Senate Floor

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present. Colleagues, if we can kindly return to our seats. Members and guests beyond the row, please rise. We will be led this afternoon in prayer by Sister Michelle Gorman. After which, please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Sister.

So let us recall that we are always in God's presence. God of mercy and compassion during these days of devastating fires throughout Los Angeles. Bless us with a felt sense of your abiding presence as life strips away all our comforts and securities. Everything we thought we needed.

Help those affected and all those providing aid to build endurance and strength for the difficult days ahead. May those of us watching from afar not become numb to the anguish of each individual who has lost all that is precious, whether it be life or possessions.

Instead, may our broken hearts urge us to engaged prayer and loving action in collaboration with government relief workers, churches and volunteers. May all those suffering the trauma of loss feel the love and support of a community caring for each other's welfare. We ask this in your name. Amen.

Members and guests, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance. We'd like to wish a very happy birthday to Senator Smallwood-Cuevas. Happy birthday, Senator. And yesterday was or was not Senator Wahab's birthday. Happy birthday, Senator. Members, without objection, we will move to Senate Third reading to take up file item number two.

Senate Concurrent resolution six by Senator Choi. From the Majority Leader's desk. He is prepared. Secretary, Please read

Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 by Senator Choi relative to Korean American Day.

Senator Choi.

Thank you, madam. Honorable Senators, I stand before you today to underscore the profound importance of recognizing the 122nd anniversary of Korean American immigration to the United States. It's not just a reflection of history, but a commemoration of the immense contributions that the Korean Americans have made to our nation's progress, culture and value.

In 1903, the first group of Korean immigrants arrived in America, in American soil, in Hawaii, seeking better opportunities and chance at the American dream. These pioneers faced tremendous challenges. Racial discrimination, language barrier and economic hardships. Yet through their resilience and determination, they not only survived, but thrived, laying the foundation of the vibrant Korean American community.

We know today. This anniversary marks more than a century of perseverance, hard work and unwavering commitment to the United States. Korean Americans have contributed in every field. Business, science, education, public service and the art. If you are a fan of K drama, you may know and then also watch the original game or the Squid games.

Then you will know that they have fought in wars to defend our freedoms, contributed to the economic growth of this country, and played an essential role in shaping the diverse and inclusive society we are proud of today. Here to California, the Korean American community is especially significant. Significant.

Our state is home to one of the largest Korean populations in the country. They have enriched our cultural fabric, contributed to the innovation of our industries, and fostered stronger relationship between the US And Korea. Their achievements are a testament to the values we hold dear.

Hard work, dedication, and the belief that everyone, regardless of their origin, has the right to prosper in this great nation. But this anniversary is not just a celebration of the past. It is a call to acknowledge the ongoing contributions and the challenges still exist.

Korean Americans, like many other immigrant communities, continue to face issues, identity, racial hate, representation and inequity. By adopting a commemorative resolution for this anniversary, we honor their legacy and reaffirm our commitment to creating more inclusive society where the contributions of all Americans are recognized and celebrated. I urge you to.

I urge you, everybody, honorable Senators, to support this resolution. Let us mark this 122nd anniversary as a tribute to the enduring spirit of Korean Americans and then as a reminder that our nation's strength lies in its diversity. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Senator Choi. So I have a couple of mics up. I'm going to go in the order I saw them. Right. Senator Wiener, you're up first.

Thank you very much, Madam President. I rise today in support of SCR 6. I'm proud to represent a district that's for many years served as a gateway for many Korean Americans to seek a better life in this country.

About 12,000 Korean Americans currently reside in San Francisco, contributing greatly to our city's culture and economy, including a thriving Korean restaurant scene. It's not uncommon to see lines stretching out the doors at restaurants like Mana in the Inner Sunset.

Korean Americans have been at the forefront of so many great cultural trends in this country and are just part of the fabric of our community. And respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Durazzo, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. And I want to thank the Senator from Irvine for recognizing Korean American Day in my district. I'm very proud to represent Koreatown, a significant historical and cultural neighborhood that is more than 100 years old and home to more than 40,000 Korean Americans.

Korean immigration to the US was banned and then severely limited for over 40 years in the early 20th century. Since that ban was lifted, Koreatown has flourished and became the cultural hub we know it to be today. Developing businesses, shopping centers, coffee shops, grocery stores, Korean barbecue restaurants.

Koreatown is also home to the LA Korean Festival, which will be held for the 52nd time this year in October. I feel a connection to the first Koreans who came to the United States. They were laborers, farmers, and domestic workers. It has been my life's mission to fight for working families like them.

These families worked in difficult conditions, struggled to feed their families, and through their hard work, built a thriving community. Thank you again for recognizing the Korean American community.

Thank you, Madam Chair. To my colleague from Irvine, I say Gam Sa Humnida. Thank you for bringing this forward. And to the people that have joined us, some locally, maybe from my district, I say humyoung Humnida. Welcome to the Senate Chamber.

And there have been many words so far as to the value of Koreans in our American society. Just suffice it to say that they contribute greatly to the tapestry that is America, the international tapestry that is America. In fact, my Communications Director, Leopard Kim, was born in Korea.

She is a Korean American and the one responsible for those words that I just said. And I hope I didn't butcher the pronunciation too poorly. Thank you. zero, and by the way, it is the good Senator from Irvine's birthday two days from now. Happy birthday.

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

Thank you, Madam President. Members, I rise also in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, recognizing today as Korean American Day in the state Legislature. District 7, which I'm proud to represent in the East Bay, is home to thousands of Korean Americans who for generations have provided positive contributions to our community.

The City of Oakland is home to a vibrant Koreatown showcasing the best of Korean culture and cuisine. And Koreatown is an example of the strength of our diversity that makes California strong. On a personal level, I have a deep connection to the Korean community.

In 2018, as the mayor of the City of Berkeley, in recognition of the growing Korean population in the East Bay, we established a formal Sister City relationship with the City of Gwangju, Korea.

I had the pleasure of visiting Gongju, where I got to see firsthand the grace and generosity of the people of Korea and the unparalleled rich history of the country. Gangju is located in the Chungcheongnam Do Province, which is also one of California's sister cities with the Republic of Korea.

And this relationship was founded due to the similarities between our two states, including fostering stronger educational and economic ties.

I want to thank Senator Choi for introducing this resolution which honors over 120 years of Korean American excellence since the first arrival of Korean immigrants to America in 1903, who have, as Senator Derasso said, overcome great adversity to thrive here in California. In the United States today, over 2 million people of Korean ancestry call America home.

SCR 6 recognizes that the great State of California was built upon the immense contributions of our immigrant communities, which serves as a timely reminder of the work that we all must do to support and protect immigrants of all backgrounds. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Grove, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, I too rise in support of SCR 6 recognizing Korean American Day. And I thank the author for bringing it to the floor. Korean American immigrants are part of a successful American immigrant structure story. They're family orientated, they're hard working, they're very faithful and they're successful entrepreneurs and small business owners.

I want to recognize the many Korean Americans who faithfully served in our nation's military over the years. In 2023, I was pleased to see that Congress passed and the President signed the Valor act, which would allow 3,000 Korean soldiers who fought alongside American soldiers in the Vietnam War and have since become American citizens have access to to VA benefits and services.

We owe these servicemen and women a debt of gratitude as we do all United States military veterans. And I, as the first female veteran that's ever been elected to this legislative body and would like to thank the author for bringing SCR 6 before us.

Honoring all the veterans that have served our community, but specifically those that came from another country to fight for this country. And I'm glad that they were recognized and able to receive those benefits from the President and Congress just last year respectfully asked for an I vote on this resolution.

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

Well, I thank for being recognized. And I rise for strong support of Senate Joint resolution concurrent Resolution 6 offered by Senator Choi.

I want to say that my father in law was a Korean War veteran and I also had the honor of being friends with Charlie Rangel, former Member of Congress, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, who spoke passionately about his service during the Korean War. Since the war, Korea has among America's most staunch and steadfast allies.

Excuse me. They believe in freedom strongly because they understand what's at stake. And they bring that belief and that passion to this country. The Korean Americans also contribute greatly to our culture. If you understand the gingham issue, it's always been a pleasure to see that.

And they also contribute to our economy and the well being of our society. The Senate owes a debt of gratitude to Senator Choi for bringing this resolution to the Senate Floor. And I strongly advocate for an aye vote.

Senator Umberg, you're recognized. Hopefully that was enough time to practice your Korean.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Thank you. There we go. See? Thank you. And with apologies to my colleague from Los Angeles, I actually represent the two best Koreatowns in all of California. The one in Garden Grove and the one recently established in Buena Park.

We are all beneficiaries of the Korean Americans who've come to improve our culture, to improve our cuisine, to improve our economy here in California. In terms of personal connections, my father in law also fought in Korea. But my children, my three children have a very important personal connection to Korea.

But for Korea, they wouldn't exist because that's where I met my wife. She was in Yongsan. I was up north of Huijiangbu in Donduchon and Tokoree, not far from Panmunjom. And we spent a year there. And from that year blossomed a relationship which produced three children.

So I have a deep, deep, deep debt of gratitude to Korea and the Korean Americans who we were with in Korea. And as was pointed out, with great deal of dedication, valor have fought with us repeatedly in. In our conflicts. So thank you very much. Kamsa Hamni. DA. I urge you an aye vote.

Seeing no other mics up. Senator Choi, you may close.

Thank you very much, Juan. I'm overwhelmed by my colleagues. Such a, you know, support statements it would have taken all day long if everybody stood up, you know, speaking. I'm sure you wanted to wish it, but I think that's enough. You know, we can relate in person.

And then also we have distinguished guests from communities where many Korean Americans reside, including Sacramento, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland areas. And I cannot introduce everybody but some distinguished names that I know of. Let me start introducing.

Senator, your. Your introduction of your special guests will come after the vote.

Oh, after the vote. Okay. Sure. Okay. Thank you very much for your support and I would appreciate your aye vote.

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

Allen. Alvarado. Gil. Aye. Archuleta. Aye. Aye. Ashby. Aye. Becker. Aye. Blakespear. Aye. Cabaldin. Aye. Caballero. Aye. Cervantes, I. Choi, I. Cortese, I. Dali, I. Durazo, I. Gonzalez, I. Grayson, I. Grove, I. Hurtado, Jones, Laird, I. Limon, I. Mcguire, McNerney, I. Manjewar, I. Niello. Aye. Ochobog, Aye. Padilla, Aye. Perez, Reyes. Richardson I. Rubio, I. Sierrato I. Smaller Cuevas I. Stern, Umberg. Aye. Valaderis, Wahab. Aye. Weber, Pearson. Aye. Wiener. Aye.

Ayes 31, no. 0. The resolution is adopted. Moving on to under privileges of the floor, Senator Choi from the Majority Leader's will be introducing a special guest.

Thanks very much for unanimous support. And let me now, since I already prefaced, introduce few guests on the floor. First of all, the Honorable Lim, who is a Korean Consul General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco. I want you to step over here. And secondly, Hae Ren Cho is counsel from the same office.

And Dr. Jonathan Kim is President of San Francisco and the Bay Area Korean Center. And third person is Mrs. Sun Kim who is a Chairwoman of Jindak and the Kyung Sik Kim Foundation. You might have heard about that. The foundation is a very honorable foundation, making a lot of for nonprofit organizations.

Last but not least is Our media person, Mrs. Eunjoo Chang, representing Korea Times and up in the gallery, I cannot name them all, but a few of them will be Carol Chung Jin SEO, Member of Sacramento Korean American Association. And Lee Mona Lee is a President of a Sacramento Korean American Association.

Taehyung park is Division Chief of Korean.com Press. Miran Lee is also Division Chief of Korean.com Press. Welcome to the Senate and thank you very much for your presence here.

A warm welcome to our special guest, the State Senate. Senator Choi, this is your time to take your photo with your special guest. After which, any Member who wishes to join the group photo is welcome. Now is the time for the group photo. Group photo. Senator Choi, if your guests want to remain on the floor for a group photo.

Messages from the Governor were deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of Committee will be will be deemed read. Under motions, resolutions and notices, there are no items introduction and first reading of the bills will be deemed read. I would like to now recognize our Majority Leader, Senator Gonzalez.

Thank you, Madam President. For Democratic caucus Members, there will be a caucus immediately following session in the Maddie Lounge.

Thank you, Senator. If there is no other business, Senator Grove, the desk is clear.

Thank you, Madam President. Colleagues, what a great day today. We look forward to the next week floor session. Next will be this Friday, not Thursday. Friday, January 17, 2025 at 9:00am

The Senate will be in recess until all legislative business has been received. We will reconvene Friday, January 17, 2025 at 9:00am Have a great day.