Senate Floor

Will the secretary please call the roll?

[Roll Call].

Members, a quorum is present. If I could ask you to please go to your seats. We're going to start our day, and we'd like to have everybody in your seats, please. In your seats, please.

In your seats. In your own seats, please. Members, we have a lot of work to do today and want to make sure that we can do it as quietly and as respectfully as possible. So would the Members and our guests be on the rail and in the gallery please rise? We will be led in prayer this afternoon by our chaplain Sister Michelle Gorman, after which, please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag.

So let us remember that we are always in God's presence. God of transforming and abundant love, we turn this month to the heritage and the struggles of women throughout the ages, and especially those of our own time. We have much to celebrate, especially the women we honor today and all those of similar accomplishments. We have much to lament. The legacy of patriarchy, the centuries of misogyny, the generations of free labor, which gratefully have contributed to the foundations of life as we know it today.

And we have much to hope for, especially the conversion of heart needed to understand that the denigration of women does not lead to greater freedom, justice, and ongoing care of humanity for the common good. Having come this far, as women and men of all ages, creeds, ethnicities, and abilities, may we continue to uplift each other with encouragement and collaboration and abandon those norms which seek to deny gender equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We ask this in your name. Amen.

Amen. Members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Members, here today to join us are two former Senators, Hannah-Beth Jackson and Senator Ben Hueso. Welcome to the Chambers. Members, we're going to move on to privileges of the floor. Senator Padilla. Senator Padilla at the Majority Leader's desk.

Thank you, Madam President, and good morning. Buenos diaz a todas y todos. On behalf of the Legislative Latino Caucus--Madam President, I would suggest that the Senate is not in order.

I could ask you to sit down, please. You may present.

Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of the Latino Legislative Caucus, I am honored to introduce some distinguished guests with us here today: Consul General of Mexico and Sacramento, Christian Gonzalez, and accompanying him, Violeta Margarita Piña Sánchez and Didia Fong Umos. Most recently, Consul Gonzalez served as a Chief of Protocol and Public Diplomacy at the permanent Mission of Mexico in the United Nations.

During Mexico's recent participation as an elected member of the UN Security Council 21 to 2022, he served as the spokesperson and was in charge of disseminating Mexico's activities, results, and positions at the United Nations Security Council. During his tenure as a UN delegate, he served as an election officer from 2016 to 2023, in which he obtained 100 percent of the elected Mexican candidates in more than 40 multinational nominations which were presented by Mexico at UN headquarters.

Between 2008 and 2015, he represented the Third Committee of the General Assembly as a delegate of human rights, cultural, social, and humanitarian affairs. In this honorable position, he further sustained the agenda, protecting children, women, migrants, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ plus community, and other minorities.

As a member of the Latino Caucus and Chair of the Select Committee on California-Mexico Cooperation and Dialogue, I welcome you, sir, and your team, and look forward to working together to strengthen California-Mexico relationship and address critical challenges facing this important and critical binational relationship.

Our close proximity and share values have resulted in one of the strongest economic, cultural, and social regions in the world, often misunderstood and frankly, underappreciated, and it is critical that we continue this strong relationship. Thank you, Sir Consul, for joining us today, and I look forward to working together. Colleagues, Madam President, if we could please give a warm Senate welcome and round of applause to Consul General Gonzalez.

Senator Ashby.

Consul General, I want to welcome you to Sacramento. Before I had the honor of serving in the Senate, I served for 12 years on the City Council and represented the district where you will spend most of your time in a beautiful new building that we worked hard to get together. I know the incredible both high heels and big shoes before those high heels that you have to fill in Consul Generals Liliana Ferrer and Carlos Gutiérrez, two incredible partners to Sacramento. Wonderful individuals, and I look forward to working with you as well. Welcome.

For anyone that would like to take a picture with the Consul General.

Members, we're ready to begin our next item. If we could have your attention, please. Without objection, we will move to Senate Third Reading, File Item Number 11, Senate Resolution 56, Senator Skinner, from the Majority Leader's desk. Mr. Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 56 by Senator Skinner, relative to Women's History Month.

Senator Skinner, the floor is yours. If everybody could please take your seats.

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I'm pleased to present Senate Resolution 56, recognizing March 2024 as Women's History Month, Sr. 56 asks us to acknowledge the contribution of women for 31 days out of the 366 days. Remember, this is a leap year which is less than one 10th of the year to acknowledge half of our population.

Research done by the National Women's History Museum examines the status of women's history in the state level standards that each of our states develop for social studies. These standards describe what students are expected to know and be able to do at specific stages of their education. The nationwide study found that women's accomplishments, their experiences, and their stories were barely present and over half of the references to women, and this is in the state standard.

So no matter what the level of grade in all different social sciences, more than half of the references to women were regarding our domestic roles. Now, I said our domestic roles. Obviously, domestic roles is not a gender specific thing. And yet over half of those references towards women were only about their domestic roles. The analysis found that women were excluded because state standards history framework gives preference to male oriented exceptional leadership while overemphasizing women's domestic roles.

Why do we need to lift and uplift the accomplishments of women, both past and present? Because we still experienced things like last night, the Oscar snub of Greta Gerwig not being nominated as the best Director for Barbie. I don't say that, just tongue in cheek. I'm being quite honest. But why we need to do that uplifting is because each time a girl opens a book and finds a womanless history, she learns that she is worth less.

And that is a fact that is played out daily with women. We are underrepresented in positions of power, in business, in government, in academia, in entertainment, you name it. And our being worthless is literally true. White women working full time year round are paid 80 cents to the dollar that a man makes, and tomorrow is equal payday. Black women working full time year round are paid 69 cents to that dollar. Latinas working full time year round are paid 57 cents.

The lower status of women in our society contributes to our high rates of domestic violence, the disparities we experience in health care, and it creates the context for our fundamental right to bodily autonomy, a right, I think, that every single man on this floor doesn't even think about ever being at risk. It has sets that context for that fundamental right to bodily autonomy to be so easily stripped.

So I thank my colleagues in the Legislative Women's Caucus and others for standing strong and advocating to correct these gender inequities. And as this is my last women's history month to stand on this floor. I trust that all of you, but especially my legislative women caucus colleagues, to continue that fight for equality. Now, in the midst of these very real inequities that I described, we also have some good news. 2023 was a record year for the number of women receiving the Nobel Prize in different categories.

Stanford basketball coach Tara Dan Devere just last month became the highest game winning college basketball coach of all time. And Caitlin Clark, that basketball player, she beat Steph Curry in terms of Division one, or everybody, anybody in Division I points scored in the three pointers. We also have the first female Director, Lori Leshan of NASA's Jet propulsion laboratory at Caltech. And our own Kamala Harris is Vice President of the United States, the first female Vice President.

And on our floor today, we will be honoring seven California herstrymakers. There are eight in your program. One was not able to join us. We had others that we wanted to honor. And this is, of course, a representative sample. We had some. Tara Van De Vere, for example, because of March Madness, was not able to join us. Lori Leshin, who I mentioned, was also unable to join us today because today is the day the Federal Government is releasing the budget she has to follow.

Pay attention to NASA's budget. We were also regretfully unable to secure Fran Drescher because it's the day after the Oscars, and she said she didn't think she would be quite able to jump on a plane since she'd probably be up all night at the different Oscar parties. But regardless, we know there are many, many other herstrymakers in California. But that is not to in any way lessen the incredible seven women that we have today as our herstrymakers for their exemplary and trailblazing achievements.

And before they get introduced, given my introduction of this resolution, I ask for your aye vote

Senator Cuevas. Smallwood Cuevas.

Thank you, Madam President, and good morning, colleagues. And I rise today on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus in support of HR 72 that recognizes March 2024 as Women's History Month. As we celebrate women in American history and California history, let us lift up all women of every race, ethnicity, and economic status for their extraordinary resilience and contributions to the strength and soul of this great state.

While our struggles for gender equity continues, with California women making only a fraction of what men earned, as my good colleague from Berkeley laid out, we must know that women are fighting for and winning on economic empowerment, not just for themselves, but for their family and for future generations.

We must acknowledge the courageous journey of women who have fought tirelessly for social change and for activists who march not just for women's rights, but for civil rights, for voting rights, for the demand of the protection of our bodies and the peace and safety of our great country. This fight has been amplified in the voices of women in this country by producing greater representation of women in elected office and in our workforce.

In fact, making it possible for me to be the 6th black woman to ever be elected to the California State Senate. And as the only black woman in the California State Senate, we still have a long way to go to get not just to parity, but also to equity. It is our great honor to stand in support of this resolution and the Women's Caucus continuing fight to ensure that our voices as women in California are heard and as we recognize these amazing honorees today.

Let us all in this chamber remain committed for the rights of all women, for the rights of our women and our daughters in the future, to protect their bodies and their autonomy over their reproductive care, and that we continue to forge these kinds of stories and paths for change with women at the lead. And with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Senator Limon.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of the Latino Legislative Caucus, it's my honor to rise to support SR 56. Women's History Month is an important time for us to celebrate and acknowledge the vast contributions women have made to our society and the impact that we continue to have through our cultural, economic and civic contributions.

As a Latina and a Member of the Latino caucus that is now proudly a majority Latina with nine Senators and 12 Assembly Members, it is important for our caucus to highlight the impact of women, including Latinas, who are part of our everyday lives. There are approximately 7.8 million Latinas in the State of California, which is approximately 20%. We are consumers, business owners, parents, employers and voters.

In California, Latina owned business has doubled in recent years, providing that Latinas are entrepreneurial and key and key economic engine in our state. Here in California, we have many Latinas who have become distinguished leaders in their fields and champions of change, including labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Patrice A Guerro, and fame recording artist and political activist Joan Baez.

Nationally, we look up to Latinas such as Justice Sonia Sotomayor, astronaut Ellen Ochoa, and actress Rita Moreno, all who have been trailblazers in their respective fields and continue to inspire generations of Latinas. But over the years, there have also been many inspirational leaders who are often overlooked, the essential workers that keep our economy running and especially during the pandemic. They ensure that food is on our table. They look after our children. They are teachers in our schools.

They create new businesses, and they are part of this state and our country. For all the women with names and high titles and who do the everyday work that contribute to our state, let us remain committed to the change that promotes equity, reduces disparities, and opens doors for all, whether they be political, social or economic doors. Please join me in supporting Sr 56.

Senator Rubio.

Thank you, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I rise as a Member of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus in support of SR 56. Women's History Month is a time for us to reflect on women in our lives and in history that for far too long have been ignored, sidelined, or minimized. Women have been leaders making incredible difference in all of our lives. We need to honor their work, their achievements, and respect their legacies.

As we witness attacks upon the bodily autonomy of women and see a growing wave of policies that seek to claw back the strides that have been made towards equality, celebrations like these become even more crucial. We need to continue to emphasize what women have done to move this state and this country forward. This month, we remind ourselves of our history of times when women have been excluded from the narratives that shape our lives.

While Jewish women have long held positions of influence in their own communities, they have also been crucial in the broader fight for women's liberation and equality. One week ago today was the first Yarzite, or the anniversary of death, of Judith human, a leader in the disability rights movement and a leader in the 1977 takeover of San Francisco federal building. To date, it was the longest sit in of the federal building.

Her actions led to the reenactment of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a precursor to the Americans with Disability act. We celebrate women like Faye Eisenberg Sealove, a Doctor of physics who was denied tenure at the University of Pennsylvania despite her qualifications. She fought to become the second tenured woman at the University and is remembered for her fierce advocacy for feminist causes as well as for her skill and love of teaching.

I would also be remiss if I did not pay tribute to the Jewish woman who paved the way for all women to live independently with the equal legal right to which they are entitled to and not dependent on potentially abusive partners for survival. Women like Representative Bella Abzug, who wrote the first law banning discrimination against women in obtaining credit, loans and mortgages, or Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who across her career ensured the equal rights of women and broke barriers to allow other women to follow suit. I am proud today to stand among my colleagues and urge an aye vote for SR 56 today in honor and remembrance of all our foremothers.

Thank you, Senator Min.

Thank you, Madam President. As Vice Chair of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, I'm proud to rise in support of SR 56, which recognizes March 2024 as Women's History Month. This month, we celebrate women for the remarkable accomplishments they've contributed to our state, our nation, and our world's continued progress. Now, this particular recognition began right here in California, locally at the Sonoma school district, to reflect on the overlooked achievements of women that have significantly transformed society.

And I appreciate the comments from the previous speakers on the many particulars of the contributions that women have made. California is home to over 19 million women who are vital to the successes of our workforce and by industry. Women account for more than half of all workers within, including 74.6% in education and health services, 51.9% in financial activities, and 50.4% in hospitality. Now, within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, women are pivotal to preserving and promoting our culture and are vital within public service.

I want to give particular note to Senator Aisha Wahab, who is the first Afghan American woman elected to the California State Senate, as well as on the Assembly side, Assembly Member Jasmeet Baines being the first Indian origin sick woman elected and Assembly woman Stephanie to win as the first female Vietnamese Democrat elected to that body. These are groundbreaking achievements. I also want to hearken back to my own childhood growing up in Northern California.

In the think I internalized the idea that it was normal for women to experience discrimination. For women of color to experience discrimination. My mom was probably the only woman, oftentimes in the semiconductor industry, in different boardrooms, the only woman of color, the only Asian American. And growing up, I think I thought that was normal, and I didn't realize the extent to which she was a groundbreaker. All these people that we're recognizing today are groundbreakers.

So I am proud that our caucus, the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, can proudly join the Women's Caucus in celebrating Women's History Month and the women's trailblazers in California State. And I ask that you join me in supporting SR 56.

Thank you. I rise in support of Senate Resolution 56, Women's History Month. All the women in this chamber, we stand on the shoulders of every woman who has come before us, every woman around the world who looked around their conditions and thought, we deserve so much better. There is a history of cultures that centered women as the leaders and caretakers of their societies. So the idea of women as leaders is not new.

It has just been washed over by histories that want to portray women as weak and timid. So today, I thank those women for creating a legacy of strength, persistence, and resistance. I stand before you as the first African American woman elected to the Legislature, a minority amongst the minority. But tomorrow, we will hit gender parity. We will have, hopefully, more women than we have ever had before, and that's because of the leadership of women like Senator Tony Atkins. So I thank you for your service and, more importantly, your leadership. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Menjivar.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise day on behalf of the LGBTQ caucus in support of SR 57. Among the women we are honoring and recognizing this history month are the voices of queer women, many of whom are the reason the LGBTQ community have the rights we enjoy today. Women have been at the forefront of social justice movements since the inception of our country, specifically in the LGBTQ plus community fight for civil rights. In fact, our caucus was founded by four Lesbian queer women.

It was founded by Karol Migdon, Sheila Cuel, Jackie Goldberg, and Christine Kehoe. Other lesbians that have achieved so much for my right to exist here are as follows. Megan Rapino, who helped get gender parity for USA's women's soccer team. And in fact, just yesterday, I traveled to San Diego to see her women's USA team get the Gold Cup for their first ever Gold Cup amongst North and South America. Billie Jean King made great strides for gender parity as well when it came to sports.

Corrine Jean Pierre is our President's press secretary right now. And Sally K. Ride, an astronaut who is from the San Fernando Valley, was one of the first Lesbians, if not the first Lesbian, to go into space. Audrey Lord, one of my favorite poets, Lesbian feminists, and Diane Niad, if you haven't, on Netflix, is her documentary where she broke the record of swimming 111 miles, swam from Cuba to Florida. These are but a few exceptional examples of the role women have.

Queer women have and continue to make in the LGBTQ plus community. Women who pioneered gender affirming care in the United States, queer women who cared for the Members during the HIV and AIDS crisis. This body, in fact, will lose two Lesbian trailblazers, the good Senator from Stockton and our PT emeritus, two Lesbian Senators that I stand on today. And I hope that as we move forward, that this isn't the last year that this body will have three Lesbian Senators.

We and the LGBTQ plus community are internally grateful to all the women who are helping to lead the way to a better tomorrow. And it's a personal point of privilege. In this month, for the first time, as I can remember, there are two movies in the theaters right now that are Lesbian themed. And it's so exciting to see that kind of representation in the media. So with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote on SR 56.

Senator Bradford.

Thank you, Madam President. I, too, just want to rise in strong support of Sr 56, primarily to say thank you. Thank you to all the amazing women that we're honoring here today, but more importantly, all the faceless and nameless women who work every day that go unrecognized. And I know I would not be standing here today if it wasn't for my mother, my grandmothers, my great grandmothers, who have instilled the confidence and courage to do what I needed to do growing up.

So I say thank you to them. And to quote the late, great Margaret Thatcher, if you want something said, you asked a man. If you want something done, you asked a woman. Women are getting things done not only through California, but all across this country and all across this nation. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Alvarado-Gil.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I rise to shed light on an aspect of our society often neglected in the role of women. It's the role of women in agriculture. Agriculture forms the backbone of our civilization, providing the sustenance and nourishment to billions around the globe. And behind this vital sector are the tireless efforts of women who work on farms, in the fields, in households, ensuring that food security and economic stability for their families and communities.

Despite their indispensable contributions, women in agriculture face numerous challenges and barriers, from limited access to land and financial resources to unequal opportunities for education and training. The hurdles that they encounter are manifold. And in many parts of our world, cultural norms and traditional gender roles further exasperate these inequalities, relegating women to subordinate positions within the agricultural sector. Today, we can rise, and despite these challenges, we can celebrate women in agriculture. They demonstrate that remarkable resilience that so many women do. Their resourcefulness and innovation.

They're not merely passive participants, but active agents of change, driving agricultural productivity, sustainability, and food sovereignty. From adopting new technologies and farming practices to advocating for their rights and representation, women are at the forefront of shaping the future of agriculture. It's imperative that we recognize and support these invaluable contributions, and we empower these women in the sector that not only matters to social justice, but also for strategic imperative for achieving food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable development.

We must invest in women's education, access to resources, and leadership opportunities to unlock the full potential of women in agriculture. Thank you for allowing me to support this initiative, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Skinner, you may conclude.

Thank you, Madam President. So, as we first, thank you, colleagues, for your comments and as we celebrate the herstrymakers today and all of the women who have broken various glass ceilings and who had to in doing so, as ginger Rogers said, do everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards in high heels, I ask you to make it easier for us to achieve our and all women and girls rightful places, not only in the present, but in history. And with that, I ask for your aye vote.

Please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 38, Noes zero the resolution is adopted.

Members. Next, we're going to go to celebrate and introduce our honored guests that we are recognizing today as part of our women's her story ceremony. Ready to begin, Mr. Secretary? Please begin.

Senator Tony G. Atkins Senate President pro Tempora Emerita. Escorted by Senators Ashby and Grove, Senator Tony G. Atkins made California legislative history when her colleagues elected her to be speaker of the Assembly in 2014, the first San Diegan and first lesbian to hold the position. Elected to the State Senate in 2016, she was promptly chosen to lead the Senate when elected in 2018 as Senate President pro temporate, the first women and first openly LGTBQ person to serve in that role.

Senator Atkins holds the distinction of being the only woman, the first person in 150 years, and the third person in California history to serve as leaders of both houses in the Legislature. Among the landmark legislation Senator Atkins authored was Senate constitutional amendment 10, the constitutional amendment that made abortion and contraception a fundamental right for all Californians.

Prior to the Legislature, Senator Atkins served as clinic services Director at the San Diego's Woman Care Health center as an aide to former City Council Member and Senator Christine Kehoe and as a Member of the San Diego City Council.

Members, just for your information, we'll be taking a group picture at the end. So for those of you that want to get in a picture, don't worry.

Nalleli Cobo Uriarte environmental justice champion escorted by Senators Gonzalez and Durazo, Nayali Kobo Uriarte began her activism at the age of nine after experiencing health related issues tied to pollution in her South Los Angeles community. She co founded People Naposos, which aims to secure safe and healthy neighborhoods, and the South Central Youth Leadership Coalition, which focuses on environmental racism to help mobilize her community against disproportionate pollution burden present in their neighborhoods.

Gobu Diarte went door to door, held meetings and rallies, and spoke at City Council meetings. As a result of these efforts, both the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors took action to protect their community by enacting limits on oil drilling in residential neighborhoods. Her story and leadership led to Nalleli Kobo Uriarte being honored with the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2022.

Mildred Garcia, Chancellor, California State University escorted by Senators Min and Eggman a pioneering first generation college graduate, Dr. Mildred Garcia is the first ever Latina to be named chancellor of the California State University, the largest four year public University system in the nation. As part of her distinguished career, Dr. Garcia served as President of Cal State Fullerton from 2012 to 2018, achieving record improvements in graduation rates. She also served as President of CSU Dominguez Hills from 2007 to 2012.

The first Latina President of a CSU campus. During her tenure, she dramatically increased retention rates for freshmen and transfer students and eliminated a structural deficit. Prior to her appointment as CSU chancellor, Dr. Garcia served as President of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, making her the first Latina to lead one of the six presidentially based higher education associations in Washington, DC.

Patricia Guerrero, Chief Justice, California Supreme Court escorted by Senators Wahab and Menjivar a daughter of Mexican immigrants born and raised in the Imperial Valley, Patricia Guerrero made history as the first Latina named Chief Justice of California Supreme Court. Prior to becoming Chief Justice, she served as an associate justice. In her first State of the judiciary address, Chief Justice Guerrero highlighted her commitment to a more diverse and inclusive judicial branch.

She is a champion of the power of democracy civic learning initiative and has been active in the judges in the Classroom civics program. Among her many accolades are being named one of USA Today's 2023 Women of the Year, the 2022 Bernard E. Wicken Award for Excellence in the adjudication of the Law and the 2023 Justice Cruz Reynoso Community Service Award, Mexican American Bar Association Christina House Award winning photojournalist, escorted by Senators Blakespear and Limon.

Growing up in Long Beach, Christina House found her love for photography when, as a child, she visited the Philippines, her mother's native country. This led to a degree in photography from Cal State Fullerton and 10 years as a freelance photographer. In 2017, House joined the staff of the Los Angeles Times as a photojournalist.

Among her many awards, House Wong the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography and the 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for domestic photography for Hollywood's finest, an intimate look at the life of a pregnant 22 year old woman living on the street. In 2021, she received the Cliff Edom New America Award and in 2021 National Press Photographers Association's best of photojournalism award for her work on game changers, a celebration of women in sports.

Janette Robinson Flint founder, Black Women for Wellness escorted by Senators Smallwood-Cuevas and Rubio in response to her own birthing experience, Janette Robinson Flint founded and serves as Executive Director of Black Women for Wellness, a reproductive justice organization committed to the health and well being of black women and girls. Under her leadership, the organization brings focus to racial disparities impacting maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, advances women centered community based care, and educates black women and girls about the reproductive justice issues.

Her work on black maternal and infant mortality helped catalyze a national movement, resulting in national and state action to address the stark reality that black women in America have more than three times higher risk of death related to pregnancy and childbirth than their white peers. Flint is also an active Member of the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom and, in our own Voice, a national coalition of black women advocating for reproductive justice.

Mai Der Vang, Award winning poet escorted by Senators Ochoa-Bogh and Alvarado-Gil born in Fresno to among refugees, Mai Der Vang's multiple award winning poems and anthologies draw from community, family, nature and astronomy. Her debut collection, Afterland, won her the prestigious 2017 Walt Whitman First Book Award from the Academy of American Poets, released in 2022.

Yellow Rain, her book of documentary poetry and collage was awarded the Academy of American Poets Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize, the American Book Award, the Northern California Book Award and placed Bang as a finalist for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize, positioning her among the top poets in the nation. Bang teaches in the Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing at Fresno State and holds a degree in English from UC Berkeley, in addition to a Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University.

Members, now we're going to have the honorees take a picture, after which the women's caucus is invited to come forward. And then the third picture, everybody. So if you could recognize and celebrate these wonderful women that are the honorees for this year. Herstory.

Now the Women's Caucus membership, one more picture with whoever would like to be in the photo with the honorees. Members, one last picture. Members, we're ready to get started again. Members, we're going to move back to privileges of the floor. We could have you sit down again. I know I've said this for three times now, but really, Members, we have a couple of guests to introduce. On behalf of Senator Allen, we would like to welcome to the Senate Laurie Porter, who's here in the Rotunda.

She's co founder of Smog City Brewing. She's in the gallery. Thank you so much. Welcome. And on behalf of Senator Alvarado-Gil, we want to welcome retired Calaveras County Supervisor Marita Calloway. Welcome to the Senate, Members. We're going to move on messages from the Governor will be deemed read, messages from the Assembly will be deemed read, reports of Committee will be deemed read, and amendments adopted.

Moving on to motions, resolutions, and notices without objection, the Senate journals for March 4, 2024 through March 7, 2024 will be approved as corrected by the minute Clerk. Senator Seyarto.

Thank you, Madam President. I would like to move the following items to the inactive file file item 13, which is SCR 111 file item 14, SCR 114, file item 17, Sr 68, and file item 23, Sr 71. Thank you.

So ordered. Pursuant to rule 2910 D, the following rules are referred to the Committee on Rules. File item number eight, SB 479. Members we are going to move on to consideration of the daily file. Senate Third reading file item number 22. Senator Becker, from the Majority Leader's desk. Please read

Senate Concurrent Resolution 20 by Senator Becker relative to Special Olympics Day.

Senator Becker, the floor is yours.

Thank you, colleagues. I'm here to present SCR 120 declaring March 11 Special Olympics Day. Over the next few days, athletes and their families will be meeting with your offices to discuss the importance of Special Olympics and the significance that the Special Olympics plays in their lives. Special Olympics were founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. It was created as an exclusive, inclusive event that elevates people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Since its founding, the Special Olympics has a global reach of over 5 million athletes and their families in over 170 countries. Athletes are able to participate in at least 11 different sports completely free, including preventive care and health screenings. The organization is also supported here in California by tens of thousands of volunteers, including, I'm sure, some of you and Members of my own family volunteering at events.

Through their guiding pillars of sports Unified Schools program and health, the Special Olympics harnesses the power of sports to bring accessibility and inclusivity to the foreground. I'm happy to put forward SCR 120 to commemorate the Special Olympics and all of the athletes it empowers. Play on. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Senator Grove.

Thank you, Madam President. I, too, rise in support of SDR 120 and thank the author for bringing it forward. Special Olympics plays a very special role in my life. When I think about Garrett Cheever, who grew up with my children and we taught him how to drive, and that was something that was fun to do. CHP doesn't know that. But anyways, it was fun. They do now, but it was fun. I think it's past the statue of limitations or whatever.

I just think that those individuals in the developmental disability community have such incredible offerings and are just totally blessed by God, when you think about Chloe Porter, who is one of the most incredible young ladies in our community with down syndrome. And she is an aspiring artist. She attends legacy high school, and some of her paintings of the American flag and those that she supports in the Wounded Heroes Fund have gone for 4050 and $60,000.

And she is just an incredible, bright hope for our community. So, she just joined the softball team. She is on the Dodgers team and plays softball in the Special Olympics. And so I would just ask you all to support SCR 120.

Is there any further discussion or debate? Further discussion or debate? Senator Becker, you may conclude. Thank you.

Thank you, my colleague from Bakersfield. And again, respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Members, this is eligible for you. A unanimous roll call. Is there any objection saying none. Ayes? 38. No, zero. The resolution is adopted. Members, we're going to move on to Committee. oh, back to privileges of the floor. That's right. Senator Becker, you have some introductions?

Madam President. Good. Fortunate to have two individuals here who help make the Special Olympics run. David Solo, who's the President and CEO of the Special Olympics of Northern California, and Kelly Pond, the President and CEO of Special Olympics of Southern California. Please join me in welcoming them and thanking them for all they do to make the Special Olympics possible for the tens of thousands of athletes across the State of California. Thank you.

Members. If you would like to take a photo, we'll do it right after this. For Members that would like to join in the photo now, Members are going to move on to Committee announcements. Senator Stern and Senator Stern, you have a Committee announcement at Senator Limon's desk.

The Joint Legislative Climate Committee is convening upon adjournment in room 2200.

Senator Umberg,

We'll see you over there. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Umberg.

Thank you, Madam President. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, it is your lucky day because we're holding a hearing immediately after session in room 112 in this building.

Senator. Thank you. Senator Umberg, Judiciary 112 in the Capitol. Members, we're going to return to motions and resolutions. This is the time for an adjourn in memory. Senator Jones?

Thank you, Madam President, and Members, for joining me today in this adjournment. In memory, I rise to honor the memory of Benjamin Haroni from my district in El Cajon. Ben was a brilliant and bright soul. And at the young age of only 28 years old, he lost his life too early to senseless violence. Ben was a beloved son, brother and friend. He is described to be the golden standard.

Ben was smart, kind a good athlete and spent his energy trying to make the world a better place and help others at his visual, many referred to him as a minch, a yiddish word for someone of high integrity and honor. Motivated to follow in his father's footsteps, he went to dental school. In a letter to a Professor, Ben wrote, quote, I want to do something that improves the lives of others because I've lived a life of privilege and full of opportunities.

I know that I am at my best around others, and therefore my goal of forming genuine relationships with my patients will remind me why I chose this profession. His words are telling to the type of man that he was. Ben chose to work as a dentist in El Cajon to help patients that were less fortunate than himself.

His commitment to service extended far beyond the walls of his dental practice as he dedicated his time and energy to serving individuals with disabilities and embracing the values of Takun Olam, the Jewish principle of repairing the world. Ben's death has devastated the Jewish community. While we may never know the true motive that resulted in his death, it is important that we remember who Ben was and the countless lives that he touched.

The first thing the Haroni family did to honor his legacy is create a Fund called Hearts over hate, which will go toward helping promote peace and love. May Ben's name be for memory. Let us honor Ben's memory this afternoon not with words alone, but with actions that embody the values he held dear, kindness, empathy and above all, love. Members, thank you for joining me in this adjournment in memory.

Please bring his name forward to the desk so that he may be appropriately memorialized by the Senate if there is no other business. Senator McGuire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much. Madam President. First and foremost, just want to say thank you to the Legislative Women's Caucus for their incredibly inspiring ceremony showcasing trailblazers from across the state. And special thanks to the Senator from Berkeley for her incredible leadership. The next floor session is scheduled for Thursday, March 14.

Members of the Senate will be in recess until 330, at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Thursday at 09:00 a.m. Thank.