Senate Floor

Secretary will call the roll.

Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuletta, Ashby, Atkins, Becker, Blakespear, Bradford, Caballaro, Cortese, Dahle, Dodd, Durazo, Eggman, Glazer, Gonzalez, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limon, McGuire, Menjivar, Min, Newman, Nguyen, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Portantino, Roth, Rubio, Seyarto, Skinner, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, Wahab, Wiener, Wilk.

A quorum is present with the Members and our guests beyond the rail, please rise. We'll be led in prayer today by Senator Laird, after which please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

God of our ordinary days and nights, god of extraordinary times, this day we pray guide our discerning and our deciding attune our hearts to the murmurings both of peace and of disquiet, so that aware of risk and of promise we move trustfully into the future uncloud our ayes to know what we need to leave what to seek and what to hold for the journey that we will find our feet on the right track walking the merciful path led by your unerring spirit we ask all that we ask in your name. Amen. Amen.

Members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance. Members, under privileges of the floor, I'd like to recognize Senator Dahle from the majority leader's desk.

Well, good afternoon, Members. Today is a really amazing day. I have one of my constituents from Grass Valley who is the last survivor of the Arizona, which was bombed in Pearl Harbor. And so I want to share. I provided each Member those Members who received gifts. I think there was two that did not receive a gift. But if you'd like to get the book, lou was gracious enough to sign each copy. Lou was a lieutenant commander in the Navy.

Lou was on the Arizona when it was hit during Pearl Harbor, there were 1177 servicemen who perished that day. There were 335 survivors, and Lou is the last survivor alive. Lou also served in Korea in the Korean War, and he developed the SAR system for the Vietnam War. So his whole life has been service to our country. He's 101 will be 102. He will be 102. September 13. He was shot down twice and survived both those one by friendly fire and one by the enemy.

He flew the floating planes, the PBY helped save over 200 Australian coast watchers met with President Kennedy three weeks before he was assassinated, talking to him about our involvement in Vietnam, actually, seven years ago. If you guys all remember Pete Conate, who used to do the veterans luncheon, I tried to get as many World War II veterans because we're losing them at a great pace. And so he came then with his wife and actually pushed her in a wheelchair all day.

And we had lunch together over at the convention center. So I just wanted to let you know that he's an amazing man. Please read his book. You will enjoy it. The history of his service to our nation and the things that he developed as you might recall, Senator Melendez actually went through the Sears training. And that's for when you're captured, how you survive. And many men and women who were captured would not have survived without the development of that program.

So I wanted to take the opportunity. I know we have many veterans that serve with us here on the floor. So Senator archuleta grove eggman, Mengevar Roth, Unburg and newman. I'd like to get a photo just with our service people. And I want to also recognize that Bernie is a veteran as well. And Jeff, our photographer, are veterans as well. That's the ones I know about. And if I missed you, please forgive me for that.

So it's my honor today to introduce to you the last survivor of the Arizona, Lou Contour, my friend and a great American.

Next up, Members just like Senator Dahle and the PT, just the two of them with the honoree, then we'll have everyone. So we're gonna have just. If we. Could just have Senator Dahlevand the PT. We'll now invite everyone who would like to join in for a photo. We'd like to invite all Members who'd like to join. I'd like to go back to Senator Dahle under privileges of the floor.

Thank you again, Members. I failed to introduce Luanne Daley and James Contour, his daughter and son that are here today as well, taking care of him.

Thank you, everyone. We're going to move on to our next recognition. Under privileges of the floor. I'd like to recognize Senator Cortese from the Majority leader's desk.

Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm pleased to recognize Acharya Lokesh Mooney on the floor today. And I'm honored to be joined by Assembly Member Alex Lee for this recognition. And I think yes, and I think Senator Wahab will be joining us as well. Acharya Lokesh is originally from the small town of Padura in Brahkastan, India, and he's a prominent Jain spiritual leader. Jainism is rooted in nonviolence peace and harmony, and that's really what the tradition stands for.

Above all else, Jain teachings can be applied to many of the societal issues we face today, including climate change, the depletion of natural resources, economic disparities, and discrimination. Uchario Lokesh has dedicated his life to spreading Jain principles and the message of peace and harmony in New Delhi. In 2005, he founded an organization called Ahimsa vishwa Bharti in an effort to provide social services and promote peace and spirituality. He spent the last 30 years working toward mutual cooperation and nonviolence.

His unwavering commitment, knowledge, energy, and perseverance have gained him international recognition. And justifiably so notably, he has contributed to the field of peace education where he combines age old meditation and yoga practices with contemporary scientific research. He is currently working to establish the World Peace Center in Gurugram in India to offer peace education to people of any profession, any walk of life, or any stage of life. Thank you, Acharya Lokesh, for your advocacy.

And thank you, colleagues, for taking the time to recognize him with me and with Assembly Member Alex Lee and Senator Wahab, whose district has one of the largest along with Alex Lee, one of the largest Jain temples that I know of in the country. Thank you very much. And we'd like to present you this resolution.

Everyone is welcome now to join for a photo. Who would like.

Members. Continuing under privileges of the floor, we have a very special welcome on behalf of Senator Blakespear. Please welcome her mother, Tricia Smith. Also, Serena Lamar is shadowing the Senator today, so we welcome her as well. And we have one final introduction. I'd like to welcome Alex Wagenfeld. Up in the gallery. He's the recent Sustainability Youth Commendation Award winner from sustainable San Mateo County for his work mobilizing peers at the Nueva School and other local high schools to get involved in environmental projects, and his involvement in urging private high schools across the US. To divest from fossil fuels. Please give him a warm California State Senate welcome. Moving on, messages from the Governor will be deemed red. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed red. Reports of committee deemed red and amendments adopted. Members, now is the time for motions, resolutions and notices. Without objection, the Senate journals from July 3, 2023 through July 6, 2023 will be approved as corrected by the minute Clerk. There are floor amendments at the desk. They will be deemed adopted. Senator Wilk.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the request of the author, please remove the item 197 AB 7117 from the consent calendar and place the Bill on the inactive file.

So noted. Any other motions? Resolutions? I now move on to considerations of the daily file second reading file secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 27, Assembly Bill 37, with amendments 421 with amendments. Assembly Bill 1227. Assembly Bill 859 with amendments.

Second reading file will be deemed red. Now we'll move on to governor's appointments, starting with file item 41. Senator Laird. You're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. File item 41 is the confirmation of our former colleague, Senator Isidor Hall, for reappointment to the Agriculture Labor Relations Board. He was first appointed to serve on the board in 2017. This is his second reappointment. He was approved by the Rules Committee on June 20 eigth on a 5-0 vote. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any discussion or debate Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen. Alvarado-Gil. I. Archuleta. I. Ashby. I. Atkins. I. Becker. I. Blakespear. I. Bradford. Caballero. Cortese. I. Dahle. I. Dodd. I. Durazo. I. Eggman. I. Glazer. I. Gonzalez. I. Grove. I Hurtado. Jones. Laird. I. Limon. I. McGuire. I. Menjivar. Min. I. Newman. I. Nguyen. Niello. Ochoa Bogh. I. Padilla. I. Portantino. Roth. I. Rubio. Seyarto. Skinner. I. Smallwood-Cuevas. I. Stern. I Umberg. I Wahab. I Weiner. I. Wilk.

Please call the absent Members.

Allen. Aye. Bradford. Aye. Caballero. I, Hurtado. Jones. Aye. Menjivar. I. Wynn. Nielo. Portentino. Aye. Rubio. Aye. Seyarto. Wilk? Aye.

Ayes are 36, noesr zero. That appointment is confirmed. File item 43. Senator Laird. You're recognized.

Thank you very much. File item 43 is the confirmation of Marvin Cropkey for reappointment to the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board. He was first appointed to the board in 2019. Previously served as business manager and financial secretary for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. IBEW Local Eleven. He was approved by the Rules Committee on June 28th. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Durazo, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I just want to add to the comments on why I'm supporting brother Marvin Kropke. In addition to his over two decades as business manager of IBEW Local Eleven, his relentless dedication to the entire community and all working people, he was always the first to donate money, volunteers, anything the community needed. He is a disabled veteran from combat in the Vietnam War, serving in the Fourth Infantry Division, and is a life Member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Disabled American Veterans Organizations. For these and many more reasons, I stand in support of his appointment.

Senator Wilk.

Thank you, Mr. President. I can't top that because that was an excellent presentation. But I've had the honor of working with Mr. Kropke for numerous years in his position with IBEW Local Eleven. Fantastic person, cares very much about workers, and I encourage everybody to vote I on this appointment.

Senator Bradford. Thank you.

Thank you. I ought to rise in support of Marvin Cropkey. I had an opportunity to serve and work with him when I cheered Senate labor. And I've always found him to be an upfront, straight dealer, honest, hardworking, representing men and women in the best of integrity, and always working for the best and fighting for the best for not only working class people, but all of California. So I'm proud to support them in this position.

Senator Smallwood Cuevas.

Thank you, Mr. President. And I too stand with my colleagues in support of this appointment. I had the honor to work with Marvin Kropke in the community, and certainly a fighter for working people, a fighter for good jobs, but also a fighter to make sure that women, black workers represented populations, have a voice and have access to these jobs, was one of the first leaders of the building trades to really lift up minority caucuses, women caucuses, so that even within the union context, those leadership voices could be heard and developed. And with that, I ask for an aye vote.

Know the mic. Senator Laird, would you like to close?

I respectfully ask for an aye vote. That's an incredible tribute to him that so many people spoke.

Thank you, secretary, please call the roll.

Allen. I Alvaradogil. I Archuleta. I Ashby. I Atkins. I. Becker. I Blakespear. I. Bradford. I Caballero. I Cortese. I Dahle. Dodd. I Durazo. I Eggman. I Glazer. I Gonzalez. I Grove. Hurtado, Jones, Laird. I Limon. I McGuire. I Menjivar? I Min. I Newman. I Nguyen. Niello Ochoa Bogh, Padilla. I Portantino. I Roth. I Rubio. I Seyarto. Skinner. I Smallwood-Cueevas. I Stern. I Umberg. I Wahab. I Weiner. I Wilk. I

Please call the absent Members.

Dahle Grove Hurtado. Jones, Nguyen. Niello, Ochoa Bogh Seyarto.

Ayes are 32, noes are zero. The appointment is confirmed. For our final appointment, Senator Laird, you're recognized.

Thank you very much. Mr. President. File item 49 is the confirmation of Dr. Gregory Ferraro for reappointment to the California Horse Racing Board. He was first appointed in 2019. He currently serves as the board's chair. He's a licensed veterinarian and previously served as associate Director for the center for Equine Health at UC Davis. He was approved by the Rules Committee on July 5 on a 5-0 vote. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any discussion or debate Members? Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen. Aye. Alvarado Gil. Aye. Archuleta? I Ashby. I Atkins I. Becker. Aye. Blakespear. Aye. Bradford. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cortese. Aye. Dahle. Dodd. Aye Durazo. Aye. Eggman. Aye. Glazer. Aye. Gonzalez? I Grove. I Hurtado Jones. I. Laird. I Limon. I McGuire. I Menjivar. I Min. I Newman. I Nguyen. I Neillo. I Ochoa Bogh. I Padilla. I Portantino. I. Roth I Rubio I Seyarto. I Skinner. I Smallwood Cuevas. I Stern? I Umberg. I Wahab? I Weiner? I Wilk? Aye.

Please call the absent Members.

Hurtado.

Ayes are 39, noes are zero. That appointment is confirmed. Members will go to unfinished business. We have one item. Senator Weiner under unfinished business. Item 50, please. Secretary, please read.

Senate Bill 477. Committee on Housing. An act relating to land use and declaring the urgency thereof to take effect immediately.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. This is a bill from the Committee on Housing. It reorganizes sections of housing law relating to accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs into a single chapter. It does not make any policy substantive or controversial changes to statute. It also updates all relevant cross-references and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Any discussion or debate? Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen. Aye. Alvarado-Gil. Ashby. Aye. Atkins. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespear. aye. Bradford. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cortese. Aye. Dahle. Aye. Dodd. Aye. Durazo. Aye. Eggman. Aye. Glazer. Gonzalez. Aye. Grove. Aye. Hurtado. Jones. Aye. Laird. Limon. Aye. McGuire. Aye. Menjivar. Aye. Min. Aye. Newman. Aye. Nguyen. Aye. Niello. Aye. Ochoa Bogh. Aye. Padilla. Aye. Portantino. Roth. Aye. Rubio. Seyarto. Aye. Skinner. Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas. Aye. Stern. Aye. Umberg. Aye. Wahab. Aye. Wiener. Aye. Wilk.

Please call the absent members.

Alvarado-Gil. Glazer. Aye. Hurtado. Laird. Portantino. Rubio. Aye. Wilk. Aye. Alvarado-Gil. Aye.

Please call the absent members one more time.

Hurtado. Laird. Portantino.

Please call the absent members one more time.

Hurtado. Laird. Portantino.

Ayes are 37, noes are zero. On the urgency, ayes are 37, noes are zero on the measure. The measure passes. And the Assembly amendments are concurred in. Members, we have one item on Assembly third reading. File item 84, Senator Portantino. Mr. Secretary, please read.

Assembly Joint Resolution 1 by Assemblymember Holden. An act relative to the Republic of Artsakh.

Go ahead, Senator Portantino.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair and members. Today I rise to present AJR 1 which condemns the illegal and inhumane blockade enforced by the Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh. This measure would condemn Azerbaijan's blockade of the Republic of Artsakh and urge the United States government to take immediate action to assist the Armenians of this great country.

Artsakh is the ancestral home of Armenian people and has been a center of the Armenian language, culture, and religion, having maintained its autonomy for over two millennia. The Armenians of Artsakh, many of whom have relatives living in California, and many of those relatives live in the 25th State Senate district.

The Armenian people have been a center of the Armenian language and the Armenians of Artsakh were targeted during the Armenian genocide of 1915 and by Azerbaijani nationalists with the backing of the Ottoman Empire, where they massacred over 30,000 Armenians in Baku, 20,000 Armenians in Shushi, and over 10,000 Armenians in Nakhchivan. Despite Artsakh's distinct Armenian identity, it was arbitrarily and illegally separated from Armenia by the Soviet Union at the discretion of Stalin in 1921, and placed under administrative control of Soviet Azerbaijan.

For over 70 years, the Armenians of Artsakh suffered routine discrimination and persecution. The Sumgait pogroms decimated the Armenian community. The pogroms in Baku decimated the Armenians. There were displacement of over 400,000 people. In response to escalating antiarmenian violence, the Armenians of Artsakh exerted their right to self-determination and declared independence in 1991, which was reaffirmed on December 10 of that same year, and recognized that Azerbaijan government was unable and unwilling to ensure the fundamental rights of the Armenian people living there. I've been to Artsakh four times.

I've been to the war zone post-44-day war. I've seen the destruction, I've seen the violence firsthand, whether those were homes that were destroyed or schools that were shot up. And for the past 25 years, the Armenians of Artsakh have consolidated into a free and democratic society that faced that unprecedented aggression by the Azerbaijans. So in September 2020, Azerbaijan once again abandoned decades of diplomacy and launched that war. Today, we see a blockade that is starving people of essential services and goods and medical equipment.

This is just an untenable, inhuman, and illegal blockade of Artsakh. Many of those people survive due to traditional food preservation since access to Armenia has been prohibited. Many children are separated from their families. Now, while California is home to the largest Armenian American population in the United States, and Armenians in California have enriched our state through their contributions to business, agriculture and academia, government, and the arts.

It's incumbent upon us to send a message that what's going on there is not just violent, horrible, but it's inhuman and it's illegal. The State of California has encouraged and supported continued efforts to support Artsakh. Artsakh, we recognize Artzakh's sovereignty, this legislative body, and today, representatives of the fight between democracy and autocracy, transparency and corruption, freedom, and oppression, that's what's at stake here today. The people of Armenia and Artsakh always have chosen peace, and we must stand with them as they fight for their survival. And I respectfully ask for your support on AJR 1 today.

Senator Durazo, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too, as a state Senator representing Little Armenia in Los Angeles, I stand in support of AJR 1. California has long led the effort, not only in the United States but globally, to defend Armenia's sovereignty and Artsakh's right to self-determination in the face of Türkiye and Azerbaijan's aggression.

AJR 1 serves as a reaffirmation of the noble track record and as a call to action on our federal government to ensure the United States stands on the right side of history in confronting the threat of authoritarianism wherever and whenever it arises. With AJR 1 we urge the US to ensure vital aid reaches Armenians in need. And again, I urge support. Thank you.

Any other discussion or debate? Senator Portantino, would you like to close?

Thank you. Mr. President and members. Again, California recognizes the sovereignty of Artsakh. We have many, many Californians who have relatives who live there who, frankly, are fighting for their lives. It's incumbent upon us to stand opposed to this aggression and urge Washington to speak out strongly, firmly, and support the brave people who are starving. Thank you.

Secretary, please call the roll.

Allen. Aye. Alvarado-Gil. Aye. Archuleta. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Atkins. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespear. Aye. Bradford. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cortese. Dahle. Aye. Dodd. Aye. Durazo. Aye. Eggman. Aye. Glazer. Aye. Gonzalez. Aye. Grove. Aye. Hurtado. Jones. Aye. Laird. Aye. Limon. Aye. McGuire. Aye. Menjivar. Aye. Min. Aye. Newman. Aye. Nguyen. Aye. Niello. Aye. Ochoa Bogh. Aye. Padilla. Aye. Portantino. Aye. Roth. Aye. Rubio. Aye. Seyarto. Aye, Skinner. Aye. Smallwood-Cuevas. Aye. Stern. Aye. Umberg. Aye. Wahab. Aye. Wiener. Aye. Wilk. Aye.

Please call the absent members.

Cortese. Aye. Hurtado.

Ayes are 39, noes are zero. That measure passes. Members, we have committee announcements then we'll have three adjourned memories. For committee announcements, I will recognize whoever is ready to be recognized. Senator Bradford, for committee announcements.

Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications will meet in room, that's what I'm looking for. What room? In room 1200. At 3:00. At 3:00.

Senator Archuleta. Senator Archuleta.

We will meet at 3:00 in room 1200.

2200 is what we had.

It's the Military and Veterans Committee. 3:00.

Yeah, 2200. Room 2200, that's what I had. Okay, great. Senator Wiener.

The Senate Committee on Housing will convene 15 minutes after adjournment of session in the swing space. Room 2100.

Senator Min.

Senate Natural Resources and Water will convene 15 minutes after the conclusion of Military and Veterans Committee in room 2200.

Thank you. Members now is the time for adjourning memories under motions and resolutions, and I'd like to recognize Senator Portantino first for your adjournment memory. Senator, you are recognized.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President and members. Today I sadly rise to adjourn in memory of someone many of us know and many of us have worked closely with. Our good friend Betty Jo Toccoli. Betty Jo was born on October 28, 1933, in Caldwell, Idaho, where she grew up on a dairy farm and was the oldest of three siblings. It is this upbringing she credited for her work ethic and desire to help others.

Upon graduating high school, Betty Jo moved to Twin Falls, where she had her only child, Galene, who was working for the reservation when she met the love of her life, Ray Taccoli. The two were married in 1963 and moved to the East Coast, where she became the first woman vice president of sales at Gillette. In 1973, they moved to Los Angeles and she started her own cosmetics company, Laura Lynn. She also began working in the financial planning industry.

California truly became her home, and she became a diehard UCLA Bruin and Los Angeles Clippers fan, often spending her free time attending those games. In 1985, after attending the White House Conference on Small Business, Betty Jo helped create the California Small Business Association, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring the voice of small businesses were heard in Sacramento.

She spent 38 years of her life fighting on behalf of the small businesses, and her ability to remain truly nonpartisan is what helped gain her the trust of so many of us elected officials. One of her greatest accomplishments was included getting the California Small Business Day passed in the Assembly with the help of her good friend Gwen Moore. The event has helped honor thousands of small business owners throughout the state for their contributions to the state and local communities.

She passed away, sadly, on June 15, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. Betty is survived by her brother Keith McGuire and his wife and daughter, Donna and Laura. She is also survived by her granddaughter, Samantha Turnbull, and her great-granddaughter Kaylee of Boise, Idaho. Betty Jo loved talking to all of us about the small business issues she deeply cared about.

Many of us, I know, have said to me when they saw she was on the schedule today, how they enjoyed the small business roundtable she would put together in our district offices. And I know many of you join me in wishing her family love and peace and send our respect and kindness to Betty Jo and thankfully, all of you for letting me adjourn our house in her memory.

Thank you. Senator Glazer, you're also recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President, members. I joined with my colleague, the Senator from Burbank, in recognizing Betty Jo. She was certainly a force of nature when it came to small business. And we all know that small business, they don't have a lot of great advocates in our districts. They're doing their thing. And she was able to organize them and would have annual meetings, I know with me and many of I'm sure you in our district offices with the small business people aligned with her to make the case for a variety of different bills.

But one of my fondest memories of Betty Jo is that she would be so organized coming into those meetings that there'd be a very specific agenda almost by the minute and about what she was going to say, what each person was going to say, and then what you were supposed to say. And if you didn't go along with her agenda, she'd scold you right in the middle of the meeting, and it certainly happened to me a number of times when I spoke too soon.

But she was charming and passionate and one of the greatest advocates we've had for small business during my time in the Legislature. And so with that, I join in this kind adjournment in her memory and fond wishes to all of her friends and family on her great life.

Thank you, Senator Portantino, please bring her name up so she can be properly memorialized. Next, we have Senator Umberg.

Thank you, Mr. President and members. Colleagues, today I rise to honor the life of Judge David McEachen, who passed away not very long ago. Judge McEachen embodied a lifetime of inexhaustible service to others, to his country, and to his family. He received his bachelor's degree from Oregon State University in 1964 and then served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy during Vietnam. He served two tours and was decorated for his service in Vietnam.

He was subsequently admitted to the bar in 1975, and after a long and distinguished career in the private sector, he was appointed the bench of the Orange County Municipal Court in 1990 by Governor George Duke Major. He was then appointed to the Orange County Superior Court by Governor Wilson in 1992 and elected 1994, 2000, and 2006. Judge McEachen served with honor until his retirement in 2015 and earned particular distinction for his vision, his passion, his dedication to the collaborative courts, in particular drug court.

At that time, an innovative idea to make sure that those who were suffering from substance abuse that they received the supervision, the accountability, and the treatment so that they would not again use substances or recidivate if they had committed a crime. Judge McEachen is survived by his wife, Peggy Morrison McEachen, his children Sarah Castro and Ryan McEachen, and his stepdaughter Christine Farwell. I ask that we adjourn his memory today. Thank you.

Thank you. And please bring his name up to the desk so he can be properly memorialized. Finally, Senator Allen, you are recognized for your adjournment memory.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, it's with a heavy heart that I rise today to request that we adjourn the memory of John Britton, who passed away in April. John was a world-class athlete and a beloved coach. He was born into the badminton community in Edinburgh, Scotland, to May and Burt Britton, both talented players in their own time.

And he found early success in rugby, cricket, water polo, squash, and basketball in addition to his true passions, badminton, soccer, and tennis. He rose through the ranks in Scottish badminton, claiming national and junior and senior titles, eventually competing at the 1974 European championships. He earned national honors in tennis and spent his summers coaching tennis at Camp America in New York. 1976, he stayed with a badminton-playing Scottish family in Pasadena, and he entered a tournament in Manhattan Beach.

And that tournament was when his love of badminton introduced him to the true love of his life, Tracy. And John and Tracy married, settled in Manhattan Beach, eventually becoming what in the Los Angeles Times called the first family of badminton. Alongside Tracy, John continued his competitive career, playing on the US National badminton team for more than 20 years, winning National Doubles championships six times.

In the 1990 US Open Championship final, John and Tracy found themselves on the opposite sides of the net, a title that Tracy took back to their Manhattan Beach home. And John also played professional soccer alongside legends of the sport. And when he attended El Camino College, he joined the soccer team and set single-season scoring record in 1978, a record that landed him in that college's Hall of Fame.

Years later, he returned to the college as the coach to both badminton and soccer and led the men's soccer team to a championship within two seasons of taking the reins. John coached at El Camino for more than 25 years. He shared his passion for the sports that brought him a lifetime of joy. And on the school's 75th anniversary, John, Tracy, and their daughter Jamie were all listed among the 75 greatest male and female athletes in El Camino College history.

Throughout his years of travel and competition, John's contagious joy and optimism touched all those who met him. His memory is cherished by his mother, May, his wife Tracy, his children, Jamie, Tom, and Andrew, his grandchildren Jaden, James, Bailey, and Drew. Colleagues, I ask that you join me in recognizing the wonderful life and spirit of Coach John Britton by adjourning today in his memory.

Thank you. Please bring his name to the desk as well. There's no other business, Senator Atkins, the desk is clear.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, thank you. Our next floor session is scheduled for this Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.

Senate will be in recess until 3:30 p.m., at which time the German motion will be made. We'll reconvene Thursday, July 13, at 9:00 a.m.