Senate Floor

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Members of quorum is present. Without objection, the Senate rule 55 will be suspended to allow guests on the floor with the Members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery. Please rise. We'll be led in prayer this morning by our Chaplain Sister Michelle Gorman, after which we're going to ask you to remain standing for the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Gracious God. In these days of craziness, we need to learn how to love. The poet Rosemary trauma prays. If sorrow is how we learn to love, then let us learn. Already enough sorrow has been sown for whole continents to erupt into astonishing tenderness. Let us learn. Let compassion grow rampant like sunflowers along the highway. Let each act of kindness replant itself into acres and acres of widespread devotion. Let us choose love as if our lives depend on it. The sorrow is great. Let us learn to love together. Righteous love, expansive love so rooted, so common, we almost forget the world could look any other way. Amen.

Please join me in a pledge of allegiance to the flag-

Moving on. Members privilege to the floor. There are none. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports and committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted. Motions and resolutions without objection. The Senate journals for January 3, 2024, through January 3, 12024 will be approved as corrected by the minute Clerk. Moving on now to introductions and first reading of bills. Bills will be deemed read. Consideration of the daily file. Members, without objection, will move to Senate. Third reading.

File item four, SCA 1 by Senator Newman. Newman, are you prepared, Senator? The floor is yours. Clerk, please read.

Senate Constitutional Amendment one by Senator Newman in accolade to Elections.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to present SCA 1, which will ensure that statewide and legislative recalls in California are fair and effective by adjusting the conduct of state-level recall elections so that the only question on the ballot is the one that truly matters. Should the official be recalled? Yes or no, Californians can be justifiably proud of our history of and commitment to direct democracy, which has yielded groundbreaking protections and reforms that duly reflect the will of California's voters.

The current two-question format for state-level recall elections, however, is a vestige of a very different era where recalling a malfeasance elected official was the presumed best path toward better or more honest governance in an era where moneyed interests were ascendant at the state-level.

Today, however, the inclusion of that second question as to who should replace the target of a state level recall serves a very different and unintended function, presenting a powerful incentive to instigate a recall for strictly political reasons, so as to achieve through a special election what would otherwise not be possible in a normal election, and where a replacement candidate in a fractured field can assume the vacated office with as little as 15% of the vote.

It's important to note, moreover, that a recall vote is actually not an election per se, but it is rather a referendum on whether an elected official retains the full faith and confidence of his or her voters. In place of the snap election role of the second question, a recalled state level official would be replaced in the same manner as if he or she left office for some other reason.

By implementing safeguards that shield the process from abuse and political gamesmanship, SCA one, when placed on the ballot and approved by a majority of California's voters, will remove incentives for gaming the electoral system, thereby restoring state level elections to their intended purpose as a just and measured check on corrupt or malfeasance state level public officials. Thank you. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this item Senator Seyarto.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in opposition to SCA one because, very simply, it's not needed. In the last 113 years, since 1913, basically 111 years, only 11 of 179 recall attempts have collected enough signatures to even qualify for a ballot. That's like 6%. That doesn't exactly scream out that we need reform on our recall process. And the last recall process, the only reason that that passed was because we had Covid and they extended the time frame to collect ballots.

And because they extended that time frame, guess what? It passed. So if you were looking for a reform, perhaps that should be one. Extend the time frame so democracy can be enabled and allow more people to involve themselves in the collection process and getting their signatures in the existing filing, signature and deadline requirements. They're explicitly built to prevent exploitation of the system and the people who wrote it, they had that in mind when they wrote it.

And that's why we only have a 6% success rate in getting these type of recalls on a ballot as it relates to the Governor and the lieutenant Governor. When the populace becomes so upset that they decide that they are going to recall a Governor. They're not necessarily upset at the Governor himself or a particular trait or part of what they might be at the local level. What they're upset at is the direction that their state is going.

And when you have a single party state or a majority state, like we have, the difference between what the Governor wants to do and what the lieutenant Governor wants to do is like two people going in the same boat in the same direction. People want to change the direction. It's not going to happen. By having the lieutenant Governor automatically replace the Governor. In our current system, we can do that. The lieutenant Governor can run for the governor's seat.

Yes, it's a little uncomfortable to run for the guy who you want to support you later for that seat, but they can do that and the voters can immediately fill that in and the lieutenant Governor would become the Governor. So it's not like it can't be done. It can be done. And as far as having too many people collect on the ballot, as many of you have received all of your ballot, your ballot information, the pamphlets this year, take a look at our US Senate race.

It looks like there's 50 people on there, so that's not something that we're going to fix. And also, this isn't just for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor. There are other seats that could be recalled, like perhaps the district attorneys if somebody recalls their District Attorney, and then they have to sit and wait for another election to be held to replace them. What transpires in that vacuum? That's why recalls were done the way they were.

They replaced the person immediately for the sake of expediency and making the recall process work quickly. A quick resolution, that's what it was built for. This new attempt is not a quick resolution. This will create ballot fatigue, if you will, for some communities. And it's just not necessary for us to continue with our democracy. So I think it's time for us to move on with the more pressing issues in California instead of trying to attack problems like this that aren't really problems.

And the last thing I want to mention is this. It seems when we have an SCA that polls at 80% that we don't like, we make those people, we make the public go out and work hard and spend a lot of money gathering signatures, but then we have something that doesn't poll well, but we're going to try and get it on the ballot so we can probably talk people into doing it.

We do this process where we skip that other process, they don't have to do it. We'll do it for them. We had that happen last year with SCA four. The same thing happened that pulled 80%. I don't know what this is polling at, but if it does, it pulls in regions, it doesn't poll for the state. So we don't need this measure. I would ask that you consider not doing this. It will just be one more Proposition on the ballot to help confuse people.

There will be many in November, and this will just confuse people with an overload of propositions. And then I know the people that support this want it to sneak through, and then we'll have one more thing that will cement in a different system and create more distrust in the system that we have. So I recommend a no vote on SCA one. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Blakespear.

Thank you. I rise in strong support of SCA one today, and I want to thank my colleague from Fullerton for introducing this. I'm a proud co author and I think this is a good governance Bill which anybody who was paying close attention to the last recall I think would have similar insights about the reality that the recall is supposed to be. As the author said, the recall is a referendum on the person in the seat is not an election.

And so the question of is this person doing a good job? Do we want to remove them. If they are removed or if they die, if they resign, if they're not in that seat anymore, the Lieutenant Governor or the second person underneath would take over that role. And to me, that is exactly what a system we should have and was the insight that I had and many people had paying attention to the last recall. And so I really am grateful that the author brought this and that we are here able to introduce it today and I encourage all of you to support it as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Glazer.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, I also rise in strong support of SCA one. I'll acknowledge the point made earlier by the Senator from Murietta that it is a rare occurrence, thank goodness, in our state. But irrespective of that, it's something that when it does happen, we want it to happen. Right.

For Members that are new here in the building, I would note that the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments, along with the Assembly Committee on Elections, held joint hearings on this issue a couple years ago to hear from experts from across the state, constitutional scholars, law professors and the rest, to examine our recall process and what would make it better. I would also note that the Little Hoover Commission also did a study to look at this dysfunction that we saw in the last recall election.

And I think what this measure speaks to most importantly is that a majority vote for the Governor of the state matters, simple as that. We don't want accidents to happen, that we want a deliberative process. And where a majority of Californians say, that's the person, great. That's the person. And I think that's fundamental to what this measure proposes to do. And finally, this measure simply places it on the ballot for the voters to decide.

This isn't an action of the Senate that puts it into law immediately. It puts the question before the voters, which, who can have an objection to that? Let them make the choice as to how they want their recall process to be changed or not. I think it's a smart reform. I applaud the author from Fullerton for authoring it, and I hope we'll support today FCA one.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item? Hearing seeing none. Senator Newman, would you like to close?

Thank you. I do appreciate the comments of all of my colleagues. Let me touch on a couple of points to the assertion that this is not needed, and because this has not happened often, just because it doesn't happen often doesn't mean it's not needed.

I think our experience with the last Gubernatorial recall points to the fact that it is needed, and that recall not only took place at a time where there were much more pressing needs, $100 million or so was spent to no good effect at all. The results were no different than his original election. To the question about the lieutenant Governor ascending into the role, I'd like to point out that those two offices are elected independently.

There is no certainty that in the future that they won't belong to different parties. To the questions or points raised about the threshold, that's something. To my colleague who chairs the election Committee, we looked at this as part of the joint hearings, and the decision was made not to address that, that the threshold was still appropriate, but to that broader question of the role and incentives created by the second question.

There is a consensus, as my colleague pointed out, a bunch of very smart, very engaged people looked at this, and the consensus is not only that it's necessary on their part, but it is also supported by polling. The average Californian is smarter than we often give them credit for, and they agree, especially in light of the last recall effort, that this process is in due need of reform. And so this does not in any way reduce the importance of this very important direct democratic process.

Ayes-30, noes-seven. The measure passes. I stand corrected. Ayes-31, noes-seven. The measure passes. Now. Members, we're moving to Governor's Appointments. Senator Grove, are you prepared? She is. Senator Grove, the floor is yours.

What it aspires to do is return it to its original intended purpose as a test and a validation of the integrity or the malfeasance of a targeted elected official. And then from there, with the public having had their say, we will duly replace that public servant with another using the normal process. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

Gonzalez, Portantino, Rubio.

Call the absent Members one more time, please.

Gonzalez, Portantino, Rubio, aye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item number one is the confirmation of Tamatha Foss, the undersecretary of operations for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Colleagues, this is an exceptional nominee. She stood before us and, or sat before us, and she answered every question with no notes and had a wealth of knowledge about the inner workings of the CDCR system and from both sides.

She started as a correctional officer back, I believe, in 1996, and then worked her way up and became a warden, and then started in the administrative piece of it, of the department. And then now the appointment is the undersecretary for the CDCR, I can tell you, or California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations. I can tell you that like I said, she sat before us. She had no notes.

She answered every question, and she not only had answered every question, she had solutions for the problems that we're facing in our prison system. And I think the entire Rules Board, with her unanimous confirmation, has full confidence in her and respectfully asks for aye vote.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate? Senator Laird?

Thank you very much, Mr. President. The Senator from Bakersfield said most of what I was going to say, but I just. On the Rules Committee, Senator Grove and I just so frequently agree. This was one of those places. This was one of those places because she was a starting corrections officer in one of the toughest prisons in the State of California.

And she worked her way up completely in a way that, as was said, she was so articulate and so on top of the issues that for this position, she's good. And when I visited a prison in my district this last Friday, they had all been watching the Rules Committee hearing. So I hope they're watching now to know that this is not a perfunctory confirmation. That we recognize the goodness in this candidate. And I'll be pleased to support her confirmation.

Thank you, any further discussion or debate? Secretary, please call the roll. I'm sorry, Senator Grove, would you like to close?

Thank you, Mr. President. I echo my colleagues' comments. And just to reiterate one more time. She has lived experience. From the beginning of the CDCR process to hopefully, a future position in a higher role. But right now, we'll take her as the undersecretary of operations for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Secretary, please call the role on the appointment.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 38. Noes, zero. The appointment is confirmed. Senator Grove.

Thank you, Mr. President. File item two is a confirmation of David Lewis as Director of a Division of Facility Planning, Construction and Management at CDCR. Before he was in this role, he served as a Deputy Director for healthcare facility support and the correctional healthcare staff services. He's also a former State Senate staff, having previously served as a consultant in the Senate Republican Fiscal Office. He, too, has a wealth of knowledge on the vacated facilities That we are leaving abandoned throughout the State of California.

I love his out of the box thinking when he was looking at hopefully being able to repurpose some of these facilities. That might be if they were available more to the public and not in such away areas from population. But he really is thinking outside the box to what to do with these facilities and to make sure that the facilities that are currently housing the incarcerated, that they have a safe facility to be incarcerated in. Respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item? Hearing and seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 38, noes zero. The appointment is confirmed. Now file item three. Senator Grove.

I think three. Oh, thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, file item three is both for Kimberly Craig and Willie Pelote. An appointment to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors. Mrs. Craig is currently a partner with the lobbying firm at ARC Strategies. Most previously, she served as a Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary in the office of Governor Brown. Her career in the legislature includes serving as Chief of Staff of then Assemblymember Atkins.

Senate pro tem now, and later a special assistant to deputy Assembly Speaker Atkins. Mr. Pelote currently runs Pelote Strategy Consulting and Advocacy. And he has a long career in both legislative staff and advocacy, including as a policy consultant for the Assembly Speaker, Willie Brown. Both appointees were approved by the Rules Committee on January 24 on a unanimous vote. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Any further discussion or debate on this item. Senator Jones?

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, I just wanted to put in a good word real quick for Mr. Polote. When I first got elected in 2010, he was one of the very first Sacramento professionals to come into my office and introduce himself, knowing that there would probably be some disagreement on the issues that were important to him and the issues that were important to me.

But I really appreciated that meeting and his honesty and knowing that he is a fierce advocate for the things that are important to him here in the State of California. I know he'll be a fierce advocate on the board of directors, and I support his confirmation today. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. We're going to ask the members to take their conversations off the floor. It's been a little noisy. Senator Grove, would you like to close on this appointment?

Respectfully, ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 38, noes zero.

The appointment is confirmed. Now, members, we're moving to Senate third reading file item 15. Senator Jones, you're prepared? Oh, Caballero. I'm sorry, Caballero. There she is. Secretary, please read.

Senator Resolution 58 by Senator Caballero relative to Cal EITC Awareness Week.

Senator Caballero, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to present SR 58, which establishes January 26 through February 2 as a California Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Week, or Cal EITC. Established in 2015 in response to an increase in the poverty rate in the state, the Cal EITC program provides low-income individuals and families with a range of tax credits and, in combination with other safety net tax credit programs, serve as a strong tool to reduce poverty.

Modeled after the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit, the Cal EITC program provides financial relief to low-income working individuals and their family. California's version goes even further because it's tailored to the needs of the residents of our state. Since the program's inception, Cal EITC has been modified to increase eligibility. This includes increasing the maximum income, lowering the age requirement, and expanding eligibility to filers with an individual tax identification number, or ITIN.

Depending on household size, eligible tax filers can receive a credit payment of just over $3,500, and according to the Public Policy Institute of California, more than 3.6 million Californians claim the credit in 2021. Families who qualify for Cal EITC with young children also qualify for the young child tax credit. These credits now put over $1.3 billion into the hands of eligible taxpayers and is a life-changing program that supports those most in need.

Despite education and outreach efforts, many eligible Californians are missing out on tax credits they're entitled to. Billions of dollars set aside for the program are currently unclaimed because very low wage earners are not required to file taxes or they are unaware that the credits available. So the resolution folks calls attention to the benefits of Cal EITC in an effort to increase the number of claims, but also to show appreciation for the on-the-ground services provided through the volunteer Income tax assistance programs.

Please join me in celebrating this important program. Push it out on social media so that people know that this is a program for which they may be eligible and that can have a tremendously positive financial impact on the lives of California. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you. Any further discussion or debate on this item? Any further discussion or debate? Hearing and seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 34, noes zero. The measure passes. Now, members, we're moving back to motions and resolutions. Now is the time for adjourn in memories. Senator Wahab.

Senator Wynn, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to move the following items to the inactive file. File item 10, SCR 100. File item 11, SCR 101. File item 12, SCR 103. File item 13, SCR 104. Thank you.

Thank you. The desk will note. Now, members, we're moving back to adjourn in memories. First up, we have Senator Wahab. Senator Wahab, the floor is yours.

Thank you. Colleagues, I rise to adjourn in the memory of five time Fremont Mayor Gus Morrison, who passed away on December 14 at the age of 88. As a leader, he prioritized the community with services and projects like supporting high-density development to help low-income residents. The award-winning Sunrise Village homeless shelter, the first shelter in the nation built to accommodate families.

Establishing Ardenwood Historic Farm Park, introducing curbside recycling and local household hazardous waste drop off, and many other services and projects related to this deep passion for social and environmental issues. Gus understood and appreciated the value of the blooming diversity of the city he led, once commenting on the need to keep an open mind and cultural sensitivity. Morrison, the eldest son of Scottish immigrants, grew up in New York, near the Canadian border.

He served in the Navy during the Korean War, and attributed who he had become to his years of service and appreciated the opportunity to serve his country. He spent 53 years of his life married to his wife, Joy, until her death in 2012, and is survived by his children and grandchildren.

I will also say that Gus was a leader in particular that would reach out to other upcoming leaders and spend time with them, talk to them, mentor them, and do much more than just being a leader himself. He was a friend, he was a mentor, he was a colleague, and most importantly, he was a good human being. Angus "Gus" Hugh Morrison served the public for more than 25 years, making Fremont and the East Bay all the better for it. Thank you.

Thank you. We ask that you bring his name forward so he can be properly memorialized. Next up is Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. Oh, Senator Skinner. I'm sorry, Senator Skinner, on the same.

Thank you so much, members. I also wanted to stand in our adjourn in memory for Gus Morrison. He and I served, Gus started his service in local government in the early 80s, back when I was on the Berkeley City Council. He then took a pause from local government for some time and came back and became Mayor of Fremont. But one of the things we both shared was a passion for live music.

And he attended many concerts and shows at various music venues within my community and Oakland and Fremont, which we shared together. And he had a joy for life. But he was also a very dedicated public servant. And I ask also for the Senate to adjourn in his memory.

Thank you. Now, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today I am proud to rise in honor of a remarkable woman, a woman who always gave me a kind word, particularly as we were organizing in the labor movement together. The beautiful Bobbie Jean Anderson.

Bobbie Jean was a formidable figure in Los Angeles community and politics, and a dear friend of so many young organizers, women organizers, particularly those who worked in South Central Los Angeles, bringing low-wage workers into unions and then working with them as union leaders to help them fight for better contracts, benefits and higher wages. Ms. Anderson has left a remarkable legacy because her life, from her early teenage years to well into her 80s, she was a devoted humanitarian and a fierce women's advocate.

As a trailblazer for workers, she worked as a labor leader for SCIU 660, and if those of you don't know, 660 represents all of the county workers in LA. And it wasn't always that county workers had good jobs.

Bobbie Jean Anderson and a number of women worked to build a new reputation for what it meant to be a public sector worker, not just in a union and receiving a paycheck, but saying that even though we are in this union and that we didn't have to fight to organize this union, we have to fight to make sure we continue to raise the standards for workers who do tremendous and provide tremendous service for our community.

And 660 was one of those unions that not only fought for their wages, but they also fought to make sure that, for example, urgent care centers remained opened in the county. They moved initiatives that ensured that women, particularly women in our birthing centers, had fair ratios in county hospitals. They fought to make sure that facilities like Martin Luther King Hospital, very staunch advocates for making sure that that hospital remained opened in South LA. And Bobbie Jean Anderson was right there in the middle of those struggles.

Throughout her 40 year career, she worked also in the Los Angeles Public Defender's Office. She helped prepare youth for public service careers and ensured there were internship programs to help those young people who needed to be in an environment that could help them grow and bloom and become strong community leaders like her. She ensured that she brought together the county resources, and particularly the resources of the public defender's office to do that.

In 2013, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Ms. Anderson as Commissioner on the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, a post where she maintained committed to ensuring again, pathways, vocational training, for youth in the community to be able to gain a skill that could serve them for the rest of their lives. Mrs. Anderson was also committed to criminal justice reform. As chair of the Black Women's Forum Criminal Justice Task Force, she was dedicated to providing programs to help women successfully reenter communities.

She understood that in order to address public safety in our communities, we had to get to the root cause, and that cause is often compounded poverty and lack of access to opportunity. She advocated for affordable housing and to ensure that men and women could successfully reenter into our community after serving their time.

In 1995, Bill Clinton recognized Bobbie Jean Anderson's crucial work in this space, as she was one of the very early advocates for returning citizens and reentry programs, and he appointed her to the National Criminal Justice Task Force.

Mrs. Anderson was also a fierce advocate for progressive politics, serving in our party and serving it well, providing over a decade of service on the Democratic State Central Committee and in her role in the Los Angeles Redistricting Commission, she was a fierce advocate, a fierce advocate for maintaining representation for South Los Angeles and ensuring political resource and power in our community. Throughout her career, Ms. Anderson was the recipient of many awards. She was twice awarded the LA County Democratic Party's Democrat of the year.

She also received the Jenesse center, which is a phenomenal center that serves women who are addressing and surviving domestic violence. She received their Silver Rose Award for her work and a lifetime achievement award from SCIU 721 and an image of excellent award from the Mu Lambda Omega chapter of AKA sorority. And that's just to name a few. There were so many awards, I didn't have enough time and space in our session today.

But if you want to know more about Bobbie Jean, just Google her and you will find out so much about her work. As we remember Bobbie Jean Anderson, let us lift up her passionate leadership and unwavering commitment to social justice. A life of reminders of how important one individual's life can have extraordinary impact across communities.

It's because of her people like myself were able to step into this chamber, learning what community service meant, learning what persistence meant, learning what determination meant for workers, for women, for people of color. Ms. Anderson leaves behind a son, Andy, two grandchildren, Anthony and Desiree, and one great-granddaughter, Jalen. We at the California State Senate, we offer our deepest condolences to Ms. Anderson's family and all of those who were touched by her extraordinary life.

And on a personal note, this is the first mentor that I grew up in the movement with. So it was hard to hear of her passing. But it was a life well lived and may she rest in power and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Durazo.

I will only add to what the Senator from Los Angeles said is Bobbie Jean was a happy, joyful, positive and exciting person to be around, and I'm grateful that I was along her side, side by side on many, many issues and campaigns. So thank you.

Thank you. We ask that you bring her name forward so she can be properly memorialized. Next up is Senator Umburg.

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. I have the sad privilege of honoring the life of Navy SEAL Special Operator First Class Chris Chambers, who died, who sacrificed his life for all of us in an effort to save a fellow SEAL. In the early morning hours of January 11, Special Operator First Class Chris Chambers of Navy SEAL team three, along with his fellow SEAL team operators, climbed aboard a ship that was carrying illicit Iranian-made weapons to Yemen.

With Chris was Navy special warfare operator second Class Nathan Gage Ingram. It was during this operation that Nathan slipped and fell into the water between the vessel and the SEAL's combat craft. Chris Chambers dove into the water to save him. Apparently the Navy SEAL protocol is if one SEAL goes in, another SEAL immediately jumps in to save him. Chris was that second SEAL who jumped in to save him. Tragically, both men lost their lives. Chris was 37, Nathan 27. Chris Chambers grew up in Chevrolet, Maryland.

He attended Bishop McNamara High School in Prince George's County for two years before moving to Massachusetts to attend Westfield High School. In high school, Chris excelled as an athlete and fell in love with swimming. In 2004, he led his high school team to a state championship and won an individual title in the 50 freestyle, 2005. A former coach said he remembered Chris asking him one day, how do I not only become a better swimmer, but use my swimming to help other people? He found a way.

Chris would go on to swim for the University of Massachusetts and the University of Maryland. He enlisted in the Navy in 2012 and graduated from SEAL training a decade ago. In 2014, he served two deployments, two in Iraq and his third in Asia and his final deployment, as was mentioned, in the Middle East. He served as a SEAL for over a decade and received awards including the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a combat sea device and three Navy-Marine Corps other achievement medals.

Chris is survived by his wife, Mikhail, daughter Kennedy, who's three years old mother Lois, father Kevin, sister Melanie and his best friend, Nate Bollinger. Kennedy probably doesn't understand what's going on, but a special message in recognition to her for her sacrifice, to Mikhail's sacrifice. They're bearing the debt that we all owe a debt of gratitude to them for their sacrifice. So someday, if Kennedy sees this, she will know that her father defines the term hero, and we will be forever grateful to him and to them.

Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Umburg. Senator Roth.

Thank you, Mr. President. I first met Chris, I believe it was in the spring of 2012. I was running for the Senate at that time, was a candidate, and I had been invited as a guest to the pro tem cup in San Diego. Chris and his friend Nate, the son of one of my very, very good friends, they were there as guests, too. They were in the Navy. They were training, as my colleague from Orange County indicated, to be Navy SEALs at BUDS in San Diego.

It was their day off, and as many of you know, who've had friends and neighbors who've been in the Navy and maybe some who've been in training to be in the special forces, they don't get many days off in BUDS training. But the two of them decided to spend their day off with people like me. I was beyond impressed. Those two were young. They were bright, they were strong.

They were enthusiastic about their future and the reason for it, and they understood the danger, frankly, that faced them if they were successful. And it simply didn't phase them. They were training, as you can imagine, to protect all of the rest of us. For me, thinking back to my military service, as I was standing there talking to these two young Navy sailors, I knew that I never had the talent, the ability, or, frankly, the courage to do what they were attempting to do.

Now, that was the last time I saw Chris. The two of them, Chris and Nate, had their dreams realized. They moved through SEALs, the SEAL training. They became Navy SEALs. They served in hotspots around the world. I knew because I got reports from my very, very good friend who couldn't tell me where they were because she didn't know, except that she knew they were over there somewhere doing good things. They received numerous military decorations, and they were in danger every single day they were deployed.

And Nate and Chris always came back until that day on January 11 off the coast of Somalia when Chris did not. Today should be a reminder to all of us, a reminder that we have sons and daughters of California protecting us not only in our cities and in our counties, in our neighborhoods, and on our streets, but also serving in our armed forces around the world every day. Sons and daughters of California, just like Chris. And like Chris, some never come home.

I have to say that I was more than a bit disappointed as I drove into the Capitol and to work today. To see that our nation's flag atop the Capitol was at full staff. And I wondered why, out of respect for those who serve to protect and defend us wherever they're doing so, and who give all they have to give. And occasionally, then some, they deserve more. Chris certainly does.

So I join my colleague from Orange County in asking that we keep Chris's family and Nate in our prayers. Thank you.

Thank you. On behalf of the California State Senate, our deepest condolences and thank them for their service. Please bring the name forward so he can be properly memorialized. Now, members, we're moving to announcements. Senator Hurtato.

Good morning, Mr. Presiden thank you. Members, I stand before you today on February 1 to acknowledge where red day at the Capitol and the commencement of American Heart Month. I extend my gratitude to my colleagues for their support of this significant cause and love seeing all the red. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in women, claiming more lives than all cancers combine. By wearing red, we are highlighting the need to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and help save lives.

Next week, we will be taking up the Senate resolution, and in addition, my office and the American Heart Association will be hosting a blood pressure screening and hands-only CPR training in room 8010 from 10:00 a.m. ro 1:00 p.m. Thank you.

Thank you. Now, members, we're going to move back to privileges of the floor. Members, before we adjourn today, we want to acknowledge Senator Tony Atkins for her tireless service on behalf of the people of the Golden State as the 48 President Pro Tem of the California State Senate. There will be a formal recognition of the Pro Tem by this body soon. But today we would like to provide the opportunity for the Republican leader and the Pro Tem to have a few words.

Senator Jones, under privilege of the floor. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. And members, I do have notes for this. I'm going to try to stick to them. Otherwise, I probably won't get through this.

And I think one of the things in first recognition of Pro Tem Atkins, as I was contemplating what to share this morning, I know it's the first time in history, in a long time that the same member has served as Speaker of the Assembly and Pro Tem of the Senate, I think, in over 100 years, and I haven't researched my history complete, but it might also be the first time in history that a Pro Tem outlasted four minority leaders, Republican leaders.

I'm not sure if that's the case or not. And in speaking with my colleagues, that have served as leader both in the Assembly and here in the Senate. One of the most common themes that I hear from all of my members is that Pro Tem Atkins is fair. Well, first I hear she's tough, which I think we all know that, but fair. And I think those are good principles that go well together.

Because sometimes to be a leader in a state like California, to advocate for the issues that are important to you, but also give respect to the opinions that are different than yours, you have to be tough and fair. And so I just want to thank you for that. Many of you may know or may not know that I've had the pleasure of working with Pro Tem Atkins for almost 20 years.

When I was elected to the Santee City Council and she was elected to the San Diego City Council, we both showed up to MTS, I think she got there a couple of months before I did, which is the Metropolitan Transit System. And some of the folks had been on that board for a long, long time.

And I had the privilege, honor and good fortune of being seated next to pro Tim Atkins because I did not know a thing about MTS or transportation or buses or taxis or trolleys or any of that stuff. And she took me under her wing a little bit. There was, again, even back then, some things that we disagreed on. But we agreed to work together and always keep the conversation professional and keeping the best interests of our shared constituents in mind.

As one of her idols, the great Dolly Parton, has said, you'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try. Ms. Atkins has been brave enough to try, and she has succeeded. And I believe as a student of leadership myself, that she truly embodies the principle of a servant leader. And I believe that she will be missed as our captain here on the Senate Floor, the next guy has some big shoes to fill.

And I've noticed a Pro Tem, I hope this is okay to say she's wearing cowboy boots. You know, that's obviously a message to those that want to follow her in this adventure. And I'm here standing, obviously in representation of the entire Republican caucus, to say thank you. But personally, I have to say thank you as well.

And just going back to that professionalism, we have had very strong policy debates and disagreements, but I think both of us have always tried to keep that at the professional level. And I kind of compare it to Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill. And, you know, they could have vigorous debate and then at the end of the evening, go share a drink together or a meal together. And we've been able to do that as well.

And I know that you've done that with all of our members, and I thank you for that. And I just want to make sure that this day is not left without all of us in the minority caucus saying thank you very much for everything that you've done.

Thank you, Senator Jones. And I'll just stand corrected. Those are far from cowboy boots. I'll be clear on that. Pro Tem Atkins.

Well, Mr. President, thank you know, we paid respects and adjourned in memory of three incredible servants today. And so you almost lost me on the last one. So that was not a good way to start my comments. But I do want to say thank you. I stand here after hearing those comments of leaders we have lost and hearing from my friend from Santee, the Senate Republican leader. I never like to say minority leader. I want to say thank you for that.

There will be a time later this year for all of us who are actually leaving the Senate to say goodbye and reflect on our time in this incredible institution. So today will not be that day, but given that there will be a wonderful transition on Monday, I wanted to take just a minute to say thank you to all of you. Thank you for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this body. You're never able to lead unless someone allows you to lead.

I want to remind people who aspire to be leaders that that really is the point. I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve so many people who bring credit to our Senate, serving and creating opportunity, because that's what it's all about. Since this is the last session, I will adjourn as Pro Tem. I can't leave without thanking our staff, and particularly my staff.

And I fully intended to turn around and look at them, but I am not able to do that because then I will not get through the other half page I have here. So just know that I love you all. I always say that my district staff, led by Pam Ison, they have their finger on the pulse of the communities that we represent in San Diego. That's really true. They also understand the hearts and the dreams of our constituents and do everything they can to help them.

I would ask all of you, I know it's up and down the state, but please keep San Diego in your prayers this week as we face more rain after the devastation of two weeks ago. And I want to extend my thanks to OES and the governor's office for their help with that, to the staff who are coming with me to the emeritus office, including the incredible Chief of Staff Nick Hardeman. I want to say thank you to each of them.

Now, theoretically, it should be less crazy, but I'm not making any promises. I just noticed the governor's staff, the Chief of Staff, the Ledge Secretary, and Deputy Ledge Secretary have joined us to say or to honor me. And I want to say what an honor that is to them. Thank you for what an honor it is for me for them to be here. Forgive me. I am really touched.

I want to say to our next Pro Tem, you are inheriting an incredible staff, and they're back here behind me today. Again, I cannot look at them, but I want to say, Senator McGuire, they are smart, they are capable, they are kind, and will help you do great work. Policy, communications, rules, the desk staff. Trust me, they will consistently impress and amaze you, Secretary Contreras, and your team.

And to our chief, Sergeant Rodriguez, and her incredible team, there are no words to express my respect and my admiration for all that you've done to make the Senate work and to make us safe. Thank you. And there isn't a day that goes by that we don't owe a debt of gratitude to everyone at DGS who worked so hard to take such good care of the Capitol, the LOB, and a swing space, three buildings.

And finally, Mr. Pro Tem designee, in the darkest of times, I would suggest you just do what I do. It's always worked well for me. Just lean out the door and yell, Bernie, and everything will be okay. So, everybody, thank you so much for the honor. It's been an honor and a privilege to lead this body. Thank you. .

Put on your Sunday best for Monday, because our next session, and it will be a good one, is scheduled for Monday, February 5, 2024 at 01:30 p.m.

Members, the Senate will be in recess until 3:30, at which time an adjournment motion will be placed. We will reconvene Monday at 1:30.