Assembly Floor

Assembly is now in session. Assemblymember Fong notices the absence of a quorum. The sergeant at arms will prepare the chamber and bring in absent Members. The Clerk will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Members, a quorum is present. We ask our guests and visitors in the rear of the chamber and in the gallery to please stand for the prayer. Today's prayer will be offered by our Assembly chaplain, Reverend Bob Oshita. Reverend Oshita.

Please join me in a moment of reflection. In 1947, Primo Levi, a survivor of Auschwitz, wrote, monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries, ready to believe and to act without asking questions. He was talking about concentration camps. Many might think this can't happen, America.

But it did. And it can again. In February 1942, an Executive order was signed, depriving over 120,000 men, women and children of Japanese ancestry of their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I was born two years after the last of those families of Japanese ancestry were released from the camps.

Our parents and grandparents never talked about that traumatic time when entire communities were forcibly imprisoned. They never talked about it. While in college. Many of my generation were trying to piece together the mystery of that unspoken time. In 1968, a few of us volunteered at a Japantown senior gen gathering in San Francisco.

We wanted to hear their stories of what was euphemistically called camp. I knew these gentle elders had endured so much, but they would not revisit that painful time nor share it with us. Finally, one day, Mrs. Kiyo Hirano, who was like a grandmother to me, pulled me aside and scolded me.

She said, sono Kemp no hanashiwa mo yamenasai. Stop talking. And asking about the camps. She added, of course it was bad. Of course we wish it never happened. Then she said, that is my pain and hardship, not yours. Don't pick it up. She warned me. If you pick it up, it will poison your life.

She used the word poison. Looking back, I realize that we, the generations that have followed, were given an amazing gift. We were given the gift of no anger. And to those who endured and survived that dark time, on behalf of especially your children and grandchildren's generations, we thank you, Namo Amitabh with kindness and gratitude be beyond words.

We ask our guests and visitors to remain standing and join us for the flag salute. Assembly Member Harabedian will lead us in the pledge.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Colleagues and guests, please place your right hand over your heart. Join me in the pledge. Ready? Begin. I pledge allegiance.

You may be seated. To our guests and visitors today, state law prohibits persons in the gallery from interfering with legislative proceedings or disrupting the orderly conduct of of official business. Personal disrupting Persons disrupting legislative proceedings are subject to removal, arrest or other appropriate legal remedies. Reading of the previous day's Journal Assembly.

Chamber Sacramento Tuesday, February 11, 2025 the Assembly met at 7:00am The Honorable Tri Ta Assembly Member 70th District Presiding Chief Clerk Sue Procome at the desk reading. Clerk David A. Bowman reading. Roll call. The following are placed upon the morning roll call 69.

Assembly Member Aguirre Curry moves and Mr. Flores seconds that the reading of the previous day's Journal be dispensed with. Presentations and petitions. There are none. Introduction and reference of bills will be deferred. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments deemed adopted. Messages from the Governor? There are none. Messages from the Senate? There are none.

Moving to motions and resolutions. The absences for the day. Lackey, Macedo, Tangipa, Bauer Kahan. Assistant Majority Leader Garcia, you are recognized for your procedural motions.

Madam Speaker, I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly Rule 45.5 to allow Assembly Members Alanis and Muratsuchi to speak on an adjournment in memory today.

Without objection. Such shall be the order.

I request unanimous consent to suspend Assembly rule 118A to allow Assembly Members Aguiar, Curry, Muratsuchi, Schultz and Soria to have guests in the rear of chamber today.

Without objection. Such shall be the order.

Pursuant to Assembly Rule 96, I request unanimous consent to re refer the following bills to Committee AB 238 Harabedian from the Banking and Finance Committee to the Judiciary Committee and then back to the Banking and Finance Committee and AB 300 Lackey from the water, Parks and Wildlife Committee to the Natural Resources Committee and the Emergency Management Committee.

Without Objection such shall be the order. Moving to guest introductions. Assemblymember Schultz, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Colleagues, I hope that you'll join me in a moment in welcoming to the floor today two representatives from the City of Glendale, which happens to be the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County.

I am joined by my dear friend, Mayor Ellen Asatrian and Bradley Calvert, the Director of Community Development in the City of Glendale. And I want to make a special note about my friend, Mayor Ellen Asatrian.

She is the first Armenian American woman, the first immigrant woman, and the youngest person to ever hold the position of mayor in the great City of Glendale. And Director Calvert is very much working to implement many of the strategies in terms of housing and dealing with homelessness that we implement in terms of legislation on this floor.

I can say that I have a tremendous set of local leaders and true thought partners in the endeavor of delivering high quality services to all of our constituents in Glendale and ensuring that we build a better California for everyone. With that, I ask that all of you join me in giving a warm welcome to Mayor Ellen Asatrian and Director Calvert.

Assemblymember Harabedian, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And while folks are saying hello, I just wanted to join my colleague from Burbank to say it's a pleasure to have Mayor Satrian here in the People's House as the Chair of the Armenian Caucus.

We are so proud of everything that you're doing in the City of Glendale, but in the broader region and we look forward to working with you on bigger issues and you make everyone in the Armenian community proud. And thank you, Mr. Schultz, for doing this.

Assemblymember Soria, you're recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning, Members. Please join me in welcoming to the Assembly Gallery today group that is very near and dear to my heart for the work that they do. I want to welcome a cohort of the California Association of Resource and Special Educators that are here today.

If you guys want to stand, I want to send a special shout out to region two Director who is from my district representing Mercedes, Mr. Jerome Rasberry Jr. And a special welcome to cars Legislative Chair Director Dr. Wanda Patrick, who is also from my district.

The California Association of Resource and Special Educators are the only group whose sole purpose is to represent the unique needs of special educators and support staff throughout the state. Without them, our special needs students would not be able to thrive, learn, achieve and succeed.

So please, Members, if you can all help me in welcome welcoming them to the Assembly Today, let's give them a round of applause.

Assembly Member Soria, you're again recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you, Mrs. Speaker. It is also my honor this morning to introduce a dynamic leader, a passionate advocate, and my pastor, Pastor D.J. Criner from the St. Rest Baptist Church in Fresno. He actually had the honor. I had the honor of having him marry my husband and I.

As pastor of St. Rest Baptist Church, he has transformed the church into a beacon of hope and service. Under his leadership, St. Res has not only ministered to the spiritual needs of its congregation, but has also expanded its reach to uplift Fresno families on issues of food, insecurity, housing, mental health and economic development.

Beyond the pulpit, Pastor Criner is a steadfast community advocate, and he even sits on our Fresno Planning Commission. He has been at the forefront of efforts to promote social justice, support underserved communities, and foster unity in times of need. His voice is one of compassion, conviction and courage, always speaking truth to power and inspiring positive change.

He is a leader who embodies the values of faith, family, and service. His work has garnered respect not just from the faith communities, but from leaders across, across our city and up and down this state.

Again, recognizing his unwavering commitment to building a brighter and more equitable future for all in Fresno, but specifically making sure that southwest Fresno doesn't continue to get left behind. Please join me in welcoming my pastor, Pastor D.J. Kreiner.

House Resolution 12 by Assembly Member Muratsuchi and others, relative to Japanese American concentration camps.

Assembly Member Muratsuchi, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Members, today we are honored to be joined by the World War II survivors of America's concentration camps. Eighty-three years ago, on February 19th on 1942, the mass incarceration of over 120,000 Japanese Americans solely based on their race began with one executive order issued by President Franklin Roosevelt.

Executive Order 9066 called for the forced evacuation of all Japanese Americans living on the West Coast, including, of course, right here in the State of California. Madam Speaker, permission to use a prop?

Without objection.

This is a copy of an actual sign that was placed in communities throughout the State of California where Japanese Americans lived, instructions to all persons of Japanese ancestry. I won't go through the entire sign, but if you want to take a look at it later, it gives instructions for people to gather anything that they can carry within 48 hours, whatever they can carry to assemble at the relocation locations that were issued by the United States military.

They were given only 48 hours to leave their homes, and so the vast majority lost their homes, they lost their businesses, and they lost their farms. They were sent to concentration camps for the duration of the war in places like Manzanar and Tulelake, California, Topaz, Utah, Gila River, Arizona; overall, ten concentration camps located throughout the United States of America. They were confined in communal barracks surrounded with barbed wire, military guard towers, and armed soldiers.

So why did this happen just 83 years ago? According to the findings of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which Congress passed with strong bipartisan support and which was signed by none other than President Ronald Reagan--not exactly, I might add, a radical woke president--the act stated that the mass evacuation and incarceration of Japanese Americans were motivated by, quote, 'racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.' End quote.

President Roosevelt's executive order led to the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans based on race, and yet, when this executive order was challenged in our court system, the United States Supreme Court failed to declare it unconstitutional. Today, more than ever, we need to remember this history.

We need to understand how fragile and precious our freedoms are, but how easily they can be taken away when our system of checks and balances fail and when we as Americans fail to confront abuses of government power by failing to uphold our Constitution. Now more than ever, we need to teach this history in our schools.

We need--this is why we need diversity, equity, and inclusion in public education, so that we can learn from our past, never repeat our mistakes, so that we can all become better Americans. Colleagues, I ask you to to join me in supporting House Resolution 12.

Assembly Member Gonzalez, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. A rise in support of HR 12, which declares February 19, 2025 as a day of remembrance for the incarceration and detention of Japanese Americans. Eighty-three years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, leading to the forced displacement and imprisonment of over 125,000 Japanese Americans, is more than ten concentration camps across the United States.

These individuals, many of them U.S. citizens, were systematically disposed, forcibly removed from their homes, and stripped of their fundamental rights solely because of their ancestry.

I have the honor of representing Little Tokyo, a community that once thrived with over 30,000 Japanese Americans before its residents were forcibly taken and incarcerated. My district is also home to the Japanese American National Museum, which hosted the Ireicho, the first ever comprehensive listing of all individuals of Japanese ancestry incarcerated during World War II.

This monumental book, spanning over 1,000 pages and weighing 25 pounds, has drawn tens of thousands of visitors over the last two years. Many come to acknowledge the names within and stamp them as an act of remembrance and repair. The Ireicho adds a powerful symbol of healing and a stark reminder of the consequences of government sanctioned injustice.

It compels us as Americans and as Californians to confront abuses of power so that this history is never repeated. Thank you to my colleagues from Torrance, my colleague from Torrance for bringing this resolution forward, and I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Assembly Member Ransom, you are recognized.

Good morning, colleagues. I rise today in support of HR 12. Many California students learn very briefly, if at all, about the internment of Japanese Americans in American concentration camps during World War II. I'd like to share a bit about how it impacted my district in San Joaquin County.

San Joaquin County had a significant Japanese American population before the war. Particularly in Stockton and surrounding agricultural areas, many Japanese immigrants and their American born children were involved in farming, business, and other trades. However, one of the key internment sites during the war was Stockton Assembly Center.

It was built in San Joaquin County fairgrounds and acted as a staging ground for over 4,000 Japanese Americans who would later be sent to Rohwer and Gila River. The medical building that was part of the Assembly still stands today in my district. I think it is crucial that we not forget or turn a blind eye to bigotry and xenophobia and what it can do to our country and to our community.

It is vital that we do everything that we can to preserve structures like the Stockton Assembly Center Medical Building and the unfortunate history that goes along with it, so that the teachings of our past inform our present and ensure that we do not repeat the same mistakes.

Given our current times, it is incumbent upon us all to ensure that we are working to maintain this knowledge and prevent the marginalization of other vulnerable populations in the future. Let us use this day and this opportunity to reflect on our past mistakes, to acknowledge our failures, and to move forward with the resolve to never go back there again. I ask for your aye vote on HR 12. Thank you.

Assembly Member Caloza, you're recognized.

Good morning, Madam Speaker. I rise in support of HR 12, which would mark February 19, 2025 as a day of remembrance, a day recognizing a dark chapter in America's history. During World War II, over 120,000 Japanese Americans on the West Coast were forcibly relocated from their homes and sent to internment camps in desolate regions of this country.

This injustice by our U.S. government was a direct result of racial discrimination against fellow Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. It is also important to note that no Japanese Americans were ever charged with espionage, and in fact, some 12,000 Japanese Americans served in the U.S. army to demonstrate their loyalty to this country while their families were imprisoned here simply because they look like the enemy.

In representing parts of Los Angeles, which has been home to many Japanese Americans, and as a proud Asian American immigrant myself, I know how important it is for us to remember what happened on this day during World War II so that we all recognize that freedom and civil liberties are very fragile, even in this country, and we must do everything in our power to protect the rights for everyone, even today. Colleagues, I rise in support of my colleague from Torrance and I respectfully ask for your vote for HR 12. Thank you.

Thank you. Assembly Member Kalra, you are recognized.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to thank our colleague from Torrance for once again highlighting this dark time in American history. Representing San Jose, which has one of the three official Japantowns in the country, there's no doubt that if you visit our Japantown, as our colleagues showed that prop, you will see those signs still posted up in our Japantown as a remembrance.

In addition to a wonderful museum that details much of the history, what you'll also find is a lot of stories of resilience, including the home of the late, great Norm Mineta, who I think very symbolically--whose family was taken away--Norm was wearing a Boy Scout uniform and had a baseball bat and a glove as he was being taken away, and as they were being put on a train, being sent to Wyoming, they took the bat away from him.

And of course, you know, many years later, when he was in the House of Representatives, someone offered him a bat that had formerly belonged to Hank Aaron. It exceeded the gift limit for what he could accept and Norm's witty comment was, 'the damn government's taking my bat again.'

And I mentioned that really as a symbol of the resilience of so many of the families that lost everything, the resilience that they showed when they were able to return home and found that many of their homes were gone and had been resold and taken from them. Their businesses were gone.

But there were also stories of their neighbors who helped to protect their homes and protect their businesses that I think adds really to the incredible fabric of the story of what it means to be a great American and great neighbors as well.

And so I just have a great sense of affection towards the Japanese American community, certainly in San Jose and around this state, that has shown that you can rise up through those dark times and do it with joy, with a sense of purpose and pride, and a sense of service to your community. And with that, I really would appreciate an aye vote on HR 12. Thank you.

Assembly Member Patel, you are recognized.

I rise in support of House Resolution 12, brought forward by our colleague from Torrance. I want to share a little story about a daughter of immigrants who relocated to San Bernardino County as a kid.

We didn't learn much history about Asian Americans in school, but in San Bernardino, when we would go down the hill from Apple Valley into the City of San Bernardino, we would go through the Cajon Pass, and there were stories that we'd hear over and over again that that was the site of an internment camp.

It was an internment camp we never learned about in school. It was just a rumor, a story that we heard, we would whisper to each other going down the hill for tennis matches or mock trial tournaments or maybe a field trip into Los Angeles. We never learned about it in school.

And so I stand before you as a former school board trustee representing the Poway Unified School District and a California School Boards Association delegate, stressing that we all can never forget the things that we are capable of doing to each other. We can do horrible things like identifying people that appear different than us and interning them.

But we could also do wonderful things like uplifting each other, standing up for each other, making sure that we never repeat these atrocities in our great democracy ever again. So I encourage my colleagues here to not only remember this day and not only acknowledge and give your aye vote today, but to continue to support the education of our future generations and our immigrants and our future immigrants, to understand and remember this history so that we never repeat this again in our great democracy. Thank you.

Thank you. Assembly Member Hadwick, you are recognized.

Hi. I stand before you as someone who represents and grew up 20 minutes from the Tulelake Segregation Center, the largest camp and one of the most controversial. This place holds a painful chapter in our nation's history, one of displacement, injustice, and suffering.

It's a stark reminder of the wrongs committed against Japanese American families during World War II. But this history is not lost on us, and where I come from, it is taught in our local schools, where we make sure the lessons of Tulelake and the lessons of our past are passed down to future generations.

We cannot forget the resilience of those who lived through it and we must honor their memory by acknowledging the suffering they endured. Today I stand before you and urge you to vote aye.

Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assembly Member Muratsuchi, you may close.

Thank you very much. I want to thank each and every one of my colleagues. I especially appreciate our colleague from 20 minutes from Tulelake. You know, I do want to emphasize that, you know, teaching our history should not be a partisan matter. In fact, you know, I'm just going to call it out. The history--it was a Democrat who issued the executive order for the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans and it was a Republican who signed reparations for Japanese Americans. Imagine that. I ask for your support for HR 12.

Would you like the first roll to be open for co-authors? All debate having ceased, the clerk will open the roll for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote. Members, this is for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote. The clerk will close the roll.

There are 71 co-authors added. Without objection, we will now take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say, aye. Opposed say, no. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Assembly Member Muratsuchi, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you very much, colleagues. Today we are joined with living history in the back of the chambers. We actually have; we were only able to allow 10 former survivors of America's concentration camps on the assembly floor. But there are actually 24 people that are in the state capitol today.

We're trying to get them introduced on the senate floor. But I want to acknowledge, you know, every year we lose another survivor. This happened 83 years ago, so I'll let you do the math. In fact, we have one survivor, Mitsu Yamamoto, who I just met earlier, who is 99 years old.

And so, colleagues, if I may, I just wanted to quickly read, you know, the 24 survivors who have made the time and gone through the trouble of the struggle to get here to our state capitol. We have Stan Umeda, and I'll read the camps that they were incarcerated at. Stan Umeda, Gila River.

Christine Umeda, Topaz. Hachiro Yasumura from Jerome and Rohwer. Linda Yasumura from Tule Lake. Hana Hatsunaka from Amachi. Louis Nishimura, from Tule Lake. Terry Endo, Topaz. Alice Tabuchi, Tule Lake. Kiyoshi Kato, Topaz. Sayako Fukuman, Tule Lake. Takeo Kato, Topaz. Jeannie Matsumoto, Gila River. Marielle Tsukamoto, Jerome. Tatsue Masuhara, Rohwer. Luther Nishimura, Amachi. Rose Hironaka, Tule Lake.

Lester Uchida, Amachi. Nancy Hashimoto, Tule Lake. Joan Nishikawa, Rohwer. Helen Sakaishi, Tule Lake. Hideko Sakazaki, Tule Lake. Kiyoshi Kato, Grace Hatano, Tule Lake. And last but not least, 99-year-old Mitsu Yamamoto, Jerome and Gila River. Please join me in welcoming all of the survivors.

Assemblymember Muratsuchi, you're recognized.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just wanted to invite everyone. I know it's a Thursday and we all have the rest of the day, our busy days ahead of us.

But I wanted to invite everyone to a short reception that we're going to have after the floor session for anyone who wants to stick around, get a chance to meet one of our 24 survivors and their family members who are joining us in room 125.

Room 125 of the state capital want to invite each and every one of you. Thank you very much.

We will now return to file item number seven, House Resolution 11 by Majority Leader Aguiar Curry. The Clerk will read.

House Resolution 11 by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry and others relative to President Jimmy Carter Day.

Members, please take your seats. Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry, you are recognized.

Madam Speaker and members, I rise today to present HR 11, which establishes December 29, 2025, and annually thereafter as President Jimmy Carter Day. Former President Jimmy Carter was the 39th President and served our nation as president for four years from 1977 to 1981.

His tireless service to others continued until he passed away at the ripe old age of 100 on December 29,2024, in his home in Plains, Georgia. This resolution establishes a day to honor and commemorate his extraordinary legacy and endless contributions.

HR 11 will ensure that future generations recognize and are inspired by his unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of others. President Carter dedicated his life to public service, volunteerism and the fight for social justice and human rights. He believed in the power and the importance of housing and economic security.

And he was a tireless advocate for expanding affordable housing and home ownership opportunities for less fortunate people. Jimmy Carter never left the world stage. His diplomatic and humanitarian work spanned the decades after his term, and it continues to impact countless communities across California and around the world. Declaring Jimmy Carter Day is not just about recognizing his legacy.

It's a call to action. President Carter put his beliefs into action by building homes, raising awareness and inspiring volunteers worldwide. His legacy is one of the service, equity and opportunity and it's up to us members as policymakers to carry on that legacy. I respectfully ask for your aye vote and ask for the first roll to be open for co-authors.

Assemblymember Gibson, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker and members. I rise in support of HR 11 as a proud co-author. I want to thank my colleague from Winters for bringing Jimmy Carter's Day resolution before this body. President Jimmy Carter's legacy is one of unwavering dedication to public service, humanitarian efforts and social justice.

From his time in the White House to his final days, he reminds he is remembered as a committed patriot of this community of the United States of America. And he has made this place a better place.

One of the most enduring aspects of President Carter's legacy is the work with Habitat for Humanities that I served on the Board of Directors for the Habitat for Humanities of Greater Los Angeles and proud to do so.

He and his first lady dedicated their lives for decades to building homes, providing hope and enduring the hard work families had to place into their homes. Even well into his 90s, President Carter could be found on a construction site with a hammer in his hand alongside a volunteer.

His actions were a testament to his belief that service is not just the responsibility, it is a way of life. Regardless of political affiliations, President Carter committed himself to this particular cause and was admired around the world. His legacy transcend party lines and reminds us of a powerful compassion, integrity and action.

Members, it is an honor to one speak on behalf of HR 11. I respectfully ask that we support this HR 11 with a strong aye vote.

Assemblymember Wicks, you are recognized.

Thank you. I rise in support of HR11. I think, you know, many things can be said about President Carter. His legacy was vast, but the thing that I so appreciated is his focus on housing. You know, he put his beliefs into action.

He and the first lady came to California on four separate occasions, physically building homes in many of our communities. San Diego, East Oakland, San Jose, Watts, South Central San Pedro neighborhoods of Los Angeles. So, he was here putting his beliefs in action.

And he knew that home ownership opportunities are a keyway that our families, our working-class families, actually develop wealth. And he also knew that that opportunity was not afforded to so many of our brown and black families in particular. And this was one of the main ways our communities can achieve that economic wealth in America.

He understood that this created financial stability and Independence for families. It promoted generational wealth and really tackled income inequality, racial inequality. He knew that it led to better health outcomes and educational outcomes for families.

He knew that working with Habitat for Humanity, one of the best housing organizations in the country, one of the most reputable organizations in the country. He knew that that partnership that was created between government, nonprofits and the private sector was critical. And we should really let that work inspire us.

We should let that work form what we do here in this body. You know, when we talk about legacies, it's easy for us to think, "Oh, this happened in historical times." This is work that is needed today.

We should honor his legacy today by answering that call to action, by doing what we can to ensure that our communities have the ability to build that equity in their lives, to create that stability with their families. So, I stand as a proud co-author with many of you on HR 11 and respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, assemblymembers. Seeing and hearing no further debate, Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry, you may close.

I respectfully ask for your aye vote in honor of President Jimmy Carter.

Would you like the first roll to be open for co-authors? While debate having ceased, the clerk will open the roll for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote. All members vote who desire to vote. Members, this is for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote. The clerk will close the roll.

There are 70 co-authors added without objection. We will now take a voice vote on the resolution. All those in favor say aye. Opposed say no. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry, you are recognized for your guest introductions.

Madam Speaker, Members, today we are proud to honor the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter. Alongside with our Habitat for Humanity partners in California, we are joined by leaders from across the state who have firsthand the impact that President Carter and his dedication to others has had on California families.

I want to take a brief moment to recognize his deep commitment to the mission of Habitat for Humanity, an incredible organization whose leaders and advocates join us today on the floor in the gallery.

As many of you know, President Carter and his wife Rosalind, worked hand in hand with Habitat for Humanity for decades to bring people together, to strengthen communities and provide housing to people across the nation, helping them build better lives. Members and guests, please.

And I'm going to ask all my colleagues here is take the time and meet with Habitat for Humanity. Please do that, because it will open up your heart to realize what they have done in our communities, how they have changed people's lives and changed our communities.

Members and guests, please join me today in honoring President Jimmy Carter's legacy of lifelong service. And I ask all of you to join me in thanking Habitat for Humanity for continuing the work he so tirelessly, compassionately did for so many. We have many Members up in the gallery and we have friends of ours here on the floor.

Please give them a round of applause.

Members, we are now moving on to adjourn. To adjournments in memory. Please take your seats. The quorum call is still in place. Please give your respectful attention to those who were granted prior permission to speak on their adjournment in memory. Assemblymember Alanis, you are recognized for your adjournment in memory.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today we adjourn in memory of Jennifer, Daniel, Matthew and Madeline Lorenko of Turlock. These four Members of the Loreno family tragically passed away following a car accident on December 152024. This was a devastating loss for the local community and the 22nd district as a whole.

The Lorenko family had servant hearts and gave so much back to Turlock in their own individual ways. Jennifer served as a special needs teacher at Sinclair elementary and earned recognition as Teacher of the year for the 2023-24 school year. She was known as a devoted mother, educator and friend who poured her heart into everything she did.

Daniel used his expertise in IT and cybersecurity throughout his career, serving at the City of Turlock, Turlock Irrigation District and later at Gallo Winery. He had a kind heart and an optimistic attitude and his greatness for his joy of his family. Their son, Matthew, he was just 14 years old.

He broke records for Pittman High School cross country team, played on the soccer team and enjoyed wrestling. Matthew had an adventurous heart and often spent his free time fishing and hunting lizards. Their daughter Madeline, who was only 16 years old. She was the go to babysitter at their church and volunteered at Vacation Bible School.

She was described by one of Jennifer's fellow teachers as a natural caregiver with contagious laughter. Madeline was also involved with FFA and track and field at Pittman High. It is always hard to speak in memory of people who have left us far too young and far too soon.

While we may not understand why such loving and good people are taken from us so early in life, we do take comfort in knowing that the streets of heaven were lined up to warmly welcome Jennifer, Daniel, Matthew and Madeline home.

I want to extend my condolences to Emma Lorenko and the rest of her family who are understandably heartbroken by this loss.

At this time, I want to recognize Jennifer's brother, Jason McLelan, who has taken time to join us in the gallery today to honor the family, his family and and one of Jennifer's fellow special ed teachers Also who have joined us today, Stephanie Wallace, who are up in the gallery.

Words cannot fully capture the impact that they had on the families, friends and the community of Turlock. It's with a deep heart that we are very sorry that this loss has happened to your family. Madam Speaker, I respectfully asked that California State Assembly adjourn in memory of this exceptional family. And thank you, Members.

Let us observe a moment of silence to honor the lives of these Members of the Lorenco family. Assemblymember Marsucci, you're recognized for your adjournment and memory.

Thank you very much, colleagues. I lost a good friend and a mentor of mine, Kanji Sahara of Torrance. Kanji was the inspiration and the driving force for a World War II concentration camp memorial that we're building in the City of Torrance.

His dream was to erect a memorial that have the names of the 120,000 Japanese Americans that were incarcerated in the camps during World War II etched in stone in what has now become the largest Japanese American community in Southern California. Kanji was a survivor of the Jerome and Rohr camps in Arkansas. And he went on to.

After getting out of camp, his family moved from Los Angeles to Chicago and where he received his education, came back to California and like so many people in Southern California, entered into the aerospace industry and, you know, raised a beautiful family that continues to live in the South Bay.

But he never forgot what happened to him and his family. And so he became, you know, a tireless human, human rights activist, not just for Japanese Americans, but for all people.

And, you know, he really inspired me to support him in this effort to build a World War II camp wall with the names of the 120,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated during War II. And so I ask this body to adjourn in his memory. May he rest in peace.

Members, let us observe a moment of silence to honor the life of Kanji Sahara. Moving to announcements. Members, I am ordering the desk to remain open for the purpose of Bill Introductions. As a reminder, the deadline to introduce bills is tomorrow, February 21st. We have one Subcommitee hearing today.

Budget Subcommitee 7 on Accountability and Oversight meets upon adjournment in swing space, room 1100. The session schedule is as follows. Friday, February 21st, no floor session, no check in session. Monday, February 24th. Floor session at 1pm Seeing and hearing no further business, I'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn. Ms. Aguiar Curry moves. Ms.

Assemblymember Bonta seconds that this house stands adjourned until Monday, February 24th. At 1pm the quorum call is lifted and we are adjourned.