ANYONE GOT TO THIS
LEGISLATURE. BUT TRULY, IT'S
BEEN AN HONOR CALLING YOU A
FRIEND AND A COLLEAGUE. AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM THE RIVERSIDE
AREA. I MEAN, WHAT CAN I SAY? I,
YOUR FATHER, HAS BEEN A MENTOR,
AND WHEN HE SAYS TO ME,
SABRINA'S RUNNING FOR THE
ASSEMBLY, I NEED YOU TO BE
THERE. AND LOOK OUT AND LOOK
AFTER AND BE SUPPORTIVE. IT WAS
NOT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHY HE ASKED ME TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU. IT WAS JUST NATURAL
THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE THERE
AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOUR ARRIVAL
WAS ONE IN WHICH YOU FELT LIKE
YOU WERE AT HOME, BUT AT THE
SAME TIME HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
TO DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE
THAT SENT YOU HERE, A LOT HAS
BEEN SAID ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE
GET TO DO UP HERE. YOU KNOW, WE
SHOW UP WITH A MISSION, WITH A
VISION OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO,
AND CIRCUMSTANCES BRING US INTO
CERTAIN DYNAMICS AND ISSUES THAT
COME BEFORE US. AND BEFORE YOU
KNOW IT, YOU ARE CONSUMED BY A
SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, AREA OF WORK
THAT YOU CLING ON TO AND YOU
RECOGNIZE HOW SIGNIFICANT IT IS
NOT JUST TO THE STATE, BUT YOU
BEGIN TO KIND OF INTERSECTED
WITH THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR
COMMUNITY. AND YOU RUN WITH IT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I GOT TO SIT DOWN
IN FRONT OF JERRY BROWN, I TOLD
HIM THE SALTON SEA WAS A CLIMATE
CHANGE ISSUE. HE SCRATCHED HIS
HEAD. HE SAID, WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT? AND I KIND OF
BROKE IT DOWN TO HIM IN TERMS OF
THE WATER, THE AIR QUALITY, WHAT
HAVE YOU. AND IT CLICKED. AND
SINCE THEN, THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN
FRONT AND CENTER FOR THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. NOT BECAUSE I
BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO YOU ALL
AND THIS IS A PROJECT OR AN
ISSUE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.
BUT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE
CONTEXT THAT WE FRAMED IT IN,
AND THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF
HOW WE'VE THREAD THE NEEDLE ON
ISSUES THAT ARE RELEVANT TO OUR
BORDER COMMUNITIES. FROM
CALEXICO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE
PALO VERDE COMMUNITIES IN THE
SAN BERNARDINO NEEDLES AREA, TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE ISSUES THAT
WERE IMPORTANT TO THE FOLKS THAT
WE REPRESENT FELL WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF THESE LARGER POLICY
CONVERSATIONS. AND SO THAT WE
WOULDN'T LEAVE THOSE COMMUNITIES
BEHIND. THAT'S BEEN THE
STRATEGY. THAT'S BEEN THE WAY
THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FULFILL
TWO VERY BASIC PRINCIPLES THAT I
TELL OUR CONSTITUENTS BACK HOME.
AND LEGISLATOR'S JOB IS, OF
COURSE, SERVE THE CONSTITUENT
SERVICES, BUT PASS GOOD POLICY
AND BRING HOME THE MONEY, PASS
GOOD POLICY AND BRING HOME THE
MONEY. AND I HOPE THAT OUR
CONSTITUENTS FEEL THAT WE'VE
FULFILLED THAT TWO VERY BASIC
REQUIREMENTS OF WHAT OUR JOB IS
UP HERE TRANSITION TO THANKING
THE TEAM AND THE FIRST TEAM THAT
I THINK DESERVES RECOGNITION AND,
YOU KNOW, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
GRATITUDE AS TEAM GARCIA. AND
ALTHOUGH WE MAY THINK TEAM
GARCIA IS OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM,
OUR DISTRICT TEAM, TEAM GARCIA
IS MY MOTHER, MY FATHER, MY WIFE,
MY CHILDREN, MY MOTHER IN LAW.
YOU KNOW, STEVE BROWN, IF YOU'RE
LISTENING, OUR NEIGHBOR AND HIS
WIFE, WHO HAVE BEEN OUR CORE
SUPPORTING CAST THAT HAVE
ALLOWED ME TO BE HERE EVERY
MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FOR THE
LAST TEN YEARS AND NOT HOME,
WHERE A LOT OF THINGS HAVE
HAPPENED. A LOT OF THINGS ARE
GOING ON, AND WE JUST HAVE NOT
BEEN THERE TO BE DIRECTLY
ENGAGED AND INVOLVED. SO FOR
THAT, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THEY'VE
GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT AND
THAT SERVE, LEGISLATE, BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS AND TRY TO MAKE
OUR COMMUNITIES A BETTER PLACE.
SO TO MY TEAM, GARCIA AT HOME,
LOS QUIERO MUCHO. THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
COME UP HERE FOR THE LAST TEN
YEARS. I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN
A LOT THAT WE'VE MISSED, A LOT
THAT'S HAPPENED. BUT, GARCIA,
HASHTAG GARCIA IS GOING HOME. IS
NOW, YOU KNOW, THE NEW MESSAGE
TO THE TEAM HERE. TEAM GARCIA,
OUR CAPITAL TEAM, OUR DISTRICT
TEAM, YOU'VE ALL DONE AN AMAZING
JOB. SHEPHERDING OUR IDEAS, OUR
INNOVATION. AND WE'VE DONE IT
TOGETHER. WE'VE DONE IT
TOGETHER. AND YOU'VE BUILD YOUR
OWN TRAJECTORIES IN THE DISTRICT
HERE IN THE CAPITAL THAT YOU'RE
ALL GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS. I
WOULD LIKE TO NAME THEM ALL. BUT
I WILL MISS SOMEONE AND THEY
WILL BE MAD. AND THEN, YOU KNOW,
THERE GOES THIS MOMENT, RIGHT? I
WANT I WANT TO THOUGH, RECOGNIZE
THE LEADER OF THE TEAM WHO HAS
BEEN WITH US SINCE DAY ONE AND
THE COMMENTS WILL BE ABOUT HIM,
BUT THEY'RE REFLECTIVE OF
EVERYBODY ON OUR LEGISLATIVE
TEAM IN THE DISTRICT AND HERE IN
THE CAPITAL. OUR CHIEF OF STAFF,
CARLOS GONZALEZ, WHO'S BEEN WITH
US SINCE DAY ONE. WE WERE
COLLEAGUES FOR OUR PREDECESSOR
IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE, MAKING
$32,000 AS FIELD REPS. IF HE
RECALLS AND WE SAID TO EACH
OTHER, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE
THIS A SHOT. I SAID, AND YOU'RE
GOING TO GO UP WITH ME TO
SACRAMENTO. AND HE SAYS TO ME,
WELL, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO UP
THERE? I SAID, I DON'T KNOW. I
SAID, I ALWAYS SEE ASSEMBLY
MEMBERS AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE A
PERSON RIGHT THERE NEXT TO THEM.
AND, AND YOU CAN BE THAT PERSON.
HE SAYS, WELL, WHAT'S MY TITLE
GOING TO BE? I SAID, I DON'T
KNOW. WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT WHEN
WE GET THERE. RIGHT? WE'LL
FIGURE IT OUT. I SAID, AND HE
CAN HE'S MY WITNESS. I SAID, YOU
DON'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND, A
BOYFRIEND. YOU DON'T HAVE KIDS.
YOU'RE NOT MARRIED. I SAID,
YOU'RE GOING TO SACRAMENTO WITH
ME, MAN. AND HE HE TOOK THE LEAP
OF FAITH. AND LIKE THE REST OF
THE TEAM, THEY TOOK THE LEAP OF
FAITH TO WORK WITH US, AND GO ON
THIS JOURNEY, THE WORK OF OUR
CHIEF HAS BEEN TO BUILD A TEAM
TO KEEP EVERYONE COORDINATING
AND COLLABORATING. AND HE'S DONE
AN AMAZING JOB. AND I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE HIM FOR HIS DEDICATION
TO ME, TO US, TO OUR COMMUNITY,
TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. BUT
AGAIN, IT'S REFLECTIVE OF EVERY
SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS WORKED ON
OUR TEAM TO MAKE OUR TENURE HERE
IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE
LEGISLATURE THE MOST IMPACTFUL
ONE THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY MAKE
IT. IN THE TEN YEARS THAT WE'VE
BEEN HERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT I WILL MISS A LOT OF
YOU THAT I WILL MISS. THERE ARE
A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE WON'T
MISS, LIKE WAKING UP AT FIVE IN
THE MORNING EVERY MONDAY MORNING
TO COME HERE, BUT I AM TRULY
EXCITED, FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD.
NOT JUST HERE IN THE WORK THAT
YOU ALL HAVE MOVING FORWARD, BUT
ALSO WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR US AND
THE POSSIBILITIES OF CONTINUING
TO COLLABORATE AND COORDINATE TO
MAKE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA A
GREAT STATE ON BEHALF OF MY
FAMILY, THE GARCIAS, ON BEHALF
OF OUR TEAM, THE LEGISLATIVE
TEAM. GARCIA, THANK YOU ALL TO
THE CONSTITUENTS WHO SENT US
HERE. I HOPE YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY
NO REGRETS OF GIVING US YOUR
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FIVE TIMES TO
REPRESENT YOU HERE IN THIS
AMAZING PLACE CALLED THE
CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE.
AND JUST ONE MORE TO THE FAMILY,
TO MY MOTHER, TO MY WIFE, TO MY
KIDS, TO OUR SUPPORTING CAST. I
CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
PUTTING UP WITH US, BEING GONE
FOR TEN YEARS. I GOT HERE IN
2014. YOU KNOW, A LITTLE
SMALLER. YOU KNOW, LITTLE KIND
OF FULL OF ENERGY. AND I WAS
CARRYING A SIX MONTH OLD, LITTLE
GIRL SITTING UP IN THE FRONT
OVER THERE AND NOT ONCE DID I
THINK THAT THOSE DAYS, THOSE
WEEKS, THOSE MONTHS AND YEARS
WOULD GO BY AS FAST AS THEY
HAVE. AND SO WE'VE GOT SOME WORK
TO DO, AND IT'S NOT IN THE
LEGISLATURE ANYMORE. IT'S AT
HOME, TO CATCH UP, TO
REINTRODUCE OURSELVES AND SAY,
WE'RE HOME. WE'RE HERE TO WORK,
WE'RE HERE TO SERVE. AND, AND
THAT'S WHAT OUR MISSION IS
MOVING FORWARD. BUT I'LL
CONCLUDE WITH THIS. IT'S BEEN AN
HONOR SERVING WITH ALL OF YOU.
AND IT'S TRULY BEEN A BLESSING
TO BE ABLE TO CALL THE
CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE AND
THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY,
MY JOB, MY WORK, BECAUSE IT
DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WORK TO ME. WE
HAD A LOT OF FUN, AND WE HAD A
LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT CAME OUT
OF HERE. THANKS TO ALL OF YOUR
SUPPORT AND YOUR HELP.
MUCHISIMAS. GRACIAS. LOS QUIERO
MUCHO. AND AT THE END, GARCIA,
ON THE GO IS GARCIA'S GOING TO
GO. THANK YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GARCIA AND NOW TO HONOR ASSEMBLY
MEMBER GRAYSON, THE FIRST
SPEAKER IS ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOW.
AND JUST A BRIEF NOTE, AND I
WANT TO WELCOME ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
FORMER ASSEMBLY MEMBER COOLEY TO
THE FLOOR HERE THIS MORNING. MR.
COOLEY WAS MY SEATMATE. WHERE
MR. BENNETT AND MR. ZUBIATE SIT
FOR SIX YEARS. SO IT'S GOOD TO
SEE YOU, MR. COOLEY. MR. LOW,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER AND
COLLEAGUES, FOR ALLOWING ME AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A VERY, VERY
FEW WORDS TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER TIM
GRAYSON, WHO BY THE WAY, HIS
STAFF SAID, PLEASE, VERY, VERY
SHORT. HE DOESN'T LIKE TO BE
HIGHLIGHTED, BUT THAT SHOWS HIS
TYPE OF HUMILITY. BUT FOR THOSE
OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE AS
FAMILIAR, OUR DEAR FRIEND TIM
GRAYSON IS A MAN OF DEEP FAITH.
AS A VOLUNTEER CHAPLAIN IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS A FORMER
MAYOR OF CONCORD AND COUNCIL
MEMBER, I GOT TO KNOW HIM
SPECIFICALLY AS THE PAST CHAIR
OF THE LGBT LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS,
IN WHICH WE WERE ADVANCING A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES, AND
SEEING THAT MANY IN THE
EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY WERE
OPPOSED TO SOME OF THE
PRIORITIES OF THE LGBT CAUCUS
AND TOOK INTENTIONALITY TO BUILD
BRIDGES, TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK THE
TYPE OF LANGUAGE WITH THOSE OF
DEEP FAITH WHO SHARE IN THE LOVE
AND BASIC HUMANITY. AND MY
FRIEND TIM GRAYSON HELPS US AS A
COMMUNITY, HELPED US AS A STATE,
BUILD BRIDGES, BUILD
COLLABORATION FROM DEEP EMPATHY
AND GRACE, UNDERSTANDING THAT
THERE ARE DIFFERENT LIVED
EXPERIENCES. BUT YET HOW CAN WE
COME TO COMMONALITY? HOW WE CAN
WE FIND COMMON GROUND? AND OF
COURSE, THAT WAS SO INSTRUMENTAL
TO ME AND TO SO MANY THAT NOW
LIVES IN THE LEGISLATION THAT WE
SEE AS LAW AND PROPOSED THIS
COMING NOVEMBER AS WELL. THAT IS
THE CHARACTER OF TIM GRAYSON, A
MAN OF GRACE, EMPATHY AND DEEP
FAITH AND OF COURSE, WE MOST
KNOW HIM ALSO AS THE CHAIR OF
THE BANKING AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE, ADVANCING AND BEING
AHEAD OF HIS TIME, ADVANCING
LAWS ON CRYPTOCURRENCY AND
REGULATION, BEING ACTIVE IN THE
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
CAUCUS, AND ACTUALLY, SPEAKING
OF TECH, PERMISSION TO USE A
PROP? MR. SPEAKER, WITHOUT
OBJECTION. HEY SIRI. WHICH
MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE
LEGISLATURE IN THE ASSEMBLY
DURING HIS PERIOD OF TIME
PRIORITIZED HOUSING SUPPORT FOR
FIRST TIME RESPONDERS, ESTABLISH
FIRST OF ITS KIND REGULATORY AND
BANKING PROTECTIONS, HELPED
SECURE OVER $200 MILLION THROUGH
THE BUDGET PROCESS DIRECTLY TO
HIS DISTRICT AND BEYOND, WHILE
ALSO MAINTAINING TIME TO UPLIFT
THE VOICES OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN ADVOCATING FOR
THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
SUPPORTING THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
AND WHILE ALSO DOING SO FINDING
TIME TO KEEP HIS COOL AND
FINDING TIME TO RIDE HIS
MOTORCYCLE. OH, OKAY. NO, I'M
NOT GOING TO DO THAT. MY HAIR.
YOU YOU GET THE POINT. HEY,
SIRI, WHO IS THAT PERSON? IT'S
TIM GRAYSON. OUR DEAR FRIEND. WE
KNOW THAT YOU'VE DECIDED ON YOUR
OWN TO WALK THE RED CARPET, BUT
PLEASE BE REMINDED THE CARPET OR
THE GRASS. IN THAT CASE IS
GREENER ON THIS SIDE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. WE
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON
THE OTHER SIDE. THANK YOU, MR.
LO. ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. GOOD MORNING MEMBERS.
IT IS MY HONOR TO RISE TO GIVE
HONOR TO THE SERVICE OF ASSEMBLY
MEMBER TIM GRAYSON. I WANT TO
START BY EXPRESSING MY DEEP
GRATITUDE TO TIM. SINCE I JOINED
THE ASSEMBLY, TIM HAS GROWN TO
BECOME MORE THAN JUST A
COLLEAGUE. HE'S GROWN TO BE MY
FRIEND. WE'VE BEEN SEATMATES
SINCE THE START OF THIS SESSION.
MY FIRST FULL TERM FROM THESE
SEATS, WE'VE ENCOURAGED ONE
ANOTHER. WE'VE PRAYED FOR ONE
ANOTHER, WE'VE LAUGHED. WE'VE
EVEN SHARED A TEAR OR TWO. WE'VE
DISCUSSED BILLS. HE'S CHANGED MY
MIND. I'VE CHANGED HIS, IN THE
MOST CHALLENGING SEASON OF MY
LIFE, TIM WAS THERE TO ENSURE MY
VOICE WAS HEARD ON THIS FLOOR. I
WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO HIM
FOR THAT. IT IS WHY, WHEN I
THINK OF TIM, THE WORDS OF
PROPHET ISAIAH COME TO MIND. A
GENEROUS MAN DEVISES GENEROUS
THINGS. IT IS OUT OF THE
ABUNDANCE OF HIS HEART. TIM IS
GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME, HIS
TALENT AND TREASURE. OUR
DISTRICTS ARE NEIGHBORS, AND
IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH TIM ON ISSUES THAT
AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES. I'VE
KNOWN HIM SINCE MY DAYS AS A
LOCAL LEADER. IT'S BEEN
INCREDIBLE TO HAVE A FRONT ROW
SEAT TO THE IMPACT HE'S HAD,
BOTH LOCALLY AND STATEWIDE.
WHILE TIM GRAYSON'S LEGISLATIVE
ACHIEVEMENTS ARE NUMEROUS, WHAT
STANDS OUT MOST IS HOW HE HAS
ALWAYS LED WITH UNWAVERING
INTEGRITY AND A DEEP SENSE OF
PURPOSE, PUTTING THE PEOPLE OF
HIS DISTRICT AND CALIFORNIA
FIRST IN EVERY DECISION. HIS
SELFLESSNESS AND DEDICATION TO
PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS SHOWN
THROUGH. WHILE TIM IS LEAVING
THE ASSEMBLY, I'M EXCITED THAT
HE'S NOT GOING TOO FAR. I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BE HIS
LEGISLATIVE NEIGHBOR AND
CONTINUING OUR WORK TOGETHER.
HIS TRANSITION TO THE SENATE
WILL UNDOUBTEDLY YIELD THE SAME
RESULT, A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE
PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA. I'M EAGER
TO SEE ALL THAT HE WILL
ACCOMPLISH IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER.
TIM, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND
FRIENDSHIP HAVE MEANT SO MUCH TO
ME AND TO EVERYONE, THOUGH WE'LL
MISS HAVING YOU AS PART OF THE
ASSEMBLY. WE KNOW YOU'LL
CONTINUE DOING GREAT THINGS
BECAUSE THE PATH OF THE JUST IS
LIKE THE SHINING SUN THAT SHINES
EVER BRIGHTER UNTO THE PERFECT
DAY. COLLEAGUES JOIN ME IN
THANKING ASSEMBLY MEMBER TIM
GRAYSON FOR HIS TIME ON OUR
GREEN CARPET.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON, I SORT
OF EXPECT YOU TO ROAR IN HERE AT
THIS POINT. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
NICE, A GOOD HARLEY RIDE IS A
REFRESHING. I DO THANK MY
BROTHER AND SISTER IN THE
ASSEMBLY HERE, AND THEN ALSO MY
WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT
TO MY TWIN SISTER, BLANCA. OR
FROM BALDWIN PARK AND SHE IS
BEEN WONDERFUL. I, I THANK GOD
FOR THE GRACE THAT HE HAS GIVEN
ME TO WORK IN THIS PLACE THAT
SOMETIMES SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE,
HOWEVER, THE SUCCESSES THAT I'VE
EXPERIENCED WERE MADE POSSIBLE
BY SOME OF THE MOST
EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUALS, BOTH
FROM THE DISTRICT AND FROM THE
CAPITAL SIDE. AND THAT IS THE
TENACIOUS, HARD WORKING, FOLKS,
HARDEST WORKING I'VE EVER, EVER
KNOWN. AND THAT IS, TEAM GRAYSON
AND STAFF FROM BOTH THE CAPITOL
AND FROM THE DISTRICT, SMART.
THEY ARE. THE WORK ETHIC IS
SECOND TO NONE. AND THEY ARE
TRULY MASTERS AT AT THEIR FIELD
OF EXPERTISE. AND WHAT THEY HAVE
DONE IS, IS MADE ME, IN MANY
CASES, LOOK GOOD AND, OTHERWISE
IF IT WAS LEFT UP TO ME, IT
WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE SAME
IMAGE. AND SO I'M SO THANKFUL
FOR THE STAFF. BUT ALSO, WHILE
HERE FOR THE YEARS THAT I'VE
BEEN HERE, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN
ABLE TO MAKE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT
ARE FAR MORE WORTHY OF PRAISE
THAN MY WORK HERE. FOR INSTANCE,
MY SON HAS NOW BECOME A AN
ACTIVE FIREFIGHTER FOR CONTRA
COSTA COUNTY. MY DAUGHTER, WHO
WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN I GOT
HERE, HAS GRADUATED FROM UC
DAVIS WITH HER BACHELOR'S AND
NOW IS FINISHING UP HER MASTERS
OF SOCIAL WORK FROM USC. AND
THEN MOST, MOST NOTABLY, MY
WIFE, IS, HAS JUST FINISHED HER
DOCTORATE PROGRAM IN PSYCHOLOGY
WITH AN EMPHASIS IN TRAUMA FOR
FIRST RESPONDERS. SHE DOES MAKE
ME CALL HER DOCTOR GRAYSON NOW.
AND, HONEY, WOULD YOU PASS THE
BREAD? DOCTOR GRAYSON AND SO
THEY THREW OUT ALL OF THAT. THEY
HAVE EXTENDED UNWAVERING SUPPORT
FOR ME AND MY WORK HERE. AND
THEN THE CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TO CONTINUE
TO BRING ME BACK HERE IS
HUMBLING BEYOND ANYTHING THAT I
CAN MEASURE OR ARTICULATE AND
DESCRIBE. I DO WANT TO BRING
SPECIAL NOTE TO LEADERSHIP AND
THANK SPEAKER EMERITUS ANTHONY
RENDON FOR HIS LEADERSHIP HERE.
WHEN I WAS HERE AND GIVEN ME
OPPORTUNITIES THAT OTHERWISE I
WOULD HAVE NOT HAD. AND THEN
ALSO TO THANK OUR CURRENT
SPEAKER, SPEAKER RIVAS, FOR HIS
EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP AS WELL.
AND JUST A FINE, FINE EXAMPLE TO
BE ABLE TO FOLLOW, WITH THAT, I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU, FOR BLESSING
ME IN MY LIFE WITH YOUR
PARTNERSHIP, YOUR FRIENDSHIP,
AND MOST OF ALL, YOUR PATIENCE.
YOUR PATIENCE IN THE SENSE OF
ALLOWING ME TO CONTINUE TO
STRIVE EVERY DAY TO BECOME A
BETTER LEGISLATOR AND FIRST AND
FOREMOST, TO BECOME A BETTER
PERSON. SO MAY GOD BLESS EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GRAYSON. AND NOW, TO HONOR
ASSEMBLY MEMBER HOLDEN, OUR
FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER REYES. AND LET ME SIT
HERE. YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN,
PLEASE? THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
MEMBERS, IT IS MY ABSOLUTE HONOR
TO RISE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MY
FRIEND CHRIS HOLDEN. SINCE 2012,
CHRIS HAS PROUDLY REPRESENTED
WHAT IS NOW THE 41ST ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT WITH UNWAVERING
DEDICATION TO HIS CONSTITUENTS
AND TO THIS LEGISLATURE. FROM
THE MOMENT HE ENTERED THE
ASSEMBLY, CHRIS WAS EAGER TO
TACKLE MAJOR ISSUES FACING OUR
STATE. HIS WORK ON DUAL
ENROLLMENT HAS BEEN
TRANSFORMATIVE IN THE EDUCATION
SPACE, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR COUNTLESS STUDENTS TO GET A
HEAD START TO THEIR FUTURES. HIS
COMMITMENT TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORM AND HIS RELENTLESS PUSH
FOR A MORE ECONOMICAL AND
CLEANER CALIFORNIA HAVE LEFT AN
INDELIBLE MARK ON OUR
COMMUNITIES AND SET A HIGH
STANDARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.
CHRIS HAS HAD THE CHANCE TO
SERVE IN SEVERAL CRITICAL ROLES
DURING HIS TIME AT THE
LEGISLATURE, SERVING AS
THEN-MAJORITY LEADER,
APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR, AND CHAIR
TO CRITICAL POLICIES. CRITICAL
POLICY COMMITTEES LIKE UTILITIES
AND ENERGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
AND CONVEYANCE. I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF WORKING CLOSELY
WITH HIM AS A MEMBER OF AB NINE
OF THE AB 9901 CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE, WHICH HE CO-CHAIRED,
AND WE WORKED HARD TO ADDRESS
THE UTILITY LIABILITY CRISIS AND
BEGAN TO ADDRESS THE WILDFIRE
ISSUES THAT WE CONTINUE TO
WRESTLE WITH TODAY. THESE
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WERE
IMPRESSIVE, AND I BELIEVE HE
RECEIVED THEM NOT JUST BECAUSE
HE'S CHRIS, BUT BECAUSE HE'S
TRUSTWORTHY. HE'S GOOD TO HIS
CORE AND HAS ALWAYS HAD HIS
CONSTITUENTS AND THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA AT THE FOREFRONT OF
EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES. CHRIS
EMBODIES A TRUE MORAL COMPASS.
HE HAS AN EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY TO
BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, FOSTERING
COLLABORATION AND GUIDING US TO
FOCUS ON EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS.
ONE OF THE GREATEST SKILLS ONE
CAN HAVE IS BEING A LEADER
AMONGST LEADERS. HERE WE ARE,
AND I BELIEVE, CHRIS, THAT
YOU'VE SHOWN YOUR RARE ABILITY
TO DO THAT THROUGH A STEADY HAND
AND A KIND HEART. NOW, ON A
PERSONAL NOTE, WE HAD THE
PLEASURE OF GOING ON A TRIP TO
PAKISTAN AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL
TRIP, A VERY SMALL DELEGATION,
AND THERE WERE SOME POLITICAL.
THERE WAS POLITICAL TURMOIL THAT
YOU MAY HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT
DURING THAT TIME. JUST TWO YEARS
AGO. AND BUT WE LEFT WITH THE
BLESSING OF OUR CHIEF SERGEANT
AND EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT WHILE WE
WERE THERE, WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF MEETING WITH THEN PRIME
MINISTER SHARIF. BUT ALSO FORMER
FORMER PRIME MINISTER KHAN, THE,
THE, THE POLITICAL TURMOIL THERE.
MELANIE. YOU'LL AGREE. MELANIE
HIS WIFE YOU WILL AGREE THAT
THIS WAS A DIFFICULT TIME,
RIGHT, BABES, AND AS WE WENT
THROUGH THAT, WE ACCEPTED TO
SPEAK AT A PRESS CONFERENCE. I
KNOW WHY DID WE DO IT? WE DID IT
RIGHT. BUT WE DID. WE DID WE? WE
WERE. WE DID A PRESS CONFERENCE.
AND WITHIN MINUTES, WE STARTED
RECEIVING CALLS FROM CHIEF
SERGEANT AND FROM EVERYBODY ELSE
SAYING, YOU'RE COMING HOME NOW.
AND WE DID. WE PACKED UP AND
LEFT A DAY EARLY, THAT WAS OKAY.
WE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE, A
GREAT, GREAT PLACE TO BE DURING
THAT TIME. CHRIS I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING
SERVICE, YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR
FRIENDSHIP AS YOU EMBARK ON THIS
NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR JOURNEY.
KNOW THAT YOUR LEGACY OF
DEDICATION AND INTEGRITY WILL
CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US ALL. I
WANT TO WISH YOU THE BEST OF
LUCK. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT
WE'RE ALL BETTER FOR HAVING MET
YOU, AND I'M GLAD TO CALL YOU MY
FRIEND. MEMBERS, PLEASE JOIN ME
IN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CHRIS HOLDEN.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER TING, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK
OF CHRIS HOLDEN, A COUPLE WORDS
COME TO MIND. STATESMAN HUMBLE
TEAM PLAYER. YOU PUT THE
HONORABLE INTO HONORABLE. AND I
ALWAYS THINK OF YOU AS MR.
PASADENA. SO I KNEW THAT IF THE
CAL BEARS EVER WENT TO THE ROSE
BOWL, YOU'D BE THE FIRST PERSON
I WOULD CALL. I DON'T THINK
THAT'S EVER GOING TO HAPPEN IN
MY LIFETIME FOR ALL OF US BEARS,
BUT WE COULD ALL HOPE SPRINGS
ETERNAL. I THINK ABOUT WHO I
WOULD LIKE DURING DURING THIS 12
YEAR JOURNEY, WHO I LOOK UP TO
AS A LEGISLATOR, WHO I THINK
ABOUT WHO ELSE IS TACKLING THE
HARDEST ISSUES IN THE STATE, WHO
IS ALSO FOCUSED ON THEIR
COMMUNITY. AND OF COURSE, COMING
FROM PASADENA, THAT'S ALWAYS
FIRST AND FOREMOST WHAT YOU
THINK ABOUT AND WHO YOU WANT TO
DELIVER. SO I REMEMBER IN ONE OF
MY FIRST YEARS AS BUDGET CHAIR,
WHEN THE STATE FINALLY HAD A
LITTLE BIT OF MONEY AND WE
FINALLY WERE STARTING TO
CONSIDER DOING MEMBERS REQUESTS,
ONE OF MY FAVORITE AND EARLIEST
REQUESTS CAME FROM YOU FOR THE
PASADENA PLAYHOUSE, AND I
REMEMBER THAT REQUEST, AND I WAS
SCRATCHING MY HEAD AND WAS LIKE,
WHY? WHY SHOULD WE GIVE MONEY TO
THIS PLAYHOUSE? BECAUSE WE'RE
GOING TO GET EVERY PLAYHOUSE
REQUEST UP AND DOWN THE STATE.
AND HE'S LIKE, WELL, THIS IS NOT
JUST ANY ORDINARY PLAYHOUSE.
THIS IS THE THIS IS THE OFFICIAL
STATE PLAYHOUSE. AND I'M
THINKING, OKAY, IT'S THE
OFFICIAL STATE PLAYHOUSE. HOW DO
WE KNOW THAT? HE'S LIKE, WELL, I
HAVE YOU KNOW, CHRIS IS LIKE A
MAGICIAN. HE PULLS A RABBIT OUT
OF HIS HAT AND SAYS, HERE, I GOT
I GOT THIS RESOLUTION DEDICATING
THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE AS THE
STATE'S OFFICIAL PLAYHOUSE. SO
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE
STATE'S OFFICIAL PLAYHOUSE,
YOU'RE WRONG. IT'S THE PASADENA
PLAYHOUSE. SO OF COURSE, WE HAD
TO SUPPORT THE PASADENA
PLAYHOUSE. IT'S THE STATE'S
OFFICIAL PLAYHOUSE, AND WE
ABSOLUTELY HAVE BEEN HONORED TO
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PASADENA.
BUT ON TOP OF THAT, EVERY YEAR I
REMEMBER CHRIS WOULD BE COMING
AS WELL AS, A LOT OF OTHER
MEMBERS, BUT BUT CHRIS WOULD
ALWAYS BE DOGGED ABOUT THIS,
TALKING CONSTANTLY ABOUT THE
GOLD LINE. AND I KNOW THERE'S A
NUMBER OF GOLD LINE MEMBERS IN
THIS HOUSE, BUT IT WOULD
ABSOLUTELY BE SOMETHING THAT WAS
TOP OF MIND, ESPECIALLY AFTER LA
GOT THE OLYMPICS. LIKE, WE HAVE
TO FUND THIS GOLD LINE. IT'S GOT
TO BE A MAJOR PRIORITY. BUT OF
COURSE, YOU KNOW, PASADENA WAS
WAS WELL SERVED ALREADY BY BY A
LINE. BUT HE NEVER FORGOT THE
OTHER PART OF HIS EASTERN
DISTRICT THAT HE KNEW HE
ABSOLUTELY HAD TO GO TAKE CARE
OF FURTHER OUT IN SAN BERNARDINO.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT YOU AS A
LEGISLATOR, I LOOK AT YOU AND
YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER
SHIED AWAY FROM TACKLING THE
TOUGHEST ISSUES. OUR COLLEAGUE
FROM COLTON KIND OF JUST JUST
TALKED ABOUT IT. BUT YOU ARE
SOMEONE WHO ABSOLUTELY ALWAYS
WAS THERE AT THE MOST CUTTING
EDGE WHEN THERE WERE ISSUES THAT
NEEDED TO BE TALKED ABOUT, WHEN
THERE WERE ISSUES THAT LOOKED
LIKE THEY WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO GO
DO, WHETHER IT'S TALKING ABOUT
SOME ISSUES WE'VE CHAMPIONED AND
WE DON'T ALWAYS GET EVERYTHING
DONE, BUT YOU HAVE PUSHED THAT
DISCUSSION SO THAT THIS BODY
WILL BE TACKLING THOSE ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S ON
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. I THINK
ABOUT YOUR IMPACT ON CORPORATE
BOARDS. WHAT HAS HAPPENED NOW
BECAUSE OF WHAT YOUR WORK HAS
DONE ON CORPORATE BOARDS AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE
DIVERSIFYING, NOT JUST THIS
BODY, NOT JUST OUR GOVERNMENT,
BUT REALLY HOW COMPANIES OPERATE
IN IN THIS STATE. WHEN I THINK
ABOUT YOUR DOGGED FIGHT FOR
YOUTH IN TRANSPORTATION, YOU
KNOW, WE ARE VERY LUCKY IN SAN
FRANCISCO. WE HAVE YOUTH
TRANSPORTATION. BUT, YOU KNOW,
FOR YOU, THAT WAS NEVER ENOUGH.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR. THE
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES,
DISABLED COMMUNITY. THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT YOU CONTINUE TO
PUSH AND CONSTANTLY ADVOCATE
FOR. AND THE LIST JUST GOES ON
AND ON AND ON. I CAN THINK ABOUT
YOUR FAST FOOD WORKER
LEGISLATION, YOUR ADVOCACY FOR
FRANCHISEES. I, YOU KNOW, WHEN I
WHENEVER YOU WOULD LISTEN TO,
YOU KNOW, LIFT YOUR MIC AND TALK
ABOUT YOUR BILLS BECAUSE END OF
SESSIONS KIND OF CHAOTIC. BUT
I'D SIT HERE AND I'D GO, WOW,
THAT'S A GREAT BILL. I'M GLAD
SOMEBODY IS DOING IT. AND I'M
SURE THAT 40 MILLION
CALIFORNIANS ARE REALLY GLAD
THAT YOU WERE DOING IT. LASTLY,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP. I
MEAN, IT'S BEEN 12 YEARS. YOU'VE
BEEN ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT I
KNOW I'VE RELIED ON FOR ADVICE,
FOR COUNSEL, MOST, MOST
IMPORTANTLY FOR SUPPORT AND
FRIENDSHIP. THAT FRIENDSHIP
DOESN'T END TODAY. IT DOESN'T
END EVER. AND I JUST WANTED TO
TELL YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY
HEART, I JUST REALLY, REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. AND JUST 12
PHENOMENAL YEARS OF BEING ABLE
TO HEAR TO SERVE WITH YOU. SO
WITH THAT, I ASK AGAIN, ALL OF
US TO CONGRATULATE AND THANK
CHRIS HOLDEN.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER TÍNH
ASSEMBLY MEMBER HOLDEN, YOU'RE
DEPARTING REMARKS. WELL THANK
YOU, TO ALL OF YOU. BUT A
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PHIL AND
ELOISE. YOU DELIVERED IT JUST
LIKE I WROTE IT. THANK YOU. LET
ME JUST SAY THAT IT IS AN HONOR.
AND THAT CAN NEVER BE
UNDERSTATED IN TERMS OF WHAT IT
MEANS TO STAND ON THIS FLOOR AND
REPRESENT NOT ONLY OUR DISTRICT,
BUT THE ENTIRE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. BUT I COULD NOT DO
THIS JOB IF IT WERE NOT FOR
MELANIE. IF MELANIE SAID, YOU
KNOW WHAT, SIX YEARS YOU'RE
DONE, THEN WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO DO ALL OF THE OTHER
THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO
BECAUSE I THINK, LIKE ALL OF
YOU, WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
FAMILY IS. THIS IS A VERY
IMPORTANT JOB. BUT IT AIN'T THAT
IMPORTANT. AND WE REPRESENT
PEOPLE WHO RELY ON US TO LISTEN
TO THEM. AND SO I SAY THANK YOU
TO ALL OF MY CONSTITUENTS IN THE
41ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT. IT WAS
ONLY THROUGH THEIR WILLINGNESS
TO PUNCH THE LITTLE NUMBER BY MY
NAME AND ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE TO
SERVE. I'VE ENJOYED IT. I HAVE
AN AMAZING STAFF AND I HAVE SO
MANY PEOPLE AFTER 12 YEARS THAT
I CAN CALL OUT. BUT LET ME JUST
SAY, FOR MY CHIEF OF STAFF,
WILLIE ARMSTRONG, BY CALLING YOU
OUT, WILLIE, IT'S COVERING
EVERYBODY. CATHERINE DEL
ROSARIO, MY DISTRICT DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU. CATHERINE AND
EVERYONE THAT WORKED ALONG WITH
CATHERINE BECAUSE LIKE MANY OF
YOU DURING THE PANDEMIC, THIS
WAS AN EVEN TOUGHER JOB. AND IT
WAS THE DISTRICT STAFF THAT WAS
FIELDING ALL OF THOSE CALLS. AND
I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
BEING RESPONSIVE TO THESE
CONSTITUENTS THAT WE CALL OUR
NEIGHBORS. AND BEING ABLE TO
RESPOND TO THEIR NEEDS AND TO
ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES IN A TIMELY
WAY. I GOT TO TELL YOU, THAT'S
WHAT HELPS US GET REELECTED.
BOOTS ON THE GROUND, RESPONDING
TO THOSE CALLS THAT COME IN TO
THE DISTRICT OFFICE THAT DON'T
HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WRITING
A BILL, BUT MAKING A CALL
CONNECTING CONSTITUENTS TO WHERE
SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM
THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. SO I'M
HONORED. I'M HONORED THAT JOHN
PEREZ, ANTHONY RENDON, TONY
ATKINS AND ROBERT RIVAS HAVE
BEEN AMAZING SPEAKERS TO BE ABLE
TO SERVE UNDER. YOU KNOW, THIS
IS A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE THAT
WE ARE ABLE TO DO THE PEOPLE'S
BUSINESS. AND I REMEMBER WHEN I
FIRST CAME IN, THERE WAS A CHIEF
CLERK NAMED DOTSON WILSON. NOW
WE HAVE AN AMAZING CHIEF CLERK
IN SUE PARKER. AND WHEN YOU LOOK
AT HER STAFF, YOU SEE CALIFORNIA.
BUT I REMEMBER DOTSON TELLING
ME, HE SAID, NOT JUST ME, BUT
ALL THE MEMBERS WHO WILL
REMEMBER THAT TIME HOW
PRIVILEGED WE SHOULD BE TO BE IN
THESE SEATS. 3815 PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN ASSEMBLY MEMBERS IN THE
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. THAT'S A
REALLY SMALL UNIVERSE OF PEOPLE.
AND IN A VERY EXCLUSIVE GROUP OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE STEPPED INTO
THIS VERY AWESOME JOB. AND SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. I
APPRECIATE MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS WITH THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS. THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE AS
YOUR CHAIR IN 2017. AND 18. IT
IS A CAUCUS THAT HAS A LEGACY OF
AN AMAZING ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS
WHO ARE STILL SERVING IN AMAZING
WAYS TODAY. WILLIE BROWN, NATE
HOLDEN, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TELL
THOSE TWO APART, BUT. SO. I
THINK ONE'S TALL, ONE'S SHORT.
BUT ANYWAY, THE FACT OF THE
MATTER IS THAT IT'S A CAUCUS
THAT EMBRACES LEGACY. AND I'VE
LEARNED SO MUCH FROM BEING A
PART OF THEM. AND SO AS THIS IS,
WE STILL GOT TIME ON THE CLOCK,
WE'VE STILL GOT ANOTHER WEEK TO
POWER THROUGH THE WORK OF THE
PEOPLE. BUT I AM TRULY HUMBLED
AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO CALL
ALL OF YOU FRIEND, AND I WILL
LEAVE YOU WITH ONE WORD, GRACE.
YOU ALL COME UP HERE AND WE SEE.
YOU AS OUR COLLEAGUES, BUT YOU
ALSO CARRY A LOT OF WEIGHT AND
RESPONSIBILITY. AND SO YOU MAY
NOT ALWAYS COME UP HERE IN THE
BEST OF MOOD INDIVIDUALLY. WE
MAY NOT ALWAYS LIKE EACH OTHER'S
BILLS. WE MAY NOT LIKE ONE
ASPECT OR ANOTHER OF. SO THERE'S
THINGS THAT CREATE HEAVINESS.
THERE'S PRESSURES. SOME YOU CAN
TALK ABOUT AND SOME YOU CANNOT.
BUT PRESSURE IS NONETHELESS. AND
YET YOU'RE HERE POWERING
THROUGH. GIVE EACH OTHER GRACE.
GIVE THE PERSON STANDING AT THE
PODIUM. THE ROSTRUM. GIVE THEM
GRACE. GIVE YOUR SEATMATE. GIVE
THEM GRACE. GIVE THE PERSON ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.
GIVE THEM GRACE. BECAUSE WE'RE
ALL HERE TRYING TO DO THE BEST
WE CAN AS HUMAN BEINGS,
REPRESENTING VERY DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES, ALMOST SO MUCH SO
THAT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY
REPRESENT ALL OF CALIFORNIA. AND
THAT'S REAL. WE GIVE YOU GRACE
TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE YOU WERE
ELECTED TO COME HERE AND SERVE.
SO AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, AS WE
MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE ONLY
CARETAKERS. HONOR THIS HOUSE AND
CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH HONOR AND
DISTINCTION. THE PEOPLE OF THIS
GREAT STATE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
HOLDEN. WE WILL NOW HONOR
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JONES SAWYER,
STARTING WITH OUR FIRST SPEAKER.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BRIAN. THERE WE
GO. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER,
COLLEAGUES. SIT TIGHT. I GOT
ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND COULD GO
FOR SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER FOR OUR
FRIEND REGINALD BYRON JONES.
SAWYER SENIOR OR REGGIE. FIVE
NAMES AS SOME FOLKS CALLED HIM.
MR. BRADFORD. YOU KNOW, REGGIE
AND I ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT OF
DIFFERENCES. WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO LOVE EACH OTHER. I EAT MY
SOUL FOOD AT DULAN'S ON
CRENSHAW. HE GOES TO FIXINS IN
LA LIVE. I WEAR A BLUE FLAG FOR
UCLA. HE WEARS A RED FLAG FOR
USC. I DIDN'T PLEDGE GREEK. AND
HE IS AN UNWAVERINGLY PROUD
KAPPA WITH THE CANE TO PROVE IT.
AND A SHIMMY IF YOU ASK HIM. BUT
THE THING THAT BROUGHT REGGIE
AND I CLOSE WAS A SET OF SHARED
VALUES, A COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE.
AND I ADMIRED THAT FROM AFAR FOR
A LONG TIME. WHEN HE FOUGHT FOR
THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
REINVESTMENT GRANTS HERE IN
CALIFORNIA, $50 MILLION. I WAS
IN GRADUATE SCHOOL TAKING NOTES.
HE MIGHT NOT REMEMBER THIS, BUT
HE ACTUALLY USED TO COME TO UCLA
EVERY SO OFTEN AND TEACH
STUDENTS, AND I WAS IN THOSE
CLASSROOMS. HE WAS ACTUALLY THE
FIRST PHONE CALL I EVER MADE
WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING FOR
OFFICE, BECAUSE I THOUGHT, IF
THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT I WOULD
HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON WITH,
IT WOULD BE THIS MAN WHO'S BEEN
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE FOR THE
LAST DECADE IN THE HARDEST
COMMITTEE IN THIS BODY. I KNOW
WE ALL BELIEVE THE ISSUES WE
FACE ARE THE MOST CHALLENGING
ISSUES, BUT REGGIE FACED THE
MOST DIFFICULT, MOST
POLITICIZED, MOST HARMFUL ISSUES
OF THE STATE. AS CHAIR OF OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA OWES YOU A
DEBT OF GRATITUDE, I CERTAINLY
DO, AND SPENDING TIME SERVING
WITH REGGIE, I GOT TO LEARN A
LOT ABOUT WHAT DROVE HIM, WHAT
DRIVES HIM, WHAT MADE HIM THIS
WAY. I THINK IT ALWAYS STARTS
WITH FAMILY AND HIS UNCLE, A
MEMBER OF THE LITTLE ROCK NINE.
MY PARENTS LIVE IN LITTLE ROCK.
WHEN I GO VISIT THEM, I DRIVE BY
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AND I THINK
OF THE HISTORY OF INTEGRATION
AND PROTEST AND LEGACY THAT OUR
COLLEAGUE COMES FROM. ON A
PERSONAL LEVEL, REGGIE HAS MEANT
A LOT TO ME AND MY FAMILY.
JANUARY OF LAST YEAR. WE'RE OUT
IN SOUTH CENTRAL SOMEWHERE, AND
HE RUNS UP TO ME AND HE TAKES
HIS JACKET OFF AND HE THROWS IT
OVER ME. AND I THOUGHT MAYBE HE
JUST THOUGHT I NEEDED TO GET
BETTER TAILORED OR SOMETHING
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, REGGIE'S GOT
SUITS. AND I WAS LIKE, I DON'T
UNDERSTAND. HE'S LIKE, LET ME
SEE YOU TURN AROUND AND STICK
YOUR ARMS OUT. I'M LIKE, THIS IS
GOOFY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT
YOU'RE DOING. TWO WEEKS LATER,
IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY AND MÀ HAD
TWO NEW SUITS FOR ME, AND SHE
NEEDED REGGIE TO FIND OUT MY
SIZE. WHEN MÀ IS UP HERE, IF
SHE'S EVER AT EVENTS AND I'M NOT
AROUND THE CHAIR, SHE GOES TO
LOOK FOR IS THE ONE NEXT TO
REGGIE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU
HAVE A SPIRIT OF KINDNESS AND
JOY AND AN INFECTIOUS LAUGH. A
LOT OF US ARE FUN. REGGIE IS
MORE FUN AND IF YOU WERE A
MEMBER OF THE SHERATON CAUCUS,
YOU KNEW THAT. YOU KNOW THAT
REGGIE IS FUN. HE'S KIND. HE'S
HUMBLE. HE'S GRATEFUL. HE'S THE
BEST OF SOUTH CENTRAL. IT HAS
BEEN MY PRIVILEGE. IT HAS BEEN
OUR PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ALONGSIDE
YOU. CALIFORNIA IS BETTER
BECAUSE OF YOUR SERVICE. THANK
YOU FOR LETTING ME HONOR YOU
TODAY. AND THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. BRYANT, ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
BONTA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR
YOUR REMARKS. THANK YOU. SPEAKER
AND MEMBERS, I AM HONORED TO BE
ABLE TO RISE IN HONOR OF OUR
WONDERFUL REGINALD BYRON JONES
SAWYER SENIOR, OR UNCLE REGGIE,
AS MY DAUGHTER CALLS HIM. I'VE
KNOWN REGGIE FOR, FOR 12 YEARS.
I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING ONE OF
THOSE PEOPLE WHO WOULD SIT NEXT
TO HIM WHILE I WAS JUST A PLUS
ONE, AND HAD HAD THE HONOR OF
SERVING WITH YOU FOR THE LAST
THREE WHEN I WAS YOUR BIGGEST
FAN, AND STILL AM, I GOT TO SEE
THE WORK THAT YOU DID,
PARTICULARLY IN YOUR SEVEN YEARS
AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR AND
YOUR SEVERAL YEARS AS THE CHAIR
OF THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE. AND ALL WE NEED TO
SAY ABOUT THAT WORK IS THAT YOU
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE
CONVERSATION IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT
WHAT JUSTICE MEANS. AND
SOMETIMES YOU DID THAT ALONE.
SOMETIMES YOU HAD THE COURAGE TO
STAND AND RISE AND BE THE
SINGULAR VOICE OF REASON WHEN WE
WANTED TO AND NEEDED TO HEAR
WHAT IT MEANT TO TALK ABOUT
REHABILITATION AND REENTRY AND
THE BALANCING AND SUPPORT OF
VICTIMS, WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING
THAT WE NEEDED TO END THE LEGACY
OF MASS INCARCERATION. AND YOU
TOOK HITS FOR THAT, HITS THAT
COST YOU POLITICALLY, PERSONALLY,
AND FOR THAT, WE AS A BODY
SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL.
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WILL
UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THAT LEGACY
FOREVER. NOW, YOU ALSO HAD THE
GOOD FORESIGHT TO BE ABLE TO
USHER IN A WHOLE NEW BODY OF LAW
AROUND LEGALIZING THE CANNABIS
INDUSTRY, RECOGNIZING THAT IN
CALIFORNIA WE NEEDED TO SEEK
EQUITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR
WORK, AND THAT SHINING A LIGHT
AND LEGALIZING THAT INDUSTRY
WOULD LEAD TO EQUITY FOR SO MANY
WHO WERE INCARCERATED. AND SO
MANY WHO HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF
BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE ECONOMIC
GROWTH THAT THEY DESERVE IN THAT
INDUSTRY. AND FOR THAT, YOU
LEAVE A LEGACY HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. AND THERE HAVE ALSO
BEEN SOME FUN ONES, LIKE THE
CARE AND PHONE CALLS WHERE
PEOPLE WERE USING THE 911 SYSTEM
TO TARGET INNOCENT BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE. THAT IS YOUR
LEGACY NOW. MOST RECENTLY, YOU
STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE ONE MORE
TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
STATE WOULD BE ABLE TO RECONCILE
CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY AND
ACKNOWLEDGE ITS LEGACY OF
SLAVERY. YOU SERVED FOR TWO
YEARS TO TIRELESS YEARS ON THE
REPARATIONS TASK FORCE, AND THAT
WORK, AGAIN WILL LEAVE AN
INDELIBLE, UNFORGETTABLE,
UNDENIABLE LEGACY FOR THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA, WHERE WE GET TO
THINK ABOUT, THROUGH YOUR
AUTHORING OF LEGISLATION, A
FORMAL APOLOGY FOR SLAVERY, AND
THAT WE WILL HAVE A PLAQUE
DISPLAYING THAT APOLOGY FOR ALL
TO SEE PERMANENTLY DISPLAYED IN
THE CAPITOL BUILDING. NOW, IT
MIGHT NOT BE IN THE SWING SPACE
ON THE FIFTH FLOOR, BUT IT WILL
BE HERE IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
YOU, SIR, ARE A LEGISLATOR THAT
HAS SHOWN THAT A LAWMAKER IS
ABOUT BEING NOT ONLY SOMEONE WHO
PASSES LAWS, BUT SOMEONE WHO
PERSEVERES, SOMEONE WHO
RECOGNIZES THAT WE NEED TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE
OF THOSE WHO COME AFTER US. AND
WHEN I SAY THOSE WHO COME AFTER
US, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR
INCREDIBLE REPRESENTATION OF
YOUR DISTRICT, BECAUSE THAT IS
TRUE. I'M TALKING ABOUT US HERE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT
YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO WILL TAKE
SOMEBODY OUT ON THE PORTICO AND
SAY, STAY TRUE. I'M TALKING
ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE
SOMEBODY WHO BRINGS TOGETHER THE
BLACK CAUCUS WITH YOUR WISDOM
AND YOUR GUIDANCE. I'M TALKING
ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO ESTABLISHED
THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS AND MADE
US THE FORCE THAT WE ARE TODAY.
YOU MR. REGINALD BYRON
JONES-SAWYER, ARE SOMEBODY THAT
I HOLD VERY, VERY DEAR. AND I,
LIKE THE REST OF US, KNOW THAT
YOUR STEPS HERE, YOUR STYLISH
STEPS HERE ON THE GREEN CARPET
FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS HAVE
FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE FABRIC
OF THIS INSTITUTION AND
CALIFORNIA. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
BONTA. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
JONES-SAWYER. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
FOR YOUR DEPARTING REMARKS. SO
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES FROM OAKLAND AND LOS
ANGELES, ESPECIALLY SINCE I
WANTED TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT
AFTER I LEAVE, THERE WERE PEOPLE
WHO WILL CONTINUE THINGS THAT
I'VE STARTED AND THEN TAKE IT TO
THE NEXT LEVEL. AND SO I WANTED
TO MAKE SURE WE HAD TWO PEOPLE
THAT REPRESENTED EVERYTHING THAT
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE
LAST 12 YEARS. AND THERE'S TWO
THINGS THAT PROBABLY ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THIS
BUILDING HAVE ALWAYS MEANT TO ME
IS, WHICH IS MY STAFF. AND
THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT MY STAFF
SAID THAT I SAID TO THEM THAT
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I SAID AT THE
END WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE. I
HAVE A STAFF MEMBER THAT'S
INDICATIVE THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE
OF EVERYBODY BECAUSE I'M NOT
GOING TO NAME EVERYONE, BUT
DAYSHA AUSTIN, WHO'S BEEN WITH
ME WHEN I OPENED MY OFFICE AND
PROBABLY WILL BE WITH ME WHEN I
CLOSE MY OFFICE. BUT MY STAFF IS
HERE IN THE BACK, RIGHT NOW, AND
I THINK THEY'RE INCREDIBLY ONE
OF THE MOST PROFESSIONAL, THE
BRIGHTEST AND THE MOST ABLE
STAFF IN THIS BUILDING. AND WHAT
I WILL ASK YOU NOT TO DO IS WHEN
THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE TEAM
JONES-SAWYER AND THEY WILL
ALWAYS BE TEAM JONES-SAWYER THAT
JUST MEANS THEY'RE LOYAL. THAT
DON'T MEAN THEY MAY NOT BE LOYAL
TO YOU. SO DON'T. WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT HIRING SOME PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY
THE MOST DEDICATED, MOST LOYAL
PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING. AND I
AND I, I WILL STACK THEM UP
AGAINST ANYONE ELSE. NOW, LATELY
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING I'VE
BEEN A LEADER, IN PUBLIC SAFETY
AND SOME OTHER THINGS. AND I
NEVER, I NEVER WANTED TO BE A
LEADER, IT WAS MY GRANDMOTHER
AND MY MOTHER WHO SAW SOMETHING
IN ME DEAD. UNDERSTAND AND WHEN
I WAS IN SCHOOL, HAVING A REALLY,
REALLY, REALLY GOOD TIME. AND I
WAS FLUNKING OUT OF SCHOOL, AND
THEY SAT ME DOWN AND TOLD ME
THAT I SHOULD NOT SQUANDER THIS
EDUCATION, THAT I NEED TO DO
THINGS. IT WAS MY GRANDMOTHER
WHO I THINK SAW THAT I WOULD BE
ON THIS FLOOR ONE DAY IN 1980. I
THINK SHE SAW THE FUTURE A
FUTURE THAT I THERE'S ABSOLUTELY
NO WAY I WOULD KNOW THAT I WOULD
BE HERE NOW. BUT THOSE LADIES
DIDN'T KNOW. AND HE INSTILLED IN
ME THAT NOT ONLY DO I NEED TO
GET HERE, BUT I NEED TO DO MORE
THAN JUST BE HERE. WHEN I FIRST
GOT ELECTED, THE THREE SPEAKERS
THAT I SPOKE TO, BROWN WESSON
AND MAYOR BASS. THEY TOLD ME,
DON'T BE A BACKBENCHER. DON'T GO
UP THERE AND JUST SIT AND GO TO
THE GO TO THE PARTIES AND LOOK
GOOD AND GO TO ALL THE FUNCTIONS
AND THE FUNDRAISERS. DO
SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT. DON'T BE
A BACKBENCHER. AND I WORK REALLY
HARD EVERY DAY TO DO SOMETHING
MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN ANYONE
ELSE HAD EVER BEEN BEFORE.
BECAUSE I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS
OF A LOT OF PEOPLE, I, I
LITERALLY STAND ON THE SHOULDERS
OF A LOT OF PEOPLE. I'M HAVING
TROUBLE STANDING OUT BECAUSE I'M
A NEW KNEE. BUT I WILL TELL YOU,
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
YOU DON'T SEE IN FRONT OF ME
THAT ARE STANDING IN BACK OF ME,
THAT HAVE HELD ME UP AND
PROPELLED ME, WHETHER IT WAS
WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC
PARTY AND GOING FROM NEW
FRONTIER DEMOCRATIC CLUB BEING
PRESIDENT, PUSHING ME UP TO BE
THE HIGHEST RANKING
AFRICAN-AMERICAN IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, OR AS MY SEIU
BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO HAD ME
BE A VICE PRESIDENT IN SEIU. AND
I'M A MANAGER IN THE CITY OF LA.
SO I WAS A PART OF A MANAGER
UNIT, NOT WANTING TO BE PART OF
UNION, BUT THEY TAUGHT ME WHY IT
WAS SO IMPORTANT. AND SEIU HAS
STOOD WITH ME EVERY STEP OF THE
WAY IN MY PROGRESS, MOVING UP
EVERY MEMBER THAT YOU SEE IN
PURPLE AND GOLD HAVE ALWAYS
PROPELLED AND PUSHED ME FORWARD
TO MY KLBK BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHO LET ME BE CHAIR FOR THIS,
FOR THIS BODY WHO ENTRUSTED IN
ME THAT WE WOULD DO GREAT
THINGS, AND TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE REPRESENTED ALL
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND MADE SURE
THAT WE PROTECTED THEM AS THIS
STATE HAS NOT BEEN ALWAYS KIND
TO US. TO MY PROGRESSIVE
BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO AT A
TIME WHERE LORRAINE AND I WERE,
LORENA WAS SITTING RIGHT OVER
THERE AND SOMEONE SAID, YOU
KNOW, THE MODS DON'T LIKE WHEN
PEOPLE KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND WE
SAY WE'RE PROGRESSIVES, WE DON'T
GIVE A. AND WE WENT AROUND AND
TOOK EVERY PROGRESSIVE'S NAME IN
THIS ON THIS FLOOR. AND WITHIN A
HALF HOUR, WE HAD 35 MEMBERS OF
THIS BODY SIGNED THEIR NAMES ON
A DOCUMENT THAT SAID THEY WERE
PROUD, PROGRESSIVE. AND EVER
SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
STAND UP AND LET PEOPLE KNOW
THAT WE'RE IN THIS BUILDING,
BECAUSE IT WAS AT THAT TIME WE
WERE ALL JUST KIND OF SCATTERED
TO MY PUBLIC SAFETY FAMILY AND
THE PEOPLE OUT THERE, WHO HAVE
BEEN PUSHING FOR CHANGES IN
PUBLIC SAFETY, LOOK, IF YOU WANT
TO BLAME ANYBODY FOR WHY I GOT
SO INVOLVED IN THE PUBLIC
SAFETY, YOU NEED TO BLAME JOHN
PEREZ. BECAUSE WHEN I GOT HERE,
I WANTED TO BE Dð REAL ESTATE
AND BE ABLE TO DO THINGS WITH
OUR STATE. REAL ESTATE TO
CREATE, GENERATE REVENUE AND I
EVEN HAD A SLOGAN, M-O-R-E
MAXIMIZING OUR REAL ESTATE. AND
I TOLD JOHN PEREZ, I WANT TO BE
CHAIR OF SUB FOUR. AND HE TOLD
ME I WAS GOING TO BE CHAIR OF
SUB FIVE. AND I SAID, NO, I WANT
TO BE CHAIR OF SUB FOUR. YOU CAN
BE CHAIR OF SUB NOTHING OR YOU
CAN BE CHAIR OF SUB FIVE. THAT'S
JOHN PEREZ AND THAT'S HOW I GOT
INVOLVED. BUT IT WAS WILLIE
BROWN WHO TOLD ME THAT NO MATTER
WHAT YOU GET, MAKE THE BEST OF
IT. YOU KNOW THAT THING ABOUT
MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS
AND SO AT THAT TIME, THE
JUDICIAL SYSTEM WAS VERY
PUNITIVE ON A LOT OF PEOPLE OF
COLOR WITHIN THIS PERIOD OF
TIME. WE'RE NOW AT A POINT WHERE
PEOPLE DON'T WANT JUDGES TO
ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS ON
PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY THINK
THEY'RE TOO LENIENT WHEN IN
FACT, WE'VE CREATED A WHOLE
SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE CAN NOW GO
TO DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND CHANGE
THEIR LIFE. BUT MOST IMPORTANT,
GET SECOND CHANCES. THAT'S ALL I
DID, AND I DID IT THROUGH THE
BUDGET BECAUSE SOMEONE LIKE
WILLIE BROWN TOLD ME, YOU CAN DO
THINGS IN ANY COMMITTEE THAT YOU
HAVE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE,
AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT MY
FAMILY, MY SON EVAN WAS ABOUT
THIS TALL WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE.
EVAN WAS LIKE SIX, THREE, AND
HE'S. HE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY
BECAUSE HE'S IN HIS LAST YEAR,
SENIOR YEAR IN COLLEGE IN
COLORADO. MY DAUGHTER JUST
BECAME A PRINCIPAL, AND MY SON
IS ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING A
PRINCIPAL. I'M SO PROUD OF MY
CHILDREN. AND IF YOU KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT WHEN I STARTED IN
HERE, IT WAS TWO THINGS I'VE
ALWAYS WANTED TO DO TO MAKE SURE
MY. AT THE TIME, I HAD A SON AND
A DAUGHTER. WHEN I, WHEN I FIRST
HAD THEM, IT WAS KEEP MY
DAUGHTER OFF THE POLE AND KEEP
MY SON OFF THE PIPE. I'VE DONE
AN EXTREMELY GOOD JOB AT DOING
BOTH. AND IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS
SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES WISDOM
RIGHT THERE. AND NOW MY SON
WANTS TO BE AN ENGINEER. BUT
MOST IMPORTANT, I'M GOING TO BE
EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT
I CAN TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY IN
WAYS THAT THAT THAT NOBODY WILL
EVER UNDERSTAND. ARE YOU STILL
TRYING TO CATCH UP ON THAT POLE
AND THE PIPE? SAY IT ONE MORE
TIME. BUT ALSO, MY PARTNER IN
LIFE, MARIA. WHO? WHO WAS WITH
ME WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED AND
MADE SURE THAT NOT ONLY I COULD
GET HERE AS I LEFT AT 4 OR 5:00
IN THE MORNING EVERY MONDAY TO
COME UP HERE, TO DO OUR
LEGISLATION, BUT MOST IMPORTANT,
TO MAKE SURE THINGS AT HOME, AS
YOU ALL KNOW, THOSE OF US THAT
TRAVEL FAR TO MAKE SURE THAT
THINGS AT HOME WERE SAFE, SANE
AND SOUND, AND SO I OWE HER A
GREATER GRATITUDE TO MAKING SURE
THAT MY HOME LIFE WHEN I GOT
HOME WAS WAS THE ONE WHERE I
COULD SERVE HERE AND DO MY FULL
ATTENTION WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON AT HOME. AND SO
I, I AM LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE THAT
YOU'LL HEAR TODAY. I'M EXTREMELY
GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SERVE AND AS, AS I, AS MY
GRANDMOTHER AND MOTHER TOLD ME,
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE NEXT
STEP IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
NEXT STEP IS. NOW, I TOLD YOU
THERE WERE TWO THINGS THAT MY
STAFF TOLD ME JUST RECENTLY
ABOUT WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED
AND WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED.
THEY SAY. I SAID I HAD TWO
THINGS, TWO THINGS THAT I WANTED
TO MAKE SURE HAPPEN THAT WHEN I
LEFT HERE ON MY 12TH YEAR, IT
WOULD GET DONE. YOU KNOW WHAT
THOSE TWO THINGS WERE IN IN
2012, THEY CLAIMED THAT, I SAID,
AND I DON'T REMEMBER. BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT? I'M GOING TO CLAIM IT
BECAUSE THEY SAID I SAID IT THAT
MARIJUANA WOULD BE LEGAL AND
THAT WE WOULD CLOSE THE PRISON.
AND I THINK WE'VE DONE BOTH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER JONES
SAWYER.
WELL, NOW, HONOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER
LOWE, STARTING WITH OUR FIRST
SPEAKER. ASSEMBLY MEMBER ERWIN.
EVAN ASSEMBLY MEMBER. ERWIN. YOU
ARE NOW RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR
REMARKS. THAT'S WHAT I WAS
WAITING FOR. NO, I'M JUST
KIDDING. WELL, AS YOU'VE HEARD
FROM SO MANY FOLKS THAT SPOKE
TODAY, WE ARE REALLY PRIVILEGED
TO BE SERVING IN THIS BODY. WE
ARE REALLY PRIVILEGED TO BE
SERVING CONSTITUENTS IN OUR
DISTRICTS, AND WE ARE PRIVILEGED
THAT WE GET TO PASS BILLS THAT
THAT BETTER THE LIVES OF
CALIFORNIANS AND OF COURSE,
OFTEN OUR MODELED ELSEWHERE
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME. BUT
WITH THE UPS MEETING ALL THESE
GREAT PEOPLE, BEING ABLE TO PASS
LEGISLATION, THERE'S ALSO THE
DOWNS. WE JUST HAD
APPROPRIATIONS LAST WEEK AND WHO
KNOWS WHAT BILLS THE GOVERNOR IS
GOING TO VETO. AND MAYBE YOU
DIDN'T GET ON THE COMMITTEE THAT
YOU WANTED. SO I WOULD SAY THAT
THE MOST CRITICAL THING HERE IN
THE LEGISLATURE IS THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU MAKE AND
THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT YOU MAKE
ALONG THE WAY, AND IT REALLY IS
TRUE GOLD. WHEN THOSE
FRIENDSHIPS GO BEYOND WORK AND
THOSE FRIENDSHIPS GO BEYOND OUR
TIME HERE IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE, I MET EVAN RIGHT
AFTER THE PRIMARY IN 2014. HE
WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WAS
SENT TO THE ONE LINE, NOT THE
LINE WHERE ALL THE TARGETS WENT.
AND SO WE GOT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY
THERE. BUT BUT ALL THOSE FOLKS
THAT WERE SAFELY IN THEIR SEATS
GOT PUT ON A BUS AND HAD TO
DRIVE THROUGH THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. EVAN, AMONG THEM,
MISTER HOLDEN ALSO. AND THEY
CAME TO THOUSAND OAKS AND WALKED
UP AND DOWN THE HILLS OF
THOUSAND OAKS, TO MAKE SURE THAT
I WAS ELECTED. AND FUNNY IN THAT
2014 YEAR, THE ONLY DEMOCRAT
WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. AND
IT'S REALLY BECAUSE OF THE
INCREDIBLE WORK OF ALL MY
COLLEAGUES HERE AND SINCE. WELL,
AND THEN OF COURSE, WHEN WE,
WHEN WE WERE SWORN IN, HIS MOM
AND MY MOM WERE IN LINE AT THE
SHERATON GETTING READY TO GO TO
SWEARING IN, AND THEY HAD A NICE
LITTLE CONVERSATION. AND THAT
WAS REALLY THE START OF OUR
FRIENDSHIP. AND SINCE THAT TIME,
MY HUSBAND AND I JOKE THAT I
SPEND WAY MORE TIME WITH EVAN
THAN I DO WITH HIM. AND PHIL
TING SAYS HE'S LIKE MY WORK
HUSBAND, MOST DAYS IT'S WE START
WITH, WELL, BACK IN THE FIRST
FEW YEARS, WALKING AROUND THE
CAPITOL WITH THE CLASS OF 2014
AND DID THAT A THREE LOOPS. AND
THEN CONSTRUCTION STARTED AND
WE'VE DONE SPINNING AND PILATES.
WE USED TO GO TO BODY PUMP WITH
MAYOR GLORIA AND NOWADAYS EVAN
PICKS ME AND BLANCA UP FOR
ORANGE THEORY, AND IT ALWAYS
STARTS THE SAME WAY. I'M
COMPLAINING ABOUT A BILL OR A
POLICY. AND THEN HE'S LIKE,
WOMAN, EVERY TIME I PICK YOU UP,
THOSE THOSE BIRDS ARE ON THE
CAR. OH EXCUSE ME, I DIDN'T MEAN
TO SAY SO. THAT'S HOW OUR DAYS
START. AND OFTEN IT'S THE CROWS.
THE CROWS OVER THE POOPING. I
MEANT, AND OUR DAY VERY OFTEN
ENDS WITH. WE'RE GOING OUT IN
THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE TO GET A
FOOT MASSAGE AND DINNER. SO
THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS
REALLY HELPED ME GET THROUGH,
EVAN IS SMART AND KIND AND
HARDWORKING AND GENEROUS, AND HE
HAS A HEART OF GOLD, AND HE'S
ALWAYS REALLY EMBARRASSED WHEN
I'M SO DIRECT. AND YOU CAN SEE
THAT RIGHT HERE. HE HAS MORE
FRIENDS AND MORE RELATIONSHIPS
THAN ANYBODY I KNOW. AND THAT'S
BECAUSE HE WORKS SO HARD AT
MAINTAINING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS,
CONSTANTLY CALLING FOLKS,
CHECKING IN WITH THEM, MAKING
SURE THAT HE KNOWS ALL THE NEW
SENATORS AND HE'S PROBABLY BEST
FRIENDS WITH THE FLORIST BECAUSE
I'M SURE HE SENDS EVERYBODY
FLOWERS ON THEIR BIRTHDAY. AS A
FORMER STAFFER, HE HAS HELPED SO
MANY OF US NAVIGATE. SO OFTEN
WHEN WE'RE ELECTED, WE REALLY
DON'T KNOW HOW THINGS WORK HERE
IN THE CAPITOL. HE'S A VERY KIND
SON. HE HAS TAKEN BOTH HIS MOM
AND DAD ON VACATIONS ALL OVER
THE WORLD. HE'S A DEDICATED
BROTHER AND HE CHERISHES AND
ADORES HIS BOYFRIEND. MARK, WHO
IS WAS SITTING HERE A FEW
MOMENTS AGO. OH HE'S RIGHT
THERE. I WAS, AND HE'S MADE A
BIG IMPACT IN THE CAPITOL. AND I
KNOW I KNOW, WE COULD TALK ABOUT
BILLS AND BALLOT MEASURES, BUT
I'LL TALK ABOUT A FEW OTHER
THINGS THAT WERE ALSO VERY
IMPACTFUL. HE FOUNDED THE TECH
CAUCUS. THERE WAS NO
CONVERSATION WITH WITH SILICON
VALLEY HERE IN CALIFORNIA. TEN
YEARS AGO. AND AS YOU SEE, THIS
YEAR WITH 50 BILLS ON ICE, IT
HAS BEEN IT HAS BEEN REALLY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND HE FACILITATED
IT. HE ALSO ARTFULLY BALANCED
THE DIFFERENT INTERESTS IN BNP
AND HIS YEARS AS CHAIR OF BNP.
BUT I THINK PROBABLY MOST
IMPORTANTLY IS HIS CHAIRING OF
THE AAPI AND LGBTQ CAUCUS. HE
WORKED REALLY HARD TO RAISE
FUNDS TO INCREASE REPRESENTATION
UP HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE. AND
I THINK THAT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT
FOR CALIFORNIANS TO SEE. THIS
GUY IS SO DRIVEN. I'M NOT SURE
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT HE WAS
23 TIME. MOST OF OUR KIDS ARE
GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE. HE WAS
23 WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO THE
CAMPBELL CITY COUNCIL, AND IN
2009, HE WAS THE YOUNGEST MAYOR,
THE YOUNGEST ÁP MAYOR, AND THE
YOUNGEST LGBT MAYOR IN THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY. AND SINCE HE'S
BEEN ON THAT POLITICAL RADAR, HE
HAS INSPIRED SO MANY LGBT KIDS,
AAPI KIDS, AND JUST YOUNG PEOPLE
IN GENERAL. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE
NUMBER OF, OF INTERNS THAT HAVE
COME THROUGH MY OFFICE AND TOLD
ME HOW THEY FELT LIKE THEY COULD
GET INVOLVED WITH POLITICS
BECAUSE THEY SAW EVAN LOWE
INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND THAT'S
DOWN IN THOUSAND OAKS. AND THEY
WERE MOST IMPRESSED THAT I
ACTUALLY KNEW HIM. YOU ARE AN
INCREDIBLE ROLE MODEL IN 2016,
HE WAS FEATURED IN THE NEW
YORKER MAGAZINE AS THE POTENTIAL
FUTURE BENCH OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY. AND HE WAS HE WAS THERE
WITH STACEY ABRAMS AND PETE
BUTTIGIEG. SO WE ARE STILL
EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM YOU.
AND I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY
FITTING THAT IN WHEN HE WAS
MAYOR OF CAMPBELL, PROPOSITION
EIGHT PASSED AND NOW IN HIS LAST
YEAR IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE,
HE IS GOING TO GET RID OF THE
LAST VESTIGES OF THAT
PROPOSITION. SO MY FRIEND, I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHERE
YOUR CONGRESSIONAL CAREER GOES.
I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SERVICE TO
THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA, TO
YOUR DISTRICT. BUT MOST OF ALL,
I APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER ERWIN, ASSEMBLY MEMBER
GIBSON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
SPEAKER. AND MEMBERS, I'M NOT
SURE WHAT ELSE I CAN ADD THAT
HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID ABOUT
MY FRIEND. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME
SAY THAT I AM INDEED GRATEFUL
AND HONORED THAT YOU ASKED ME TO
STAND ON THIS FLOOR AND SAY SOME
WORDS ABOUT YOU. YOU SEE, MANY
OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT WHEN
ELECTED IN 2014 WAS NOT EVANS
AND OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER. WE'VE
BEEN KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE WE
WERE BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS. HE
AND THE CITY OF CAMPBELL AND I'M
IN THE CITY OF CARSON. I WAS
ELECTED IN 2005 TO THE CARSON
CITY COUNCIL, AND HE WAS ELECTED
IN 2006, BEING THE YOUNGEST, NOT
ONLY MAYOR, LGBTQ IN THE IN THE
STATE IN TERMS OF ELECTED OFFICE
ON THE CITY LEVEL. BUT YOU'VE
BEEN A DRUM MAJOR, EVEN IN OUR
DAYS WHEN WE WERE YOUNGSTERS IN
HUESO, WHICH STANDS FOR YOUNG
ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU WERE
THERE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, NOT
KNOWING OUR PATHS. AND I
REMEMBER IN 2013 WHERE HE CALLED
ME OR I CALLED HIM, I CAN'T
REMEMBER WHICH ONE MARK, BUT WE
CALLED EACH OTHER AND HE SAID,
GUESS WHAT I'M DOING? I SAID, I
GOT TO TELL YOU WHAT I'M DOING.
AND HE SAID THAT I'M GETTING
READY TO RUN FOR THE CALIFORNIA
STATE ASSEMBLY. AND I SAID, I'M
GETTING READY TO RUN FOR THE
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY. AND
THEN WE BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT YOU
KNOW, OUR CAMPAIGN CONSULTANTS.
HE SAID HIS CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT
WAS JOSH PULLIAM. AND MY
CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT WAS JOSH
PULLIAM, AS WELL. SO OUR PATH
WAS DESTINED TO CONNECT OVER SO
MANY GREAT THINGS. BUT I NEVER
THOUGHT WE WERE ELECTED ON THIS
GREEN CARPET, SERVED AND ELECTED
IN 2014. THE CLASS OF 2014 THAT
I THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD LEAVE AT
THE SAME TIME, BUT DESTINED
WOULD HAVE IT TO SAY THAT YOUR
COMMITMENT TO YOUR DISTRICT,
YOUR COMMITMENT AS A PUBLIC
SERVANT. EVAN HAD TO BE SHARED
WITH A LARGER DISTRICT. AND I'VE
ALWAYS SAID, SPEAK THOSE THINGS
AS THOUGH THEY WERE, BECAUSE
I'M, YOU KNOW, CHURCH BOY
GROWING UP. AND HE SAID, DON'T
SAY THAT. AND I SAID, I SPEAK IT
INTO EXISTENCE THAT I BELIEVE
THAT YOUR FUTURE IS GOING TO BE
BRIGHTER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW. I
REMEMBER COLLEAGUES BACK IN,
BACK IN 2018, A TOUGH TIME. EVAN
DOESN'T CARRY SMALL BILLS. HE
CARRIED TOUGH BILLS BECAUSE HIS
JOB WAS TO MAKE AND CHANGE THE
TRAJECTORY IN THIS STATE BEFORE
HE LEAVES. AND YOU'VE DONE THAT.
IN 2018, HE AUTHORED ASSEMBLY
BILL 2943 2943. HE PRESENTED
THIS BILL IN 42, THE BIG BILL,
WHATEVER ROOM THAT WAS IN THE
CAPITAL, 4200. IT WAS ABOUT
CONVERSION THERAPY. HE STOOD IN
THAT ROOM, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
LINED UP IN OPPOSITION OF YOUR
WORK, AND HE TOLD THE NARRATIVE
THAT HE HAD TO EXPERIENCE IT TO.
HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT NO
ONE ELSE EXPERIENCED WHAT HE
WENT THROUGH, BECAUSE HE
REALIZED THAT HE WAS NOT A
MISTAKE. LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS NOT A
MISTAKE. HE WAS BORN TO BE THE
PERSON HE IS TODAY. IN ALL OF
YOUR GREATNESS. SO HE STOOD
THERE AND I WATCHED IT FROM MY
OFFICE. HE TOOK THE BULLETS. HE
TOOK THE STRIPES. HE TOOK THE
CRITICISM. HE TOOK THE FROWNS
AND THE DEATH THREATS THAT WENT
ALONG WITH THE JOB BECAUSE HE
DARED TO STAND UP TO MAKING SURE
THAT NO OTHER BOY OR GIRL HAD TO
EXPERIENCE CONVERSION THERAPY IN
THIS STATE. THAT'S WHAT YOU DID,
MAN. YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE. AND
I CANNOT SIT IN MY OFFICE AND
JUST ALLOW THEM TO TAKE DARTS.
SO WHAT DID I DO? I WALKED TO
THAT ROOM AND I STOOD BY HIM TO
LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT
ALONE. AND WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER
AND WE HAD THE VOTES AND HE
WALKED OUT THE SIDE DOOR, AND HE
JUST BROKE DOWN AND CRIED, HE
BROKE DOWN AND CRIED. NO ONE
TOLD US THAT THIS ROAD WOULD BE
EASY, EVAN, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE
IT ON BECAUSE THAT'S OUR
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO FIGHT FOR
THE LEAST OF THESE. SO NOW EVERY
YOUNG BOY AND GIRL NEVER HAVE TO
EXPERIENCE CONVERSION THERAPY IN
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. BECAUSE
YOU LIVED, BECAUSE YOU MATTERED,
BECAUSE YOU MADE A BIT OF
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. YOU DID THAT. AND I
AM CONVINCED I AM ABSOLUTELY
CONVINCED THAT ONE, YOU DO THIS
BECAUSE ONE, IT'S PART OF WHO
YOU ARE, BUT ALSO IT'S PART OF
YOU IS YOUR FAMILY, WHICH IS
YOUR FIRST MINISTRY. I SAW WHEN
EVERYONE HEARD THAT YOUR BROTHER
WAS IN A SITUATION AS A POLICE
OFFICER, AND I TRIED TO CALL YOU
AS MUCH AS I COULD JUST TO FIND
OUT HOW HE WAS DOING. BUT ALSO
HOW YOU WERE DOING. AND THEN HE
FINALLY TEXTED ME AND SAID, I'M
ALRIGHT AND MY BROTHERS ARE
ALRIGHT. AND HIS PARTNER IS
GOING TO BE BETTER, AND YOU WERE
ABLE TO JUST SHOW YOUR HUMILITY,
BUT ALSO YOUR, YOUR MEASURE TO
NEVER FORGETTING ABOUT YOUR
FAMILY. AND SO MY FRIEND, AS YOU
LEAVE THIS CARPET IN THIS
BUILDING, YOU WILL GO TO ANOTHER
BUILDING AND ANOTHER CARPET AND
YOU WILL SPEAK BOLDNESS AND YOU
WILL SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER. EVEN
IN WASHINGTON, DC. AND I KNOW
THAT YOU WILL. I KNOW WHEN I
TURN ON THE CHANNEL, THE NEWS
THAT SOMEWHERE ON CNN YOU WILL
BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF YOUR
THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT IN
CONGRESS, SPEAKING TRUTH TO
POWER, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
NO ONE EVER HAVE TO FEEL GUILTY.
WHO GOD CREATED THEM TO BE, BUT
STAND BOLDLY BECAUSE YOU DARE TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE
PEOPLE'S LIVES. AND LET ME
SIMPLY SAY THIS THE BEST IS
STILL YET TO COME. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER GIBSON. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER LOWE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
FOR YOUR DEPARTING REMARKS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO OUR
CLASSMATES, MISS IRWIN AND MR.
GIBSON. WE YOU WE ALL KNOW THAT
YOU COME IN TOGETHER STRONG WITH
THE CLASS AND YOU BUILD THOSE
BONDS AND THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
AND TO MY WORK WIFE, OFTENTIMES
PEOPLE HAVE SAID THE ODD COUPLE
LIKE WHAT? WHAT WHAT IS THAT?
THAT IS SUCH AN ODD COUPLE. WHEN
WE SHOW UP TO GET A MASSAGE
TOGETHER, LIKE, SAME ROOM,
COUPLES ROOM. WE'VE ACTUALLY
DONE THAT BEFORE. YOU BUILD
MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS. AND I
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT. VERY MUCH
SO. TO MISS IRWIN AND MR.
GIBSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR SOLIDARITY. AS CLASSMATES
AND COMING IN AND GOING THROUGH
THESE EXPERIENCES TOGETHER, I
ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY
PARTNER, MARK BARBERA, WHO IS
ALSO JOINED ME HERE TODAY. HE IS
A PHARMACIST PHARMACIST IN
ONCOLOGY DEALING WITH CANCER
PATIENTS. AND AS MANY OF YOU
KNOW, OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU'RE
DEALING WITH PERSONAL
EXPERIENCES, YOU COME HOME, AS
YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE, RAGGED AND
JUST STRESSED OUT. AND OF
COURSE, MANY TIMES I'LL COME
HOME AND SAID, OH, MY BILL DIED,
AND I'M STRESSED AND I'M
ARGUING. AND I ASKED HIM, HOW IS
HOW IS YOUR DAY? AND HE REPLIES,
I LOST A PATIENT TODAY. AND
THAT'S OF COURSE, VERY HUMBLING
EXPERIENCE TO RECOGNIZE. THEN OF
COURSE, I IMMEDIATELY REPLY,
I'LL GET DINNER TONIGHT, BUT WE
ALL HAVE OUR ROCK STARS AT THE
HOME AS WELL AND KEEPING US
GROUNDED AND COMMITTED. AND SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING
ME TO SEE YOU SOMETIMES ONCE
EVERY TWO WEEKS. BUT YOU
PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
ABLE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I ALSO WANT
TO THANK, I SEE OUR CAPITAL AND
DISTRICT STAFF THAT ARE ALSO
HERE. MY DISTRICT DIRECTOR, WHO
HAS BEEN WITH ME SINCE DAY ONE
IN THE ENTIRE TEN YEARS OF THE
CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE.
PATRICK AHRENS, YOU MAY BE
FAMILIAR WITH THAT NAME IN THE
COMING FUTURE. AND ALSO GINA
FRISBIE, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO
HAS ALSO BEEN WITH ME DURING THE
ENTIRE DURATION OF THIS TIME IN
TEN YEARS, MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND
DISTRICT DIRECTOR AND MY VERY
CAPABLE TEAM AS WELL, AND THE
CAPITAL AND DISTRICT. AND THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND ALSO COMING HERE AS WELL. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK THE DESK
STAFF AND THE SERGEANTS AND
EVERYONE THAT MAKES THIS
INSTITUTION RUN. AND I CAN'T
TELL YOU HOW APPRECIATIVE AND
GRATEFUL I AM EVERY SINGLE TIME.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE ARE
CONSTITUENTS THAT WE BRING UP
HERE AND IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME
AND THEY'RE IN AWE OF THIS
INSTITUTION. AND JUST IMAGINE
AND CAPTURING THAT MOMENT IN
WHICH THEY'RE WALKING ON THE
CARPET, OPENING UP IN THIS
INCREDIBLE PALATIAL BUILDING.
AND THEY SEE THEIR NAME ON THE
READER BOARD, BECAUSE DAVID AND
THE DESK STAFF QUICKLY PUTS IT
UP. DO I HAVE THE RIGHT
SPELLING? MR. LOWE? IS THIS
EXACTLY HOW YOU WANT TO SEE IT?
AND THAT PICTURE TO THEM IS
GOLDEN. BUT WE MUST NOT LOSE
SIGHT OF WHAT THAT MEANS FOR
EVERYDAY CALIFORNIANS, INSPIRING
THEM AND REMINDING THEM THAT
CALIFORNIA, WE WORK FOR THEM AND
THAT THIS INSTITUTION IS THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE. BUT IT'S ALSO
ABOUT THAT FEELING AND
SENTIMENT. AND SO THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR MAKING ALL OF THE DESK
STAFF. BY THE WAY, YOU HAVE
TERRIBLE POKER FACES BECAUSE I
LISTEN TO FLOOR SPEECHES AND I
LOOK AT YOUR FACES, TOO. AND
YOU'RE VERY HUMAN IN THAT
CAPACITY. NONETHELESS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR HELPING US RUN. TO
MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, AS WE
THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THIS
WEEK AND IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME,
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
POLITICS IS LIKE IN THE LARGEST
STATE LEGISLATURE IN THE
COUNTRY. WE ARE A NATION STATE,
THE FIFTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE
WORLD. AND YET WHEN PEOPLE ASK
ME, WHAT ARE REPUBLICANS LIKE IN
THE CALIFORNIA STATE
LEGISLATURE? AND I TELL THEM THE
TRUTH, THEY ARE KIND
INDIVIDUALS, WELL INTENTIONED,
AND THE INSTITUTION IS SET UP
AS. SO WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE.
BUT ALSO YOU'VE OPENED UP YOUR
HEARTS AS WELL. AND I'VE VISITED
YOU IN YOUR DISTRICTS. BROKEN
BREAD, HAVE LUNCH, LEARNED ABOUT
YOUR CHILDREN, WHAT MOTIVATES
YOU? I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
RECIPROCATED IN THE BEST EXTENT
POSSIBLE. AS WE SIT ON
COMMITTEES TOGETHER, TALKING
ABOUT VARIOUS PIECES OF
LEGISLATION, AND I HOPE THAT WE
CAN CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THAT AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL. SO
LET US BE REMINDED ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIP OVER
PARTIZANSHIP WHERE POSSIBLE.
THIS CONCLUDES MY 18TH YEAR
WORKING IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE
LEGISLATURE, TWO YEARS AS A
SENATE STAFFER, AND NOW AS A
MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE AND
THIS IS ALL POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF
THE PEOPLE THAT WE WORK FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS. AND SO TO THE
PEOPLE WHO I WORK FOR AND
REPRESENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND ALLOWING
ME THE PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY
TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA. AND IN THIS
CAPACITY, OF COURSE, I'VE SERVED
AS CHAIR OF THE AAPI ASIAN
PACIFIC ISLANDER LEGISLATIVE
CAUCUS, IN WHICH MEMBERS OF THE
ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
TYPICALLY DON'T GET INTO
POLITICS. THERE ARE DOCTORS OR
LAWYERS. AND OFTENTIMES IN THIS
CAPACITY, BUILDING ON
ASIAN-AMERICAN REPRESENTATION AS
LAWYERS, AND WE ARE ABLE TO SAY,
WHY JUST BECOME A LAWYER AND
INTERPRET THE LAW WHEN YOU CAN
ACTUALLY MAKE THE LAW AND
HELPING TO GETTING MORE ASIAN
AMERICANS ELECTED TO PUBLIC
OFFICE. AND OF COURSE, WITHIN
THE LGBT COMMUNITY,
UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE HAVE
BEEN OVER 500 PIECES OF ANTI
LGBTQ TÊ QUÊ LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSALS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY,
AND YET WE ARE PROVIDING THE
BLUEPRINT OF DEMONSTRATING LOVE
AND HUMANITY. AND SO I CONCLUDE
BY SAYING THIS. WHILE OTHER
STATES ARE MAKING IT HARDER TO
LOVE, I'VE AUTHORED PROPOSITION
THREE INTO THE CALIFORNIA
CONSTITUTION, VERY CUTESY WHEN
OTHER STATES ARE PUTTING UP
BARRIERS TO VOTING, I CHOSE TO
LISTEN TO YOUNG VOTERS EMPOWER
THEM, GIVE THEM VOICE, LET THEM
VOTE AT 17.5. VERY MINDFUL, VERY
CONSIDERATE. WHILE OTHERS ARE
BEING WHAT'S THE WORD WEIRD BY
STORMING THE CAPITOL, BY
SUPPORTING INSURRECTIONISTS, I'M
JOINED BY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE
WORKING IN GETTING PEOPLE
ELECTED, TURNING PROTEST ENERGY
INTO ELECTORAL ENERGY, FOCUSED
ON WHAT CAN BE UNBURDENED BY
WHAT HAS BEEN VERY DEMURE. IN
CLOSING, WE DON'T ALL FALL FROM
A COCONUT TREE, SO RESPECT YOUR
STAFF, SUPPORT YOUR CONSTITUENTS,
AND LOVE YOURSELF. BRAT THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER LOW.
TO
WELL, NOW HONOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MAIENSCHEIN. STARTING WITH OUR
FIRST SPEAKER. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MCCARTY. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MCCARTY. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. NO,
NO, I'M GOING TO WAIT FOR THESE
GUYS. I'M GOING TO SPEAK, BUT
I'LL WAIT TILL THEY SIT DOWN.
THANK YOU. MADAM SPEAKER, IT'S.
IT'S MY HONOR TO GET UP AND TO
RECOGNIZE AND TO TRIBUTE, OUR 12
YEAR COLLEAGUE IN THE STATE
ASSEMBLY CAME IN AS A NEW ERA OF
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND SERVED WITH
DISTINCTION AND HAS BEEN MY
SEATMATE FOR HALF OF MY TERM
HERE FIVE YEARS, MAKING ME
NERVOUS. YOU'RE STANDING UP?
YES. CAN YOU SIT DOWN FOR A
LITTLE BIT? AND AS MY SEATMATE,
WE BICKER A LOT, LIKE LIKE
JACKIE AND EVAN. WE'RE ALWAYS IN
FIGHTS OVER HERE. SO THIS IS
JUST. THIS IS JUST NORMAL HERE.
SO, SO BRIAN, REPRESENTS, I
THINK WHAT WE ALL STRIVE TO BE A
LEADER WHO MAKES A DIFFERENCE,
BUT ALSO HAS COURAGE AND
CONVICTION. HIS VOTES YOUR YOUR
RECORD HERE AND YOUR JOURNEY. AS
MANY OF YOU KNOW, HE CAME UP
HERE AS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN
AND HE LEAVES AS A MODERATE
DEMOCRAT. BUT YOUR VALUES
HAVEN'T CHANGED. I TOLD YOU WHEN
YOU CHANGED PARTIES, IT'S NOT
GOING TO BE THAT COMPLICATED
BECAUSE YOUR VOTES HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN THE SAME. CHOICE ISSUES,
ENVIRONMENT, LGBT ISSUES, TAXES,
PUBLIC SAFETY. MOST OF YOUR
VOTES HADN'T CHANGED. IN YOUR
VIEW, THE PARTY AND THE
LEADERSHIP HAD CHANGED AND MADE
IT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD NOT
BE WITH ANYMORE. SO YOU MADE
SOME TOUGH CHOICES TO CHANGE
PARTIES. AND IT WAS HARD ON YOUR
FAMILY. YOU GOT THREATS NOT JUST
TO TAKE YOU OUT, BUT TO TAKE YOU
OUT. AND THAT WASN'T EASY. BUT
YOU ALWAYS TOOK THE TOUGH VOTES
HERE. I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE,
EARLY ON IN YOUR CAREER, THERE
WAS A REALLY TOUGH VOTE THAT
TONY ATKINS WANTED TO MAKE THIS
CHANGE ON HOUSING POLICY AND
HAVE A FEE TO CREATE A FUND TO
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE
BILL WAS DEAD AND YOU PUT UP
YOUR MIC AND I'M LIKE, OH MY
GOD, HE'S GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS
AND VOTE LIKE HIS CAREER IS
OVER. PEOPLE SAID, NO, YOU VOTE
YOUR CONVICTIONS AND THE PEOPLE
BACK HOME TRUSTED YOU. AND WHEN
YOU BECAME A DEMOCRAT, YOU ASKED
THE SPEAKER, RENDON, TO HAVE ME
AS YOUR SEATMATE. YOU'RE LIKE,
WHAT COULD GO WRONG? MY RED
BUTTON DOESN'T WORK. IT BARELY
WORKS. AND I'M SUPPOSED TO
ADVISE YOU ON WHAT TO DO. AND
BUT I ALWAYS I ALWAYS, I THINK,
GAVE YOU GOOD ADVICE. AND EVERY
ONCE IN A WHILE, PEOPLE CAME
AROUND WITH A LITTLE VOTE CARDS
SAID MAIENSCHEIN GO UP ON MY
BILL, AND HE'D SAY, THERE'S ALL
THESE OTHER PEOPLE HERE WHO
AREN'T VOTING ON IT AND THEY'RE
NOT TARGETS. YOU'RE COMING TO
ME. AND THEN HE'D LOOK OVER AT
ME AND HE SAID, F IT. HE SAID,
WHAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO? I
SAID, WELL, IT'S A TOUGH VOTE.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE IF PEOPLE
BACK HOME, BUT IT AND HE MORE
THAN LIKELY MAKE A TOUGH CHOICE
BECAUSE YOU SAID THAT IT'S MORE
IMPORTANT THAN ALWAYS COMING
BACK HERE. IT'S DOING WHAT YOU
BELIEVE IN. SO I MET YOU ABOUT
TEN YEARS AGO AND IT WAS RIGHT
AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SOFTBALL
GAME, WHICH, BY THE WAY, HE DID
WIN THE MVP LAST NIGHT. THE ONLY
THE ONLY THREE TIME MVP OF THE
LEGISLATIVE SOFTBALL GAME, AND
HE WON IT FAIR AND SQUARE, AFTER
THE GAME ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, WE
WERE HERE THE NEXT DAY AND I'M
LIKE, WE SHOULD HAVE A
BIPARTISAN TEAM THAT PLAYS IN A
CITY REC LEAGUE WITH REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS. ISN'T THAT A
CRAZY IDEA? AND YOU'RE LIKE, NO,
LET'S DO IT. SO THE NEXT YEAR WE
DID IT AND IT WAS AMAZING, AND
TO MY YOUNGER COLLEAGUES, I WILL
SAY THAT I HAD SOME REPUBLICANS
ON THAT TEAM AND I GOT VOTES FOR
BILLS THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER
GOTTEN VOTES FOR BILLS BECAUSE I
HUNG OUT WITH PEOPLE ON THE
OTHER SIDE. AND SO WE HAD THIS
REALLY FUN RUN FOR FIVE YEARS.
WE WENT OUT THERE AND HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY LEGISLATIVE
SOFTBALL, AND WE ALWAYS CHERISH
OUR BIPARTISAN, TEAM GAME HERE.
WE PLAY OVER AT O'REILLY FIELD.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER ABOUT YOU,
BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR, YOUR,
YOUR DAUGHTERS HERE WITH YOU.
THE MAIENSCHEIN CREW AND YOUR
LOVELY WIFE, ELLIE. AND WHEN I
MET YOU, YOUR GIRLS WERE
YOUNGER, AND YOU WERE A SINGLE
DAD, AND YOU HAD TO FLY HOME.
MISSED GAMES. AND IT WAS HARD ON
YOU. AND I SAW IT. AND I'M A
GIRL, DAD, TOO. AND MY LIFE IS
MUCH EASIER. I CAN WALK HOME TO
MY HOUSE IN 35 MINUTES. I NEVER
HAVE TO MISS GAMES. BUT YOU DID.
BUT YOU ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT
YOU HAD THEIR BACK. SO I KNOW
THAT YOU ARE SUPER WELL LIKED
HERE. EVERYBODY LIKES YOU. I
KNOW IT WAS TOUGH ON SOME OF
YOUR PEOPLE ACROSS THE AISLE
WHEN YOU MADE THAT SWITCH, BUT
EVERYBODY RESPECTS YOU HERE. AND
THAT'S, I THINK, THE MEASURE AS
LONG AFTER WE'RE GONE, WHAT ARE
PEOPLE GOING TO THINK ABOUT? YOU
PEOPLE THOUGHT YOU WERE A GOOD
PERSON. YOU LEFT YOUR MARK. YOU
WROTE IMPORTANT BILLS, LEGAL
ISSUES, PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES,
CONSERVATORSHIP REFORM. YOU MADE
A DIFFERENCE. AND PUBLIC SERVICE
HAS BEEN YOUR CALLING. YOU'RE
NOT DONE. YOU'RE GOING TO GO
BACK HOME AND SERVE YOUR CITY OF
SAN DIEGO AS A CITY ATTORNEY,
REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE, BEING
THE PEOPLE'S ATTORNEY FOR THE
SECOND LARGEST CITY IN
CALIFORNIA, CONTINUE TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AND MAKE YOUR FAMILY
PROUD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR.
MCCARTY. MR. TING, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER, I'LL PIGGYBACK OFF MY
COLLEAGUE FROM SACRAMENTO'S
COMMENTS. I MEAN, I'M SO GLAD TO
SEE YOUR DAUGHTERS HERE. AND
JUST SO YOU KNOW, TAYLOR AND
BRENNA, YOUR DAD IS FIRST AND
FOREMOST A GIRL. DAD, EVEN
BEFORE THE THREE TIME MVP
SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, I KIND OF
THINK HE ACTUALLY RAN FOR THE
ASSEMBLY SO HE COULD PLAY
SOFTBALL. BUT IT'S JUST A IT'S A
SECRET SUSPICION. BUT I'M NOT
SURE. BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, HE
WAS A GIRL DAD. THAT THAT WAS HE
WOULD GIVE EVERYTHING ELSE OUT
FOR THAT. HIS SCHEDULE REVOLVED
AROUND YOUR SCHEDULE AS BEST HE
COULD, ALL HIS ALL HIS FLIGHTS
HOME. I MEAN, YOU, YOU KNOW,
HE'D ALWAYS BE THE FIRST ONE
HERE ON THURSDAY BECAUSE HE'S
TRYING TO GET TO HIS, YOU KNOW,
11 A.M. FLIGHT TO SAN DIEGO, YOU
KNOW, BECAUSE HE WANTED TO GET
HOME TO YOU. THAT WAS THE
PRIORITY MOST OF THE TIME THAT
WE WOULD SPEND TOGETHER AND
TALKING. A LOT OF TIMES
COLLEAGUES GET TOGETHER, WE TALK
BILLS. YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CAPITOL.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN BRIAN
AND I, WE GET TOGETHER, IT'S
ALMOST ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT
FAMILY, TALKING ABOUT MY GIRLS.
YOUR GIRLS? TALKING ABOUT REALLY
WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IN OUR
LIVES. AND I THINK THAT WAS
REALLY WHAT BONDED US IN LA. HE
IS. HE IS SO THANKFUL TO BE WITH
YOU. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU
THAT HE IS. AND THAT AND THAT'S
THE WORD HE USES. THANKFUL.
GRATITUDE AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW,
THIS THIS JOB IS TOUGH ON A
FAMILY. IT IS TOUGH. AND BUT BUT
BRIAN ALWAYS HE'S GOT TO COME
FROM THE FARTHEST ONE OF THE
FARTHEST PARTS OF THE STATE. BUT
BRIAN ALWAYS, ALWAYS MADE IT
WORK. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT
WAS COMPLETELY ONE OF HIS
PRIORITIES. HE WAS, YOU KNOW, AS
AS OUR COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, HE'S
A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU'RE
THE FIRST COMMISSIONER ON
HOMELESSNESS. SO WHEN YOU GOT UP
HERE CHAMPIONING ISSUES AROUND
MEDI-CAL, REALLY CHAMPIONING
ISSUES AROUND HUMAN SERVICES,
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU LED
WITH. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT
YOU REALLY BROUGHT TO YOUR HEART
WITH. AND GOING BACK TO, I THINK
WHAT WHAT OUR COLLEAGUE FROM
SACRAMENTO TALKED ABOUT, IT
TAKES INCREDIBLE COURAGE TO
STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN
FOR ME, I WOULD SAY IT'S A
LITTLE BIT EASIER IN MY
DISTRICT. I THINK OUR COLLEAGUE
FROM SACRAMENTO'S DISTRICT, WE
JUST KEEP HITTING THE GREEN
BUTTON. IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE AT HOME KIND
OF SEND US UP HERE TO DO. YOU
HAVE TO THINK A LOT MORE ABOUT
THE NUANCES. YOU HAVE TO THINK A
LOT MORE ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GOING
TO VOTE. SAN DIEGO'S CHANGED.
YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED. YOU HAVEN'T
CHANGED AT ALL. BUT THE CITY HAS
CHANGED. THE POLITICS AND THE
DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE CHANGED. AND
WHEN YOU MADE YOUR DECISION TO
SWITCH PARTIES, EVEN OUR
GOVERNOR, I CAN'T SAY WHAT THE
GOVERNOR SAID EXACTLY, BUT EVEN
OUR GOVERNOR SAID IT SHOWED A
HUGE AMOUNT OF GUTS. AND I DON'T
THINK THAT ANY OF US CAN TRULY
APPRECIATE THAT. THE KIND OF
COURAGE IT TAKES. I MEAN, YOU
KNOW, WE HEARD ABOUT OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM RIVERSIDE, I
REMEMBER THAT THAT VOTE. I THINK
A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NIGHT, WE
THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE
PEOPLE. THEIR CAREERS WERE
ENDING. I'M SURE THAT YOU
DEBATED LONG AND HARD. YOU SAT
WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW, NOT
JUST THE FOUR OF YOU, BUT, YOU
KNOW, REALLY EVERYBODY, YOUR
EXTENDED FAMILY, YOUR PARENTS
ABOUT HOW BIG IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT
A BIG IT'S NOT A SMALL DECISION.
IT'S A HUGE DECISION. AND THE
IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON YOUR
LIFE AND THE FACT THAT YOU WERE
ABLE TO DO IT, TO GO THROUGH IT
AND COME OUT OF THE OTHER SIDE
AND LIKE OUR COLLEAGUE SAID,
YOUR VOTES DIDN'T CHANGE YOUR
POLICY POSITIONS DIDN'T CHANGE.
BUT SOMEHOW YOU HAD TO GO DO
THIS. AND THIS IS THIS IS THIS
WAS WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO FOR
YOURSELF, FOR YOUR STAFF,
REALLY, FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. IT'S
MORE COURAGE THAN FRANKLY, I CAN
IMAGINE MYSELF. AND SO I HAVE A
HUGE AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR YOU,
FOR YOUR ABILITY TO SHOW YOUR
GUTS. I HAVE I'M JUST VERY
THANKFUL ALSO TO CALL YOU A DEAR
FRIEND IN THE TIMES THAT WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO SPEND TOGETHER AND
REALLY SHARE AND NOT REALLY TALK
ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AT WORK,
BUT REALLY JUST SHARE ABOUT
WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO US
REALLY, WHICH IS GOING ON,
WHAT'S GOING ON AT HOME. SO
AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
BIGGER THINGS TO DO. I KNOW SAN
DIEGO CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE YOU
BACK. I KNOW YOUR FAMILY CAN'T
WAIT TO HAVE YOU BACK. I WILL
MISS YOU. IT JUST MEANS I'LL
HAVE TO MAKE MORE TRIPS DOWN TO
SAN DIEGO. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU
FOR THE FRIENDSHIP. THANK YOU,
MR. KING. MR. MAIENSCHEIN, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED. WELL, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU TO MY
COLLEAGUES HERE TODAY. AND THANK
YOU TO MR. KING AND MR. MCCARTY
FOR YOUR VERY KIND WORDS. THIS
HAS BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE. YOU
KNOW, EVERY SINGLE TIME I WALK
OUT, I WALK INTO THESE LOOK AT
THESE COLUMNS, I THINK, I, I
CAN'T BELIEVE I'M HERE, I REALLY
CAN'T. I'M LIKE, WHAT AM I DOING
HERE? I SEE MY NAME UP THERE AND
I'M STILL I'M 12 YEARS IN, AND
STILL THIS MORNING WHEN I LOOKED
UP THERE, I'M LIKE, WOW, THAT'S
SOME MAIENSCHEIN GUY IS HERE.
THAT'S COOL. IT'S BEEN SUCH A
TREMENDOUS HONOR. AND I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T FORGET
THINGS I AM FEELING. IT'S KIND
OF ALL HITTING ME RIGHT NOW,
BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, YOU
KNOW, SOME PEOPLE DON'T GO
THROUGH ONE TOUGH ELECTION.
I'VE. I'VE BEEN THROUGH THREE,
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO DO
THAT. AND I'M PROUD OF BEING
ABLE TO DO THAT. I AM PROUD,
THAT I DID HAVE THE COURAGE OF
MY CONVICTIONS AND WONDERING
WHERE THAT WAS GOING TO GO, AND
TO SEE THINGS THAT HAD CHANGED
AROUND ME THAT I DIDN'T FEEL I
COULD ANY LONGER BE A PART OF
AND WANTED TO CHANGE. I WANT TO
THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO STOOD
BY ME RIGHT OUTSIDE THERE. AND
YOU GUYS REMEMBER THAT DAY?
PROBABLY A LOT OF YOU, WHEN YOU
ALL STOOD BY MY SIDE? I SEE THE
NODS, HOW MUCH THAT MEANT, YOU
KNOW, STANDING UP THERE NOT
KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN
NEXT, I'M PROUD THAT I'M THE
FIRST PERSON THAT DID CHANGE
PARTIES AND GET ELECTED. THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT I'LL ALWAYS BE
ABLE TO CARRY WITH ME. BUT IT
WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT
THE LOVE AND THE SUPPORT AND THE
WELCOMING OF SO MANY PEOPLE IN
THIS ROOM, AND I HAVE THAT
PICTURE UP. IT WILL ALWAYS BE UP
AND SEEING THE SMILES ON YOUR
FACES AND THE WELCOMING THAT YOU
GAVE ME, WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
I WANT TO THANK MY CONSTITUENTS,
OF COURSE, WHO SENT ME UP HERE,
WHO WANTED ME TO DO THE WORK,
WHO DIDN'T CARE THAT THE LETTER
CHANGED NEXT TO MY NAME, BUT
THEY WANTED ME TO COME UP HERE
BECAUSE THEY FELT THEY COULD
TRUST ME TO VOTE FOR THEM. AND I
AND I HOPE I'VE MADE THEM PROUD
BY DOING THAT. I THINK ABOUT THE
BILLS THAT I'VE DONE A WHOLE LOT
OF AREAS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO
ME, WHETHER IT WAS MENTAL
HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS, ALL THOSE
THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO GET DONE
AND TO DO THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE
OF CALIFORNIA. I WOULD BE
REMISS, OF COURSE, IF I DIDN'T
SAY HOW MUCH I'VE LOVED, HELPING
TO RUN LEGISLATIVE SOFTBALL WITH
MY BUDDY, HE'S RIGHT, HE'S
RIGHT. YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY,
WHEN I SWITCHED PARTIES, THEY
SAID, THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY
DIFFICULT. OF COURSE, AND I
DIDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING WHEN I
SWITCHED PARTIES. THE ONLY THING
I DID ASK FOR IS, YOU KNOW,
COULD I JUST PICK WHO I SIT BY?
AND THEY SAID, OKAY. AND THEN I
SAID, MR. MCCARTY AND THE
SPEAKER SAID, ARE YOU SURE, AND
I WAS SURE. AND HE DID ALWAYS
HAVE MY BACK. YOU'RE RIGHT. IT
WAS EASY WHEN HE WALKED AWAY TO
HELP HIM WITH THE VOTING BECAUSE
HIS RED BUTTON DOESN'T WORK, BUT
HE ALWAYS ADVISED ME AND WAS WAS
SOUND ADVICE FOR ME AND SOUND
FRIEND. WE DO BICKER
PERIODICALLY. THAT'S TRUE, BUT
WE'RE USUALLY BICKERING OVER HOW
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO ADVANTAGE
OUR TEAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE
SOFTBALL GAME AND THAT'S BEEN
OUR MOST HEATED ARGUMENTS, WHERE
ONE OF US HAVE HAD TO WALK AWAY
BEFORE WE'D SAY SOMETHING. WE
REGRET TO ONE ANOTHER, BUT
THAT'S BEEN GREAT FUN HERE. AND
IT WAS GREAT FUN THAT WE SET UP
THIS SOFTBALL LEAGUE, AND A LOT
OF US GOT TO GET OUT THERE AND
DO SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF HERE, I
WANT TO THANK MY STAFF, WHO'S
HERE? AND ALL MY STAFF WHO HAVE
BEEN WITH ME SINCE SINCE THE
BEGINNING. I HAD I HAD GREAT
STAFF, AND THIS WORK WOULDN'T
HAVE GOTTEN DONE. I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE A COUPLE PEOPLE IN
PARTICULAR, A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW WHAT WHERE THEIR BEST
FRIEND EVEN IS FROM WHEN THEY
WERE 12 YEARS OLD. BUT I KNOW
WHERE MINE IS. AND HE'S IN THE
OFFICE NEXT TO MINE, SO THANK
YOU. LANCE. WHILE IT'S TRUE
LANCE IS MY RIGHT HAND MAN,
SHAYNA EZELL IS MY LEFT HANDED
WOMAN. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
NEXT 25 YEARS WITH SHAYNA. I
WANT TO RECOGNIZE SARAH Tð FOR
OAKLANDERS, WHO ALWAYS HAVE IN
MY BACK AND ALL MY GREAT STAFF
WHO ARE HERE IN SUPPORT, I WANT
TO THANK THE SAN DIEGO
CONTINGENT, CHRIS AND TASHA AND
AKILAH AND DAVID, FOR MAKING
THOSE AIRPLANE RIDES AT LEAST A
LITTLE BIT BETTER, AND FOR THE
BONDING THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO DO
AT THE AIRPORT AS WE RACED HOME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, NOW
BEING ABLE TO CALL YOU UP WITH
BILL IDEAS, AND I HOPE YOU'LL BE
RESPONSIVE TO THOSE, AND ALL THE
FRIENDS THAT I'VE MADE HERE, ALL
OF YOU. YOU'RE ALL WELCOME IN
SAN DIEGO. WHAT I'M GOING TO
TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS ALL THE
GREAT WORK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO
DO TOGETHER, AND ALL THE TIME
THAT WE SPENT TOGETHER UP HERE,
AWAY FROM OUR FAMILIES, AWAY
FROM OUR HOMES. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR THAT, FOR MAKING THIS.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET TO PICK
WHO YOU GET ELECTED WITH. ALL 80
OF US COME FROM SOMEWHERE AND
WE'RE ALL VERY DIFFERENT. I
MEAN, LOOK AT US, RIGHT? BUT
I'VE KIND OF COME TOGETHER WITH
WITH YOU ALL AND MAKE THESE
LIFELONG RELATIONSHIPS. WE'LL
ALWAYS REMEMBER THE TIME THAT WE
HAD. I KNOW I WILL ALWAYS
REMEMBER THE TIME THAT I HAVE
WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU,
I DID, I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET
THROUGH THIS. CAN I GET MY
WATER? I STARTED AS A SINGLE DAD.
AND I'M ENDING WITH A WIFE, SO I
DID PRETTY GOOD, I DON'T SEE
ANYONE ELSE HERE SAYING THAT, SO
I GOT YOU THERE. BUT IT'S NOT
JUST A WIFE THAT IT'S ELLIE,
YOUR KINDNESS, YOUR DECENCY,
YOUR STRENGTH, IT'S THE BEST
THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME. SO
THANK YOU. AND TO MY GIRLS. NOT
ALWAYS EASY BEING A SINGLE DAD,
BUT WE. WE DID IT TOGETHER, IT'S
BEEN A GREAT HONOR TO BE AN
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, BUT THE BIGGER
HONOR IS BEING YOUR DAD, AND I'M
SO GRATEFUL FOR THE YOUNG WOMEN
THAT YOU ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS
THAT YOU HAVE. AND IF I'VE DONE
NOTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE, RAISING
YOU HAS BEEN THE BEST THING THAT
I'VE EVER DONE. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS GREAT
HONOR.
THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
MAIENSCHEIN MAJORITY LEADER
AGUIAR-CURRY. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
FOR YOUR PROCEDURAL MOTION. GOOD
AFTERNOON. THE SENATE HAS
RETURNED SB 552 AND SB 1155 TO
THE ASSEMBLY. I REQUEST
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO RESCIND THE
ACTION WHEREBY ON AUGUST 15TH,
2024, SB 552 NEWMAN AND SB 115
HURTADO WERE READ. A THIRD TIME,
PASSED AND SENT TO THE SENATE.
PLEASE ORDER THE BILLS BACK TO
THE THIRD READING WITHOUT
OBJECTION. SUCH SHALL BE THE
ORDER, JUST A STATUS UPDATE
FOLKS. HERE WE HAVE DONE TEN
ADJOURNMENTS IN MEMORY. WE HAVE
EIGHT MORE TO GO, SO WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO TRIBUTE TO MR. MATHIS.
FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. BRIAN.
MAYBE MR. BRIAN MIGHT COME BACK
TO THE CHAMBER, PLEASE. IN THE
ABSENCE OF MR. BRIAN WE'LL MOVE
TO MR. LARA WHO IS GOING TO BE
MR. MATHIS SECOND SPEAKER THANK
YOU MR. SPEAKER. IT'S MY
PRIVILEGE TO RISE AND PRESENT
THIS EULOGY TO OUR COLLEAGUE. AS
A YOUNG FRESHMAN, WHEN I CAME
IN, THERE WAS A PRETTY BIG PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT OUR
COLLEAGUE SENATOR CERVANTES
REFERENCED EARLIER. AND IT WAS A
BIG BILL, IT WAS A BIG BILL THAT
TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE AND FOR A
YOUNG MEMBER, THERE WAS A TIME
THAT IT WAS STRESSFUL, AND YOU
WERE KIND OF THAT THAT
STALLWORTH THAT I COULD TALK TO
WHEN I WAS LOSING MY MIND ABOUT
THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE
BEING HAD ON, YOU KNOW, JUST
DIFFERENT EVENTS. AND BUT I'VE
ALWAYS APPRECIATED ABOUT YOU.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO JUST
BRIEFLY MENTION AS WELL, SOME OF
THEM, PELLERIN, WHEN SHE CAME UP
HERE HAS STARTED CHAMPION MENTAL
HEALTH AND A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO, YOU, AFTER SHE GAVE HER
SPEECH, YOU OPENED UP ON THIS
FLOOR IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY
THAN I'VE EVER HEARD YOU TALK
ABOUT IT BEFORE. AND I THINK THE
TWO OF YOU HAVE REALLY
HIGHLIGHTED A CONVERSATION THAT
HAS NEEDED TO BE DONE IN A LONG
TIME. AND SO I REALLY
APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE YOUR
OPENNESS, YOUR HONESTY, THOUGH
WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS AGREED. AND
THAT'S OKAY. IT'S CALLED LIFE,
RIGHT? I MEAN, GENERAL PATTON
SAYS EVERYBODY'S AGREEING AND
SOMEBODY'S NOT THINKING, RIGHT.
BUT YOU AND I HAVE BEEN ALWAYS
ABLE TO BOUNCE THINGS OFF OF
EACH OTHER. AND I'VE ALWAYS
APPRECIATED YOUR COUNSEL. I'VE
ALWAYS APPRECIATED YOU AS A
FRIEND. AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER
SKILL SET THAT NOBODY ELSE ON
THIS FLOOR HAS. YOU CAN TAKE A
22ND CONVERSATION AND TURN IT
INTO 30 MINUTES. BETTER THAN
ANYBODY. BROTHER, I LOVE YOU.
LOOK FORWARD TO WHATEVER YOU GOT
IN THE FUTURE. SO GOD BLESS YOU
BUD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR.
LARA. ASSEMBLY MEMBER GALLAGHER,
YOU'RE GOING TO STAND IN FOR MR.
BRIAN. AND IN TRIBUTE TO MR.
MATHIS. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER AND MEMBERS. AND IT'S AN
HONOR TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP FOR
MY COLLEAGUE WHO WE CAME IN
TOGETHER, ASSEMBLYMAN MATHIS.
23-14 CLASS. IT WAS, YOU KNOW,
THEY DIDN'T EXPECT IT. RIGHT AND
DEVIN WAS ALWAYS REALLY PROUD OF
THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T EXPECT
HIM TO BE HERE, THAT HE WAS THE
UNDERDOG, AND HE WILL TELL YOU.
AND IT'S TRUE THAT HE OUTWORKED.
HE OUTWORKS JUST ABOUT ANYBODY,
AND HE LOVES ACTUALLY BEING THAT
UNDERDOG, AND DEFINE THOSE ODDS.
AND WE'VE SEEN HIM DO THAT HERE
IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND I KNOW I
JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF
THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE OVER
THE YEARS, CERTAINLY ON VETERANS
ISSUES AND, AND STANDING UP FOR
OUR VETERANS, MAKING SURE THEY
HAVE THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED,
THE RESOURCES THEY NEED, BUT
ALSO ON THE ISSUES OF MENTAL
HEALTH. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD
HIS HIS SPEECH LAST, LAST WEEK,
WHICH WAS VERY TOUCHING AND
POWERFUL. AND THERE'S BEEN MANY
TIMES THAT, YOU KNOW, DEVIN, HAS
CONNECTED IN THAT WAY. AND
REALLY, MADE OUR POLICY. HE'S
BROUGHT IT HOME TO PEOPLE AND
HOW IT AFFECTS PEOPLE. HE'S ALSO
BEEN A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR OUR
RURAL PARTS OF OUR STATE, AND
ENSURING THAT WE GET THE
INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT WE NEED, SO VERY, VERY
PROUD TO HAVE SERVED WITH HIM, I
KNOW, I KNOW HIS I'VE HEARD HIS
HEART MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, BOTH
JUST ON ONE ON ONE
CONVERSATIONS, BUT ALSO, YOU
KNOW, IN COMMITTEES AND, I THINK
IT'S MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE HERE
IN THIS BUILDING. AND SO I SEE
THAT MY COLLEAGUE HERE HAS JUST
SHOWN UP. SO I'M GOING TO I'M
GOING TO END HERE AND JUST SAY,
BROTHER, GODSPEED. THANK YOU FOR
ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR
CAUCUS. AND THE MEMBER THAT
YOU'VE BEEN HERE. AND I KNOW
GOOD THINGS TO COME IN THE
FUTURE. THANK YOU, MR. GALLAGHER.
MR. BRIAN, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER. AND
COLLEAGUES. I PROMISED I'D BE
QUICK. DEVIN. REALLY, I JUST
WANTED YOU TO GET THREE SPEAKERS.
AND THE FIRST PERSON I MET WHEN
I GOT ON THIS FLOOR WAS MR.
MATHIS. I WAS STANDING HERE
DURING HOUSE OF ORIGIN. I HAD NO
STAFF. WE WERE VOTING ON
HUNDREDS OF BILLS. I HAD JUST
WON A SPECIAL ELECTION AND HE
WAS STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ME
TRYING TO GET TO KNOW ME. IT WAS
A TERRIBLE TIME TO TRY TO GET TO
KNOW ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT I WAS DOING, BUT I WAS
REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT
OUTREACH. AND THE MORE I GOT TO
TALK TO DEVIN, THE MORE HE
REMINDED ME OF SOME MEMBERS OF
MY OWN FAMILY. MY BROTHER SERVED
TWO TOURS IN IRAQ, SO FOR MY
BROTHER, MR. MATHIS, COMING IN
WITH A PURPLE HEART, A WAR HERO,
A MILLENNIAL, A YOUNG GUY I'VE
JUST GREATLY ENJOYED YOUR
FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR COLLEGIAL
SPIRIT HERE ON THE FLOOR,
SERVING WITH YOU IN THE NATURAL
RESOURCE SPACE HAS BEEN A JOY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE
BROUGHT TO THIS BODY. AND THANK
YOU FOR LETTING ME HONOR YOU
TODAY. THANK YOU, MR. MATT. MR.
BRIAN. MR. MATHIS, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. YOU'RE KILLING ME,
SMALLS. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS.
I THINK IT GOES BACK TO. YEAH.
BEING THE UNDERDOG WHEN I FIRST
WON. I WASN'T THE GUY I. 22,000
VERSUS 280. BEATING THE
CONGRESSMAN'S DISTRICT DIRECTOR.
I REMEMBER. TALKING TO MY FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF
JOKES, YOU KNOW, I WAS AT A
FAMILY BARBECUE, BUT MY FAMILY'S
LIKE, DUDE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WE ARE NOT ONE OF THOSE
FAMILIES. AND I WAS LIKE, NOT
YET. AND FOR MY FAMILY LISTED IT
AT HOME. YOU ALL KNOW WHO YOU
ARE, AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT
YOU'RE ALL PART OF WOMEN'S
REPUBLICANS NOW, TOO. FOR ME,
THIS JUST THIS JOURNEY IN LIFE.
I REMEMBER GROWING UP JUST A
DIRT POOR KID. EVERYBODY AT
SCHOOL GOT MY NAME WRONG. IT
WAS, DEVON MATHIAS FROM
SAPPORO'S, I WAS LIKE, NO, IT'S
DEVON MATHIS. JOINED THE
MILITARY, GOT INJURED, CAME
HOME. I WAS LIKE, WHAT DO I DO
NOW? AND I STARTED COLLEGE IN
2008 DURING THE RECESSION. AND
THEN WE SAW THE DROUGHTS HIT.
AND MY HOMETOWN WAS THE CITY
WITHOUT WATER. AND I WAS TAKEN
BACK BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, THIS IS
CALIFORNIA. AND WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT IT. AND WE BRAG ABOUT IT A
LOT, WE'RE A NATION STATE. WE'RE
THE FIFTH MOST POWERFUL ECONOMY
ON THE PLANET. AND I HAD FRIENDS.
WITH NO WATER, THIRD WORLD
CONDITIONS. WE HAD KIDS GOING TO
A CHURCH PARKING LOT TO TAKE
SHOWERS AND BRUSH THEIR TEETH.
HERE IN THIS STATE. AND WE WORK
LIKE HELL TO GET THAT FIXED WITH
SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES FROM DOWN
SOUTH. I MEAN, THIS WAS WE
WORKED ON THIS FOR THREE YEARS
TO DEVELOP A GRANT AND LOAN
PROGRAM TO DEVELOP EVERYTHING,
TO GET WATER TO PEOPLE, NOT JUST
IN MY DISTRICT, BUT TO MAKE SURE
IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN
ANYWHERE IN OUR STATE. AS MY
HULK HOGAN TO MY RANDY SAVAGE,
MY BUDDY HEATH FLORES HERE
MENTIONED A VERY BIG BILL THAT
CAME UP DEALING WITH CLIMATE
CHANGE, DEALING WITH THE GREEN
ECONOMY, DEALING WITH HOW DO WE
MAKE THIS WORK NOT JUST ACROSS
THE STATE, BUT HOW DO WE MAKE
THIS WORK IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
LIKE MINE? HOW DO WE HAVE THIS
ADD UP AND MAKE SENSE? AND WE
WORKED ON THAT. I REMEMBER
GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM THE
GOVERNOR AND BEING LIKE, HEY,
WHEN CAN YOU GET UP HERE? I WANT
TO TALK TO YOU. AND BEING BLOWN
AWAY THAT LITTLE OLD ME WAS
BEING CALLED. WE SPENT TEN YEARS
JUST LOOKING AT. FOR ME, THE
PERSPECTIVE HAS ALWAYS BEEN.
WHAT AM I DOING TO HELP THE
OTHER GUYS LIKE ME? THE OTHER
PEOPLE LIKE ME, MY FRIENDS, MY
NEIGHBORS THAT ARE JUST IN THE
STRUGGLE, THAT ARE WORKING THE
JOB THAT ARE TRYING TO GET BY,
THAT ARE TRYING TO RAISE THEIR
KIDS, THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THE
BEST THEY CAN AND WE ALWAYS SAID
IN MY ELECTIONS, PEOPLE OVER
POLITICS, AND IF YOU GO BACK AND
YOU LOOK AT MY RACES AND I WON'T
BORE YOU WITH THE DETAILS, BUT
THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHERE I
STOOD AGAINST MY OWN PARTY ON
VOTES THAT I BELIEVE WERE RIGHT.
AND I THINK HISTORY SHOWS THAT
THEY WERE RIGHT. TO STAND UP AND
GO, WHAT DO WE DO TO PROTECT OUR
LOCAL ECONOMY? WHAT DO WE DO TO
PROTECT THE VALLEY? BECAUSE
THERE ARE VERY, VERY FEW VALLEY
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY MEMBERS HERE,
AND WE HAVE TO WORK BIPARTISANLY
MANY OF YOU KNOW I'M A KENNETH
MADDIE ALUMNI AND I'M THANKFUL
FOR THAT TIME AND FOR THE MADDIE
LEGACY OF BIPARTISANSHIP. AND I
THINK THAT HELPED ME ALONG THE
WAY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I CAME
UP HERE, YOU KNOW, AND I SAID
THIS, I THINK MY FIRST CAMPAIGN,
YOU KNOW, NOBODY GOES TO WORK
AND GOES, HEY, MAN, ARE YOU A
DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN? CAN I
WORK WITH YOU? YOU JUST GO TO
WORK TO WORK TO GET THE JOB
DONE. WE LIVE IN A STATE OF 40
MILLION PEOPLE, AND THERE'S 80
OF US. AND I'M JUST ONE GUY. AND.
I THINK FOR A LOT OF US LEAVING,
IT'S THE NOSTALGIA. IT'S LIKE,
MY NAME IS ON THAT BOARD. LIKE
GOD. WHY? WHY OUT OF ALL THE
PEOPLE, WHY DID YOU PICK ME TO
GET HERE? BECAUSE GOD KNOWS, YOU
COULD HAVE PICKED SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT. AND
IT'S BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. AND. I
WANT TO THANK GOD. I WANT TO
THANK MY FAMILY. I WANT TO THANK
MY WIFE, MY KIDS. MY KIDS HAVE
SACRIFICED A LOT, MISSED GAMES.
EVERYBODY'S LIKE, WHY? WHY
AREN'T YOU RUNNING FOR
REELECTION? DUDE, YOU GOT ONE
MORE. AND I'M LIKE, DUDE, I WANT
TO BE HOME WITH MY KIDS. I'VE
MISSED ENOUGH GAMES. I'VE MISSED
ENOUGH DAD TIME. IT'S TIME TO
SHIFT GEARS. DOESN'T MEAN I'M
GOING AWAY. I I'LL STILL BE A
PAIN IN YOUR BUTTS. I'LL STILL
BE AROUND. BUT IF I CAN LEAVE
ANYTHING WITH ALL OF YOU, IT'S.
DON'T GET TOO CAUGHT UP.
ESPECIALLY IN THESE ELECTION
YEARS IN THE PARTY KOOL-AID.
EITHER WAY, I THINK ONE OF THE
GREATEST THINGS ABOUT THIS
ASSEMBLY FLOOR, AND I WAS
SHOCKED BY IT WHEN I FIRST GOT
ELECTED BECAUSE WE'RE SO USED TO
THE TALKING HEADS, A LOT OF THEM
CAME FROM MY DISTRICT. MY AREA.
THAT THE IDEA OF DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS WORKING TOGETHER, IT
WAS LIKE, OKAY, YEAH, I LEARNED
THIS IN COLLEGE, BUT IS THIS
REAL? AND I WANT TO THANK EACH
OF YOU WHO HAS HELPED ME GET
BILLS ACROSS THE LINE THAT HAS
SPENT THE TIME LISTENING TO ME
TURN TWO MINUTE TALKS INTO 30
MINUTE SPEECHES. BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO
HAVE THAT CAMARADERIE. IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC, FOR
THE STATE TO REALIZE THAT WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER AND TACKLE SOME OF
THE STRONGEST AND HARDEST ISSUES.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO SHUT
UP AND PUT MY MIC DOWN AND THANK
YOU ALL AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE WITH
YOU AND JUST ENCOURAGE ALL OF
YOU TO DON'T EVER STOP LEARNING
AND DON'T EVER THINK THAT JUST
BECAUSE IT'S THIS WAY. THAT. THE
LIGHTS ON. HE'S PROBABLY TRYING
TO CUT ME OFF ANYWAY. ABSOLUTELY
NOT. NO, I'M KIDDING. COME ON
GUYS. BUT I ALSO, I WANT TO
THANK MY STAFF, ALL THE STAFF
HERE. WE'VE DONE SOME CRAZY
BILLS. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF
THINGS. AND THESE PEOPLE MAKE IT
HAPPEN. AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS ASK
PEOPLE WHEN I BRING THEM UP
HERE, I ALWAYS ASK THEM WHY THEY
WHY? WHY IS THE CARPET GREEN?
AND IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE THE HOUSE
OF COMMONS. WE'RE THE COMMONERS.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE CLOSEST WITH THE PUBLIC.
SO REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU GO
HOME, REMEMBER THAT YOUR JOB IS
BACK TO THE PEOPLE. IT'S NOT TO
THE PARTY. IT'S TO THE PEOPLE.
AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT PARTY YOU
ARE, IF YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB
AND REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE,
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. SO STICK
WITH THAT AND YOU GUYS WILL DO
FINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
MISTER MATHIS.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE
MAJORITY LEADER FOR HER. HER
MOTION. MEMBERS. HELLO MEMBERS.
THERE ARE 14 BILLS WITH PENDING
FLOOR AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE HAVE
APPROVAL OF BOTH CAUCUSES TO
ADOPT BY A SINGLE VOTE. VOICE
VOTE. I WOULD ASK THAT THE
READING CLERK TO READ THE BILLS
WITH AMENDMENTS, AND THAT WE
ADOPT THOSE AMENDMENTS BY VOICE
VOTE. THE CLERK WILL READ.
SENATE BILL 898, WITH AMENDMENTS
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
AGUIAR-CURRY. ASSEMBLY BILL
2656, WITH AMENDMENTS BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER RAMOS. SENATE
BILL 940, WITH AMENDMENTS BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER HAYNIE. SENATE
BILL 900 WITH AMENDMENTS BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER VALENCIA. SENATE
BILL 1300, WITH AMENDMENTS BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JACKSON. SENATE
BILL 1001 WITH AMENDMENTS BY
ASSEMBLY. MEMBER GRAYSON. SENATE
BILL 1067, WITH AMENDMENTS BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, JACKSON. SENATE
BILL 1336, WITH AMENDMENTS BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER PACHECO. SENATE
BILL 1053, WITH AMENDMENTS BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER B¢O BAUER-KAHAN.
SENATE BILL 963, WITH AMENDMENTS
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER WICKS. SENATE
BILL 908, WITH AMENDMENTS BY
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, ARAMBULA.
SENATE BILL 1184, WITH
AMENDMENTS BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
MAIENSCHEIN. SENATE BILL 819,
WITH AMENDMENTS BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER, FLORA AND SENATE BILL
931, WITH AMENDMENTS BY ASSEMBLY
MEMBER RAMOS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
OF ADOPTING THE AMENDMENTS SAY
AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? SAY NO. THE
AYES HAVE IT. THE BILLS ARE OUT
TO PRINT. AMENDMENTS ARE
ADOPTED. BILLS ARE OUT OF PRINT
AND BACK ON FILE. JUST TO NOTE,
WE HAVE FOUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE
WILL BE DOING WILL BE DOING
THEIR TRIBUTES NEXT WEEK. SO WE
WILL HAVE WE'LL BE MOVING ON NOW
TO MR. PATTERSON WHO WILL BE THE
FIRST SPEAKER FOR MR. PATTERSON
WILL BE MR. GALLAGHER. ALL
RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
AND MEMBERS, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE
ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE OF
ASSEMBLYMAN JIM PATTERSON. WHEN
I FIRST CAME INTO THE ASSEMBLY
CLASS OF 2014, AS WE WERE JUST
TALKING ABOUT WITH DEVIN AND I
THINK WE WERE ONE OF THE LARGEST
REPUBLICAN CLASSES AT THE TIME,
THAT HAD COME IN AND I GOT TO
MEET JIM PATTERSON FOR THE FIRST
TIME, AND I IT WAS A MEMORABLE
CONVERSATION IN WHICH
IMMEDIATELY AND JIM IS VERY MUCH
HAS BEEN THIS, I THINK,
THROUGHOUT HIS HIS TENURE HERE
HAS BEEN SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO
HELP IMPART WISDOM, WHO WANTS TO
LEAVE THINGS BETTER THAN HE CAME
INTO THEM. AND I THINK HAS DONE
THAT IN EVERY OFFICE THAT HE
HAS, HAS BEEN IN. AND HE AS MANY
OF YOU KNOW, HE HAS A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
BUT I CAN REMEMBER THAT FIRST
CONVERSATION WHERE HE TALKED
ABOUT BEING HAPPY WARRIORS, AND
IT STUCK WITH ME FOR A LONG TIME
AND WELL, OF COURSE JIM HAS A
GREAT RADIO VOICE. EVERYONE
KNOWS THAT. AND OBVIOUSLY HE'S
BEEN IN RADIO. BUT HE HAS A VERY
CALM, HIS VOICE IS VERY CALMING
AND IT'S VERY, ENERGETIC. AND SO
HE WOULD HE WOULD TALK AND HE
WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO
BECOME, YOU KNOW, LEARN TO BE
HAPPY WARRIORS IN THE WAY THAT
REAGAN WAS. RIGHT, AND IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS STUCK WITH
ME AS WE STARTED OUT OUR TENURE
HERE, HE WAS CLASS OF 2012, SO
HE WAS PART OF THE FIRST CLASS
THAT HAD THE 12 YEAR TERMS. AND
HE IS COMPLETING THAT THAT 12
YEARS. NOT A WHOLE LOT OF
MEMBERS THAT HAVE DONE THAT. I
KNOW WE HAVE A FEW HERE THAT
WE'RE RECOGNIZING TODAY. BUT
THAT HAS SERVED THE FULL 12
YEARS HERE IN THE ASSEMBLY. AND
DURING THAT TIME, I THINK YOU'VE
SEEN JIM. YOU'VE SEEN JIM BE A
CHAMPION FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT
THINGS. ONE THE FIRST ONE THAT
COMES TO MIND IS OVERSIGHT. AND
ACCOUNTABILITY IN GOVERNMENT.
AND I THINK THAT CAME FROM BEING
A BIG CITY MAYOR, FROM HAVING
BEEN THE MAYOR OF FRESNO AND HIS
TIME THERE AS SAYING ENSURING
THAT GOVERNMENT IS WORKING RIGHT
FOR THE PEOPLE. WHEN WE SAY THAT
WE'RE DOING THINGS, HOW IS THAT
BEING SPENT? HOW IS THAT BEING
IMPLEMENTED? HIS WORK ON CALLING
OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE HIGH SPEED
RAIL AND WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH
THAT? IT WAS HUGE. YOU KNOW,
THAT WAS A HUGE PART OF, I
THINK, CALLING THAT OUT AND
REALLY HOLDING PEOPLE TO ACCOUNT
FOR WHAT WAS GOING ON, YOU KNOW,
WITH THAT PROJECT AND THAT
CONTINUED IN MANY OTHER WAYS,
ASPECTS WHERE HE WAS CALLING OUT
ED DURING THE DURING COVID, WHEN
WE SAW WHAT ED WAS NOT DOING,
HOW IT WAS NOT SERVING PEOPLE.
THE VOICE OF JIM PATTERSON WAS
VERY LOUD AND CLEAR, IN ALL OF
OUR OVERSIGHT HEARINGS, IN ALL
OF HIS SERVICE AND IN AND HE'S
HE SERVED ON SO MANY DIFFERENT
COMMITTEES IN HIS TIME HERE. YOU
KNOW, THE EXPERTISE THAT HE HAS
ON ENERGY, FOR INSTANCE, ON
WATER ISSUES. EACH AND EVERY ON
WILDFIRE. AND I THINK SOME OF
THE GREATEST WORK THAT WE DID
TOGETHER WAS WORKING SO MUCH TO
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD THAT
FUNDING TO DO THE PREVENTION, TO
GET OUT THERE INTO OUR FORESTS
AND DO THE WILDFIRE PREVENTION.
FUELS REDUCTION WORK. JIM WAS A
HUGE PART OF THAT, I THINK. BUT
ONE OF THE BIGGEST SIGNATURE
THINGS THAT HE BROUGHT TO THIS
LEGISLATURE, AND I THINK YOU ALL
ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT, WAS
GAVIN'S LAW THAT HE WORKED SO
HARD TO PASS. HAD A FEW, FEW
DIFFERENT ATTEMPTS AT IT, BUT
FINALLY GOT THAT THROUGH THIS
LEGISLATURE, ENSURING THAT WE
HAD MORE PENALTIES AND
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE WHO HAD
BEEN INVOLVED WITH FATAL HIT AND
RUN ACCIDENTS. AND THIS ALSO LED,
AS YOU KNOW, TO THE YELLOW
ALERTS THAT NOW WE HAVE THESE
YELLOW ALERTS, SO THAT PEOPLE
CAN BE ON NOTICE WHEN THESE
TERRIBLE INCIDENTS OCCUR. AND WE
CAN BRING ACCOUNTABILITY, TO
THOSE WHO CARELESSLY AND
RECKLESSLY RUIN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
IT WAS JIM'S FORESIGHT IN 2023
THAT LED TO THE ALLOCATION OF
OVER $7.5 MILLION IN STATE
FUNDING FOR FENTANYL OVERDOSE
PREVENTION, A CRITICAL STEP IN
ADDRESSING, YOU KNOW, THIS
CRISIS ON TRANSPORTATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU KNOW, IT'S
JIM'S DETERMINATION TO IMPROVE
PUBLIC SAFETY ON OUR ROADS,
WHERE HE SECURED FULL FUNDING
FOR A DANGEROUS STRETCH OF
HIGHWAY 41, MADE A DIFFERENCE,
YOU KNOW, IN HIS COMMUNITY,
PREVENTING FURTHER TRAGEDIES ON
THIS DANGEROUS STRETCH OF
HIGHWAY. AND, OF COURSE, WE'VE
ALL HEARD HIS HEART FOR
ADOPTION, AND HE'S DONE A LOT ON
THAT FRONT. AND WE'VE HEARD MANY
OF THE STORIES, OBVIOUSLY,
OBVIOUSLY, BJ AND HIS STORY HAS
COME UP MANY TIMES ON THIS
FLOOR, BUT YOU HEAR THAT WITH
JIM WHEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT THAT
AND WHEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT HIS
CHILDREN, THE GREAT PRIDE THAT
HE TAKES. AND ALSO, I THINK WHAT
YOU SEE IS THAT JIM AND SHARON,
THEY'VE BEEN A TEAM THROUGHOUT
ALL THIS TIME. AND, WHEN THEY
COULDN'T HAVE CHILDREN,
INITIALLY AND WANTING THAT SO,
SO BADLY FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR
THEIR MARRIAGE AND FOR THEIR
FAMILY AND HOW THEY AND THEY
PERSISTED, AND HOW ADOPTION
REALLY MADE THAT HAPPEN FOR
THEM. AND YOU CAN HEAR THE JOY
AND THE IN HIS VOICE AND YOU CAN
HEAR HIS HEART FOR HOW HE WANTED
TO CONNECT FAMILIES, AND
CONTINUE THAT AND AGAIN, NOT
JUST IN WORD BUT ACTUALLY IN
ACTION AND WORKING WITH LOCAL
GROUPS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS OVER
THE YEARS. I ALSO GOT TO BRING
UP AND I, I ALMOST FORGOT, AND
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD,
IS HIS COMMITMENT TO THE
DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED
COMMUNITY, AND THAT CAME OUT OF
HIS HIS WORK AS A LOCAL MAYOR,
YOU KNOW, AS, AS AN ASSEMBLYMAN
GOING AND VISITING, YOU KNOW,
THESE GROUPS AND SPENDING TIME
WITH THEM AND SEEING WHAT WAS
REALLY NEEDED. AND YOU KNOW, HIM
ALONG WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS IN
THIS BODY REALLY BEING STRONG
VOICES FOR ENSURING THAT WE GOT
THE VITAL AND CRITICAL FUNDING,
YOU KNOW, FOR THE DD COMMUNITY,
YOU KNOW, JIM HAS BEEN A
CHAMPION ON THAT. I MEAN,
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
I COULD GO THROUGH, BUT JIM'S
SERVICE HAS CERTAINLY, I THINK,
LEFT A MARK ON THIS BODY, ON THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. AND,
BROTHER, IT'S BEEN GREAT TO
SERVE WITH YOU, TO LEARN FROM
YOU. I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU
AND YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR WEALTH
OF EXPERIENCE THAT YOU BROUGHT
TO THIS TABLE. AND I THINK
THERE'S MANY THAT HAVE BENEFITED
FROM THAT. AND I'M THANKFUL FOR
SHARON, YOU KNOW, WHO I KNOW HAS
JUST BEEN A, YOU KNOW, AMAZING
WIFE WHO'S WHO'S DEALT WITH A
WHOLE LOT, YOU KNOW, 57 YEARS,
57 YEARS, THAT'S, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S AMAZING, YOU KNOW, AND
IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE,
YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH CELEBRATED,
HE WILL HE KEEPS TRYING TO SELL
ME HIS BOAT, BECAUSE WHILE HE
WAS HERE, HE FINALLY SOLD IT.
OKAY, GOOD. AND I IT IS A GREAT
BOAT. AND HE YOU KNOW, WHILE HE
WAS HERE, HE WOULD STAY ON THAT
BOAT, TOOK US OUT A FEW TIMES ON
THE SACRAMENTO RIVER. AND, OF
COURSE, HIS LOVE AND PASSION OF
FLYING, YOU KNOW THAT HE WILL
CONTINUE, IN HIS IN THE NEXT
PHASE, THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS
LIFE IN THE IN THE SERVICE OF
JIM PATTERSON. THANK YOU SIR.
WELL DONE. THANK YOU, MR.
GALLAGHER. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
DAVIS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MEMBERS, I
HAVE THE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING
OUR GREAT COLLEAGUE FROM FRESNO,
ASSEMBLY MEMBER JIM PATTERSON,
ELECTED IN 2012. JIM HAS BEEN A
SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND ADVICE
FOR A LOT OF THE MEMBERS, NOT
JUST IN OUR CAUCUS, BUT IN THIS
BUILDING. PULLING BACK THE
CURTAIN A LITTLE BIT INTO THE
FUN WORLD OF REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
POLITICS, YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT
ON JIM TO ASK THE FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTIONS OF HOW WILL A CERTAIN
POLICY AFFECT CALIFORNIANS LIKE
MYSELF? JIM SERVED AS A MAYOR OF
HIS BELOVED CITY OF FRESNO, AND
I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN SEEING
THE PRIDE EXUDE EVERY TIME HE
TALKS ABOUT HOW HIS COMMUNITY HE
REPRESENTS SHAPED HIS VIEWS IN
CAUCUS LUNCH. JIM IS KNOWN AS
THE VOICE OF REASON. IF WE NEED
SOMEONE TO GIVE US THE HONEST
TRUTH, OUR CAUCUS KNOWS THE MAN
FROM FRESNO IS THE GUY TO GO TO.
HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE, JIM HAS
SERVED AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE
UTILITIES AND ENERGY COMMITTEES
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND HE
WILL TELL YOU, ONE OF THE THINGS
HE IS MOST PROUD OF IS BEING A
STAUNCH DEFENDER AND ADVOCATE
FOR CALIFORNIA'S RATEPAYERS. IF
YOU LOOK AT THE BILLS, JIM HAS
DONE, YOU CAN TELL. GIVING A
VOICE TO THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE
ONE IS HIS CORE FOCUS OF THE
MEASURES HE HAS DONE AND GOTTEN
INTO LAW. WHETHER IT'S HELPING
HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS WITH
AB 262 HELPING REDUCE DEATHS
RELATED TO FENTANYL WITH AB
2365, OR MAKING IT EASIER FOR
DEAF INDIVIDUALS TO BE ELIGIBLE
FOR STATE PROGRAMS WITH AB 1514,
JIM PUTS TOGETHER COMMON SENSE
POLICIES THAT ARE TRULY MEANT TO
HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR
STATE. FLYING IS A LONGTIME
PASSION OF JIM'S. HE EARNED HIS
PRIVATE PILOT'S LICENSE IN 1968.
SINCE THEN, HE HAS LOGGED NEARLY
1500 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME FOR
BUSINESS PURPOSES, AS WELL AS
JUST FOR FUN, HE HAS FLOWN A
WIDE RANGE OF AIRPLANES,
INCLUDING A CESSNA 210, THE TWIN
BONANZA B-50 AND THE CATAWBA.
I'M NOT SURE IF I'M SAYING THAT
RIGHT. SATORI. THERE WE GO.
THERE YOU GO. SEVEN GC AA. WHEN
I THINK ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL
STORIES JIM TELLS US ABOUT HIS
SON, BJ, YOU CAN SEE A TWINKLE
IN HIS EYE ABOUT HOW PROUD HE IS
OF HIM AND HOW FAR HE HAS COME.
JIM HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS
PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS A
BUSINESSMAN AND BROADCAST
EXECUTIVE, OWNING AND OPERATING
RADIO STATIONS IN CALIFORNIA AND
IDAHO. JIM, WE WILL MISS YOU.
NICK SAYS IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO
BE THE SAME. I WISH YOU ALL THE
BEST. RETURNING HOME TO FRESNO
AND SPENDING TIME WITH YOUR
FAMILY. YOU'VE LEFT YOUR MARK
NOT ONLY IN THE REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS, BUT IN THE LEGISLATURE
AS WELL. GOD BLESS YOU. AND
PLEASE DON'T BE A STRANGER. WE
EXPECT TO SEE YOU BACK AND, MR.
SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD
MY TIME TO A MAN THAT ALWAYS HAS
SOMETHING TO SAY FOR US. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER
DAVIS. ASSEMBLY MEMBER JIM
PATTERSON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
WELL, I HAVEN'T PASSED AWAY YET.
JUST KNOW IT'S, DEPARTURE. SO,
LOOK, I. 12 YEARS WENT LIKE
THAT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S
BEEN 12 YEARS. WHEN I WAS FIRST
ELECTED, MY OLDEST GRANDSON,
NOAH, I BROUGHT HIM TO THE
FLOOR. AND I'VE GOT A DELIGHTFUL
PICTURE WITH HE AND HIS SISTER.
HE WAS THAT TALL LITTLE GUY. I
CALLED HIM NOAH BOY. WELL, NOW I
HAVE TO CALL HIM NOAH, MAN. HE'S
THAT TALL NOW AND HE IS IN
TRAINING NOW TO BE A COMMERCIAL
PILOT. SO WE SHARE AVIATION. THE
FUN OF IT. AND TO HAVE YOUR
GRANDSON, LEARNING AND ENJOYING
SOMETHING THAT HIS PAPA LEARNS.
LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO. AND IT
MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. IT'S
DRAWING US CLOSER, ALL THE TIME.
I, I THINK, AS I HAVE THOUGHT
ABOUT MOVING ON, I WANT TO LEAVE
YOU WITH A COUPLE OF CALL IT
WORDS OF WISDOM. IF YOU WILL. WE
HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE
MOTIVES THAT WE BRING. IT IS SO
EASY TO BE IN THIS CHAMBER WITH
YOUR NAME UP THERE TO THINK MORE
OF YOU THAN YOU DO, OF WHY
YOU'RE HERE, AND THE PEOPLE WE
SERVE. AND I HAVE A PASTOR
FRIEND WHO'S NOW ON THE COAST. I
THINK I MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED
THIS BEFORE, AND HE, WAS AN
INSPIRATION TO ME OVER THE
YEARS. AND WHEN HE WOULD GO INTO
A PULPIT, HE WOULD HAVE A PLAQUE
BEHIND THE PULPIT THAT HE COULD
SEE WHEN HE ENTERED IT AND TO
SPEAK TO THE CONGREGATION. AND
IT WAS THIS, IS THIS A GRAND
PERFORMANCE OR AN ACT OF LOVE?
THAT IS A REMINDER THAT, YES, WE
NEED TO BE GOOD AT WHAT WE DO,
BUT WE DON'T DO IT ALONE. WE'RE
NOT GOING TO GET ALL PUFFED UP
AND THINKING THAT WE CAN HANDLE
IT ALL. AND I THINK THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT THING TO BE, TO BE
CAREFUL NOT TO LET THIS BUILDING
AND BEING ONE OF, WHAT, 3500
PEOPLE SINCE 1849 THAT HAVE
SERVED IN THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATURE. AND SO THAT THAT
KEEPS YOU FOCUSED. IT ALSO KEEPS
YOU HUMBLE. AND IT REMINDS YOU
OF THE REASON YOU'RE HERE IN THE
FIRST PLACE. OUR LEADER TOUCHED
ON A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND I
WANT TO TOUCH ON, TWO OF THEM.
OBVIOUSLY ADOPTION IS CLOSE TO
OUR FAMILY. IT IS CLOSE TO MY
HEART. AND I ACTUALLY THINK I
WAS PUT HERE FOR THAT PURPOSE
WHEN I GOT ELECTED. THE FIRST
TIME I WAS WALKING UP THE STEPS
OF THE WEST SIDE OF THE CAPITOL,
AND THERE WAS A BIG ADOPTION
CELEBRATION, AND I WALKED UP TO
THE PERSON IN CHARGE. I HANDED
HIM MY CARD AND I SAID, I'M AN
ADOPTIVE DAD. I LOVE WHAT YOU'RE
DOING, YOU KNOW, OH, WE'RE GLAD
YOU CAME. WE JUST LOST THE
MEMBER WHO WAS AN ADOPTIVE DAD,
TO LEAD THE EFFORTS OF ADOPTION
LEGISLATION. WHAT WILL YOU DO
IT, OF COURSE. AND I WAS LOOKING
OVER THE LISTING OF THE ADOPTION
LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE DONE OVER
THE YEARS. WE HAD SIGNIFICANT
LEGISLATION IN 2012, 2014, 16,
18. AND IT WHAT WERE WE TRYING
TO DO, MAKE ADOPTION LESS
COMPLICATED, HELP MAKE FAMILY
FORMATIONS MUCH STRONGER AND
RATIONALIZE ADOPTION PRACTICE
WITH ADOPTION LAW. AND IT'S BEEN
A JOY. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERY
MEMBER HERE. THE OTHER. ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT THAT I'VE BEEN
WORKING ON IS, IS HUMAN
TRAFFICKING. AND I'VE MENTIONED
THIS ON THE FLOOR BEFORE, BUT I
WAS MAYOR OF FRESNO. I HAD A
POLICE CHIEF THAT REALLY WANTED
TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC OF SEX
TRAFFICKING ON, ON OUR STREETS
IN FRESNO, AND THEY DETERMINED
THAT THEY WERE GOING TO USE
THEIR ARREST AUTHORITY NOT TO
PUT THE VICTIM WHO'S BEEN
DRUGGED AND BEATEN AND SCARED TO
DEATH IN A COUNTY CELL. NÓ WHAT
DO THEY DO IN FRESNO? THEY BRING
THEM TO A SAFE HOUSE THAT IS RUN
BY BREAKING THE CHAINS, AND I'VE
SUPPORTED THAT ORGANIZATION AND
THAT ORGANIZATION ALSO LED TO
THE VACATUR BILL THAT WAS THAT
WAS MENTIONED. I GOT TO KNOW
SEVERAL OF THE VICTIMS, AND ONE
OF THEM, ARIEL, HAD STUDIED TO
BE AN EMT, GOT ALL THE
CERTIFICATIONS. COULD NOT GET A
JOB BECAUSE OF HER CRIMINAL
RECORD. AND IT TOOK A LONG, LONG
TIME TO TRY TO CLEAR ALL OF
THAT. WELL, WE PASSED A VERY
GOOD BILL THAT SAYS YOU CAN
PETITION THE COURT THEY HAVE TO
ACT ON IN 90 DAYS TO VACATE. AND
THESE ARE THESE ARE NONVIOLENT.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, VICTIMS WERE
FORCED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS,
AND IT ENDS UP ON THEIR RECORD.
AND WITH BREAKING THE CHAINS, I
SAW SO MANY OF THESE VICTIMS
TURNING THEIR LIVES AROUND,
MOVING IN A NEW DIRECTION. AN
ARIEL WAS ONE OF THEM. THAT
TOUCHED ME DEEPLY. AND SHE
COULDN'T GET A JOB BECAUSE SHE
HAD A RECORD. WELL, TODAY, MANY
OF THE VICTIMS AT BREAKING THE
CHAINS, AND WE HAVE FOUND A
NUMBER OF LAWYERS IN FRESNO THAT
ARE WILLING TO PRO-BONO THEIR
APPEALS ARE ACTUALLY GETTING
FREE FROM THAT OLD LIFE THAT HAS
STOPPED THEM FROM THE NEW LIFE.
AND AS THEY HAVE BEEN RELEASED
FROM THOSE CHAINS, THEY NOW HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING A
CLEAR RECORD AND PART OF THE
BILL ALSO SAID THAT THE THAT THE
COURTS HAD AN OBLIGATION TO
NOTIFY THAT ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN
VACATED. FROM THE LISTING OF
PLACES WHERE THEY WOULD BANK AND
KEEP THAT 30S. AND SO YOU KNOW
THAT I THINK PART OF WHAT MOVES
ME WITH SEX TRAFFICKED KIDS WITH
ADOPTIVE CHILDREN, AND WITH, THE
FENTANYL THAT WAS MENTIONED, 7.5
MILLION GOING TO CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR
FENTANYL OVERDOSE RESCUE TEAMS.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE FOR
ALL THE VOTES WE ASK FOR 3
MILLION. THE GOVERNOR GAVE US
7.5. I THINK ALL OF THAT STEMS
FROM THE FACT THAT MY THREE KIDS
ARE ADOPTED AND WHY FOSTER CARE
KIDS AND OTHERS TOUCH ME. I FEEL
PATERNALISTIC TO KIDS, FATHERLY
TO THEM, BECAUSE I HAVE THREE
AND I TELL EACH OF THEM, YOU
KNOW, YOU'RE NOT MY CHILD
BIOLOGICALLY, BUT I LOVE YOU AS
MUCH AS IF YOU WERE. AND THAT'S
THE GOD'S HONEST TRUTH. ALSO,
YOU KNOW, I'VE OFTEN SAID, I'M A
MAN OF FAITH, AND I YOU KNOW, I
AND MY THREE SECONDS SIX, EIGHT
IS A PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANT
VERSE THAT HAS GUIDED ME IN MY
LIFE THROUGH THE BROADCAST
YEARS, THROUGH THE MAYOR YEARS.
AND UP HERE. WHAT DOES THE LORD
REQUIRE OF YOU TO DO JUSTICE, TO
LOVE, MERCY AND TO WALK HUMBLY
WITH GOD? IT'S PRETTY GOOD
ADVICE WHEN YOU'RE IN A PLACE
LIKE THIS, DEALING WITH THE
COMPLEXITIES THAT WE DEAL WITH
AND LIKE OUR LEADER SAID,
SHARON'S BEEN A WONDERFUL GIFT.
WE MET AT 16, MARRIED AT 1957
YEARS, I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM HER
AND FROM MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS
TOO LONG. I'M READY TO COME HOME
AND I'M JOYFULLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO SPENDING TIME WITH THEM THAT
I SPENT UP HERE. I DON'T REGRET
IT. I DON'T REGRET IT. BUT I'M
GLAD TO BE BE GOING HOME. AND
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF
SERVING WITH YOU.
MOVING NOW TO OUR TRIBUTE FOR
ASSEMBLYMEMBER REYES,
ASSEMBLYMEMBER GIBSON WILL BE
THE FIRST SPEAKER. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED, MR. GIBSON. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, MR. SPEAKER.
MEMBERS, LET ME TURN THIS WAY. I
WANT TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUE
ELOISE GOMEZ REYES, IT WAS AN
HONOR FOR ME TO RECEIVE YOUR
PHONE CALL, REALIZING THAT YOU
COULD HAVE ASKED ANYONE AMONG
THIS FLOOR TO, ELEVATE YOUR YOUR
WORK, YOUR VOICE, AND
CONGRATULATE YOU. BUT I'M
PARTICULARLY I'M PARTICULARLY
GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME WE'VE
SPENT THE TIME WE'VE SHARED
TOGETHER, FRANK, I HOPE YOU
REALIZE THAT, IT'S NOT GOING TO
GET BETTER WHEN SHE MOVES OVER
TO THE GREEN CARPET, BUT,
ELOISE, LET ME SIMPLY SAY, IF I
WAS TO LOOK IN THE DICTIONARY
AND LOOK UNDER THE WORD SERVANT,
YOUR PICTURE WILL BE THERE. YOUR
PICTURE WOULD BE THERE. YOU HAVE
SERVED YOUR DISTRICT. YOU HAVE
FOUGHT FOR YOUR DISTRICT NOT
ONLY NOBLY, BUT HONORABLY. YOU
HAVE BEEN A TENACIOUS WARRIOR
FOR THE PEOPLE OF SAN
BERNARDINO. THE I E YOU HAVE
DONE THAT WORK, AND I KNOW THAT
WE CANNOT DO THE WORK OURSELVES.
IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A
TENACIOUS TEAM BEHIND US. AND I
KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORKS
ON YOUR TEAM. THEY LOVE YOU.
THEY CARE ABOUT YOU. THEY HAVE
JOY WORKING FOR YOU. BECAUSE I
BELIEVE WITHOUT A VISION, THE
PEOPLE PERISH AND YOU HAVE GREAT
VISION AND YOU HAVE BROUGHT NOT
ONLY YOUR TEAM INTO THE VISION,
BUT YOU BROUGHT US INTO THE
VISION AS WELL. AND ON A
PERSONAL NOTE, BEFORE I GET TO A
LOT OF STUFF THAT I WANT TO SAY
BEFORE MY TIME IS ENDED, WHEN MY
SISTER WAS AT FONTANA, KAISER
HOSPITAL, YOU CALLED ME. IT WAS
THE MOST DARKEST TIME IN MY
ENTIRE LIFE TO HAVE MY HOMEGIRL,
MY SISTER, WHO WE GRADUATED AND
WE FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE
SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL TO
COLLEGE, WE WERE INSEPARABLE.
SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND WHEN SHE
WAS LYING IN THAT HOSPITAL. I
GET A CALL FROM YOU AND YOU SAID
YOU TOLD ME. YOU SAID THAT IF
YOU NEED SOMEWHERE TO LAY YOUR
HEAD WHILE YOU VISIT YOUR SISTER
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
LEAVE THE HOSPITAL, COME TO MY
HOUSE AND STAY. I WAS BLOWN AWAY
BY THAT. I WAS ABSOLUTELY
FLOORED THAT YOU WOULD OPEN UP
YOUR HOME TO ME WHILE I WAS
GOING THROUGH, IN SAYING MY
FINAL GOODBYES TO MY SISTER
ROSIE. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. AND
I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I WILL
ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR GENEROSITY,
THAT YOU'VE PLAYED A DAUGHTER OF
IMMIGRANTS. PROUDLY YOU OPENED
UP THE YOUR LAW PRACTICE IN THE
EYE TO MAKING SURE THAT THERE
WAS REPRESENTATION. YOU HAVE
CONTINUED TO FIGHT FOR IMMIGRANT
RIGHTS IN THE EYE, BUT ALSO ON
THIS FLOOR. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
YOU HAD TO BE HERE BECAUSE NO
ONE ELSE COULD HAVE DONE WHAT
YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO
DO. BUT YOU. IT WAS CREATED FOR
YOU TO BE HERE AND I'M VERY
GRATEFUL THAT ONE THAT YOU'VE
BEEN HERE SINCE 2016. ALSO, THE
FIRST, IN YOUR FIRST TERM, YOU
WERE NAMED AS CO-CHAIR OF THE
LEGISLATIVE ETHNIC, COMMITTEE.
THEN IN YOUR SECOND YEAR OF THE
FIRST TERM, YOU WERE APPOINTED
ASSISTANT MAJORITY WHIP. AND BOY,
DID YOU WHIP US. AND WE'RE VERY
GRATEFUL. IN 2020, ELOISE GOMEZ
REYES WAS APPOINTED AS MAJORITY
LEADER OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY,
BECOMING THE FIRST LATINA TO
HOLD THIS PARTICULAR OFFICE.
THAT IS NO SMALL FEAT. YOU WERE
DESIGNED AND YOU GAINED SO MUCH
RESPECT FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES
BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? YOU GAVE
RESPECT. WE WERE ALL ELECTED
HERE AND YOU RECOGNIZE THAT. AND
WHEN YOU ASK US TO DO SOMETHING,
YOU ASK US TO FOLLOW YOU WITH
THE RESPECT THAT YOU GAVE TO ALL
OF US AS INDIVIDUALS. AMONG YOUR
MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YOU
REMEMBER ASSEMBLY BILL 2147 BACK
IN 2020? AND LET ME SIMPLY SAY,
FOR SOMEONE WHO DOES EXPUNGEMENT
CLINICS EVERY WEEK IN MY
DISTRICT, AND THEN YOU GAVE MORE
CREDENCE THAN UNDERLINE AND
UNDERSCORE THOSE WHO FIGHT
FIRES, WHO WERE IN PRISON SO
THAT ONCE THEY GET OUT, ONCE
THEY GET OUT, THEY HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR RECORD
EXPUNGED, HAVE THEIR RECORDS
EXPUNGED. YOU GAVE THEM A NEW
NARRATIVE, YOU GAVE THEM A NEW
OUTLOOK. SO WHEN THEY GOT OUT
THAT THEY CAN BE ABLE TO WRITE A
NEW NARRATIVE, CREATE A NEW LIFE
THAT THEY ALWAYS DREAMED OF, YOU
GAVE THEM A START BY BEING ON
THIS FLOOR, ADVOCATING ON BEHALF
OF THESE INDIVIDUALS. CALIFORNIA
IS BETTER FOR IT. ELOISE GOMEZ
REYES AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE 50TH
ASSEMBLY DISTRICT. WE KNOW THAT
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE THIS
BUILDING. WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING
TO BE SOMEWHERE VERY CLOSE. THE
CARPET MAY CHANGE, BUT THE FIGHT
WILL NOT CHANGE. THE COMMITMENT
WILL NOT CHANGE BECAUSE WHEN YOU
FIGHT FOR IMMIGRANTS, YOU FIGHT
FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. MY FAMILY.
SO MANY PEOPLE. MY FAMILY. YOU
FIGHT FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY COME
OVER HERE FOR A BETTER LIFE, AND
YOU GIVE THEM ENCOURAGEMENT
BECAUSE YOU ELEVATE AND I
SUPPORT ALL THE BILLS. YOU
ELEVATE THEIR NARRATIVE AND HOW
THEIR CONTRIBUTION, BEING HERE
IN THIS COUNTRY MATTERS AND MAKE
A DIFFERENCE. MY MAMA SAID,
BABY, IF ANYBODY DOES ANYTHING
FOR YOU, SIMPLY SAY THANK YOU. I
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. BUT IN MY
THANKS, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR FIGHTING FOR JANITORS.
ELOISE, DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE
WERE ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR AND I
ASKED YOU TO JOIN ME IN
SERVICING OUR JANITORS, WHO
CLEANED THE EIGHTH FLOOR? AND
WHAT DID WE DO TOGETHER? WE
BOUGHT DINNER FOR EVERY PERSON
THAT CLEANED THE EIGHTH FLOOR OF
THE SWING SPACE. THANK YOU FOR
ROLLING WITH A BROTHER AND
MAKING THAT HAPPEN. BECAUSE
JANITORS, THE CUSTODIAL STAFF,
STILL TALK ABOUT THAT TO THIS
DAY. YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE,
ELOISE. ALSO, LET ME SIMPLY SAY
THIS. AND WE AS WE SEND YOU TO
THE RED CARPET, WE CHARGE YOU TO
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR
IMMIGRANTS, EVEN IF YOU DON'T
KNOW THEM, EVEN IF YOUR DNA
DOESN'T MATCH THEIRS. CONTINUE
TO ELEVATE AND SPEAK TRUTH TO
POWER ON THE RED CARPET. WE ASK
YOU TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE
LEAST OF THESE LEFT OUT THE LEFT
FOR DEAD. THOSE INDIVIDUALS YOU
BREATHE LIFE INTO THEIR
SITUATIONS. AND WE KNOW WHEN YOU
GO TO THE RED CARPET, THERE'S
NOTHING GOING TO CHANGE. BESIDES
THE CARPET. YOU WILL STILL GO
THERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND
FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF YOUR
DISTRICT. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE
AND A JOY AND I CAN COMMEND YOU
FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR
EFFORTS TO THE PEOPLE OF YOUR
DISTRICT, BUT ALSO THE PEOPLE OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THANK
YOU, MR. GIBSON. WE HAD GRANTED
PERMISSION. WE HAVE GRANTED
PERMISSION TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER
FRIEDMAN AND CERVANTES TO SPLIT
THEIR TWO MINUTE TRIBUTE. SO I
ASSUME YOU'RE GOING TO GO FIRST.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER FRIEDMAN. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, I HAVE
TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE HARDEST
THINGS FOR ME ABOUT LEAVING IS
ACTUALLY LEAVING ELOISE GOMEZ
REYES BEHIND HERE IN SACRAMENTO
BECAUSE AS MY ROOMMATE, SHE'S
SOMEONE THAT I'VE COME TO THINK
OF AS A SISTER. AND I WASN'T
SURE THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING
GOODBYES FOR EACH OTHER. IT'S
VERY ROMY AND MICHELE'S HIGH
SCHOOL REUNION, BUT I FEEL LIKE
I WOULDN'T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT
SPEAKING PUBLICLY ABOUT HER.
FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
HER LEGISLATION, IT ALL IS SO.
ELOISE EVERY SINGLE BILL THAT
SHE DOES IS ABOUT HELPING
SOMEONE WHO REALLY NEEDS HELP.
AND THAT'S ALL SHE DOES, WHETHER
IT'S HELPING HER DISTRICT AND
PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING IMPACTED BY
WAREHOUSES AND BY DEVELOPMENT,
WHETHER IT IS BY WORKING TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE FREE
APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT
AID, WHICH SHE HAS DONE, WHETHER
IT WAS WORKING ALONGSIDE ME ON
SEXUAL HARASSMENT SO THAT OUR
STAFF COULD BE FREE FROM BEING
PREYED ON BY MEMBERS OF THIS
BODY, SHE WAS THERE THROUGH ALL
OF THAT. SHE, ALONG WITH OUR
OTHER ROOMIE, SENATOR LEMON, LED
THE CHARGE TO EXPAND ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY CHILD
CARE. SO IMPORTANT FOR SO MANY
PEOPLE. SHE DID AB 1000 AGAIN
ABOUT THE WAREHOUSES AND I CAN
TELL YOU THAT HER HEART WAS SO
INVOLVED AND INTERTWINED IN THAT
BILL THAT SHE WOULD COME HOME
UNABLE TO SLEEP SOMETIMES, NOT
BECAUSE OF WHAT IT MEANT FOR HER
LEGISLATIVE RECORD, BECAUSE OF
WHAT IT MEANT FOR THE PEOPLE OF
HER DISTRICT. SHE ALSO WORKED ON
THE SMALL BUSINESS INFORMATION
ACT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE
SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE
INLAND EMPIRE AND ACROSS
CALIFORNIA HAD THEIR NEEDS TAKEN
CARE OF. BUT I ALSO WANT TO
MENTION, VERY BRIEFLY, SOMEONE
WHO IS A WOMAN OF DEEP ELEGANCE,
WHO I RESPECT EVERY TIME THAT
SHE WALKS OUT THAT DOOR, I FEEL
LIKE SHE HAS ELEVATED THE
STANDARDS OF THIS BODY. SHE'S
SOMEONE WHO IS INCREDIBLY
FAITHFUL, AND SHE GOES EVERY
SINGLE WEEK TO BIBLE STUDY IN
THE SEVEN IN THE MORNING OR
WHATEVER IT IS. AND SHE NEVER
STOPS ASKING ME TO GO WITH HER,
EVEN THOUGH SHE KNOWS IN HER
HEART I'M GOING TO SAY NO EVERY
SINGLE TIME SHE FEELS LIKE
THAT'S PART OF HER MISSION IS TO
MAKE SURE THAT MY SOUL GOES TO
HEAVEN, TOO. AND I LOVE HER FOR
THAT. SHE IS SOMEONE WHO IS
INCREDIBLY WARM TO EVERYBODY AND
WHO TOOK HER POSITION AS OUR
MAJORITY LEADER SO INCREDIBLY
SERIOUSLY THAT AT NIGHT SHE
WOULD SIT DOWN AND I KNOW THAT
SHE WOULD THINK ABOUT AND TALK
ABOUT HOW SHE COULD MAKE SURE
THAT EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS
BODY, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT,
BUT PARTICULARLY HER CAUCUS
MEMBERS, GOT WINDS AND WENT BACK
TO THEIR DISTRICT WITH
DELIVERABLES, AND THAT EVERY
SINGLE MEMBER OF OUR CAUCUS
SUCCEEDED. AND SHE TOOK THAT
UNBELIEVABLY SERIOUSLY. AND IT
WAS SUCH A JOY TO WATCH HER
BLOSSOM THROUGH HER YEARS AS
BEING MAJORITY LEADER BLOSSOM
AND GROW INTO THAT ROLE. AND I'M
SO PROUD OF HER NOW FOR GOING TO
THE SENATE, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW
SHE'LL BE MISSED HERE, THAT SHE
WILL HAVE FOUR YEARS WITHOUT
HAVING TO RUN FOR REELECTION,
AND FOUR YEARS OF BRINGING ALL
OF HER TALENTS TO A DIFFERENT
BODY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, REMY,
FOR BEING MY SISTER AND MY
FRIEND. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER FRIEDMAN, ASSEMBLY
MEMBER. CERVANTES THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER. I AM SO PLEASED TO BE
ABLE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS ABOUT
OUR COLLEAGUE FROM SAN
BERNARDINO, OUR FORMER MAJORITY
LEADER, AND MY GOOD FRIEND
ELOISE RUMI. WHERE DO I BEGIN? I
WANT TO FIRST START OFF BY
SAYING THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
BIBLE STUDY REMINDERS. I DIDN'T
GET TO EVERYONE, BUT I TRIED MY
BEST TO GET TO A FEW. YOU KNOW,
LOOKING BACK, I THINK THAT YOU
AND I BONDED SO QUICKLY WHEN WE
FIRST ARRIVED HERE AS NEW
MEMBERS IN 2016, BECAUSE SO MANY
PUNDITS AND SELF-IMPORTANT
POWERBROKERS WERE SKEPTICAL OF
US, WE BOTH WANTED MEMBERSHIP TO
THIS VERY BODY BY DEFEATING
INCUMBENTS. I DEFEATED A
REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT AND YOU
DEFEATED A DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT.
AND SO WHEN YOU ARRIVED, YOU HAD
TO NAVIGATE OLD GRUDGES, HURT
FEELINGS, AND RUFFLED FEATHERS.
BUT YOU, ELOISE, ARE RELENTLESS.
AND WHERE OTHERS MIGHT HAVE
WITHERED AWAY UNDER THAT KIND OF
PRESSURE, YOU FLOURISHED. YOU
PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN, YOU REMAIN
FOCUSED. YOU DID THE WORK, AND
YOU BUILD BRIDGES WHERE THERE
NEEDED TO BE RELATIONSHIPS
BUILT. YOU AUTHORED VERY
IMPORTANT PIECES OF LEGISLATION,
FIGHTING NOT JUST ON BEHALF OF
CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT,
BUT FOR CALIFORNIANS. YOU
BROUGHT NEEDED RESOURCES BACK TO
YOUR DISTRICT FOR THE I.E. AND
YOU HAVE BEEN EVERYWHERE. YOU'RE
ONE OF THE MEMBERS. YOU KNOW,
SHE WOULD COME INTO MY DISTRICT
AND TO JOSE'S DISTRICT, ALL OF
OUR DISTRICTS, BECAUSE IT'S THE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT SHE HAD.
SHE'D GET INVITED EVERYWHERE AND
I LOVED THAT. I LOVED WHEN YOU'D
COME INTO RIVERSIDE OR CORONA
BEING IN THE SAME SPACE WITH
YOU, BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER
WITH YOU HAS BEEN ONE OF MY
GREATEST HONORS. AND SO IT WAS
VERY TELLING WHEN YOU STARTED
THAT, YOU KNOW, VERY FEW PEOPLE
WERE SURPRISED THAT YOU WERE
APPOINTED TO MAJORITY LEADER OF
THIS HOUSE AFTER OUR GOOD FRIEND
IAN CALDERON LEFT THE
LEGISLATURE IN THAT ROLE, YOU
WERE PART OF A LEADERSHIP TEAM
THAT HELPED NAVIGATE SOME OF THE
DARKEST DAYS OF THE COVID 19
PANDEMIC. YOU WERE AN INTEGRAL
PART IN MAKING THIS INSTITUTION,
ONE THAT WE CAN ALL BE PROUD TO
BE. MEMBERS OF. NOW, IT IS MY
FERVENT HOPE THAT OUR SHARED
JOURNEY AS MEMBERS OF THIS
LEGISLATURE IS NOT OVER. EVERY
SEASON HAS A PURPOSE AND I KNOW
THAT THE GOOD FIGHT WILL
CONTINUE AND NOW, FOR OLD TIME'S
SAKE, I HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE A
LITTLE CAFECITO AND THAT WE CAN
MAKE OUR HOMEMADE FRESH LEMON
MERINGUE PIE TO END THIS
LEGISLATIVE SEASON. IN OUR EIGHT
YEARS ON THE GREEN CARPET.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER CERVANTES.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. REYES, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED. THERE IT IS. THANK
YOU, MR. SPEAKER. MEMBERS, THANK
YOU TO MY CAUCUS CHAIR. I
APPRECIATE SO MUCH THE WORDS AND
ALL THAT WE HAVE SHARED DURING
THAT TIME IN LEADERSHIP. AND TO
MY ROOMIES, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR SHARING NOT JUST WHAT WE
HAVE HAVE EXPERIENCED SINCE
COMING IN IN 2016 TOGETHER, BUT
ALSO AS ROOMMATES, BECAUSE THAT
GIVES IT A DIFFERENT LEVEL, A
DIFFERENT FLAVOR TO EVERYTHING.
WHETHER IT'S LEMON MERINGUE.
BEFORE SABRINA WENT OFF TO HAVE
HER TRIPLETS OR IT'S THE CHERRY
PIE, WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE'RE
MAKING AT HOME, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD.
IN MY NEARLY EIGHT YEARS HERE,
I'VE MET MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO
MAKE THIS INSTITUTION THE
INCREDIBLE PLACE THAT IT IS AND
HAVE HAD THE FORTUNE TO CALL YOU
ALL MY FRIENDS. EVERY SINGLE ONE
OF YOU. WHEN I FIRST JOINED THIS
CHAMBER, AS SABRINA MENTIONED, I
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
BECAUSE IN 2016, YOU'RE RIGHT. I
WON AN ELECTION AGAINST AN
INCUMBENT. AND IN MANY WAYS, I
WAS COMING INTO A LEGISLATURE AS
AN OUTSIDER WHO HAD NEVER BEEN
ELECTED TO OFFICE PREVIOUSLY.
WHEN I ARRIVED, I WAS PLEASANTLY
SURPRISED BY HOW I WAS ACCEPTED,
NOT ONLY ACCEPTED BECAUSE I HAD
COME IN, BUT I WAS ACCEPTED WITH
OPEN ARMS. MANY OF YOU TOOK TIME
TO HELP ME AND IN YOUR HELP, YOU
MADE ME A BETTER LEGISLATOR. THE
TRUTH IS, THAT WAS A GREAT
RELIEF FOR MY HUSBAND, FRANK. MY
SON CHRISTOPHER, MY MOTHER
JESSIE, AND ALL THE REST OF THE
FAMILY WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO
EXPECT WHEN I WOULD COME UP
HERE. DURING MY TIME HERE, I'VE
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS
CHAIR ON SOME OF THE POLICY
COMMITTEES ON BUDGET, BUDGET
COMMITTEE, BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE.
BUT MY GREATEST HONOR WAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS YOUR
MAJORITY LEADER UNDER SPEAKER
EMERITUS ANTHONY RENDON. AS THE
FIRST LATINA TO EVER SERVE IN
THAT ROLE. IT MEANT A LOT TO ME
TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THE
INSTITUTION IN THAT CAPACITY,
AND I ALWAYS DID TRY TO DO MY
BEST TO PUT THE NEEDS OF THIS
HOUSE AND OF THIS INSTITUTION
AND OF THE MEMBERS ABOVE ALL
ELSE, IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF
ALL OF YOU. AND THIS INSTITUTION
AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR
PRIORITIES BECAME OUR
PRIORITIES, BECAUSE YOU ALL HAD
DISTRICTS TO RETURN TO. I'M SO
PROUD OF THE LEGISLATION THAT
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING
FORWARD, AND I'VE ALWAYS CHOSEN
BILLS, AND I THANK YOU FOR
MENTIONING I'VE ALWAYS CHOSE
CHOSE BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE A
POSITIVE IMPACT ON ALL OF
CALIFORNIA, BUT MORE
SPECIFICALLY ON THE INLAND
EMPIRE. TOGETHER, WE WERE ABLE
TO MANDATE THAT STUDENTS FILL
OUT THEIR FAFSA FORMS BEFORE
GRADUATION. AND AS A RESULT OF
THAT, WE HAVE OVER 20,000 MORE
STUDENTS THAT HAVE FILLED OUT
THE FORM SO THAT THE DOORS ARE
OPEN FOR THEM TO APPLY FOR
COLLEGE. WE MODERNIZED MICRA,
MAKING BALANCED CHANGES TO ONE
OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS POLICY
ISSUES OF THE LAST 50 YEARS BY
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF INJURED
PATIENTS. WE DEDICATED OVER $2
BILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE TO
ZERO EMISSION CARS, TRUCKS,
EQUIPMENT AND THEIR NEEDED
INFRASTRUCTURE A WIN ALSO FOR
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THAT
WAS PUT INTO THE LANGUAGE OF THE
BILL AND ONE OF THOSE
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. YOU
GUESSED IT, IS THE INLAND EMPIRE.
MY FAVORITE BILL IS THE ONE THAT
MIKE MENTIONED, AND THAT WAS AB
2147, WHICH PROVIDES AN
EXPEDITED EXPUNGEMENT PROCESS
FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED
INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE AS INMATE
FIREFIGHTERS. I'VE ALWAYS
BELIEVED THAT ONCE YOU SERVED
YOUR TIME FOR YOUR CRIME, YOU
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SERVE A LIFE
SENTENCE BECAUSE OF SOMETHING
THAT YOU'VE ALREADY SERVED YOUR
TIME FOR. AND I HOPE AS WE
NAVIGATE OUR CURRENT PUBLIC
SAFETY ENVIRONMENT, WE REFOCUS
ON WHAT IS OFTEN A FORGOTTEN Kò
TENANT TO OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND THAT IS REHABILITATION. I
CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT AS A
STATE, WE MUST BE MORE SERIOUS
ABOUT PROVIDING PATHWAYS AND
RESOURCES FOR CALIFORNIANS WHO
HAVE MADE THE DETERMINATION AND
THE COMMITMENT TO TURN THEIR
LIVES AROUND. I WANT OUR
COMMUNITIES TO KNOW THAT THEIR
VOICES ARE HEARD HERE IN THE
STATE CAPITOL, EVEN IF THEY
CAN'T AFFORD THOSE VERY
EXPENSIVE LOBBYISTS TO COME UP
AND TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MOST
NEED US, NOT THE ONES WHO HAVE
HIRED THE LOBBYISTS TO COME TALK
TO US. BUT THE PEOPLE THAT MEET
US WHEN WE GO TO OUR DISTRICTS.
THE ONES THAT COME TO TALK TO US
ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE
HURTING THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN.
THOSE ARE THE VOICES WE NEED TO
HEAR. DEMOCRACY IS SOMETHING
THAT WE ALL HAVE BEEN FIGHTING
FOR, AND I MENTIONED THIS
EARLIER WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT
OUR TRIP TO PAKISTAN IN THAT
PRESS CONFERENCE. WHAT CHRIS AND
I TALKED ABOUT WAS HOW IMPORTANT
IT WAS TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY, THE
NEED TO COUNT EVERY VOTE, THE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY
VOICE WAS HEARD. BUT IN REALITY,
SOMETIMES EVEN IN HERE IN THE
US, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE
HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THAT DEMOCRACY.
I WANT TO THANK MY CONSTITUENTS
FOR SENDING ME HERE FOUR TIMES
AND IF I'M LUCKY, A FIFTH TIME
TO THE RED CARPET. I WANT TO
THANK THEM FOR THE CONFIDENCE
THAT THEY'VE EXPRESSED IN ME, IN
ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE. I WANT
TO THANK MY FAMILY, MY HUSBAND,
FRANK, WHO HAS VISITED ON THE
FLOOR A NUMBER OF TIMES BECAUSE
THE TRUTH IS, AND IT WAS SAID
EARLIER, IF FRANK HAD SAID, YOU
KNOW WHAT, THAT'S IT. YOU NEED
TO STOP GOING UP TO SACRAMENTO.
I WOULD HAVE NEGOTIATED OF
COURSE, BUT NONETHELESS, IF IT
WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO
HARM OUR FAMILY, I WOULDN'T BE
HERE BECAUSE I CAN'T DO ANY GOOD
UP HERE. IF IT'S HARMING MY
FAMILY BACK HOME. FINALLY, I
WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY STAFF,
BOTH IN SACRAMENTO AND IN THE
DISTRICT. AND THE TRUTH IS, I
HAD ALREADY SAID, I'LL DO MY
DEPARTURE NEXT WEEK BECAUSE
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. AND
WHEN I WALKED OUT TO EXPLAIN
THAT IT WAS OKAY, THEN I SEE ALL
OF MY STAFF FROM SACRAMENTO OR
FROM SAN BERNARDINO SAID, I'M
SORRY, I GOT TO DO IT TODAY. MY
STAFF HAS DONE MIRACLES IN A LOT
OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. THEY
WORK SO HARD AND I OFTEN SAY
THEY'RE THE HARDEST WORKING
STAFF. I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE HARD
WORKING STAFF, BUT LET ME JUST
SAY MY STAFF IS THE HARDEST
WORKING STAFF. THEY HAVE WORKED
SO HARD. THEY ARE PART OF MY
FAMILY. WE HAVE MEMBERS WHO HAVE
LEFT TO GO ON TO GREATER THINGS,
MAYBE NOT GREATER THINGS,
BECAUSE WHAT CAN BE GREATER THAN
WORKING IN OUR OFFICE? BUT
THEY'RE PART OF MY TEAM TOO, AND
I APPRECIATE THEM SO MUCH FOR
ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE. BUT
WE'VE BRANDON, MICHAEL, VALERIE,
HECTOR, MARIA PRINCE, MY CHIEF
OF STAFF, MATT, AND THE THREE
WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN WITH ME
SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING LUCY,
NICOLE AND MAJA. IT IS THIS TEAM
AND WE TALK ABOUT IT. IT IS THE
TEAM THAT MAKES SURE THAT WHAT
WE'RE ABLE TO DO, WHAT WE'RE
ABLE TO DELIVER, IS SOMETHING
THAT IS SO BENEFICIAL TO OUR
COMMUNITIES. I WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE
HONOR TO BE HERE, TO SERVE WITH
ALL OF YOU, SOME OF YOU SINCE I
ARRIVED HERE, SOME OF YOU WERE
HERE, WE ALL ENTERED TOGETHER.
AND THEN THE NEWBIES. IT'S A
PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH THE
NEWBIES TOO, I'M LOOKING AROUND.
HERE'S HERE'S THE OLDIES, HERE'S
THE NEWBIES. IT'S SUCH AN HONOR,
CHRIS HOLDEN TALKED ABOUT HOW
IT'S 3000 100, 3815 PEOPLE IN
ALL THE HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA,
3800 PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF SITTING WHERE WE'RE
SITTING. I WAS NUMBER 157. ONLY
156 WOMEN HAD BEEN ELECTED TO
OFFICE BY THE TIME I CAME HERE.
IT'S SUCH AN ABSOLUTE HONOR, AND
I KNOW THAT WE TAKE THIS
SERIOUSLY TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE,
TO BE SUCH A PRIVILEGE, TO SERVE
WITH ALL OF YOU. WE'RE NOT GOING
VERY FAR. AKILAH TÌM Ã, SABRINA
AND I WERE HOPING TO MAKE IT
OVER TO THE RED CARPET, SO WE'LL
CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH ALL OF
YOU, BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. AND
YES, YOU'LL BE COMING TO US TO
SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO OVER
ON THE RED CARPET. BUT PLEASE
KNOW THAT I CONSIDER YOU ALL MY
FRIENDS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
YOU, SOME CLOSER THAN OTHERS.
BUT I CONSIDER ALL OF YOU MY
FRIENDS, AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE
SERVING WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER REYES.
AND I. AND JUST JUST FOR
EVERYONE TO KNOW WE WILL HAVE WE
HAVE ANOTHER PERSON. FIVE PEOPLE
HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO MOVE THEIR
TRIBUTES TO NEXT WEEK. SO THANK
YOU FOR THAT. WE HAVE TWO
TRIBUTES LEFT, MR. RODRIGUEZ,
AND THEN MYSELF. SO, WE WILL NOW
MOVE. TO. THE TRIBUTE FOR
ASSEMBLY MEMBER RIVAS RODRIGUEZ.
EXCUSE ME. HE. HAD HEARD
SOMETHING. HE'D LIKE TO GO
SECOND. OKAY THE FIRST SPEAKER
FOR MR. RODRIGUEZ IS GOING TO BE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. RUBIO OH. THANK
YOU. I RISE TODAY IN HONOR OR TO
HONOR FREDERICK RODRIGUEZ.
FREDDY HAS BEEN PART OF THIS
AMAZING INSTITUTION FOR THE LAST
11 YEARS. BEING PART OF THIS
FAMILY FOR ME HAS BEEN THE
GREATEST HONOR OF MY LIFE, NOT
ONLY FOR THE WORK THAT WE GET TO
DO, THE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA, BUT BECAUSE I GET TO
WORK WITH AMAZING PEOPLE LIKE
ALL OF YOU AND MY DEAR FRIEND
FREDDY RODRIGUEZ. FREDDY HAS
WORKED HARD THE LAST 11 YEARS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE
53RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, GET THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY SO THEY SO
NEED TO THRIVE. HIS PASSION FOR
EMERGENCY SERVICES AND FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY, HAS MADE
CALIFORNIA TRULY A SAFER PLACE.
I'M LOOKING AT YOU, AND I JUST
CAN'T GET THE WORDS OUT. STOP
CRYING. FREDDY. THE PEOPLE OF
POMONA, THE PEOPLE OF YOUR
DISTRICT, ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
I KNOW THAT EVERY TIME YOU COME
TO SACRAMENTO, WE WERE PLANE
BUDDIES MANY, MANY TIMES, YOU
BRING A SMILE, A BUBBLY
PERSONALITY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE WORK
FOR THAT DISTRICT AND BRING BACK
SOMETHING BACK. FREDDY WILL
LEAVE THE ASSEMBLY WITH A LOT OF
BATTLE SCARS, SOME FIGURATIVELY
FIGURATIVE, SOME LITERAL, AND OF
COURSE, THE SCAR TO HIS EGO.
AFTER THAT INFAMOUS BASEBALL
GAME WHERE HE ENDED UP IN THE
EMERGENCY ROOM. WE ARE LUCKY
THAT FREDDY CAME WITH A PLUS
ONE. MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, WHO IS
WITH HIM. HIS WIFE. FOR MANY
YEARS, MICHELLE HAS BEEN
REFERRED TO AS 81 OR THE 81ST
ASSEMBLY MEMBER. SHE HAS BEEN BY
HIS SIDE THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME.
I GUESS. NOW INSTEAD OF ASSEMBLY
MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, HE NOW WILL BE
REFERRED TO AS 81, SINCE
MICHELLE WILL BE TAKING ON HIS
SEAT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE
AWARE, BUT THERE IS A PLUS ONE
CAUCUS IN THE ASSEMBLY. I'M
PRETTY SURE I SAW FREDDY
INTERVIEWING WITH THEM LAST
WEEK. I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO
SEE YOU AND JOIN ONE OF YOUR
FAVORITE HABITS. OH WAIT, I
MEANT HOBBIES. DRINKING SOME
TEQUILA. FREDDY, I ADMIRE YOUR
COMMITMENT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS
AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR
FAMILY. YOU ARE A DOWN TO EARTH
AND VERY EASY TO GET ALONG WITH
YOUR ZEST FOR LIFE IS
CONTAGIOUS. I HAVE SEEN YOU
TRANSITION FROM BEING A DAD TO
YOUR FOUR KIDS, TO PAPA, TO YOUR
BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN. THE
53RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT HAS BEEN
LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AS A
REPRESENTATIVE. THIS FAMILY OF
LEGISLATORS HAS BEEN LUCKY TO
HAVE YOU AS A FRIEND. I CAN'T
WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT
CHAPTER BRINGS FOR YOU. FREDDY,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH AN
AMAZING PERSON. THANK YOU
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BLANCA RUBIO. WE
WILL NOW HEAR FROM SPEAKER RIVAS
ON HIS REMARKS FOR ASSEMBLY
MEMBER RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU,
MADAM SPEAKER. PRO TEM AND I
ALSO AM HONORED TO RISE AND SAY
A FEW WORDS, ON BEHALF, YOU
KNOW, FOR OUR COLLEAGUE, FROM
THE LOS ANGELES AREA, YOU KNOW,
MY FRIEND AND MY FRIEND AND
YOURS, FREDDY RODRIGUEZ. AND, SO
PRIOR TO HIS TIME HERE IN OUR
STATE ASSEMBLY FOR MORE THAN
THREE DECADES, FREDDY SERVED AS
AN EMT, IN THE POMONA AREA AND
THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA. HE
WAS AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL
TECHNICIAN, AND YOU KNOW, AS WAS
I WHEN I WAS, FRESH OUT OF
COLLEGE AND WAS A FIREFIGHTER
LIKE HEATH FLORA AS WELL. SO I
UNDERSTAND THAT WORK. BUT TO DO
IT FOR THREE DECADES IS
SOMETHING ELSE. AND AS AN EMT,
FREDDY RODRIGUEZ, HE DEDICATED
HIS CAREER TO TAKING CARE OF
PEOPLE. AND DESPITE THE NATURE
OR THE SERIOUSNESS OF ANY
EMERGENCY, FREDDY WAS ALWAYS,
ALWAYS ONE OF THE FIRST TO
RESPOND AND BE ON SCENE TO HELP
AND CARE FOR OTHERS AND THOSE
WHO WHO KNOW FREDDY BEST FROM
COWORKERS, FAMILY MEMBERS THEY
CONSISTENTLY HAVE SHARED WITH ME
THAT AS AN EMT, FREDDY NEVER
SOUGHT RECOGNITION OR PRAISE.
HIS ONLY CONCERN WAS ALWAYS THE
WELL-BEING OF OTHERS THAT HE
SERVED WITH A QUIET DIGNITY, AND
HE ALWAYS GAVE EVERYTHING HE HAD
TO HIS WORK, AND HE DID SO
WITHOUT HESITATION, WITHOUT
HESITATION OR EXPECTATION OF
REWARD. SO NOW FREDDY, HE JOINED
THIS ASSEMBLY IN 2013, AND
DURING HIS TENURE, THE ASSEMBLY
MEMBER VERY NATURALLY SERVED AS
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WHERE HE
WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE HIS LIFE'S WORK TO
IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, TO WORK
ON ISSUES OF DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY
RESPONSE. ALSO IN HIS TIME HERE,
YOU KNOW, HE FOUGHT FOR SCHOOL
SAFETY. HE WORKED TO ADDRESS
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, HE
IS SUPPORTED MANY EFFORTS AROUND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY
LEGISLATION. HE'S WORKED TO
ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. AND I KNOW
THAT FOR MANY OF US, IF NOT FOR
ALL OF US, WE LOVE THE WORK THAT
WE DO HERE AT OUR STATE CAPITOL,
IN SERVICE OF THE LOCAL
RESIDENTS WHO HAVE SENT US HERE.
AND FOR ALL OF US, THIS IS A JOB
THAT DEMANDS OF THIS JOB. THE
RESPONSIBILITIES CERTAINLY
REQUIRE A LEVEL OF SACRIFICE.
AND FOR FREDDY, THAT MEANT
TAKING CARE OF HIS PARENTS FOR
MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE THEY
PASSED. AND WHILE HE SERVED HERE
IN THE ASSEMBLY, BETWEEN BUSY
WEEKS, AS WE KNOW THROUGHOUT
MANY MONTHS OF OUR SESSION, AND
BALANCING THE DEMANDS OF A BUSY
SCHEDULE IN THE DISTRICT, FREDDY
WOULD ALWAYS, ALWAYS MAKE THE
TIME TO PRIORITIZE CARING FOR
HIS PARENTS. AND THIS MEANT
CLEANING HIS PARENTS HOUSE,
MOWING THEIR LAWN. IN ADDITION
TO HIS IMMACULATE YARD, HE WOULD
BUY ALL OF THEIR GROCERIES EVERY
WEEK. HE WOULD DRIVE THEM TO ALL
OF THEIR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.
HE WOULD WAIT FOR COUNTLESS
HOURS AT PHARMACIES TO GET THEIR
PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED. HE DID
EVERYTHING FOR HIS PARENTS,
ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. AND HE
NEVER COMPLAINED ONCE ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, HIS COMMITMENT TO HIS
FAMILY IS UNWAVERING, AND I KNOW
THAT WE ALL APPRECIATE FREDDY
FOR WHO HE IS, HIS WORK HERE IN
THE ASSEMBLY. BUT WHAT I HAVE
APPRECIATED MOST AND WHAT I WILL
MISS MOST ABOUT FREDDY, IS HOW
HE APPROACHED HIS JOB EACH AND
EVERY DAY IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT
HERE AT OUR STATE CAPITOL THAT
THAT WE KNOW IS OFTEN FILLED
WITH NOISE. IT'S A VERY FAST
PACED. FREDDY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
STEADY HAND, A CALMING FORCE,
ALWAYS LISTENING MORE THAN
SPEAKING, AND HIS KINDNESS AND
COMPASSION WILL BE SORELY,
SORELY MISSED, AND TO OUR FRIEND
AND COLLEAGUE FROM POMONA, THANK
YOU, FREDDY, FOR ALL OF YOUR
SERVICE, YOUR FRIENDSHIP, BOTH
ON THIS ASSEMBLY FLOOR AND OFF
OF IT, AND CERTAINLY LOOK
FORWARD TO MEETING UP WITH YOU,
AT, AT AT HOME TO ENJOY SOME OF
YOUR FAMOUS BARBACOA. AND SO
THANK YOU, MR. OR MADAM SPEAKER
PRO TEM. THANK YOU. SPEAKER
RIVAS. THANK YOU. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER RODRIGUEZ, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR DEPARTING
REMARKS. THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK
YOU. SPEAKER RIVAS AND MY
COLLEAGUE FROM BALDWIN PARK, FOR
THOSE KIND WORDS. IT MEANS A LOT
TO ME. AND THE FAMILY. FIRST AND
FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK GOD
FOR GIVING ME THE ABILITY TO BE
HERE, TO SERVE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA AND TO THE DISTRICT.
THE 53RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, FOR
THE PEOPLE THAT, TRUST ME FOR
THEIR VOTE ALL THESE YEARS. IT'S
BEEN A PLEASURE AND IT'S BEEN AN
HONOR, YOU KNOW, SITTING HERE
FOR THE LAST FEW HOURS, JUST
HEARING THE STORIES FROM
EVERYBODY JUST SHOWS HOW DYNAMIC
THIS PLACE IS. THE DIFFERENT
BACKGROUNDS WE COME FROM, THE
DIFFERENT EDUCATION LEVELS AND
EVERYBODY'S DISTRICT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO THEM AS THEY COME
HERE AND ADVOCATE AND FIGHT. AND
TO ME, I'VE LEARNED A LITTLE BIT
FROM EVERYBODY ON WHAT YOU
STRIVE FOR, WHAT YOU FIGHT FOR,
WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN, WHETHER WE
LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT'S WHO YOU
ARE. JUST LIKE I AM. WE COME
FROM A VERY BIG, AS I SAY,
MELTING POT. AS I LOOK ACROSS
AND EVERYBODY, WE'RE HERE AND
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER,
RIGHT? SOMETIMES WE MAY NOT GET
IT RIGHT ONE DAY, BUT WE WILL
THE NEXT DAY. AND I BELIEVE AT
THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALL DO,
ALL WANT TO DO WHAT'S BEST. WE
JUST HAVE SOME DIFFERENT WAYS TO
GET THERE. AND WITH THAT, I WANT
TO THANK MY DISTRICT STAFF
THAT'S JOINING WITH ME HERE
TODAY FROM THE DISTRICT. I KNOW
IT'S VERY RARE THAT WE BRING OUR
DISTRICT STAFFS UP, BUT THEY
HERE WITH US TODAY AND THE REST
OF MY STAFF. AN AMAZING JOB. YOU
GUYS DO. I DON'T THINK US AS
MEMBERS CAN DO OUR JOB WITHOUT
OUR AMAZING STAFF THAT WE HAVE
WORKING FOR US DAY IN AND DAY
OUT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK
REFERENCE TO ONE OF MY STAFF
MEMBERS. THAT'S BEEN WITH ME
FROM DAY ONE. CLAUDIA. WHEN I
FIRST REACHED OUT TO HER ABOUT
TAKING THIS POSITION WITH ME,
SHE WAS REALLY UNSURE ABOUT. I
DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO DO THIS.
I WANT TO WORK FOR A MEMBER OF
THE LEGISLATURE. SHE HAD NO IDEA
WHAT SHE GOT HERSELF INTO, BUT
SPEAKING WITH HER LAST NIGHT, I
THINK SHE COULD SAY THE LAST 11
YEARS HAS BEEN AN EXPERIENCE
LIKE NO OTHER. SHE NEVER THOUGHT
SHE WOULD BE WHERE SHE'S AT NOW.
BUT THANK YOU, CLAUDIA, AND
REALLY THANK ALL MY STAFF FOR
ALL THAT YOU DO. WHETHER YOU'RE
UP HERE IN THE CAPITOL OR DOWN
IN THE DISTRICT, YOU GUYS ALL
HAVE AN IMPORTANT JOB TO MAKE US
AS MEMBERS. DO OUR GUEST AND
SHINE IN THE COMMUNITY. ALSO, I
WANT TO THANK OUR SPEAKER, MAYOR
EMERITUS RENDON, FOR CREATING
THAT COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT. YOU KNOW, HE'S SEEN
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE NEVER
HAD THAT TYPE OF COMMITTEE. AND
TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
PREPAREDNESS AND GIVING THE
THANKS FOR SPEAKER, TO MAKE ME
THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THAT
COMMITTEE, BECAUSE I ALWAYS TALK
ABOUT CALIFORNIA BEING A
DISASTER PRONE STATE. WE HEAR
ABOUT THE EARTHQUAKE. I MEAN,
THE FIRES, RIGHT? THE FLOODS AND
THE EVER LOOMING EARTHQUAKE.
WE'VE HAD SOME JUST RECENTLY,
BUT ONE DAY, UNFORTUNATELY, I
BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT
MAJOR EARTHQUAKE, WHETHER IT'S
ON THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT, THE
HAYWARD FAULT, WHATEVER FAULT IT
MAY BE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE TAKING
CARE OF THAT. WE'RE BETTER
PREPARED NOW MORE THAN EVER TO
BE A LEADER IN PREPAREDNESS
RESPONSE. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT
BEING THE LEADER, THE INNOVATOR
IN CALIFORNIA FOR THE REST OF
THE NATION, IN OTHER PLACES, TO
FOLLOW. WHY? I THINK WITH THAT,
WE SHOULD LOOK AT EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AS BEING A PREPARED
CITY. CITIES STATES AND COUNTIES
TO THOSE DISASTERS THAT MAY
COME. RIGHT, BECAUSE THEY'RE
GOING TO COME, UNFORTUNATELY, AS
WE SEE CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL.
THE FIRES ARE BEING MORE
DEVASTATED, CREATING MORE ISSUES
OUT THERE. SO WE NEED TO BE ON
THE FOREFRONT AND MAKING SURE
THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE
OUT THERE WITH THE NECESSARY
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND
EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT JOB TO
PROTECT US IN THE TIME OF NEED.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL MY
COLLEAGUES, LIKE I SAID, FOR
EVERYTHING YOU BROUGHT TO ME IN
THIS LAST 11 YEARS, IT'S BEEN AN
HONOR. I KNOW WHEN I SEEN COOLEY
HERE EARLIER, I DON'T KNOW IF
HE'S STILL HERE OR NOT. I CAME
IN A SPECIAL ELECTION IN 2013,
AND IT WAS JUST KIND OF FROM ONE
DAY TO THE NEXT, I GET SWORN IN
AND SPEAKER PEREZ WAS HERE.
YOU'RE GETTING SWORN IN TODAY.
LET'S SEE IF ANY MEMBERS WERE
HERE. AND COOLEY WAS ONE OF
THEM. AND I THINK THE OTHER ONE
WAS WESLEY CHESBRO, A VERY
UNIQUE TIME. IT WAS IN OCTOBER,
SO NOBODY WAS HERE. OTHER THAN
THOSE TWO MEMBERS. AND IT WAS A
VERY UNIQUE PLACE. OTHER THAN MY
FAMILY BEING HERE AS WELL. SO
GOING TO THE MEMBERS TRAINING BY
MYSELF. RIGHT. BUT I CAME IN A
VERY UNIQUE CLASS IN THAT YEAR,
LORENA GONZALEZ, SEBASTIAN
RIDLEY-THOMAS AND MATT DABABNEH.
SO IT WAS A VERY UNIQUE FOUR OF
US, AND I'M THE LAST OF THE
FOUR, RIGHT? WE ALL TALK ABOUT
THE CLASS WE CAME INTO. SO A NEW
GROUP. AND I REMEMBER WHEN
LORENA WAS HERE AND SHE'S LIKE,
OKAY, NOW IT'S JUST ME AND YOU
DON'T LET LET'S STAY TOGETHER. I
KNOW YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING, BUT
SHE LEAVES, RIGHT? AND DOES HER
THING. SO SHE LEFT ME AND I
CALLED HER LORENA. NOW YOU LEFT
ME. IT'S JUST ME NOW. BUT IT'S
FABULOUS TO BE HERE BEING A
MEMBER. IT'S AN HONOR. JUST LIKE
EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT. YOU COME
IN HERE, YOU SEE YOUR NAME UP
THERE. AND EVERY DAY I COME
HERE, IT'S BEEN A TRULY A
BLESSING, I ALSO WANT TO THANK
SERGEANTS, SECURITY STAFF FOR
TAKING CARE OF US EVERY DAY, DAY
IN AND DAY OUT, KEEPING US SAFE
AND GETTING US TO OUR PLACES
WHERE WE NEED TO GO IN THE
EVENING. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL
THE WORK YOU DO AND OUR STAFF
HERE IN THE CAPITOL AND HERE ON
THE FLOOR. THANK YOU GUYS FOR
ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO. I
DON'T THINK NOBODY REALLY
UNDERSTANDS THE WORK YOU DO
UNLESS YOU'RE ACTUALLY IN THIS
POSITION LEARNING IN OUR SHOES.
RIGHT. SEE WHAT WE GO THROUGH
DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AND LAST BUT
NOT LEAST. A BIG THANKS TO MY
WIFE. SHE'S BEEN WITH ME SINCE
DAY ONE, AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO DO THE JOB WITHOUT HER, IT
CAME TO THE POINT WHEN I FIRST
RAN FOR OFFICE. I GOT TO TELL
YOU A QUICK STORY. BACK IN THE
DISTRICT, IN THE CITY OF
POMONA'S, REGARDING A PARK
ISSUE, AND I WAS TRYING TO GET
INVOLVED IN SOME THINGS, AND I
CAME HOME ONE DAY AND I TOLD
HER, HEY, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M
GOING TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL.
AND SHE GOES, WHAT THE HECK IS
WRONG WITH YOU? RIGHT WHY DO YOU
WANT TO DO THAT? THERE'S NO
REASON FOR THAT. AND LOOK WHAT'S
HAPPENED SINCE SINCE THAT DAY,
ADVOCATING FOR A PARK IN THE
COMMUNITY WITH KIDS BROUGHT ME
NOT ONLY TO CITY COUNCIL IN
POMONA, BUT HERE AT THE STATE
HOUSE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR EVERYTHING. I KNOW IT HASN'T
BEEN EASY. BUT WE DID THIS
TOGETHER, AND IT COMES NOW MORE
THAN EVER TO THE POINT WHERE
WHEN I'M BY MYSELF, PEOPLE SAY,
WHERE'S MICHELLE? WHERE'S
MICHELLE? WHERE'S MICHELLE? THAT
JUST SHOWS YOU HOW COMMITTED WE
ARE TOGETHER AND REALLY SHARING
OUR OUR VALUES. I KNOW SOMETIMES
I GO HOME AND TELL HER ABOUT THE
STRESSES WE DEALT WITH DURING
THE DAY, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING YOU DO. AND I BELIEVE
SOME OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS AND
MAYBE WATCHING FROM, FROM FROM
HOME. JUST THANK THE FAMILY AS
WELL FOR BEING THERE WITH ME,
BECAUSE IT'S TOUGH BEING HERE,
BEING AWAY FROM FAMILY AND
FRIENDS. IT WAS HARD. LIKE I
SAID, I KNOW THE SPEAKER TALKED
ABOUT MY PARENTS STILL TO THIS
DAY, I DON'T KNOW HOW I FOUND
TIME TO TAKE CARE OF MY PARENTS,
BUT IT WAS REALLY HARD. THE
FIRST, PROBABLY 5 OR 6 YEARS
BEING UP HERE BECAUSE AS YOU
SAID, I DID A LOT OF WORK ONCE I
GOT HOME ON THURSDAYS TO DO
EVERYTHING I CAN FOR MY PARENTS
BEFORE I CAME UP HERE. BUT
TRULY, IT'S A BLESSING HERE TO
SERVE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
YOU. I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME
THAT WE TALKED AND DID WHAT WE
DID, BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE DO
WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA AND WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU. AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU
TO MY STAFF FOR BEING HERE WITH
US AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. ASSEMBLY MEMBER RODRIGUEZ.
YES. AND I SEE.
MEMBERS, OUR FINAL TRIBUTE FOR
TODAY WILL BE DOCTOR WOOD AND
SPEAKING FIRST FOR DOCTOR WOOD
IS MAJORITY LEADER AGUIAR-CURRY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS. IT IS
MY HONOR TO BE HERE TO SPEAK
ABOUT OUR PRO TEM, JIM WOOD.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS I CAN
TELL YOU ABOUT JIM, BUT THE
FIRST THING I WILL SAY IS HE'S
AN HONORABLE, COMPASSIONATE MAN.
JIM CALLED ME, I DON'T KNOW, A
COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, MAYBE
LONGER THAN THAT. AND HE SAID, I
GOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. I
WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO TELL
YOU. AND I'M THINKING, OH, GOSH,
HE DOESN'T LIKE A BILL. HE'S
GOING TO. SOMETHING'S GOING TO
HAPPEN. AND HE SAID, I'M GOING
TO LEAVE THE ASSEMBLY. I WAS
BUMMED BECAUSE HE'S BEEN A
PARTNER FOR ME SINCE DAY ONE. WE
HAVE FOUGHT FOR RURAL
COMMUNITIES. WE FOUGHT FOR
HEALTH CARE ACCESS. WE FOUGHT
FOR BROADBAND ACCESS. WE FOUGHT
FOR OUR PEOPLE IN OUR NORTH
STATE THAT DIDN'T HAVE A VOICE.
AND I KNEW BETWEEN MYSELF AND
HE, WE WOULD WORK ON THAT. AND
MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN
PRETTY SUCCESSFUL AT IT. WE'RE
SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED
IN US AND YOU TRUSTED US. JIM'S
BEEN A TRUSTED COLLEAGUE OF MINE.
HE'S AN INCREDIBLE MAN. HE TALKS
ABOUT HIS SON ALEX FROM DAY ONE.
ALEX, I KNEW A LOT OF THE YOU
WERE DOING. AND, MELISSA, IT IS
SO NICE THAT YOU ARE PART OF THE
FAMILY. HE WAS SO ANXIOUS. AND
TO TELL ME HE GOES, WELL, I GOT
TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. AND I
SAID, WHAT'S THAT? HE GOES, I'M
GETTING MARRIED. AND YAY! I WAS
SO EXCITED FOR HIM AND I STILL
AM. IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL
FEELING TO HAVE A PARTNER FOR
LIFE. AND SO I KNOW THAT JIM IS
JUST EXCITED ABOUT THAT. YOU
KNOW, JIM'S WORKED ON SO MANY
THINGS HERE ON THE FLOOR. THE
PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT JIM.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE FIRES WHEN
I FIRST CAME ON IN 20 1617. AND
JIM AND I WERE IN A CHILI, I
THINK IT WAS, AND THE FIRES WERE
RAGING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN JIM
COMES UP TO ME AND HE SAID, I
GOT TO LEAVE. AND WE'D ONLY BEEN
THERE NOT EVEN EIGHT HOURS. I
SAID, WHAT'S WRONG? HE GOES, I
GOT TO GO BACK TO MY COMMUNITY.
I GOT TO GO BACK AND SAVE
PEOPLE'S LIVES. I HAVE TO GO
BACK AND IDENTIFY PEOPLE. FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW THAT
HE'S A FORENSIC DENTIST AND HE
WAS NOT WITH US FOR A COUPLE OF
WEEKS, I BELIEVE, TRYING TO HELP
IDENTIFY FAMILIES. HE DOES THIS
FOR FIVE COUNTIES WHO DOES THAT?
SOMEBODY THAT'S COMPASSIONATE
AND LOVING AND WANTED TO BRING
PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THE
FAMILIES HAD CLOSURE. THAT'S MY
FRIEND. THAT'S MY FRIEND. JIM
WOULD MY FRIEND JIM WOULD WAS
RAISED OBVIOUSLY BY A REALLY
LOVING MOTHER BECAUSE JIM IS
GOING TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HIS
MOM AS HE LEAVES HERE. THAT SAYS
A LOT ABOUT SOMEBODY THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE THIS
PLACE, BEEN CHANGING THE WORLD
FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, AND HE
KNOWS THAT HIS CALLING IS TO
TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY AND HIS
MOTHER. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU,
BUT THAT OPENS MY HEART TO WHAT
A WONDERFUL PERSON JIM IS. I'M
GOING TO MISS YOU, JIM, BECAUSE
I ALWAYS KNEW THAT YOU AND I
COULD HAVE THOSE REALLY HONEST
CONVERSATIONS. LIKE WHAT THE.
YOU KNOW, WHY IS THAT HAPPENING?
WHY DON'T WE CARE ABOUT OUR
RURAL COMMUNITIES? BUT I KNOW
THAT JIM'S GOING TO DO SOME
REALLY INCREDIBLE THINGS MOVING
FORWARD. YOU KNOW, WE WORKED A
LOT ON ENERGY. WE'VE BEEN ON
CDFI TRIPS TOGETHER AND TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO DO? AND HE HAS
OPPORTUNITY. I'M NOT THAT HE HAS
PERSONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT
OPPORTUNITIES. I'M ON HIS COAST.
HE'S REALLY FIGHTING TO MAKE
SURE WE CAN GET WIND POWER UP
THERE. HE'S FIGHTING FOR ALL OF
US AT ALL TIMES. SO I CAN GO ON.
BUT JIM, I'M GOING TO MISS YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN A REALLY GOOD
COLLEAGUE WITH ME, AND I'M
HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SAY A FEW
WORDS. AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME
OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE THAT GO
WALKING WITH YOU. I'M GOING TO
MISS YOU. WHATEVER ELSE
EXERCISES THAT YOU DO, THAT'S
NOT IN MY VOCABULARY, BUT
THERE'S MANY OF US ARE GOING TO
MISS YOU. SO GOD BLESS YOU AND
THANK YOU, ALEX AND MELISSA FOR
BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER AGUILAR. NEXT TO
DELIVER REMARKS IN TRIBUTE OF
DOCTOR WOOD IS SPEAKER RIVAS.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. PRO
TEM, WE SHOULD HAVE STARTED THIS
WHOLE CEREMONY BY BY STATING
THAT WHATEVER TEARS OCCUR ON
THIS FLOOR IS FAIR GAME BECAUSE
HEATH FLORES STARTED IT WHEN,
WHEN OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE FROM,
FROM THE CENTRAL VALLEY WENT TO
CONGRESS. SO BUT I'M VERY
HONORED TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT
OUR, OUR COLLEAGUE FROM
HILLSBOROUGH, THE SPEAKER PRO
TEM, JIM WOOD. SO IN 2014,
BEFORE HE JOINED THE ASSEMBLY,
JIM HEARD A FEW COMMON THEMES
WHILE KNOCKING ON DOORS IN HIS
DISTRICT. PEOPLE WANTED IMPROVED
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. THEY
DESPERATELY NEEDED BROADBAND
SERVICE, AND THEY WERE DEEPLY
CONCERNED ABOUT A GROWING AND
UNREGULATED CANNABIS MARKET. AND
IF YOU KNOW, JIM, YOU KNOW THAT
HE TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION ON ALL
FRONTS AND HE DELIVERED ONE OF
HIS FIRST BILLS, AND THIS WAS
BEFORE THE LEGAL RECREATIONAL,
CANNABIS, ONE OF HIS FIRST BILLS
WAS LEGISLATION THAT HAD FAILED
ON MANY, SOME PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS.
BUT HIS EFFORTS PASSED AND
ESTABLISHED THIS FRAMEWORK FOR
THE REGULATION OF MEDICAL
CANNABIS, WHICH IS A LANDMARK
ACHIEVEMENT. JIM ALSO HAILED
BROADBAND PROVIDERS ACCOUNTABLE,
AND THIS WAS BEFORE IT WAS
ACTUALLY A, YOU KNOW, A THING,
HE KNEW THAT ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES IN HIS DISTRICT AND
IN RURAL AREAS IS THAT
THROUGHOUT OUR STATE, WAS THAT
EVEN IF JUST ONE HOUSE IN A
CERTAIN AREA RECEIVED BROADBAND
SERVICE, THAT THE ISPS OR THOSE
PROVIDERS COULD CHECK A BOX,
THAT THE ENTIRE AREA WAS SERVED.
BUT JIM WORKED TO CHANGE THIS BY
CHAMPIONING LEGISLATION THAT
MANDATED AN ACCURATE MAPPING OF
WHO HAS SERVICE AND WHO DOESN'T
HAVE SERVICE, ENSURING THAT ALL
OF OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA CAN RECEIVE EQUITABLE
ACCESS. AND AS WE KNOW, IT'S A
DEBATE THAT IS STILL, ALIVE AND
WELL TODAY. AND HIS EXTENSIVE
WORK IN HEALTH, HE WAS CHAIR OF
THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND IT
CULMINATED IN 2022 WITH THE
CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF HEALTH
CARE AFFORDABILITY, A SEMINAL
ACHIEVEMENT THAT WILL SET LIMITS
ON THE INCREASES ALLOWED
THROUGHOUT THE HEALTH CARE
INDUSTRY. AND JIM'S DEDICATION
HERE AT OUR CAPITOL IS ROOTED IN
A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC
SERVICE, AS WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY
OUR MAJORITY LEADER AS A
PRACTITIONER OF FORENSIC,
FORENSIC DENTISTRY, WHICH IS A
DENTIST WITH SPECIAL TRAINING TO
IDENTIFY DEAD BODIES BY
EXAMINING TEETH. JIM HAS
PARTNERED WITH EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS TO HELP IDENTIFY
REMAINS AFTER TRAGIC,
EMERGENCIES AND SOME DISASTERS.
IN THIS, YOU KNOW, HE DID THIS
WORK. DURING THE NINE OVER 11
INCIDENT AND FOR HURRICANE,
KATRINA, AND IT'S WORK THAT HE
HAS CONTINUED, AS WAS
HIGHLIGHTED BY THE MAJORITY
LEADER AFTER HE WAS ELECTED TO
OUR ASSEMBLY. YOU KNOW, IT WAS
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THAT JIM WAS
ONE OF 100 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED
STATES WHO WAS CERTIFIED AT THE
HIGHEST LEVEL IN THIS TRADE. HE
WAS ONE OF JUST 100 PEOPLE
CERTIFIED IN THIS WORK. BECAUSE
THE WORK IS NOT EASY, AND IT
COMES WITH SUCH AN INCREDIBLE
EMOTIONAL TOLL. BUT IF YOU ASK
JIM WHY, HE CONTINUES WITH HIS
FORENSIC DENTISTRY WORK, HE'LL
TELL YOU THAT FAMILIES WHO HAVE
LOST SO MUCH ALREADY THAT THEY
DESERVE AT LEAST SOME FORM OF
CLOSURE. NOW, AFTER A DECADE OF
SERVICE HERE IN THE CALIFORNIA
ASSEMBLY, JIM CERTAINLY WILL
HAVE A LOT MORE TIME TO SPEND
WITH HIS LOVELY WIFE, MELISSA,
HIS SON AND THEIR FAMILY, WHOM I
KNOW THAT THEY SHARE AN
ANNIVERSARY THIS MONTH. AND
WHILE I'M CERTAIN HE'LL CONTINUE
HIS LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN
SOME CAPACITY, I EXPECT THAT
JIM'S CERTAINLY GOING TO FIND
MORE TIME FOR GOLF. AND I'M VERY
COMPETITIVE WITH GOLF WITH JIM,
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WE'RE
PRETTY EVEN. SO THAT CONCERNS
ME. CERTAINLY FOR THE NEXT TIME
THAT WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GOLF TOGETHER. BUT, JIM, I KNOW
THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GO DOWN AS
ONE OF OUR MOST DISTINGUISHED
LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE EVER SERVED
IN THE ASSEMBLY, A LOVE FOR OUR
STATE THAT TRULY KNOWS NO BOUNDS,
YOUR FRIENDSHIP HAS MEANT A
GREAT DEAL TO ME PERSONALLY,
WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I
CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
ALWAYS, ALWAYS HAVING MY BACK
AND ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ME
THROUGH THICK AND THROUGH THIN.
AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER WOOD, YOUR
LEADERSHIP WILL BE GREATLY
MISSED IN THIS CHAMBER. THANK
YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THANK YOU,
MR. SPEAKER. THANK. DOCTOR WOOD,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR YOUR
DEPARTING REMARKS. THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE STANDING
UP THERE, YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW
HARD THIS IS GOING TO BE UNTIL
YOU'RE DOWN HERE, I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAJORITY
LEADER AND, MR. SPEAKER, FOR
YOUR KIND WORDS. I'M DEEPLY
TOUCHED. I'D LIKE TO THANK MY
BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED WIFE,
MELISSA. MY AMAZING AND
WONDERFUL SON, ALEX, FOR BEING
HERE TODAY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO
SHOUT OUT TO MY INCREDIBLE
STEPCHILDREN, SAM AND HARLOW,
WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY
WITHOUT THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT.
I COULD HAVE NEVER DONE THIS
WORK JUST LIKE EVERY SINGLE ONE
OF YOU HERE TODAY. AND I'M
ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO THEM. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK MY ASSEMBLY
DISTRICT TWO TEAM, OUR TEAM.
SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY. I
SEE SOME OF YOU UP THERE,
ANNABELLE AND PAULA AND, GOOD
FRIEND MICHELLE UP THERE IN THE
BACK, I THINK. I DON'T KNOW
WHERE THEY ARE. OH THERE THEY
ARE. THEY'RE ALL BACK HERE.
JESUS SAGE. KATHY. ROZ. LISA
PAUL. LIZ LAURA. WHO ELSE IS
BACK THERE? CHRISTINE. NICOLE
FRANKLIN. AND OF COURSE, PATTY.
PATTY, WHO KEPT US ALL TOGETHER.
WISH I DIDN'T NEED THESE NOTES,
BUT I'M NOT AS GIFTED AN ORATOR
AS SOME OF YOU FOLKS, SO I HAVE
BEEN BLESSED TO BE A PART OF AN
INCREDIBLE TEAM THAT SERVES OUR
DISTRICT. AND I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE TEAM FROM DAY ONE. I
ASKED THE TEAM TO GIVE IT TO ME
STRAIGHT, EVEN IF IT WAS
SOMETHING I WASN'T GOING TO
LIKE. AND I WANT TO THANK THEM
FOR HONORING THAT REQUEST. WE'RE
ALL BETTER OFF FOR IT. WE'VE
DONE GREAT THINGS TOGETHER AS A
TEAM. LOVE YOU ALL. I'M GOING TO
TELL WHAT I'M GOING TO DO THIS,
BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY
JUST BECAUSE AND MAYBE IT'LL
GIVE YOU SOME PEOPLE A LITTLE
INSIGHT INTO WHO I AM. SPEAKER.
AND I HAVE A LITTLE MORE IN
COMMON THAN YOU MIGHT KNOW A
LITTLE BIT. OUR LIVES ARE NOT
THE SAME, BUT THERE ARE SOME
SIMILARITIES. THE FIRST HOUSE I
REMEMBER AS A KID WAS A SINGLE
WIDE MOBILE HOME. MY BROTHER AND
I SLEPT ON THE CUSHIONS THAT
SERVED AS OUR CUSHIONS FOR THE
TABLE. WE ATE DINNER AT. I COME
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS OUR
SPEAKER. DIFFERENT BUT SIMILAR.
AND THAT'S PARTLY I THINK, OR
MAYBE IN GREAT PART, WHY I AM SO
DRAWN TO HIM. WE BOTH FOUGHT
HARD. I'M THE FIRST KID IN MY
FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE FIRST,
OBVIOUSLY TO GO TO PROFESSIONAL
SCHOOL, AND I CHOSE TO PRACTICE
IN A SMALL COMMUNITY BECAUSE
THAT'S WHERE THE NEED WAS.
THAT'S WHERE THE NEED WAS. I
WANTED TO GIVE BACK. IT WAS A
GREAT GIFT TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT
I WAS ABLE TO DO. AND THAT'S
WHAT I'VE TRIED TO DO MY ENTIRE
CAREER. YOU KNOW, IT'S
INTERESTING WHEN I GOT HERE, A
LOT OF PEOPLE HAD AN ASSUMPTION
ABOUT ME, BUT VERY FEW PEOPLE
TOOK THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW ME.
I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF DENTAL
COLLEAGUES WHO THOUGHT I WOULD
VOTE IN A CERTAIN WAY, AND THEY
KIND OF LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M
CRAZY, INCLUDING ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES IN SAN DIEGO WHO WE
HAVE A CONSTANT BANTER, BANTER
BACK AND FORTH. BUT IF YOU TAKE
THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHO I AM,
YOU'D UNDERSTAND WHAT MOTIVATES
ME AND WHY I HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD
ON ISSUES OF ACCESS, QUALITY,
AFFORDABILITY FOR HEALTH CARE.
BECAUSE I LIVED IT. I LIVED IT
IN MY CAREER, WATCHING PEOPLE
STRUGGLE. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
CONTINUE TO LIVE IT HERE IN
CALIFORNIA. AND IT ISN'T JUST
THAT. I THINK WHEN WE GET HERE,
YOU REALIZE THAT THERE'S SO MANY
MORE THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
YOU KNOW, AND SO MANY MORE
THINGS TO WORK ON AND THERE'S
JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME. THERE'S
JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME. AND SO YOU
DO WHAT YOU CAN AND DO THE BEST
YOU CAN, AND YOU HOPE YOU LEAVE
A MARK AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE I
HAVE, MAYBE I HAVEN'T. WE'LL
SEE. ONLY TIME WILL TELL. YOU
KNOW, IN MY FINAL COMMENTS I
WANT TO I WANT TO FLEX A BIT OF
DAD ENERGY TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO
WILL BE AROUND HERE NEXT YEAR.
AND I WROTE THIS DOWN BECAUSE I
DIDN'T WANT TO FORGET IT OR GET
IT WRONG. TRUST YOUR COLLEAGUES
BEFORE YOU TRUST THE OPPOSITION.
LISTEN MORE, LEARN MORE, ENGAGE
MORE. TRUST YOUR COLLEAGUES.
WORK ACROSS THE AISLE. I OFTEN
LEARN MORE ABOUT AN ISSUE FROM
THOSE WHO OPPOSE AN IDEA THAN
FROM THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT. BE
REASONABLE. YOU OWE IT TO
EVERYONE TO CONSIDER ALL SIDES
OF THE ISSUE. AND SOME OF THE
BEST WORK I'VE EVER DONE WAS
WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE. WE
USED TO DO MORE OF THAT. I
CHALLENGE YOU TO DO MORE OF IT
AGAIN. CHERISH YOUR TIME HERE.
APPROACH EVERY DAY LIKE YOU'RE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME. DON'T WASTE
A MINUTE A DAY, A WEEK. YOUR
CONSTITUENTS DESERVE NOTHING
LESS. NEVER QUIT. I KNOW YOU'VE
HEARD MANY OF ME SAY, I'D RATHER
HAVE HALF A LOAF OF BREAD THAN
NO BREAD AT ALL. MAKE PROGRESS
WHEN AND WHERE YOU CAN. DON'T
LEAVE THE TABLE EMPTY HANDED.
DON'T LET THE PERFECT BE THE
ENEMY OF THE GOOD. GET THE OTHER
HALF OF THE LOAF NEXT TO YOU. IF
YOU CAN. OUR TEAM NEVER QUITS.
MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF SOME
PEOPLE IN THE THIRD HOUSE, IT'S
ALWAYS, ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT
SERVICE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
NEVER PERSONAL, ALMOST NEVER.
YOU KNOW THAT CANNABIS BILL THAT
SPEAKER TALKED ABOUT? THERE WAS
A THERE WAS A PACKAGE HERE IN
THIS ASSEMBLY. MR. JONES-SAWYER
MR. LACKEY, MR. COOLEY, I DON'T
KNOW IF HE'S STILL HERE. MR.
COOLEY, ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB
BONTA WE WERE THE GANG OF FIVE.
DIFFERENT GANG OF FIVE. IT WAS A
DIFFERENT GANG OF FIVE. AND
PEOPLE DIDN'T GIVE US. DIDN'T
GIVE US ANY, ANY THOUGHT THAT WE
WOULD ACTUALLY GET IT DONE. WE
DID GET IT DONE. WE DID CREATE A
FRAMEWORK AROUND MEDICAL
CANNABIS. AND PART OF WHAT I WAS
WORKING ON WAS ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION. I'M STILL WORKING ON
IT. STILL WORKING ON IT, FOLKS.
DRIVES ME CRAZY. WE DID. WE DID
SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL THAT
FIRST YEAR, AND I WANT TO THANK
MY COLLEAGUES FOR ACROSS THE
AISLE, BIPARTISAN GOOD WORK,
GOOD WORK, BE BOLD, TACKLE BIG
ISSUES. YOU WON'T BE REMEMBERED
FOR THE NUMBER OF BILLS YOU PASS.
EMPHASIZE QUALITY OVER QUANTITY.
WE PASSED TOO MANY BILLS. AND
SOME OF THEM DON'T REALLY MEAN
MUCH. QUITE FRANKLY. MESSAGE FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.
SOUNDS LIKE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE
WHO HAS A MESSAGE FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. I HOPE
THEY'RE LISTENING. EVERY DOLLAR
SPENT ON PREVENTION SAVES $6 ON
TREATMENT OR REMEDIATION. EVERY
DOLLAR SAVES SIX. THANK YOU,
DOCTOR WEBER, FOR PRODDING ME ON
THAT. IT'S SIMPLE. IT'S
ABSOLUTELY SIMPLE. I JUST WISH
FOR EVERYONE'S SAKE, SOMEONE
COULD UNDERSTAND THAT. LET'S
STOP BEING PENNY WISE AND POUND
FOOLISH. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO
MAKE AN INVESTMENT. YOU HAVE TO
MAKE AN INVESTMENT TO REAP A
LONG TERM BENEFIT. AND WE DON'T
DO THAT ENOUGH IN THIS HOUSE.
I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR
TEN YEARS. PLEASE, SOMEONE IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, WOULD
YOU LISTEN? SAY THANK YOU TO
YOUR TEAMS. EVERY SINGLE DAY.
EMPHASIZE THAT THE REALLY HARD
DAYS WE HAVE THEM, WE ALL HAVE
THEM. BE KIND, BE RESPECTFUL.
THEY DESERVE NOTHING LESS AND A
WHOLE LOT MORE. TRY TO BE ON
TIME MORE, PLEASE. JUST ONCE I
HAVE THIS FANTASY OF GAVELING
DOWN AND HAVING EVERYBODY HERE
TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. BUT ALAS, I
DON'T THINK THAT WILL EVER
HAPPEN. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
TODAY AND THIS JOB. THIS
OPPORTUNITY IS THE OPPORTUNITY
OF A LIFETIME. AND IT IS SAID,
AND I AND I BELIEVE AND YOU ALL
ON THE FLOOR GET IT. YOU CANNOT
UNDERSTAND THIS JOB UNLESS YOU
LIVE IT EVERY DAY. AND I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO
ELECTED ME. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE I
SERVED WITH EVERY DAY. AND I'M
SO HAPPY TO HAVE THE BEST TEAM
EVER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
DOCTOR. WOULD.
YOU LIKE.
TO.
MAKE. SOME.
OH, YEAH. YEAH YEAH YEAH. YEAH.
YEAH I.
OKAY. MEMBERS THIS CONCLUDES
THIS PORTION OF OUR TRIBUTES. I
WANT TO THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS.
SECOND READING WILL BE DEFERRED
AND READ UPON ADJOURNMENT.
MOVING TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
MEMBERS, AS A REMINDER, PLEASE
WORK TO IDENTIFY FLOOR MANAGERS
IN THE SENATE FOR YOUR BILLS SO
THEY CAN BE TAKEN UP AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. SESSION SCHEDULE IS AS
FOLLOWS. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21ST
CHECK IN SESSION THURSDAY,
AUGUST 22ND FLOOR SESSION AT 9
A.M. ALL OTHER ITEMS REMAINING
SHALL BE PASSED AND RETAINED.
ALL MOTIONS SHALL BE CONTINUED.
SEEING AND HEARING. NO FURTHER
BUSINESS. I'M READY TO ENTERTAIN
A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MISS
AGUIAR-CURRY MOVES. MR. FLORES
SECONDS THAT THIS HOUSE STANDS.
ADJOURNED UNTIL THURSDAY, AUGUST
22ND, AT 9 A.M. THE QUORUM CALL
IS LIFTED AND THE HOUSE IS
ADJOURNED. SECOND READING.
SECOND READING. THE CLERK WILL
READ. ASSEMBLY BILL 2032. SENATE
BILLS 42, 5385 227 242 254 2782
99 310 366 379 399, FOUR 4445
516, 549, 571, 597, 615, SIX,
26, 97, OH SEVEN, SEVEN, 27, 58,
SEVEN, SIX, EIGHT, SEVEN, SEVEN
EIGHT, SEVEN, 82, EIGHT, 92,
895, EIGHT, 96, 897, 8988 99,
(902) 904-9079, TEN NINE, 19,
926, 936, 942, NINE, 59, 54,
957, 959, NINE, 69, 66, NINE,
SIX, NINE, NINE, 71, NINE, 72,
NINE, 76, 983, NINE, 84, 988,
1002, 1003, TEN, 16, TEN, 19,
1025, 1043, 1047, 1061, 1064,
1066, 1069, 1089, 1090, 1098,
1100, 1105, 1108, 1112, 11, 19
1123, 1134, 1142, 1143, 1147,
1152, 1162, 1166, 1170, 1197,
1205, 1211, 1213, 12, 20 1221,
1230, 1254, 1263, 1277, 1280,
1281, 1287, 1289, 1298, 1303,
1304, 1315, 1321, 13, 23, 1340,
1348, 1354, 1374, 1375, 1390,
1391, 1406, 14 1514, 19 1432,
1448, 1454, 1455, 1482, 1498,
1504, 1527. SENATE.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ONE.
SENATE BILLS 1233 WITH
AMENDMENTS. AND SENATE BILL 59
WITH AMENDMENTS. ALL BILLS WILL
BE DEEMED READ AND ALL
AMENDMENTS WILL BE DEEMED
ADOPTED.