Assembly Floor

Members will be moving to an Assembly third reading. And just as a courtesy reminder, please remember one if you'd like to speak on any item, to raise your microphone when that item is called and also to turn your key to be able to vote on items today. And we'll be moving to file item one.

This is ACR One.

The Clerk will read Assembly concurrent resolution won by Assembly Member Wilson relative to Reverend Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.

Assembly Member Wilson, you're recognized at your desk.

Good morning, Members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus I present to you ACR one which would honor the late civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King and commemorate Martin Luther King's Junior Day on Monday.

While we all have the luxury of observing his sacrifices and mourning America's loss with a day off, we must always recognize the true meaning of this holiday and the lasting legacy he left us. The fight that ensued for our nation to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day resembles the struggles for our acknowledgement that African Americans have endured since our arrival to this country.

Today, we all in this country benefit from the works of this great man who made it his life's goal to serve and advocate on behalf of those without a voice, representing those who historically are marginalized and have lacked adequate representation.

Dr. King's courage and determination remains an inspiration and motivation for many people who grew up during the Civil Rights movement. Dr. King led the modern civil rights movement for almost 13 years, from his election as the spokesman for the Montgomery Improvement Association in December of 1955 until his assassination. Under Dr. King's leadership, he helped amend and abolish discriminatory public policies throughout this nation.

He aided in the repeal of Jim Crow laws in Southern states, helped shepherd the Voting Rights Act, and brought national attention to the discriminatory banking and housing policies and practices known as redlining. Dr. King also became one of the most notable nonviolent leaders in the world's history, stating that nonviolence is the answer to crucial political and moral questions of our time. He understood that those in opposition to the civil rights movement would resist, often violently.

Nonetheless, Dr. King responded to acts of violence by creating a dialogue that would heal racial wounds and encourage understanding, unifying the masses. Finally, and most importantly, Dr. King was a truth teller. No matter how convenient or inconvenient those truths were.

Dr. King was always willing to speak openly and candidly. In 1968, in the other America speech, Dr. King said I still believe that freedom is the bonus you receive for telling the truth. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

And I do not see how we will ever solve the turbulent problem of race confronting our nation until there is an honest confrontation with it and a willing search for the truth and a willingness to admit the truth when we discover it.

We must look to Dr. King's example as a moral and ethical compass to help confront the persistent injustices that plague this nation. I believe Dr. King would want us to make a determined effort to endure any and all challenges if it meant creating a more equal and just society for our future generations.

As lawmakers and citizens of this great nation, let us, individually and as Members of the State Assembly embody the aforementioned dedicated individual spirit and commitment to truth and justice. Dr. King said, the time is always right to do the right thing. Let's do the right thing today and not just voting for this resolution, but truly celebrating Dr. King by ending racism, hatred, division, and biased criminal justice system that still exists today, 55 years after his death.

I respectfully ask for your aye vote on ACR One and would request the role to be open for coauthors.

Thank you, Ms.. Wilson. And Assembly Member Gibson, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and Members. I want to thank my colleague for bringing this ACR before us today. ACR One commemorates the work of Dr. Martha King, Jr. And the nation's holiday that we celebrate in his name today.

Dr. King was a true patriot. He fought for what America could be, not what it was. You see, the fight was in Selma, Alabama, and he went there because the fight was there.

Civil rights was on the line. He was there fighting for civil rights. The fight was also for voting rights.

And he stood and he fought for voting rights in this country. He fought for human rights in this country. He fought for the right to organize.

He fought against the poll tax. Why? Because the fight was there. The fight was in Washington, DC.

Why? Because the fight was there for rights, for people to elevate their voices when America made them irrelevant. Fast forward to 2023. This is still true today in a lot of ways.

We're still just beginning to do the work that Dr. Martin King set out and asked us all to do. You see, today the fight in most of our communities is homelessness is access to health care. And you're in the position why is because the fight is there.

Dr. Martin King fought for racial justice, access to health care. Today we have a pandemic. That pandemic has hit the black and brown community the hardest.

Health care is a justice that Dr. Martha King as well as Martin King Hospital, in which I'm happy to serve in my community, which we call Ground Zero. Members, today we have an injustice in healthcare for black and brown communities in the state of California.

We cannot have two Californias, one having access to health care and another community having no access to health care in this state.

One of my favorite quotes that I call to your attention from Dr. Martin King's, he said this" your life begins to end the moment you start being silent about the things that matter."

In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. We will have to repent in this generation for the Victoric words in action, not of the bad people, but of the good people.

There comes a time that silence is a form of betrayal. I ask you to stand with all of us, with a strong aye vote to commemorate this day ACR One with a strong aye vote. Thank you.

Mr. Gibson and Assemblymember McKinnon, you are recognized at your desk on this resolution.

Mr. Speaker and Members, on behalf of the California Legislative Women's Caucus, I rise in support of ACR One. Dr. King inspired a nation to stand up in the face of injustice, and he started a movement that could not have happened without the help of women. Dr. King knew that women played an integral part in the advancement of the civil rights movement, who oftentimes had the added burden of fighting sexism and gender discrimination within the movement.

Women organized in our churches participated in peaceful protests, and because they could not hold formal office or leadership positions in most of the civil rights organizations, they became the voice of the people, bridging the gap between leadership and our communities.

Women like Daisy Bates, who led the movement to end segregation in schools. Women like Ella Baker, who fought to end the Jim Crow laws, organized Martin Luther King's Christian Leadership Conference, ran voter registration campaigns, and founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, leading lunch counter sit ins when black people were denied services.

Women like Diane Nash, who fought with the Freedom Writers, who protested segregation on public transportation. And women like Rosa Parks, who started a movement when she refused to give up her seat. Today, as I look around at the diversity of our Members and the strong women who stand together in this body, I'm reminded of the history that we are continuing to move forward.

And on the kings and queens who have paved the way for all of us here today, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Ms.. McKinnor. And Mr. Member Ramos, you're recognized at your desk on this resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I rise as chair of the California Native American Legislative Caucus to join in today's commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday and his legacy that lives on today.

During his legacy, Dr. King continued to serve as an angel on our shoulders on many areas that we all grew up in, reminding us that change cannot come through violence and that equity and social justice are the foundation for a thriving country and nation.

What is most striking about Dr. King is that he reached out beyond the African American community to include others in his dream, others that heard the call for these things within areas in the population of the state of California, including Indian reservations..

In 1963, in his book Why We Can't Wait, he wrote, our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. We are perhaps the only nation which tried, as a matter of national policy, to wipe out its indigenous population.

Moreover, we elevated that tragic experience into a notable crusade. Indeed, even today, we have not permitted ourselves to reject or feel remorse for this shameful episode. Our literature, our films, our drama, our folklore, all exalted.

We have come a long way since he wrote that passage. Thanks to Dr. King and that of many others, his efforts continue to inspire us to ensure that America and the state of California is a just place for all. And when we're asked, who do we advocate for? Who do we advocate for in these chambers? Who do we advocate for in the state of California? We advocate for all people, all races, all ethnicities in the state of California.

We advocate for that voice that has been tried to be silenced over the years. We advocate for that voice to be heard. We advocate for all in the state of California, and that includes each and every one of us in this chambers today in the ethnicities that we all represent.

That is the dream. That's where we're headed. I ask you to join in supporting this resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Ramos. And it's a Member, Jackson, you're recognized at your desk on this resolution.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

I rise today on behalf of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus in support of ACR One. Today we honor a giant in the fight for civil rights and humanity. He sparked a revolution, and his legacy is one of action in the name of justice.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Led a path for millions to follow, so we honor him through peaceful protest, and we continue to work for equal rights and end to discrimination and a more just America.

He maintained a vision for a more diverse America where all people enjoyed the benefits of equality and everyone has what they need to thrive. He endured violence while living to demand peace, and he was even gunned down in his premature death.

He literally risked and lost his life fighting against racism, marginalization and oppression. He lived out his own words when he said, if you haven't found something worth dying for, you're not fit to live. And in the process, he changed the world.

And he had help from individuals who were also struggling with acceptance in society because of their sexual identity. You cannot mention Martin Luther King, Jr. Without mentioning Baynard Rustin, who was one of the primary architects on the March on Washington and the Freedom Rides in the 1960s. And he was also a key advisor to Dr. King.

In other words, he was an indispensable part of the civil rights movement. However, his life as an openly gay man put him at odds with the cultural norms of the larger society and left him either working behind the scenes or even outside of the movement for stretches of time.

In John Ansbro's book, Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent Strategies and Tactics for Social Change, he makes the following observation in The Philosophy of Dr. King, he observes that agape, the Greek term used for unconditional love involves recognition of the fact that all human life is interrelated.

King asserted that humanity must be seen as a single process. All men are brothers and all women are sisters. And therefore, whatever directly affects one person affects all indirectly.

The existence of injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. It is then not only appropriate but necessary for each American to be actively concerned about the injustices to every other American. Therefore, no American can be judged to be an outside agitator.

If affluent Americans or different groups or ethnicities or sexual orientations are to respond to the challenge of agape they must confront the question how responsible am I for the well-being of my fellow Members of society? To choose to ignore an evil is to become an accomplice to evil. Yes, Agape requires that we be our brothers and sister's keeper.

Therefore, he is a part of me, and I am a part of him. Her agony diminishes me, and her salvation enlarges me. Dr. King's legacy is still felt today as we invoke his name and try to fulfill his dream of equity and equality for all.

30 seconds

Mr. Speaker. The LGBTQ Caucus stands shoulder to shoulder in pursuit of justice with the Black Caucus and we respectfully urge an aye vote.

Thank you, Dr. Jackson and Assembly Member Fong, you are recognized at your desk on this resolution.

Good morning, Mr. Speaker and Members. Today I rise on behalf of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus in strong support of ACR One. Our caucus feels deep gratitude to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And the civil rights movement for the opportunities that we have today.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspired the civil rights movement where community Members marched, protested and put their lives on the line on the fight for justice for all communities.

It was Dr. King and his leadership with the civil rights movement that inspired a larger AAPI activist movement including the leadership and influential leaders like Grace Lee Boggs, Yuri Kochiyama, Larry Itliong and Fred Koromatsu. His work inspired AAPI communities to stand up and take action in the face of diversity, including striking on behalf of California farmworkers and demanding integrated ethnic studies.

Our communities are able to thrive in this country because of the path that was paved for us by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, as we reflect on his legacy, it's important that we recognize that now is the time to stand up and fight for civil rights, for voting rights, and for our democracy. On behalf of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, please join me in honoring the life and legacy of Don Martin Luther King, Jr. And voting I on ACR One. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Mr. Fong and Assembly Member Ortega, you are recognized at your desk on this resolution.

Thank you. Today I rise on behalf of the California Latino Legislative Caucus in support of Assembly concurrent resolution one commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. King holds a particularly fond place in the hearts and minds of our Latino community.

When he was planning the iconic March on Washington, which culminated in his historic I Have a Dream speech, dr. King pushed for greater visibility of Latinos in the march, and they were counted in the thousands. He asked Gilberto herena, the President of the Puerto Rican Day parade, to organize the Latino community to attend the march.

Jirena also spoke at the march about the discrimination faced by Latinos, many who are still facing it today. Indeed, Dr. King's commitment to the Latino community did not end there. He also supported and encouraged Cesar Chavez 1966 hunger strike.

During this strike, Dr. King sent a telegram to Chavez which read I am deeply moved by your courage in fasting as your personal sacrifice for justice through nonviolence. After Dr. King's assassination, cesar Chavez continued to display a portrait of him in his office. Indeed, like Cesar Chavez, we must remember the radical nature of Dr. King's legacy.

We often discuss the integral role MLK played in advancing the cause of African Americans. And as a proud, unapologetic Latina, we don't often discuss how he also inspired and mobilized Latinos across the United States. Without a doubt, MLK's dream is a shared one.

As MLK once said, our separate struggles are really a struggle for freedom, dignity and humanity. Dr. King did not advocate for conformity or compliance. He fought for the notion that all laws are inherently just and that is the duty of every citizen to help bend the arc of moral universe towards the justice we all seek.

While Dr. King is now a universally beloved figure, it is important to remember that these ideas now unite us were opposed by very vocal segments of the American people. This is why we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Let us remember that the best way to honor his memory and to preserve his legacy is to fight those difficult fights, even in the face of entrenched and even violent opposition.

55 years after his death, dr. King would not want us to be silent in the face of injustice. Now more than ever, in times of political and social changes in our state and country, we must continue to struggle for that dignity, that equality that we must achieve to get freedom and real justice.

For these reasons, colleagues, I respectfully ask for an able on ACR One.

Thank you. Ms.. Ortega and Assembly Member Gabriel, you're recognized at your desk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on behalf of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Jewish Caucus is proud to stand with the Black Caucus and with our sister Caucuses in recognizing Dr. King as one of the greatest Americans of any generation. Dr. King has always occupied a truly unique place in the hearts and minds of American Jews.

For many in our community, dr. King was the living embodiment of the quest for freedom, human dignity and justice that are the central focus of the Jewish tradition. Indeed, few images inspire as much pride in the Jewish community as the iconic photograph of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, the most prominent American rabbi of his generation, marching arm in arm with Dr. King across the Edmund Pettis Bridge in March of 1965.

Afterwards, in words that were quoted by President Obama half a century later, rabbi Heschel reflected that marching with Dr. King was a deeply spiritual experience where he felt that his legs were praying. That same year, the American Jewish Committee honored Dr. King with its prestigious American Liberties Medallion in recognition of his efforts to advance civil rights and social justice for all Americans. Dr. King was also a great friend and ally to the Jewish community.

In our own struggles, he spoke out powerfully against anti Semitism in defense of the state of Israel and for the human rights of persecuted Jews in the Soviet Union. The global Jewish community's tremendous affection for Dr. King is perhaps best evident in Jerusalem, where each day thousands walk down a boulevard named in his honor. In a city where the streets are named for the great prophets of the Hebrew Bible, the Jewish people chose to uplift and honor America's greatest prophet of freedom, equality, and justice.

This weekend, my community and so many synagogues in Jewish communities across California will hold special services to honor Dr. King. We will teach our children about his enormous bravery, his moral clarity, and his unfinished struggle for justice. We will reflect on his tremendous accomplishments and cringe at how much work remains to truly fulfill his dream.

And we will seek to honor his memory by joining hands with Californians of all faiths and backgrounds to advance justice and equity and help fulfill his remarkable vision. In that spirit, and on behalf of the Jewish Caucus, I urge strong support for ACR One.

Thank you, Mr. Gabriel. And as a Member of Jones Sawyer, you're recognized at your desk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, ten years ago, I was a freshman on this floor and the first time I ever spoke was on Martin Luther King Weekend. And I leave this message for everyone here.

I'm going to give you the same message that I gave to my colleagues back then martin Luther King from the Montgomery boycott until his death. He did amazing things, but most important, he did it in twelve years. Let me let that sink in for a minute.

I told my colleagues then, if we could just do one 100th of what he did in twelve years, in our years in this body, we would be very successful, as now, one of the senior Members, not a freshman Member with only two years left. I also know it's now. We stop chasing our dreams and we start catching our dreams.

I think that's what Dr. Martin Luther King was all talking about. When he talked about dreams and making things happen, that became clear to me that doing stuff now is extremely important, and doing the right thing is extremely important. On December 21, I had a minor operation.

Right after a successful operation, I had a cardiac arrest and died. I died. My dream was ended.

It was over. And with the help of some good surgeons and people in the hospital, they brought me back. We still don't know what caused it, what medication they gave me.

I'm a Christian fellow, so I love to believe that whatever happened, I went up. My name wasn't on the book, and they sent me back. But I really would like to believe that those my ancestors and those who are up there really said I had much more to do.

I have two more years here. As I said, as one of the senior Members, I still have a lot to do, not only in this chamber, but a lot to do after this. People ask me, what did you see when you died? There's a lot of things I could tell you, some I won't tell you because you think I'm crazy.

But one thing I can tell you is I was able to go in my dream to my grandson's college graduation. So I know and I believe in my heart I have a long way to live. And so what I ask each of you, the freshmen especially, would I ask each of you as you prepare your bills, as you ask for budget requests, whatever you want to do.

Think about what everything that people said about Martin Luther King, all the accomplishments, whether it's civil rights, whether it's voting, whether it's just bringing people together, whether it's the march in Selma, it's just a plethora of things. One man never elected, not rich, he believed in God. And think about what that one man did.

He changed not only his city, not only his state, not only his country, he changed the world. One man with no money and with no political backing, but the faith of doing the right thing. And that's what we should be doing.

If you really, really, truly, truly, truly want to honor Martin Luther King, when you think about what you want to do for the people of California, for the state of California, put it in that context, that's how you celebrate his life. You put in that context and you move aside. Race, religion, sexual orientation, or political parties and really try to make California better in his name.

I know now the ultimate sacrifice would have been I lost my life and my career and everything would have ended on December 21 tomorrow's my birthday. Martin Luther King's. The birthday after that.

As far as I'm concerned, I've been reborn. Reborn to do more than I ever did before. And so when you come to this body now, now that you've been sworn in, you've been reborn to do the best you can for everybody in California.

And again, ACA One is more than just commemorating we need to start doing. We need to stop chasing our dreams and catching those dreams and making them happen.

Thank you, Mr. Jones Sawyer. And seeing no further requests for discussion, Assembly Member Wilson, you may close.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank all the Members of the Assembly who stood representing either caucuses or their own individual responses. Thank you, Mr. Jones Sawyer for speaking on behalf of ACR One.

Martin Luther King had a quote that said we must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or we will perish as fools. And I know here in the state Assembly, we have learned to live together as brothers and sisters. No matter our political ideology, no matter the color of our skin, no matter our sexual orientation, we do work hard and well together.

So I thank you. And with that, I ask that the role will be open for co authors. And I respectfully ask for everyone's aye vote.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.. Wilson. Members, the first role will be open for co authors.

The Clerk will open the role. All those who wish to be a co author on ACR One, please cast your vote. All those who wish to be a co author, please cast your vote.

Clerk will close the role. There are 67 co authors added, and without objection, we will take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye.

All those post, say nay. Ayes have it. Resolution is adopted.

And with that, we have concluded the business on file. Members, we'll be moving to adjournments in memory. We ask that you give--Members, we will be lifting the call at this time, and we ask that you give respectful attention to those granted prior permission to speak on their adjournment in memory.

Members, we will be taking up our adjournments in memory today. And we'll begin with Assembly Member Pellerin. You're recognized at your desk for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues. I rise today to adjourn in the memory of Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Marigonda. Judge Marigonda passed away on December 10th after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 62 years old.

He is survived by Margaret, his wife of 31 years, his sons Patrick and Peter, and his beloved dog, Duke. He officiated at the marriage ceremony of his son Patrick and his wife Brittany, just a few days before he died. I was honored to attend Judge Marigonda's memorial services last weekend, and there were more people in the church to celebrate Paul's life than they get for Easter to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Judge Marigonda loved his family and he loved life. He lived life to its fullest every single day. When I worked for the County of Santa Cruz and we were on the same floor as Paul, you could always hear him before you saw him. Paul was exuberant, a fireball of energy. He would say hello to everyone, gave great bear hugs, and could light up a room with his smile. Paul loved being a judge.

He loved the rule of law and would often burst into the office of his fellow judges unable to contain his excitement over a recent court proceeding. Prior to his judicial appointment in 2006, Paul served as Santa Cruz County Assistant District Attorney for 18 years, and he was a former council member and mayor of the City of Scotts Valley. During his 15 years serving on the bench, Judge Marigonda was instrumental in launching the Family Preservation Court for parents with addiction problems and the implementation of the Behavioral Health Court for people suffering from mental health conditions.

Paul served on the Executive Board of the California Judges Association from 2018 to 2021 and received the Association's President's Award in 2021. Paul was dedicated to his undergraduate UC Berkeley Bears football team, attending games often with family and friends. What can I say? Paul always rooted for the underdog.

Paul will be remembered for his dramatic hand gestures, his extensive vocabulary, his photographic memory, his passion for justice, and his booming laugh. It's so appropriate that we are adjourning in memory today when we're also celebrating Martin Luther King because Paul also lived by those values. But most of all, Paul will be remembered for his unabashed love for his family, his friends, and his colleagues. He truly touched the lives of many, including mine. Mr. Speaker, will you please bang your gavel one time in memory of our beloved Judge Paul Marigonda? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Pellerin, and Assembly Member Robert Rivas, you are recognized at your desk for your adjournment in memory.

And thank you, Mr. Speaker. This morning, I rise in the memory of Don Christopher, a beloved resident from the City of Gilroy. Many people know Don as the King of Garlic. And for that matter, it's not a coincidence that the City of Gilroy is known as the garlic capital of the world.

Don Christopher changed the way that Californians--that in fact the entire world--saw garlic. Don was a community man, a visionary. As a third generation farmer, he transformed a small garlic farm into a 6,000 acre Christopher Ranch, which today produces 100 million pounds of heirloom garlic every single year.

Don was also the cofounder of the Gilroy Garlic Festival, an event that has drawn people from all over the world to the City of Gilroy, where they would taste and experience the versatility of Gilroy garlic. From garlic fries to garlic--some kettle corn, the festival goers would always end their visit with a scoop of garlic ice cream.

Don always sought to give back to our community. He contributed millions of dollars towards scholarships and created opportunities for thousands and thousands of young people in our region. Under his leadership and his generous giving, Christopher Ranch established itself as a community partner, supporting organizations throughout the greater Gilroy area and the southern part of Santa Clara County.

In addition, Don--he donated part of his land to the Gilroy Unified School District for the construction of a new high school and a state of the art sports complex for the city's youth. Don--he made a positive difference, a difference in the lives of every person he met. There's no question that he loved garlic, but even more, he loved his family and he loved his community. Don, thank you for everything you did for our region, for our state. You will be sorely missed, but your impact on Gilroy and the surrounding region will never, never be forgotten. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Rivas. Members, please bring the names to the desk to be printed in the journal. All requests to adjourn in the memory will be deemed read and printed in the journal. Moving to announcements, Members, I think we had heard that tomorrow is Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer's birthday, and there are cakes in the members lounge to celebrate. And the session schedule is as follows: on Monday, January 16, we will be observing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's holiday.

And Tuesday, January 17th, floor session is at 1:00 p.m. Seeing and hearing no further business, I'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. Ms. Reyes moves. Mr. Lackey seconds. This House stands adjourned until Tuesday, January 17th, at 1:00 p.m. We are adjourned.

The Assembly is now in session. Assembly Member Dixon notices the absence of a quorum. The sergeant in arms will prepare the chamber and bring in the absent Members. The Clerk will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Members, a quorum is present. We will ask our guests and our visitors in the rear of the chamber and in the gallery to please stand for the prayer. Today's prayer will be offered by our Assembly Chaplain, Imam Yasir Khan. Imam Yasir.

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful, Almighty God, we pray to You today by standing here on this Assembly floor bowing our heads and turning our hearts towards You, seeking Your blessings that You bless us in our endeavors to serve You through representing all those that are facing injustice by standing up and being vocal. Allow us to remain grounded in the values that are most pleasing to You. Use us to bring hope to those that need it in our great State of California. Amen.

We ask our guests and visitors to remain standing and join us in the flag salute. Please join Assembly Member Jackson as he leads us in the flag salute.

Will you join me in the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of 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. You may be seated. Reading of the previous day's journal.

Assembly Chamber, Sacramento, Wednesday, November 30th, 2022, pursuant to the provisions of Joint Rule 59. The following Assembly journal for the 2021-22 regular session was printed while the Assembly was in final recess. Communications--

Ms. Reyes moves, and Mr. Flora 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. And Majority Leader Reyes, you are recognized for your procedural motions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Pellerin and Robert Rivas to speak on an adjournment in memory today.

Without objection, such shall be the order.