Senate Floor

Allen, Alvarado, Gill, Archuleta Ashby, Atkins, Becker Blakespear Bradford, Caballero, 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. Members, if we can return to our desk, we're gonna get started. Senators and guests beyond the gallery, please rise. We're going to be led in prayer by Senator Laird, after which, please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.

Denise Levertov, in Beginners, in Candles in Babylon in 1982, said, we have only begun to know the power that is in us. If we would join our solitudes in the communion of struggle so much is unfolding that must complete its gesture.

God of infinite creativity, the celebration of pride month acknowledges and appreciates the resilience of the many LGBTQ persons who have overcome eons of stigma, diminishment, misunderstanding, while at the same time making incalculable contributions to the advancement of society.

As we celebrate the fulfillment of our highest ideals of love, appreciation, and understanding of the mystery of our humanity, may we express more clearly our intention of inclusivity and radical hospitality for those still marginalized.

Together, we have the power to eliminate all forms of injustice, oppression, and violence against the LGBTQ plus community, as we proclaim with pride that diversity is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be lived. And let us say with Cyndi Lauper, I see your true color shining through. Don't be afraid to let them show. Your colors are beautiful like a rainbow. Amen.

Please join me in the pledge. 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.

Happy pride, state Senate. Members without objection, Senate rule 55 is suspended to allow guests on the floor. Welcome former Senator Lara in the back. 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.

Under motions, resolutions, and notices without objection, the Senate journals for May 28, 2024 through May 30, 2024 will be approved as corrected by the minute clerk. I apologize if I'm screaming. I am competing with construction. We're zooming through. We are under consideration of the daily file. Under second reading file, we have items one through two.

Secretary, please read.

Assembly Bill 491 with amendments, 2449 with amendments.

Second reading will be considered read. Under governor's appointments, we have item number three. Senator Laird, are you prepared? He is ready secretary, please read. Disregard. Senator Laird, you may begin.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Final item number three is the confirmation of Tomiquia Moss, for appointment as secretary of the business, consumer services, and housing agency. Prior to this role, she was founder and CEO of all Home and served at the Senate Rules Committee appointment to the California Interagency Council on Homelessness.

She was approved by the Rules Committee on May 8. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Wiener, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise in strong support of Tomiquia Moss' nomination. I have known Tomiquia for a very long time, working with her on various housing issues and issues around homelessness. She's a strong leader, visionary person, and she is, already is, and will be extraordinary in this role. I ask for an aye vote.

Senator Blakespear, you're recognized.

Thank you, colleagues. I rise to highlight the significance of today's appointment. Given the state's ever rising homelessness population, Miss Tomiquia Moss, has a tremendous opportunity to bring much needed change.

I'm particularly energized by this appointment because Miss Moss's record demonstrates her ability to handle complex challenges and create real progress on addressing homelessness in the Bay Area in her previous role at all home. While I support her 100%, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same, I must comment on the importance of this role.

Our constituents are fed up that homelessness continues to grow across the state. Over the past decade, we have seen thousands of Californians in our communities decline into a seemingly endless cycle of housing instability and homelessness. This is made worse by the fact that California does not have the capacity to shelter all those who are lacking housing.

The vast majority of our state's 181,000 unhoused citizens lack shelter, and we are failing across the board to get them into permanent housing. Our efforts to prevent and increase exits from homelessness are not keeping pace with the rate at which people are falling into homelessness.

Instead, our unhoused neighbors fight to survive in the elements, occupying public spaces, including riverbeds and train tracks, parks and sidewalks. The sheer volume of human beings occupying our public spaces is overwhelming for the rest of us and is outright dangerous for the people who are unsheltered, especially women.

Over the past several years, the Administration and the Legislature have attacked this problem by investing billions of dollars into housing and homelessness programs and requiring greater coordination among state, federal, local, and nonprofit agencies.

However, Californians are frustrated that despite all of these efforts, the recent audit shows we cannot definitively point at what many of our efforts are actually achieving. Miss Moss did not create the system and all the problems that come with it, but she is inheriting responsibility over it.

She has her work cut out for her, and the road ahead will not be easy. Moving the needle will require intense coordination and collaboration among all stakeholders involved, including us here in the Legislature.

Therefore, I ask that Miss Moss work with me and this entire body to ensure we have transparency when it comes to our state programs, their costs, and particularly, and most importantly, their outcomes. To start, we need complete data on programs.

We, as the Legislature, must be able to communicate to our constituents that what we are doing is working, that we are getting value out of what we are spending. The failure to do this undermines public confidence. I also ask that Miss Moss work with me to fight hard for what may be hard.

We know generally what programs work, programs don't work, and what is needed to ensure that interim and permanent shelters exist. We must ensure every city does its part and that we move people off our streets and into shelters with more fervor and urgency than ever.

I know that our incoming BCSH secretary can rise to the challenge and find a way with that. I look forward to working with Tomiquia Moss, and I ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Do we have any further discussion or debate? Senator Laird, you may close.

Thank you, Madam President. I appreciate the additions from my colleagues. I think they make the case. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

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

Smallwood-Cuevas, aye. Stern, aye. Umberg, aye. Wahab, aye. Wiener, aye. Wilk.

Please call the absent Members.

Allen. Dahle. Grove. Hurtado. Jones. Nguyen. Ochoa Bogh. Padilla. Seyarto. Wilk.

Ayes 30. No, zero. Appointments confirmed. Members without objection, we will take up the following resolution out of order today. File item 20, SR96. After adoption of the resolution, we will return to privileges of the floor to introduce the LGBTQ plus caucus pride honorees. Senator Eggman is prepared.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Resolution 96 by Senator Eggman. Relative to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Plus Pride Month.

Senator Eggman.

Thank you very much, Madam President. I rise on behalf of the LGBTQ caucus to celebrate gay pride month. Happy pride, everybody. I realize my staff didn't provide me talking points, but that's never stopped me before. But I just want to say, this is my last year in office and as a retiring Member, to be able. This year, I just think, to feel so much community with all of my peers as the LGBTQ community has been under attack.

The support that we get from our allies and our ally caucus Members, our friends across the aisle, everybody who can agree that love and acceptance and inclusion is the way to go forward. It doesn't matter if they're redoing the capital, our voices continue to ring true and strong because we know that there's a lot of noise out there, and a lot of that noise tries to drown out the voices. So we use every opportunity we have to point out the noise for what it actually is.

Is background noise trying to drown out the voices for equality and for equity and for love. And so it is my pride to be here and to speak on behalf of this caucus that has now reached the first caucus in a nation to reach 10% of a legislative body. We hope to continue to grow that. And as representing the L in the LGBTQ, I can't tell you what a thrill it was to ride on the back of Dykes on Bikes across the bridge and up Capital Mall on the back of that big old Victoria that you could feel.

And it just felt, people all up and down the streets were just coming out and looking and waving, and we made as much noise as we possibly could. Very small delegation, but a whole lot of heart and a whole lot of pride. And I'm so proud of this caucus, and I'm so proud of this body. I'm so proud of this body that continues to show up for people, the staff who continue to support us over and over and over again. The sergeants, that when we present bills that are somewhat difficult and people come in and say the most vile things you ever want to hear, attacking our community, attacking our values.

That people have to sit there depending, no matter who their family members are, that the anger of those that would attack us don't care about the fallout of their words or the impact for their words to anybody but themselves and their own very small audience. So let's continue to make that audience small as we continue to raise our voices with love and respect for everybody as we move forward. I ask for your aye vote on SR-96.

Thank you, Senator. Senator, Smallwood-Cuevas, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. And good afternoon, Members. I rise on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus in support of SR-96 that recognizes the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

Pride month commemorates the LGBTQ+ community's resilience in their fight to live in a country free from hate and discrimination, a struggle that Black Americans so profoundly understand. Black people have historically fought on the front lines of the civil rights movement movement to defend the rights of all, including and particularly so, the LGBTQ+ citizens.

Blacks, transgender, activists like Marsha P. Johnson and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, both central figures of the Stonewall Uprising in June of 1969, have helped to pave the way for the civil rights of all of us to be preserved and uplifted, and particularly for those in our LGBTQ+ community. I also want to lift up black cultural champions like RuPaul and others who present the best of artistry in entertainment and activism within our communities and welcomes everyone to the table to participate, to learn, to grow, and to celebrate.

While great strides have been made over the past several decades, there is still much work to do to protect the human rights of the LGBTQ+ community. In recent years, as my good Senator talked about, from Stockton, we have seen the resurgence of policies that once again aim to push marginalized communities back into the shadows, to silence their voices and to limit their rights, which in fact, limits the rights of all.

In 2023, there were over 520 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in the state legislatures across the country. And when I remember our Member, Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson from our caucus, introduced AB-1078 last year to prevent schools from banning books on race, gender, and sexuality. It met much of, and continues in many committees this year to draw out the most violent reactions, the most vile testimony that harms not just those in the room, but particularly our young members of the LGBTQ+ community. It is a dishonor to all Californians to have that level of violence in our state house.

It is a demonstration of how our colleagues can also be targets of hateful attacks simply by trying to ensure rights for all Californians. We've all seen some of the social media posts and attacks on our good Senator from San Francisco, and it pains us all, and we are always holding up this community in our prayers for protection and for safety as we battle against hatred that is growing more fierce every day.

And according to a study by the Center for the American Progress, LGBTQ+ individuals experience significantly higher rates of discrimination in virtually every societal setting, including healthcare, employment, housing, and public spaces. I thank our caucus for bringing this important resolution forward and for your courageous work to educate and uplift us all. And I look forward for an aye vote for this important resolution.

Senator Becker, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise today as Vice Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus in strong support of SR-96. In fact, I just hosted, at 12:30, an online town hall about the 50 year struggle for LGBTQ equality in Silicon Valley, featuring our own colleague, Senator Laird. A pride month is a time for celebration of identity and community. The term pride exists in opposition to the shame that has been foisted upon the LGBTQ community by those who would wish to see them erased.

In his time, Harvey Milk made crystal clear the parallels between Jewish history and the movement in the United States to exclude LGBTQ of individuals. The anti-LGBTQ movement wants to force queer people back in the closet through lies and violence, if necessary. They want to eradicate drag queens and trans people from public life. They invent new slurs, but their goals are the same as they were in the time of Harvey Milk.

And it's our duty to respond as he did, to show through our actions that California is a beacon of hope for the marginalized, a safe harbor for the oppressed, and a model of the inclusion and respect that all people deserve. That's the noise that Senator Eggman was talking about. We got to drown it out. The Holocaust started with barring Jews from public life, painting us as a threat to children, isolating us from the broader community, burning books, preventing non Jews from learning about us, and generally excluding us from society.

Among the oldest and most effective tropes for justifying the harms committed against the Jewish people has been accusations of child mutilation. Today, we see this libel levied against the LGBTQ community in full force. So, as we talk of pride, I want to acknowledge the LGBTQ members of our Jewish community who have existed across history, those whose dual identities inform and enrich one another, and the immense pride and love we feel as a community for them. This pride month, amidst all the darkness and consuming other states and online, I'm proud to join you as a body that works tirelessly to embrace, love and stand up for what is right. I urge an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Unfortunately, I can't tell them to take the noise off the floor, so we'll continue with Senator Min.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to thank my colleague from Stockton for bringing this resolution forward. And on behalf of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, I want to stand and express our support for this resolution as well. This is a month, as has been eloquently stated by my colleagues, is about pride.

It's about de-stigmatization. And unfortunately, in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, being LGBTQ still is the subject of a lot of stigma. We make up 6.2% of the US population, but only 3.8% of the LGBTQ population. And that's not because we have fewer LGBTQ members, it's because of that stigma of people not wanting to self report.

And unfortunately, we live at a time right now when anti-LGBTQ hate is on the rise, when people are actively trying to create larger stigmas to try to make people feel uncomfortable, scared, to feel hate. This is coming, of course, on the heels of the anti-Asian hate epidemic that we saw. And I think this particular pride month is more important than ever. That we all stand here and express our strong support as local leaders in our communities for pride. I represent communities that right now are getting rid of and banning the pride flag.

We've seen this in Huntington Beach and the County of Orange. And unfortunately, those symbols matter. And so I want to stand here to say that we stand with these people. To all my constituents, I want to say that we see you, we accept you, we love you. This is a time of pride. This is a time of celebration, and we need to make progress, not regress. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Laird, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. I would like to speak in support of this resolution today by speaking to the joy of what pride is and what pride means. And yes, the first pride I marched in Santa Cruz in the late seventies, a few years before my honoree, the mayor of Monterey, who's here today, was born.

We had more protesters than we had people participating. We needed police protection.

And I have told you the story of a few years ago when I lined up in a car to go on the parade and two floats in front of me is the medical marijuana float, and they have a 10 foot joint and it's shooting out smoke.

And who was assigned to walk next to them but the sheriff and his top deputies. And so they walked back to me and said, would you mind if we walked with you? And there is the arc of history from needing their protection decades ago to me being the safe port in the storm.

And yesterday, at the 49th annual Pride in Santa Cruz, we had 7,000 people. And it was that joy that you usually see. The library employees had their special book cart drill team. Chair of San Francisco was there, there throwing people in the air. There was everybody from every walk of life, every color, every orientation.

The immediate past public works Director of Watsonville went by in a tutu on roller skates, and the Santa Cruz high marching band brought it up. And so while we have the challenges that were mentioned, we also have the joy of our progress, and we have the joy of who we are.

And that is what Pride week is about. And that's why we should support SR-96.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Archuleta, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam President. So, on behalf of the Latino Legislative Caucus, it's my honor to rise today in strong support of SR-96 relative to the LGBTQ Pride month.

During Pride month, we recognize the resilience and determination in spite of the noise where voices will be heard, the resilience and determination of many individuals who have fought and continue fighting to simply live their lives freely and authentically.

LGBTQ Latinos have been major contributors to the United States and everything from arts, the military, politics, social justice movements, from the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and Jose Julio Sierra, the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in the US San Francisco County Board of Supervisors in 1961.

The LGBTQ Latinos have had a significant influence on US culture. This pride month, as we recognize the many contributions of the LGBTQ+ individuals across our nation, the Latino caucus reaffirms our commitment to fight against all forms of discrimination and injustice.

Although historic Supreme Court rulings struck down regressive laws affirm that the right to marriage equally and secured workplace protections for LGBTQ individuals, there are efforts to roll back these hard fought victories, in spite of the victories that have been made.

In far too many states, LGBTQ individuals still lack protections for fundamental rights and dignity in hospitals, schools, public accommodations, and other spaces. We also continue to witness the tragic spike in violence against transgender women of color, LGBTQ youth who are at a disproportionate risk of self harm.

So, as we celebrate LGBTQ Pride month, we must all be diligent and steadfast in our commitment to help end violence and discrimination against the community so that we can ensure a just and equitable America for all.

With that, I would like to thank the author, the legislative LGBTQ caucus, for our leadership and your leadership and your hard work on this important resolution. Members, please join me in supporting SR-96.

Our voices were loud enough. We're going to have a brief pause from the noise to continue our ceremony. Senator Skinner, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President and Members, I rise as the Chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus in support of SR-96 and in support of this beginning of pride month. As our author noted, this year we reached 10% LGBTQ representation in our Legislature. So the first body, I think, across the country to do so.

And in that same year, 2023, what I said same session year. So, you know, we're in a two year session. We also passed ACA-5 to repeal the Proposition, Prop 8, which, of course, made it illegal to be married. Now, some people might wonder, why did we need to repeal that when the Supreme Court gave that right?

But as we know, Supreme Courts change, so we had to get it off our books. And it was very. I felt very proud to be able to have that come forward and have all of us vote on that.

I'm also proud that within the Legislative Women's Caucus, five of our members serve both caucuses and add their voices to policies that protect the rights of women, families, vulnerable communities, and, of course, our LGBTQ community. We all deserve solutions with diverse and inclusionary eyes.

And when those solutions come forward from diverse and inclusionary eyes, they tend to be far better solutions to the problems that we're confronting. Unfortunately, right now, the ACLU is tracking no more than 515 anti-LGBTQ pieces of legislation across the country. 515.

I had the great fortune on Saturday to go to an event with Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin, who talked about, when she put forward the Marriage Equality Bill, which passed in the US Senate in 2022 on a bipartisan vote of 61 to 36. And Susan Collins. Senator Susan Collins, who's a Republican, was co-author of that.

And so Senator Baldwin was talking about how we've moved a lot when you can have these kind of bipartisan efforts. And she was, of course, quite proud of it.

And it did remind me that we have made great advances, but at the same time that we've made these great advances in recognizing the legitimate rights of our LGBTQ families and people, we also see this concerted attack.

So the 515 bills I mentioned, but also this very targeted and increased attack on one segment of that population, our trans population, which is a very small percent of people within our country. So why they would deserve this unrelenting and very focused target of attack is completely.

It's wrong and it's unfair, and we have to do everything we can to fight back on it. And Senator Baldwin spoke to that too.

And so we also know in the middle of these advancements, besides those issues, that our LGBTQ teams are still far more common to be rejected by their families and also have the highest suicide rate of any of our teens.

So if we care about these things, we care about bringing down suicide rates and bring it about family acceptance, then we ourselves have to show acceptance to all of our diverse viewpoints and create that modeling so that others follow it. And we, in fact, have the diversity and the tolerance and the acceptance that we're all looking for.

And with that, I strongly urge your support.

Senator Wiener, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, Madam President, Colleagues, I also rise in support of SR-96, and I want to thank my colleagues for the remarks today.

You know, I also just want to rise to say thank you to so many of you, our allies, who stand with our community, not only on the easy votes, but on the hard votes.

And it's interesting because some of the things that we view as easy, quote, unquote, votes today, at least here, like marriage equality or employment protections and so forth, did not used to be easy. Those used to be very hard.

And there were times in this building when very brave Members cast hard votes on items like marriage equality and jeopardize their own political future by doing so. And I'm grateful to them. And now we continue to have really hard votes.

And so many of you have stood with us, whether it's around all of the many ways in which the criminal justice system and the prison system continue to discriminate against LGBTQ people and put the lives of LGBTQ people at risk. And you've stood with us repeatedly, and I'm so grateful for that.

Or simply protecting LGBTQ young people and children who are at such severe risk of being rejected by family. That's always been the case, and it's still the case now.

Risking putting them into homelessness, like when there are some people who want to force teachers to tell parents that the kid is using a different pronoun, which could put that kid's life at risk.

All of these issues around LGBTQ young people and kids that are hard votes because QAnon has become so pervasive in terms of demonizing these kids, demonizing any effort to support them. And you stand with us, and so we're grateful for that. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Seyarto, you're recognized.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Today I rise with some difficulty, because I want to explain my reasoning for not joining many of you and supporting this resolution. As it is currently written, there is no disagreement in resolving to treat people who identify as LGBTQ with the same dignity, respect, and love as anyone else.

And I certainly do not promote anybody that promotes hate or harm to anyone and condemn those that do.

However, this resolution, as many of our other resolutions do, it extends beyond a simple proclamation to honor the rights of LGBTQ individuals by celebrating something that we've been celebrating for a long time, and many of us are just we're on board, and that's pride month.

This resolution includes highly controversial issues, such as the protection of parental rights and the rights of female athletes that require careful consideration and further discussion. For example, I cannot support the notion that males identifying as females should receive the same rights granted to females under Title IX.

There is a clear imbalance, as we rarely see female to male-trans persons competing in men's sports, especially for college scholarships. Yet, male-to-female trans persons are competing in women's sports, often leading to unfair advantages and denying women the opportunity to compete on a level playing field.

This undermines the very protections that Title IX was designed to ensure. I also have serious concerns about the integration of opposite biological sexes in locker rooms and bathrooms, especially for minors in junior high and high school.

Additionally, attempts to diminish parental rights and involvement in their children's lives, particularly decisions regarding minors in our schools, in the name of LGBTQ rights, are deeply troubling. Such significant issues require extensive public discussion to ensure any resulting laws reflect the public's majority views, not just those of advocacy groups.

Enacting laws that undermine parental rights and limit their involvement in their children's lives without broad public consensus is a direct affront on parents. It is understandable that parents feel anger and distrust towards government officials who presume to know better than they do about what is best for their children, but that should not result in people expressing hate and violence.

Incorporating these contentious issues into the resolution aligns it with a specific political agenda, making it more than just a statement of support for the LGBTQ community. It politicizes the resolution, detracting from its intent to celebrate pride month meaningfully for all of us.

In the past, I have chosen to abstain from voting when the language of a Bill was overly contentious. However, this has sometimes led to misunderstandings about my reasoning and others who may reason with me. This is not about hate or disapproval of individuals living their lives freely.

It is about balancing conflicting rights, conflicting rights, and ensuring that no group overshadows another. For those reasons, today, I cannot support you with this resolution.

I cannot join you in supporting this resolution and would encourage authors of future resolutions to sit down with Members of this body, including me, who have concerns so that we can have a resolution that we can all support. I wish all of the members of our LGBTQ community, their families, and their friends a happy pride month.

Mr. Pro Tem, you're recognized.

Thank you so much, Madam President, I rise. I rise to be able to proudly honor SR-96 and to be able to honor all those LGBTQ champions who are with us today. To be able to kick off Pride month here in the great Golden State.

We are so incredibly proud to welcome these 16 icons to the Senate to celebrate their accomplishments. And let's just be honest. Not just their accomplishments, but the positive impact, the positive impact they have had on countless lives in every corner of this great state.

What you're going to hear from Madam Chair of the LGBTQ caucus and those Members in the Senate. Is that these trailblazers have proved to the rest of the world that no matter your background, no matter your skin color, who you are, who you love, and how you identify, California will always have your back. And their work.

Their work is more important than ever. You know, sadly, here in the United States of America, the culture wars have become a sport. A sport for some. Scoring political points at the expense of hardworking people, bans, rules, laws created across this country are blatantly advanced to stifle marginalized groups of Americans and many times, LGBTQ residents just for being who they are. Not on our watch. Not here in California, not now, not ever. I want to end it with this.

Today is a day of thanks and celebration, to be able to say thank you to the honorees. We are so humbled by the work that they do each and every day to be able to lift up this state.

We also need to say thank you to the colleagues, the colleagues that we work with in the Senate, from the LGBTQ caucus, who are fearlessly standing by the side of diversity and inclusion. Our colleagues, led by the Senator from Stockton, from San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and San Fernando Valley, and our esteemed pro temerities.

They always stand up and they never backed down in the face of adversity. You were inspiring to all of us and respectfully asked for an aye vote on SR-96.

Thank you, Mr. Pro Tem. Seeing no further discussion or debate. Senator Eggman, you may close.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Sometimes you think, where's that drill when you need it, huh? I think I want to thank everybody for their kind words, and I want to make sure to apologize to our guests. We have 15 guests in the chambers with us today who represent all of our letters, and we are.

We don't usually insult guests when they come, but we want to thank you for coming and for what you do every day. And I think sometimes an example of what the noise sounds like is good because it reminds us, because as we're here in pride, and we're here with joy and love.

We know that our journey is not over, and you know that we are going to be by your side on this journey, that we go forward together. When we try to divide ourselves, it makes progress very difficult, and we all should all be looking for progress all the time. And how do we use our voices for good?

How do we use our voices for us coming together and holding up each other as the human beings that we all are? We're going to now do our pride ceremony, and I'm going to recognize 15 people, diverse people, from across the state.

After we call the roll.

But I was just going to say I'm not doing it now. I understand, but that we're going to. And I just want to make sure.

I don't want to go too deep into everybody because we have a time issue, but that these are representatives from all across the state that we choose as people who are servants, who are educators, who are healthcare workers, who are community organizers, who are pride people, people representing their community every single day, just doing their job.

And we appreciate that, and we honor you, and we respect you. And I ask for your aye vote on SR-96.

Thank you, Senator. Secretary, please call the row.

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 29, noes zero, resolution is adopted. From the majority leader's desk, Madam Caucus Chair, please proceed with your honorary presentation.

Thank you very much, Madam President. And now is the time where we get to actually honor our honorees. So we're gonna have different members who have nominated people do the resolution for some, and then I'm gonna do some of the other ones, and then we're gonna go up front and have a group photo.

But again, these are folks that we've selected for this year that represent folks all across the country. And again, we continue to invite you to join us tonight. And if you didn't see the Dykes on Bikes roaring up the Capitol mall, you missed something today.

Senator Atkins.

Thank you, Madam President. And, you know, it's really an honor. This is my 14th and last year as a Legislator, and to be able to recognize three incredibly wonderful individuals from the San Diego region gives me great pride today. So I'm going to start and introduce to you Araceli Cheli Mohamed as one of our LGBTQ Caucus pride honorees.

Cheli's career spans two decades in nonprofit social services and seven years in local government. Her leadership prowess is indisputable, and she is the best example of volunteer development and management and communal stewardship. As the partnership development manager for the National University's public safety outreach, Cheli embodies her role with unwavering commitment to community growth.

She is an appointed commissioner by Governor Gavin Newsom to California Volunteers, where she will continue to shape the landscape of community engagement. After leading major volunteer programs as part of San Diego Pride, thousands of volunteers, she then created her own thriving nonprofit Volunteer with Cheli.

She and her team brings out hundreds of volunteers for community events in San Diego every month. Previously, she served as director of volunteer services and community leadership development at the San Diego LGBTQ Community Center and the chief operations officer for the United States Police and Fire Championships.

She formerly worked with me when I was a member of the San Diego City Council. She is my friend. Cheli truly exemplifies the spirit of community service and leadership, and I ask you to join me in honoring her today.

Madam President? Next, I would like to introduce to you all Paris Gion, another incredible advocate being recognized by our caucus today for her leadership and her activism. Paris is a Southern California based drag entertainer, a businesswoman, and an advocate for the LGBTQ community.

She was born and raised in San Diego and credits her Hillcrest community with playing an important role in who she is today. Her parents used San Diego's LGBTQ center services during her coming out, as well as throughout her transition, which inspired her to further her own outreach.

Now, as an adult and with others, she's a volunteer, a fundraiser. She's devoted her life, her skills and resources to the betterment of the queer community with a focus on our youth and our most vulnerable community Members.

Off stage, she is a regular fixture in government spaces, corporate businesses, and school campuses, training in LGBTQ rights and gender sensitivity. She shares her journey as a Trans person in hopes of a gentler world for for our community and putting a face to the possibilities of what can happen when our community is given the opportunity to thrive.

Madam President. Colleagues, join me in recognizing Bruce Abrams as one of our caucus honorees. Bruce is a dedicated attorney, activist, philanthropist, and pillar for our LGBTQ and our Jewish communities. Throughout his successful law career, he has worked with many underrepresented clients by providing pro Bono legal services.

Paris work has a profound impact on our LGBTQ community and all of San Diego, and I am a huge fan girl. Please join me in honoring her today.

He serves in various leadership positions, including on the San Diego Jewish Federation's Israel and Overseas Committee, the San Diego Diplomacy Council Advisory Board, the San Diego Sheriff's LGBT Advisory Board, the Anti Defamation Leagues Board, Executive Allyships Committee, and as one of the co chairs of the 16th annual San Diego Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast.

He previously served as chair of the San Diego City's International Affairs Board, chair of our San Diego Human Relations Commission, and Grand marshal for the Pride Parade in 2014. His service with civil rights and LGBTQ groups in San Diego has made an incredible impact on our community.

I have known Bruce and worked with him for over almost 40 years. Bruce, I'm so grateful for everything that you've done for our San Diego community and thrilled to have the opportunity to honor you here today.

We're now like to recognize Senator Wiener to continue in our presentation from the majority leader's desk.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise to honor Sal Rosselli as a pride month honoree. One of my great constituents, Sal, is the President, now emeritus, of the National Union of Healthcare Workers. NUHW and the first openly gay leader of a California based Healthcare union.

But beyond that, Sal is one of the most respected labor leaders around period for decades and decades, fighting for working people. A native of Albany, New York, Sal volunteered with Dorothy Day's Catholic Worker movement before moving to San Francisco in the 1970s, where he served as President of the Alice B.

Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club, a club that I subsequently co chaired. And he rose up the ranks to lead SEIU Local 250. During the height of the AIDS crisis, Sal volunteered in San Francisco caring for people with HIV, while Local 250 created the first literature educating healthcare workers about the virus.

In 2009, after three decades leading local 250 and United Healthcare Workers west, Sal became the founder and founding President of NUHW, a union that now has 19,000 Members. He sits on the board of Courage California and helps lead Healthy California, now the state's largest coalition of single payer healthcare advocates.

I also want to say, I've known Sal for many, many years. We also, in the Legislature have worked very closely with Sal and NUHW on mental health treatment access.

And what has always really just been so apparent to me with Sal and with the union is that, yes, it's about the workers and ensuring support for the workers, but it's also about the patients. And Sal takes that very, very broad view, and for that we are deeply appreciative. So please join me in thanking Sal Rosselli.

Senator Laird will continue with the next honoree.

Thank you very much, Madam President. It's my pleasure to honor the mayor of the City of Monterey, Tyler Williamson. Tyler was raised in a military family that ended up landing in Monterey. He was an early graduate from the California State University of Monterey Bay. He planted his roots. He became active in the community. He organized pride.

He volunteered in housing. He really became an active Member of the community. And I think it was the ripe young age of 32, was elected to a four year term on the Monterey City Council.

And he was so strong in his performance, serving on regional bodies in housing and transportation, transportation and water that he was chosen by the people of Monterey, among a really strong field, to be the mayor. And when he was elected mayor just in his mid thirties, he became the first African American mayor of Monterey.

He became the first openly gay mayor of Monterey. He works at the naval postgraduate school. His family is nearby. His husband Ivan, is a teacher in Salinas, and they are active in the community.

And if there's anybody that's up and coming and yet worthy of a long tradition of breaking through and serving the community, it's Mayor Tyler Williams from the Monterey. It's my pleasure to help honor him today as one of our pride honorees.

Senator Eggman will do the rest of the presentations from the majority leader's desk.

Thank you very much. It is my honor. This is my honoree. Lori Rizzo is an educator with over 33 years of experience with the Stockton Unified School District. Not an easy gig. And a state Commissioner for California children and families.

First five, first one from the Central Valley to represent us on a statewide Commission for the first five. Lori has decided dedicate her professional career to the children of Stockton, her hometown.

She taught fifth and 6th grades for 16 years and served as a principal for another 16 before moving to the district office to become the Director of educational services, overseeing 17 different schools in Stockton Unified.

In 2002, Laurie accepted a nomination from Senator pro tem Atkins office to serve as a state Commissioner for first five in a role that she continues to do and is very proud. And she is here with her wife today, Kathy, and we're very proud of Stockton and of her. Okay, and next.

Next we have accepting on behalf of Soni Wolf. We have Kate Brown of dykes on bikes. She's accepting. Soni Obadiah was born in Germany, became a U.S. citizen as a young child, grew up in Rhode Island. Soni was deeply patriotic and served stateside during the Vietnam War, was a medic in the United States Air Force.

Soni moved to San Francisco in the late 1970s. It was in San Francisco that she found what became her calling to help create, define, and defend the unique space within the LGBTQ community. Soni was the founding Member of the San Francisco Dykes on Bikes and was a heart of the club from 1978 until her passing in 2018.

Over the course of four years that she was with Dykes on bikes, she helped the organization evolve into a 501C3 non-profit nonprofit and helped spearhead the group's mission to create a national and international community of women motorcyclists supporting philanthropic endeavors in the LGBT community.

Soni also served on the board for San Francisco Pride, where she helped create a community that celebrates LGBTQ visibility and equality.

With four decades of activism in the community, she was an inspiring part of the movement for the Lesbian and dignity who was succeeded by the thousands of dykes on bikes around the world who follow in her footsteps. And with us today, we have Kate Brown, the current President of San Francisco Dykes on Bikes.

Okay, and next we have Arul Uwrenya, former mayor of Calexico. Arul is the daughter of California farmworkers representing California's unique Calexico. She was a firsthand gender Latina mayor of a California City and entirely of the and its entirety on the US and Mexico border. Please congratulate her.

And next up we have David Juron, Vice President of Riverside LGBTQ Pride. David is a dedicated advocate for the LGBTQ community, currently serving as the Vice President and fundraising Director of Riverside Pride.

Okay. Next up we have Jai Rodriguez is an actor and artist who is known for his role as the culture vulture on Queer Eye for the straight guy.

To advance inclusivity and diversity in the emblem empire, Riverside Pride spearheads initiatives that uplift and empower our community individuals, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met. Congratulations.

He was also known for his Broadway roles in rent and Zana, dont. He continues to support important LGBT causes and captivates audience with his one man cabaret show. Please welcome to our floor. Next up we have Johnny Cota. Johnny is an American fashion designer known for his unique approach to avant garde design, blending streetwear and high fashion.

He was the winner of Amazon's Prime Video fashion competition series making the cut and continues his prominence in Los Angeles as a boutique owner, consultant and activist. Please welcome Johnny.

Next up, we have Sir Lady Java, accepted by Hilary Saher, activist and entertainer. Lady Java, a pioneering transgender entertainer and activist, broke barriers in the 1960s and seventies by challenging discriminatory laws and practices in Los Angeles. Her courageous efforts against unjust regulation significantly advanced transgender rights and continues to inspire the LGBTQ community today. Welcome.

Next up, we have Nguyen Pham, President of San Francisco Pride. Nguyen is the first Vietnamese person to serve as President of San Francisco's Pride, San Francisco's largest annual event and one of the largest annual gatherings of LGBTQ people and allies. Please welcome Nguyen.

Next up, we have Ron Ruiz, entertainer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Ron Ruiz is an entrepreneur and is the board President of Vive Substance Use Recovery Centers, a new nonprofit startup for individuals struggling with substance abuse in Los Angeles County and a board Member at Latino Equality Alliance, a nonprofit that empowers our LGBTQ youth. Welcome.

Next up, we have Sera Fernando, manager, County of Santa Clara office of LGBTQ Affairs. Sera is the manager and leader for the County of Santa Clara's office of LGBTQ Affairs. Sera believes that creating diverse and inclusive spaces where authenticity is celebrated and providing access to communities across intersectional identities empowers all of us to achieve more. Welcome, Sera.

And that concludes our honorees this year. Let's give them a big hand.

We're going to take a group photo with all the honorees and the LGBTQ caucus Members first. Then I would invite the rest of the Senate to participate in a photo. We're gonna. We're gonna come to the front here. We're gonna come to the front here. If any ally wishes to participate in the photo, now is that. Nevermind.

We are moving on. No room for allies today.

We're going to return to our program in about 15 seconds, Senators. All right, Senators, we're going to move back to our Senate third reading. We have three items on Senate third reading. 13,14 and 17. We're going to start with Senator Caballero for file item 13. She is prepared.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Joint Resolution 6 by Senator Caballero, relative to veterans benefits.

Senator Caballero.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to present, members, SJR 6, an important measure to denounce the historic discrimination against the LGBTQ Plus community created under the US Military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

SJR 6 calls upon the United States Congress and the president to create an effective remedy to address the other than honorable and quote, dishonorable discharges issued under the don't ask, don't tell policy that have negatively impacted the LGBTQ members of the military and to restore the benefits they are entitled to.

Under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, if a member of the military identified as a member of the LGBTQ community, it could lead to a dishonorable or other than honorable discharge. Veterans that received these discharges lost access to their military benefits such as healthcare, college tuition assistance, employment opportunities, and retirement benefits.

Between 1994 and 2011, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy under the Department of Defense led to the discharge of more than 14,000 service members. Additionally, prior to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, the United States Department of Defense established policies that penalized military members and resulted in the discharge of gay, lesbian, and bisexual members, regardless of service to the country and their good military service.

During the 1980s, more than 17,000 military members were dismissed from their duties due to their sexual orientation. In 2010, the don't ask, don't tell policy was repealed by President Obama, which allowed members to serve openly without fear of discharge and created a process for discharged members to amend their status through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

The review process to grant benefits to a member who has been wrongfully discharged is made on a case-by-case basis. Veterans require an advocate to gather and submit documentation for the VA's review, including service records, incident details, supporting evidence, and performance evaluations.

The current process to upgrade the status of discharged veterans is unnecessarily burdensome, adding complexity to an already strained relationship. Forcing veterans to revisit a difficult time in their life can create an emotional barrier for many. In many cases, re-engaging with the department that discriminated against them worsens veterans trauma and amplify feelings of shame, anxiety, and anger.

SJR 6 urges the president and Congress to establish a straightforward process, provide legal aid, and rectify the wrongful discharge or misclassification of veterans based on their sexual orientation. This would ensure they receive the benefits which they are entitled to due to their honorable service in the military. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Colleagues, do we have any discussion or debate on file item 13? Seeing none. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 29, noes zero, the resolution is adopted. Moving on to file item 14, SCR 142. Senator Limon is ready.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 142 by Senator Limon, relative to California Nonprofits Day.

Senator Limon.

Thank you, Madam President and colleagues. I rise as the chair of this Select Committee on the nonprofit sector to proudly present SCR 142, which declares Wednesday, June 5 of this year, as California Nonprofits Day in recognition of the importance of nonprofit organizations to the economy and well-being of this state.

Nonprofit organizations in California are foundational in our communities. They are a significant partner with government and strong economic power. They rank as the fourth largest industry in the state by number of jobs, employing over 1.2 million people throughout many sectors.

They generate approximately 15% of California's gross state product, generate nearly 274 billion in annual revenue, and contribute more than 37 billion in revenue each year at the federal, state, and local levels.

This Wednesday, we will honor 117 California nonprofit organizations that are local and state level champions in the environment, science, safety net, innovations, civil rights, arts and humanities, and civic ideals. They ensure people do not go hungry, provide aid during the pandemic, watch our children after school, heal community divides, and provide much needed assistance after natural disasters. There are so many reasons why now is an exciting yet challenging time to be a nonprofit in California. With that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Caballero, you're recognized. One second here. Try again.

Thank you, Madam President. I want to support my good colleague from Santa Barbara. We couldn't survive as a state. Our communities could not survive without nonprofits. Having run a nonprofit for a number of years, I know how hard it is to try to meet the needs that come in the front door and to fundraise consistently and like every day. But they take care of the absolute most important things in our community that are important. And so I want to commend my friend from Santa Barbara and ask you to support SCR 142 for the good work that they do.

Thank you, Senator Caballero. Any further discussion or debate on file item 14? Senator Limon, you may close.

I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Please call the absent members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37, noes zero. Ayes 35, noes zero, the resolution is adopted. Moving on to our final item on Senate third reading, Senator Alvarado Hill is prepared and ready.

Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 145 by Senator Alvarado-Gil relative to Alice Piper Day.

Senator? Thank you, madam President. I rise as a proud Member of the Native American Caucus, along with our esteemed caucus chair of the Assembly Member from San Bernardino to present Senate Concurrent Resolution 145, which commemorates Alice Piper Day here in California. Will many of you are likely hearing of Alice Piper for the first time.

I first was introduced to the Alice Piper legacy while on my listening tour in Indian country over our spring break. Alice Piper was a paiute woman who marked history and a trailblazer in education equity.

She made history in 1924 by successfully suing the Big Pine School district of Inyo County to integrate classrooms and allow indigenous students to attend their schools. She was only 15 years old, born on June 7,1908 in Big Pine, Alice attended a nearby indian day school. Run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

This school had opened in 1891. During the height of the assimilationist movement, or model of Native American uneducation. The Federal Government operated these schools to sever native children ties with their indigenous cultures, language, customs, and homeland, replacing them with Anglo-American curriculum that emphasized careers in manual labor.

These Indian day schools were grossly underfunded, offered very few grade levels, and had a poor quality of education. As compared to those offered to white students. In the late 19th century, California courts had affirmed the rights of school districts. To follow a separate but equal doctrine.

Nevertheless, in 1923, Alice and six other native children attempted to attend the big Pine High school. But the school board denied them entry due to their race. Piper sued on the grounds that her 14th Amendment rights had been violated. In the Supreme Court case Piper versus Big Pine School District.

Not only was the outcome changed the treatment of Native American children in public schools. But the California Supreme Court voted unanimously in her favor. This case also set precedent that was later cited by Chief Justice Warren in the US Supreme Court. In the landmark decision case Brown v.

The board of education, declaring that racial segregation in schools was and is indeed unconstitutional. Piper's court victory became the pivotal point in time. Ending the practice of sending Indian children to separate schools. I ask that you join me in commemorating the centennial anniversary of the Piper versus big Pine decision.

And declare June 2, 2024 as Alice Piper Day. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator. Colleagues, do we have any discussion or debate? I'm seeing none. I'm hearing none. This item is eligible for unanimous roll call. Do we have any objection? Ayes 35. Noes. Zero. Resolution is adopted. Now onto our consent calendar, we have two items, items 61 and 62.

Do we have any Members that would like to remove an item from the consent calendar? Hearing and seeing none. Secretary, please read the items.

Assembly Bill 2974-2232 Secretary, please call the roll on the first item. [Roll Call]

Please call the absent Members.

[Roll Call]

Ayes, 36. Noes. Zero. Consent calendar is adopted. We're going to be returning back to motions and resolutions I'd like to recognize. Senator Limon.

Thank you. I request unanimous consent to return SB 639 to the Assembly for further action.

The desk would note moving on to Committee announcement. Senator Wiener.

Thank you, madam President. I request that AB 1768 file item a 50 be removed from the inactive.

File, the decimal note. Senator. Nothing further on that. We're going to go on to Committee announcements. We have one Committee announcement. Senator Avraadahil.

Thank you. The Committee on Human Services will meet upon adjournment at approximately 345 and room 2200.

Thank you, Senator. Jumping back to motions and resolutions, this is our time for adjournment and memories. We have three aims today. We're going to start with Senator Bakespeare.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I rise today to pay tribute to Matt Gaffney, who passed away on April 21,2024 at the age of 73.

A longtime resident in my district in the City of San Juan Capistrano, Matt Gaffney is survived by his daughter Laura, and her husband, Matt, their two children, Jackson and Kennedy, and his devoted partner, Karen Smiley. Matt is also survived by his older brother, Joseph, and younger sister, Mary Ellen.

His friends say that he had a big personality with an even bigger heart. They also say that Matt was not just a resident of San Juan Capistrano, but he was its very essence. Matt's unwavering dedication to the betterment of San Juan Capistrano has left an unforgettable mark on our district.

His service to the community began when he was in the boy scouts, and that spirit continued for the remainder of his life. After serving in the US Navy, Matt returned to San Juan Capistrano and dedicated his time to the community. Over the years, he served on the Planning Commission and the Traffic and Transportation Commission.

He was a Member of the San Juan Capistrano Open Space Committee, was an active Member of Capistrano animal rescue effort. He was a two time past commander of the local American Legion post and a lifetime Member of VFW Serapost 3801.

He was a longtime Member of the San Juan Historical Society, and finally, he coached boys football and girls softball. Known as Mister San Juan, Matt loved his town and it showed.

While on the open space Committee, he helped pass the City Bond Proposition, measure Y, which preserved open space for San Juan Capistrano residents and led to four parks being built within a year and a half. Matt also marched in the annual Swallows Day parade since its founding years.

He only missed one parade in 1971 because he was on naval duty. This year, he was able to participate in his final Swallows Day parade at the 2024 grand marshal. Although he was fighting cancer, he was determined not to miss it.

In 2011, the City of San Juan Capistrano placed Matt Gaffney on its wall of recognition, honoring his service to the community. Matt, through his lifelong dedication, has helped make the community a top notch place to live, work and visit. He will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed by all.

We ask that the Senate adjourn in his memory today. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Please bring Matt's name forward so that he may be properly memorialized. Senator Ochoa Bogh, you're recognized.

Thank you. Madam President and Members, it is with great sadness that I rise to adjourn in memory of Mike Michael Gallo, who passed away on April 3. Mike was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in April of 1958.

He was an excellent athlete and in 2013 was inducted into the Fitchburg High School Hall of Fame for his record setting track and field excellence.

In 1980, he graduated from Norwich University with a degree in civil engineering and then served as an officer in US Air Force until 1984, where he was stationed at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino. After leaving the Air Force, he became an aerospace engineer and in 1993 co founded Kelley Space and technology with Mike Kelly.

Mike was a beloved Member of his community and was recognized for leadership roles in many business, education, nonprofit and community organizations. He also served on the San Bernardino City Unified Board of Education from 2011 to 2020 and served for just over a year on the county board of Education.

With an extensive background and workforce development, one of Mike's top priorities was to provide opportunities for all students to learn through different modalities and approaches. When he wasn't working or volunteering, Mike enjoyed spending time with Kim, his wife of 43 years, children, Kristen, Mark, their spouses, and his five grandchildren.

I wish Mike's family and friends peace and comfort during this time of deep sorrow. I would be honored if this body would adjourn in Mike Gallo's memory.

Thank you, Senator. Sending condolences to his family. Please bring his name forward so he may be properly memorialized. Senator Skinner.

Thank you, madam President. Members, I ask that the Senate adjourn in the memory of Chris Edley Junior, the former dean of UC Berkeley Law School.

A legal legend and a civil rights expert, he was also a policy advisor on six presidents presidential campaigns and partner in the White House with three presidents, meaning he worked in the White House. Chris Edley junior died May 10 at Stanford Hospital from complications of surgery. He was 71.

He spent his childhood in Philadelphia, where, due to racial prejudice, his father, a Harvard Law School graduate, struggled to find work at the city's law firms. Edley went on to Harvard Law, where he was the first 2nd generation African American student to earn a law degree.

And while attending Harvard Law, he began work on Carter's 1976 presidential campaign. After graduating, he joined Carter's White House and worked on domestic policy issues like stamping out hunger, child welfare, and other disability issues. After Carter's term ended, Chris Edley returned to Harvard Law, where he taught for 23 years with a number of interruptions, which I'll describe.

He took leave, however, after Clinton's election to become the associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget in Clinton's White House. Now, what Edley was known for is that he was a stalwart advocate for racial equity, especially affirmative action.

And in 1995, when affirmative action policies were under attack across the country, Clinton named Edley to oversee a review of programs across the country. Edley dubbed that review mend it, don't end it. He resisted pressure from the White House to engage with critics of affirmative action, calling them dangerously disingenuous.

He wrote that the goal of those seeking to dismantle affirmative action is to protect the current distribution of privilege and opportunity that has produced white male elites in virtually every sector.

In 1991, he joined three other black professors from top tier law schools and testified against the nomination of Clarence Thomas, arguing that Justice Thomas, then a federal appeals court judge, was too politically partisan to make fair decisions.

Edley returned to Harvard in 96, where he and Gary Orfield co founded the Civil Rights Project, which has generated dozens of books, papers, conferences, and is a model for law school research programs across the country.

In 2004, UC Berkeley named Edley Dean of Berkeley Law, where he became the first African American to lead a top law school in the US. Erwin Chemerinsky, who is the current dean of Berkeley Law and who happened to be a classmate of Edley's at Harvard Law, called his friend a transformative dean.

A brilliant intellect, and a great sense of humor. He made a huge difference in Berkeley law and in every institution that he was part of. While at Berkeley law, Edley worked closely as an advisor to Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and joined the transition team. But he resisted Obama's efforts to make him part of the White House.

He said, nope, I need to stay in California, where he felt it was the ground zero for the opportunity struggle that defines the civil rights agenda. He described that the challenges in education, Healthcare, immigration, and the criminal justice system here in California capture what the battle for racial and ethnic justice is today across the nation.

Edley stepped down as dean of Berkeley law in 2013 to deal with prostate cancer, but he returned to teaching in 2016 and in 2021 was named interim dean of UC Berkeley School of Education. There, he co founded the Opportunity Institute, a nonprofit that promotes social equity through education. He is survived by his wife, Maria Echeveste.

They met while they were both working in the Clinton White House. He also survived by three children, one grandchild and a sibling.

Now, while Edley was ultimately unsuccessful in his lifetime in stopping the dismantling of affirmative action, his work, his writings, the institutes he started, the students he mentored, and much more are carrying on his legacy and continuing the fight. May he rest in peace, and may we adjourn in his memory.

Senator Stern, you're recognized.

Chris Sedley was my dean in law school and was one of the people that inspired me to pursue social justice as a career through law in my life. The only thing I would add to my good colleague from Berkeley's eloquent words in his memory is humor. In addition to a legacy of incredible scholarship and progress.

To find levity and to have the wit to do so in a dynamic environment like a Berkeley law school classroom where everyone's coming at you all the time. And I remember that first day, everyone had a lot of opinions, and we were pushing him very hard.

And I think I take from him, too, not just to have that big mind, but to have the humility and the grace to find humor and to find levity in those moments about yourself.

He had all the reason to be a man of great self importance, and yet he walked very, very humbly and carried a huge legacy in his wake. So he will be missed, and I hope he rests in power.

Senator Skinner, thank you so much for sharing this story with us. Please bring his name forward so we may properly memorialize him. Mister Pro Tem, there is no other business. The desk is clear.

Thank you so much, Madam President. Members, enjoy and celebrate pride month in your communities and here this evening with the LGBTQ caucus. The next floor session is scheduled for Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 09:00 a.m.

The Senate is adjourned. We will reconvene Thursday, June 6, at 09:00 a.m.