This measure would call on the states Representatives in Congress to vote against cuts to, and proposals to privatize, Social Security, and to prevent service delays and the closure of offices, and would call on the President of the United States to veto any legislation attempting to cut or privatize this program.

WHEREAS, Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian program established under the Immigration Act of 1990 that provides temporary legal status and work authorization to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions; and

WHEREAS, The first administration of President Donald J. Trump ordered the termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for people from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Sudan, Nepal, and other nations, affecting more than 325,000 individuals across the United States, including an estimated 68,000 residents of the State of California, which has one of the largest populations of Temporary Protected Status recipients outside of the State of Florida; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with Temporary Protected Status contribute significantly to the State of Californias economy, workforce, and communities, including approximately 49,000 Salvadorans and 6,000 Hondurans in California, many of whom have lived in the United States for more than 20 years and are parents to United States citizen children; and

WHEREAS, During the current administration, President Donald J. Trump has renewed efforts to restrict humanitarian immigration protections, including Temporary Protected Status, by pledging to dramatically reduce the number of recipients, limit future designations, and expedite deportations of long-settled residents, with recent United States Department of Homeland Security policy reviews targeting nationals from countries including Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua for potential removal from the program; and

WHEREAS, The Trump administration has also directed federal agencies to reassess country conditions for current Temporary Protected Status holders using narrower legal criteria, and has publicly stated its intent to end what it describes as indefinite protection for nationals of countries that have previously experienced armed conflict or natural disasters, disregarding the longstanding presence and integration of these individuals into United States society; and

WHEREAS, The removal of legal status from individuals with Temporary Protected Status will cause immense harm to hundreds of thousands of families, including an estimated 275,000 children who are citizens of the United States and who may be separated from one or both parents or face the threat of family dissolution; and

WHEREAS, The economic contributions of individuals with Temporary Protected Status are substantial, with over 80 percent participating in the workforce and generating more than $2,700,000,000 in annual economic output in California alone, as well as supporting local budgets through homeownership, property taxes, and state and local tax payments; and

WHEREAS, The City and County of San Francisco is home to an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 residents with Temporary Protected Status, many of whom are long-term residents from El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua who have become essential contributors to the regions workforce and civic life; and

WHEREAS, The State of California recognizes the humanitarian, moral, and economic consequences of eliminating protections for people who have lived lawfully in the United States for decades under Temporary Protected Status and who are deeply embedded in our communities, schools, workplaces, and local economies; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature condemns the decisions by the administrations of President Donald J. Trump, both past and current, to terminate or curtail Temporary Protected Status designations for people from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, and other affected nations, and denounces any federal policies that seek to strip lawful status from long-residing individuals who have contributed to the State of Californias economy, raised families, and made this state their home; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges the Congress of the United States to enact bipartisan legislation that provides a path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship for individuals with Temporary Protected Status who have lawfully resided in the United States for many years, in recognition of their essential role in our states communities and economy; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from the State of California in the Congress of the United States.

WHEREAS, Social Security is the foundation of the income and health security of older Americans, younger Americans with permanent and severe disabilities, American families that have lost a breadwinner, and those whose economic circumstances preclude them from purchasing health insurance in the private market; and

WHEREAS, Social Security is our nations most important source of retirement income, disability insurance, and life insurance; and

WHEREAS, Our Social Security program is self-funded and does not rely on the federal governments general fund for its operations; and

WHEREAS, Social Security trust funds are funded by payroll tax contributions, paying out benefits and investing surpluses in special government securities that can be redeemed at face value to meet fund obligations; and

WHEREAS, Social Security contributions are invested in interest-bearing debt securities that are issued and guaranteed by the federal government; and

WHEREAS, Social Security is the foundation of income and health security for older Californians and those with severe work disabilities, providing monthly cash benefits and health insurance to over 6,000,000 Californians; and

WHEREAS, Social Security is the single most important source of life insurance for Californias children, which currently provides a virtually guaranteed income to over 300,000 children throughout our state; and

WHEREAS, Social Security prevents more than 1,400,000 Californians 65 years of age and older from living in poverty and lessens the depth of poverty for millions more; and

WHEREAS, Social Security benefits annually contribute over $100 billion to our states economy; and

WHEREAS, Social Security provides benefits to nearly 8,000,000 veterans nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Even with Social Securitys benefits, over 10 percent of beneficiaries are still below the poverty line; and

WHEREAS, Improving Social Security benefits is essential to alleviating poverty, which endangers seniors more than any other age group; and

WHEREAS, Social Securitys funding is independent of that of the rest of the federal government, and does not, and by law cannot, contribute to the federal deficit; and

WHEREAS, Social Security had a surplus of $2.8 trillion at the end of 2023; and

WHEREAS, Social Security has sufficient resources to meet all of its obligations through 2033 and has dedicated revenues that would meet more than 80 percent of promised benefits thereafter; and

WHEREAS, Our Social Security system is fundamental to protecting against risks to which all Californians are subject; and

WHEREAS, Recent actions by the federal government will lead to delays in services and the closures and consolidations of Social Security offices; and

WHEREAS, Our Social Security system gives expression to widely held values, including caring for our families, our neighbors, and ourselves, personal responsibility, hard work, and personal dignity; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature opposes cuts to Social Security, as well as proposals to indirectly cut this program by defunding it, while giving tax breaks to multinational corporations and billionaires, and calls on our states Representatives in Congress to vote against cuts and proposals to privatize Social Security, to prevent service delays and the closure of offices that would cause those receiving benefits to travel further to receive those same benefits, and to support legislation to protect and improve this system to strengthen its protections; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature calls on the President of the United States to honor his campaign promise not to cut Social Security, not to defund it, to veto any legislation attempting to do so, and to work with Congress to protect and improve this program; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AJR 8

Author:(Haney)

As Amended Ver:August 20, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Condemns the decisions by the administrations of President Donald J. Trump, both past and current, to terminate or curtail Temporary Protected Status designations for people from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, and other affected nations; and denounces any federal policies that seek to strip lawful status from long-residing individuals who have contributed to the State of California's economy, raised families, and made this state their home; and urges the Congress of the United States to enact bipartisan legislation that provides a path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship for individuals with Temporary Protected Status who have lawfully resided in the United States for many years, in recognition of their essential role in our state's communities and economy.

Major Provisions

Makes the following findings:

1. Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian program established under the Immigration Act of 1990 that provides temporary legal status and work authorization to nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions;
2. The first administration of President Donald J. Trump ordered the termination of Temporary Protected Status designations for people from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Sudan, Nepal, and other nations, affecting more than 325,000 individuals across the United States, including an estimated 68,000 residents of the State of California, which has one of the largest populations of Temporary Protected Status recipients outside of the State of Florida;
3. Individuals with Temporary Protected Status contribute significantly to the State of California's economy, workforce, and communities, including approximately 49,000 Salvadorans and 6,000 Hondurans in California, many of whom have lived in the United States for more than 20 years and are parents to United States citizen children;
4. During the current administration, President Donald J. Trump has renewed efforts to restrict humanitarian immigration protections, including Temporary Protected Status, by pledging to dramatically reduce the number of recipients, limit future designations, and expedite deportations of long-settled residents, with recent United States Department of Homeland Security policy reviews targeting nationals from countries including Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua for potential removal from the program;
5. The Trump administration has also directed federal agencies to reassess country conditions for current Temporary Protected Status holders using narrower legal criteria, and has publicly stated its intent to end what it describes as "indefinite protection" for nationals of countries that have previously experienced armed conflict or natural disasters, disregarding the longstanding presence and integration of these individuals into United States society;
6. The removal of legal status from individuals with Temporary Protected Status will cause immense harm to hundreds of thousands of families, including an estimated 275,000 children who are citizens of the United States and who may be separated from one or both parents or face the threat of family dissolution;
7. The economic contributions of individuals with Temporary Protected Status are substantial, with over 80% participating in the workforce and generating more than $2,700,000,000 in annual economic output in California alone, as well as supporting local budgets through homeownership, property taxes, and state and local tax payments;
8. The City and County of San Francisco is home to an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 residents with Temporary Protected Status, many of whom are long-term residents from El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua who have become essential contributors to the region's workforce and civic life;
9. The State of California recognizes the humanitarian, moral, and economic consequences of eliminating protections for people who have lived lawfully in the United States for decades under Temporary Protected Status and who are deeply embedded in our communities, schools, workplaces, and local economies.

COMMENTS

Temporary protected status (TPS) is a legal designation that grants, as the name suggests, temporary immigration status to immigrants from countries designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS typically grants TPS to nationals from countries facing one of the following conditions: an ongoing armed conflict that poses a serious threat to safety; environmental disasters resulting in substantial but temporary disruption of living conditions; or other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent the country's nationals from returning safely. TPS provides recipients protection from deportation as well as work authorization as long as their country of origin retains the designation.

Earlier this year the Trump administration moved to terminate TPS status for nationals from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal. This move echoes efforts from the first Trump administration to likewise terminate TPS status for various other countries, including El Salvador, Haiti, and Sudan. The United States is currently home to approximately 60,000 residents with TPS from these three countries. The order was challenged and on July 31 the district court postponed the order, granting these communities temporary reprieve until at least November when the case was set to be heard. However, on August 20, the Ninth Circuit granted the administration’s request for an emergency stay, thereby allowing the order to go into effect immediately.

This resolution condemns the Trump administration's efforts to end TPS, and details the economic and social impact such a decision would have on the City of San Francisco and California as a whole. Additionally, the resolution urges Congress to act to provide a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship for TPS-holders.

According to the Author

Arguments in Support

None on file

Arguments in Opposition

None on file

FISCAL COMMENTS

None

VOTES

ASM PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT: 7-0-0

YES: McKinnor, Lackey, Alanis, Boerner, Elhawary, Garcia, Nguyen

UPDATED

VERSION: August 20, 2025

CONSULTANT: Manuela Boucher / JUD. / (916) 319-2334 FN: 0001209

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AJR 8

Author:(Schiavo)

As Introduced Ver:March 27, 2025

Majority vote

SUMMARY

Opposes cuts to, and measures that defund, Social Security while giving tax breaks to multinational corporations and billionaires; calls on California's congressional representatives to vote against cuts and proposals to privatize the program, and to prevent service delays and the closure of offices that would have negative impacts on those receiving benefits, as provided; and, to support legislation to protect, improve, and strengthen its protections.

Further, calls on the President of the United States (U.S.) to honor his campaign promise to neither cut nor defund Social Security; veto any legislation that attempts to do so; and, work with the Congress to protect and improve this program.

Major Provisions

1. Makes statements relating to:
2. The importance of Social Security – a trust – as a financial and health safety net protecting against risk and preventing millions of Californians from poverty, while simultaneously providing a means to maintaining personal dignity;
3. How many Californians rely on Social Security benefits, including veterans and children;
4. How much Social Security benefits contribute to the state's economy;
5. The financing and sufficiency of existing Social Security resources to meet its obligations through 2033, with dedicated revenues that would meet more than 80 percent of promised benefits thereafter, as well as the funding independence of Social Security from the rest of the federal government and its multi-trillion dollar surplus at the end of 2023;
6. Social Security being a widely-held expression of values demonstrating the significance of the program; and,
7. Recent federal actions will lead to delays in services and the closure and consolidation of Social Security offices.
8. States the Legislature's position regarding Social Security, and calls on California's congressional representatives and the U.S. President to affirmatively take supportive action regarding the program, as stated in the summary.
9. Requires transmittal of this resolution, as prescribed.

COMMENTS

Established in 1935 by passage of the federal Social Security Act, the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (OASDI), commonly referred to as Social Security, is federal program that issues benefits to retirees who paid into the program during their working years, those who are unable to work due to a physical or mental condition, spouses, children of beneficiaries, and surviving family members of beneficiaries. Eligibility, and the amount of a benefit that can be received depend on age, years of work, and earnings during those years, among other factors.

Funded by a special tax paid by employers, employees, and self-employed individuals collected by the federal Internal Revenue Service, nearly 95%of individuals in paid employment are covered by this program making it nearly universal. Generally, those who are not covered are certain public employees who are participating in a state or local pension plan. In California, generally, these are teachers, firefighters, and police officers.

Administered by the federal Social Security Administration (SSA), in 2024, the average monthly social security benefit was approximately $1,800, which is approximately the same as it was in 2023.

According to the Author

"Social Security is our nations' most important source of retirement income, disability and life insurance. For over 6 million Californians, including veterans, and those with severe work disabilities, the program provides monthly cash benefits and health insurance. Social Security also prevents more than 1.4 million older Californians from living in poverty and lessens the depth of poverty for millions more. The program contributes annually over one hundred billion dollars into our state's economy. Today, the benefits so many depend on are under threat. Efforts are underway to downsize the SSA and make it harder to receive benefits by closing field offices, cutting back on phone services, requiring in person visits, and worker layoffs.

"Social Security is foundational to our communities and any cuts to its benefits will create irreparable harm for the most vulnerable members of our society."

Arguments in Support

None one file.

Arguments in Opposition

None on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS

None.

VOTES

ASM PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT: 7-0-0

YES: McKinnor, Lackey, Alanis, Boerner, Elhawary, Garcia, Nguyen

UPDATED

VERSION: March 27, 2025

CONSULTANT: Michael Bolden / P. E. & R. / (916) 319-3957 FN: 0000205

Date of Hearing: April 2, 2025

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT

Tina S. McKinnor, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AJR 8 (

Author:Schiavo) – As Introduced Ver:March 27, 2025

SUBJECT: Public social services: Social Security.

SUMMARY: Opposes cuts to, and measures that defund, Social Security while giving tax breaks to multinational corporations and billionaires; calls on California’s congressional representatives to vote against cuts and proposals to privatize the program, and to prevent service delays and the closure of offices that would have negative impacts on those receiving benefits, as provided; and, to support legislation to protect, improve, and strengthen its protections.

Further, calls on the President of the United States (U.S.) to honor his campaign promise to neither cut nor defund Social Security; veto any legislation that attempts to do so; and, work with the Congress to protect and improve this program. Specifically, this joint resolution:

1. In these regards, and generally, makes statements relating to:
2. The importance of Social Security – a trust – as a financial and health safety net protecting against risk and preventing millions of Californians from poverty, while simultaneously providing a means to maintaining personal dignity;
3. How many Californians rely on Social Security benefits, including veterans and children;
4. How much Social Security benefits contribute to the state’s economy;
5. The financing and sufficiency of existing Social Security resources to meet its obligations through 2033, with dedicated revenues that would meet more than 80 percent of promised benefits thereafter, as well as the funding independence of Social Security from the rest of the federal government and its multi-trillion dollar surplus at the end of 2023;
6. Social Security being a widely-held expression of values demonstrating the significance of the program; and,
7. Recent federal actions will lead to delays in services and the closure and consolidation of Social Security offices.
8. States the Legislature’s position regarding Social Security, and calls on California’s congressional representatives and the U.S. President to affirmatively take supportive action regarding the program, as stated in “Summary,” above.
9. Requires transmittal of this resolution, as prescribed.

EXISTING LAW: Establishes the Social Security Act – a system of federal benefits for aged and low-income people.^[1]

FISCAL EFFECT: None. This Joint Resolution is keyed nonfiscal by Legislative Counsel.

COMMENTS:

1. Background Regarding Social Security

Established in 1935 by passage of the federal Social Security Act, the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (OASDI), commonly referred to as Social Security, is federal program that issues benefits to retirees who paid into the program during their working years, those who are unable to work due to a physical or mental condition, spouses, children of beneficiaries, and surviving family members of beneficiaries. Eligibility, and the amount of a benefit that can be received depend on age, years of work, and earnings during those years, among other factors.

Funded by a special tax paid by employers, employees, and self-employed individuals collected by the federal Internal Revenue Service, nearly 95 percent of individuals in paid employment are covered by this program making it nearly universal. Generally, those who are not covered are certain public employees who are participating in a state or local pension plan. In California, generally, these are teachers, firefighters, and police officers.

Administered by the federal Social Security Administration (SSA), in 2024, the average monthly social security benefit was approximately $1,800, which is approximately the same as it was in 2023.

1. Comments by Supporters

None.

1. Comments by Opponents

None.

1. Prior or Related Legislation

Assembly Joint Resolution 11 (Davies, 2024) was similar to the current joint resolution as to the position of the Legislature and its requests of the Congress, but also included Medicare. This joint resolution was held in Assembly.

Resolution Chapter 157, Statutes of 2022 (Senate Joint Resolution 11, Skinner) affirms the Legislature’s support for expanding Social Security and requests California Representatives in Congress to support expanding Social Security by voting in favor of the Social Security 2100 Act: A Sacred Trust.

Resolution Chapter 181, Statutes of 2022 (Senate Joint Resolution 5, Wilk) urges the United States Congress to amend the United States Social Security Administration’s index of earnings to ensure that a decline in aggregate wages due to COVID-19 does not result in decreased benefits.

Resolution Chapter 78, Statutes of 2021 (Assembly Joint Resolution 9, Cooper) requests the Congress of the United States to enact, and the President to sign, legislation that would repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision from the Social Security Act.

Resolution Chapter 96, Statute of 2017 (Assembly Joint Resolution 8, Kalra) calls on California’s Representatives in Congress to vote against cuts to, and proposals to privatize, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and calls on the President of the United States to veto any legislation to cut or privatize these programs.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

None on file.

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Michael Bolden / P. E. & R. / (916) 319-3957

1. Chapter 7, Title 42, United States Code. ↑