Senate Floor

The Senate Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present. Members, if we could find our way back to our desk, would the Members and our guests beyond the rail and in the gallery please rise.

We will be led in prayer this afternoon by our guest chaplain, Rabbi Adam Naftalin-Kelman, after which please remain standing for the pledge of Allegiance to the flag led by Senator Allen and then the mourners Kadesh prayer by Senator Stern.

Last week on Wednesday night, we commemorated the atrocities of the Holocaust with Yom Hashoah. We remember the 6 million Jews who were murdered for simply holding firm to their faith.

And we have come to understand that the death and horrors of the Shoah happen when a society is corrupted, callous and loses sight of the humanity of the Other.

At a time of rising anti Semitism in the United States and across the world, the Shoah, the Holocaust is a reminder to us all of the horrific consequences of standing idly by. When Jews are used as scapegoats and persecuted for simply their beliefs.

In a time of hatred in our society, when too often we demonize, ostracize and dehumanize those who do not share our beliefs, it is critical to remind ourselves of the devastation this can lead to.

We must never allow ourselves or our community to lose empathy for the Other and to relegate anyone to something other than the human being. They are created in the image of God.

As the sage Hillel and the namesake of the organization I have the honor to serve teaches Ove Makom Shayn Anashim Hishtadel Liot Ish and a place in which there is no humanity strive to bring humanity into this world.

May you all, as leaders of this wonderful State of California, be blessed with the courage, clarity, empathy and moral drive to learn the lessons of the Shoah. Never standing idly by and always striving to bring humanity to into our world.

Members, I ask that you join me in the pledge of allegiance to our flag that led our forebears in the fight against Nazism as they liberated the camps. I pledge allegiance to the flag of. The United States of America.

Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba b’alma di-v’ra chirutei, v’yamlich malchutei b’chayeichon uvyomeichon uvchayei d’chol beit yisrael, ba’agala uvizman kariv, v’im’ru Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya. Yitbarach v’yishtabach, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam v’yitnaseh, v’yithadar v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’kud’sha, b’rich hu, l’eila min-kol-birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata v’nechemata da’amiran b’alma, v’im’ru: “amen.” Y’hei shlama raba min-sh’maya v’chayim aleinu v’al-kol-yisrael, v’im’ru: “amen.” Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol-yisrael, v’imru: “amen.”

Thank you, Members. Without objection, we will move to Senate third reading to take up file item 32, SCR 46 by Senator Wiener. After adoption of the resolution, we will move to privileges of the floor for the author and Members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus to introduce the honorees for Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 46 by Senator Wiener relative to California Holocaust Memorial Day.

Senator Wiener, you are recognized.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Colleagues. I rise today as co chair of the California Legislative Jewish caucus to present SCR 46. Each year our Jewish Caucus brings a ceremony and resolution to the floor of this body. We bring survivors and their descendants to the Senate Floor because we see it as a solemn duty.

We do this for our community. So we can see how far we have come from exclusion and persecution and extermination to having our histories amplified in the halls of power. We do this to fulfill our sacred obligation to remember and to mourn those who lost their lives.

And we do it to educate and reaffirm our commitment that the horrors of the Holocaust should never happen again. Not to our community or any community. Too many in our state and in our country are woefully unfamiliar with the Holocaust.

Earlier this year, the Governor's Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education, on which I am honored to serve, released its annual inaugural report. And the findings were disturbing. Only 26% of school districts in California that were surveyed had Holocaust or genocide education in their classrooms. This is deeply troubling, especially given the moment in which we find ourselves.

We as elected officials, are privileged to be serving at a time when. When our voice and our faithful execution of our duties is more important than ever. We are simultaneously dealing with rising antisemitism and rising authoritarianism, which are a toxic and deadly combination. Across this country and in California, we've seen the proliferation and normalization of.

Of antisemitism on both right and left. Hatred against Jews is not new. What is novel, at least in recent memory, is the frequency and spread and normalization of this hatred in modern America. It's something that I never expected to see in my lifetime. At the same time, we have a President who.

Who is using antisemitism as a pretext to attack universities and to Deport students for exercising free speech. I want to be clear. Antisemitism is quite real, including at times on college campuses. But this administration's response to antisemitism is not about Jews or antisemitism.

Rather, it's about pushing this President's authoritarian agenda in the name of the Jewish people and in the name of fighting antisemitism. This protectual reliance on anti Semitism makes Jews less safe and endangers our democracy. Last week, our caucus shared with your offices posters containing the famed poem by Martin Niemoller, quote, first they came.

You can find the poem in the program on your desk. I was heartened to see how many of you chose to put the posters up. We shared this poem to highlight the importance that we stand together against hate, that we stand together against fascism, and that we stand together against those who would seek to divide us.

6.0 million Jews died in the Holocaust. Two thirds of Europe's Jews lost their lives. Even today, 80 years later, there are still fewer Jews Alive in this world, 14 million than there were before the Holocaust. After all this time, we do not have the same number of Jews that we had before the Holocaust.

Half of those Jews live in Israel. The other half mostly live in the US and the Jews were not alone in these camps. In this extermination, millions of Roma, LGBTQ people, disabled individuals, political prisoners lost their lives under Nazi rule. The scale of the destruction is hard to imagine.

Yet it is vital that we remember these are lives, not numbers. To sit with and consider that every life taken was a Member of a community, had a family, is absolutely soul crushing. We must remember that these atrocities. We must remember that the atrocities that were committed did not just happen.

We have to remember what led to them. The erosion in the 1920s and 1930s in Germany of a constitutional republic, the consolidation of power, the erasure of checks and balances in what had been a thriving democracy. The Holocaust did not start with concentration camps, but with the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party to power.

And we must always remember that the laws, or that the actions that dehumanized Jews overwhelmingly were as the result of legislation, official government acts by the government of Germany. The Nazis excluded Jews legally by passing laws from everyday parts of life.

They enacted laws that explicitly discriminated against Jews, dehumanized them, erased Their existence from public life made it impossible for them to own property, to run businesses, to live normal lives. The Nazi regime also organized violence against the community, not just inside the camps, but in society generally.

The Nazi Party targeted universities, restructuring them in ways that were explicitly in line with the ideology of Hitler and his ilk.

Central to the Nazi Party's strategy was propaganda, lies and manipulated media that were all used to dehumanize Jews and to cover up the atrocities of Hitler's regime and misinform the public as to the nature of what was happening before their very eyes.

That propaganda was so powerful that when the war was ending, there were villages in Germany where the residents did not know that their country had lost the war until the Russian tanks rolled into their village. That's how powerful the propaganda was.

Jews were portrayed as a foreign threat who were seeking to harm those who were considered, quote, unquote, real Germans. Yom Hashoah is a day of remembrance and mourning. But it is also a call to action. Never again is not a passive statement. It is an affirmation of our values.

It is a mission statement, not just from 80 years ago, but now. For the Jewish community, the Holocaust has left a deep scar. It informs our values each and every day. It has led us to seek justice and to stand up for those whose voices have been suppressed. To remember the Holocaust is to take action.

90% of Jews in Lithuania, the country from which part of my family immigrated in the early 1900s, 90% of Jews in Lithuania died in the Holocaust. Poland, the most populous and vibrant Jewish community in Europe at that time, went from 3.3 million Jews before the Holocaust to about 100,000 Jews six years later.

In the camps, Jews were experimented upon, were starved, were made to be incredibly sick and not treated and were forced to engage in labor. We have brought survivors and their descendants here today to honor them. We ask that you listen to their stories and learn from them.

And we ask that you take action to ensure that no people ever suffer the same fate again. On your desk is a children's book that tells a story of of the Kindertransport. The history of 669 Czech children who were spared the worst of the Holocaust. By Nicholas Winton. A Righteous among the Nations.

The title that we give to Gentiles who resisted the Nazi regime and saved Jewish lives. Colleagues, the Holocaust was not inevitable. Humans are not born evil. It was the result of choice and a series of of horrific political events. We can choose differently.

I ask that we honor those whose names have been lost and may never be recovered. Before I close, please join me in a moment of silence, as remember those who lost their lives in the Shoah.

May their memory be a blessing. I urge an aye vote.

Senator Becker, you are recognized from your desk.

Thank you. I rise today as Vice Chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus in support of this resolution. And we are at a tender time. In our histories, we come together to commemorate yom hashoah, when 6 million of our brothers and sisters were ruthlessly murdered under the orders of a madman.

But what is often overlooked is that to our knowledge, Hitler himself did not kill a single Jewish person. But what he did do was spread hatred. And spreading that hatred was enough for ordinary people to murder millions of innocent people. Hatred is contagious.

And the truth is, if we're honest with ourselves, that we as human beings are easily persuaded to judge. It's one of our least evolved characteristics. But if hatred is contagious, then the same is true of love. And love has many facets, many faces. Love is compassion, open mindedness, wisdom, courage.

So today, please join me in saying never forget and never again. We must remember the memories of those who were lost and honor them. Today, please join me in voting Aye on str 46. Thank you.

Senator Smallwood-Cuevas, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today I rise on behalf of the Legislative Black Caucus in support of SCR 46, recognizing California Holocaust Memorial Day. On this day, we remember the 6 million Jewish people murdered by the Nazis. The millions of other victims who suffered and were murdered under the cultural, social and political persecution of the Nazi regime.

This harrowing period of genocide demonstrates what can happen when bigotry runs rampant and when we allow voices and acts of hate to strip vulnerable communities of their humanity. While antisemitism was at the core of the Nazis ideology and hate, many groups also faced severe persecution, including gay people, people with disabilities and black people.

Nazis directed several discriminatory policies against black people who, many of whom had come from Germany's Colonies in Africa. The Nazis studies eugenics and Jim Crow laws in Southern states. Here in this country, as a model for their policies of segregation and miscegenation and hate and violence.

They condemn the influence of black culture on German art and music, calling it dis degenerate and racially alien. The Nazis harassed and discriminated against black people in Germany, detained and imprisoned black people in concentration camps and forced labor camps, and many were forcibly sterilized.

These accounts serve as a reminder that we must always fight against discrimination and violence. Of all people, we must remain vigilant in confronting hate and discrimination whenever and wherever, wherever it happens. We must continue to educate our youth and ourselves in our history of The Holocaust and other genocides led by those communities most impacted.

Those who do not know their history are bound to repeat it. And we are seeing that in very stark ways in this country today.

As I reflect on Charlottesville and what is happening now in so many communities, as we recognize Holocaust Memorial Day, let us commit ourselves to promoting human dignity, solidarity of love, and a just society for all. And I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Senator Caballero. You are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members. On behalf of the Legislative Women's Caucus and the Latino Legislative Caucus, I rise in strong support of SCR 46. Holocaust Remembrance Day is not only a day of reflection, but also a powerful call to action.

It is a day to honor the memory of millions of people, Jewish men, women and children, who were systematically murdered during one of the darkest chapters in human history. But this day serves a greater purpose beyond remembrance. It reminds us of the depths of cruelty that can emerge when hatred is allowed to flourish unchecked.

And it calls on us to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated. In times of great polarization and division, it's important to remember the strength of human spirit. As Holocaust survivor Viktor E.

Frankl wrote, quote, we who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of breath. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man.

But one thing, the last of the human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances. Frankl's words remind us that even in the darkest moments, we have the power to choose our response, our compassion, our integrity and our humanity.

In the face of rising division and anti immigrant rhetoric, we are called to rise above hate, to hold steadfast to our shared values of dignity, respect and justice. This resolution provides us with an invaluable opportunity to come together across all communities and reaffirm those values.

It is a reminder that we are stronger when we stand united, especially in the face of rising hate speech, religious persecution, anti Semitism, deportations, name calling, social media bullying, social aggression and scapegoating. As Members of the Women's Caucus and the Latino Caucus, we recognize that the fight against intolerance is not limited to any one group.

We must stand together because intolerance affects us all. In a world where the dangers of division are more apparent than ever, this resolution serves as a critical reminder of our shared humanity. We must ensure that the voices of the marginalized are heard and that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.

For it is only through remembrance and education that we can prevent future future atrocities and create a shift from a system of chronic wars, social injustice and environmental destruction to one of peace, social justice, acceptance and ecological balance. I ask for your aye vote on scr 46.

Senator Wahab, you are recognized.

Thank you. On behalf of the Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, as well as being the only Muslim in the Legislature, I rise in support of SCR46 to commemorate California's Holocaust Memorial Day. It has already been stated that it's not just the Jewish community that suffered during the Holocaust. We saw millions of people die.

Blacks, disabled individuals, twins and other people. People that are genuinely lost and forgotten cannot have their lives and start their lives and live their lives. The echoes of the Holocaust still ring today. Their stories and narratives remain for all of us to learn from and remind us that the fight for human rights and justice continues.

In fact, California's commitment to sharing these stories and narratives teach younger generations about the victims who survived and fought against discrimination and anti Semitism. The AAPI community stands with our Jewish brothers and sisters in the fight against hate, against intolerance and against racism.

But what is shocking today is that this country, the country that was built on bringing people of diverse backgrounds to be an American, is also suffering from what we have seen almost 100 years ago.

We are seeing today that celebrities and politicians and businessmen are glorifying the swastika and the Nazi salute, public settings, identifying that it is okay, it's cool. It's popular to have symbols of hate, historic symbols of hate, promoted to sell items, to talk about how one community is better than another community.

We are seeing that across this nation, and we are seeing it by individuals who hold power. We talk about freedom of speech, and yet each word, each action is incredibly important and can affect many, many generations to come.

The reality is that we also need to ensure that we are staying vigilant to every form of hate that is happening today.

Whether it's our undocumented community that are looking to survive and feeding the majority of America, or whether it is foster youth and our homeless individuals that have no support, no system, as well as the individuals that are being deported daily, or the fact that people even say, let's go after this community, let's drop bombs, let's create war.

All of those statements, all of those actions create hate. And I want to highlight that because we have to be extremely vigilant when we are seeing hate. And it may be hate that we are unfamiliar with, that is normalized, whether it's Anti Semitism, Islamophobia, anti immigrant rights, even free speech, even against the anti. I'm sorry.

Against the LGBTQ community, and so much more. It is our job to hold people accountable. And we are seeing billionaires continue to highlight that it's okay, that this is a trend, that it's us versus them, that there can be marches full of people wearing masks and carrying tiki torches and preaching anti Semitism, and yet nothing is being done. Nothing is being said.

And so I stand here proud and thank the Senator from San Francisco for bringing this resolution forward. That we not only have to remember the past and all the victims of the Holocaust, but that we also must elevate the entire message of what we learned during the Holocaust.

And that is to love each other, make space for each other, and also support each other. So we are standing for peace. I respectfully ask for an aye vote for SCR 46.

Thank you, Senator Strickland. You are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, I rise in support of SCR 46. We must always remember one of the darkest moments in human history in the Holocaust. My children always ask me when they went to school, why they had to learn history.

And I believe the key to learning history is so we don't make mistakes of the past, because we'll be doomed to repeat those mistakes if we don't learn from history.

I think it's unacceptable that our Senator, who brought this forward from San Francisco said only 26% of the students across the State of California are taught about the Holocaust. I think that's unacceptable.

We need to make sure all of our children and our children's children learn from this horrific time in human history so we don't repeat that in the future. And I will end with. Dr. King once said, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and it's key that our future generations learn from us.

And I want to thank the center from San Francisco for bringing this forward and all the people. And I also want to encourage all the Members, there's heroes out here who are survivors, who are living history that we should talk to about their living history of what they had to go through.

And hopefully no generation in the future has to do or go through what this generation went through in the past.

And I urge all of you to support this, but not only support this today, but go in your communities and talk about this tragedy that happened in human history and make sure that all of our kids know that this can never repeat itself in the future.

Thank you, Senator Menjivar. You are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President, colleagues @ Rise today, as the Vice Chair of the LGBTQ Caucus today remember those who lost their lives during the Holocaust and honor those who survived this heinous attempt at extermination. Many groups were targeted, as we heard from the colleagues and persecuted in the Holocaust, alongside the Jewish community, including the LGBTQ community.

While many are aware that Hitler and the Nazi party targeted gay men, forcing them to wear a pink triangle that a lot of my colleagues are wearing today to brand them as homosexual, equivalent to the yellow star that Jewish people were required to wear, many are not aware of the plight of queer women during this time.

Their history during the Holocaust has been largely lost. In 1910, the German government made their first attempts to criminalize lesbians. However, they were forced to abandon these efforts as the feminist opposition proved very politically effective. Though lesbians were still not socially accepted, they were not made illegal.

Thus, when Germany moved forward with the criminalization of homosexuality through paragraph 175, it was focused exclusively on gay men. Prior to 1939, lesbians were among those imprisoned as asocials or antisocials, a broad category applied to all people who evaded Nazi rule.

These detainees were considered socially maladjusted, and all asocials were identified through a black drawn, downturned triangle that I wear today. The black triangle was not exclusively for lesbians, but it was a diverse grouping that included prostitutes, vagrants, murderers, thieves, and those who violated laws prohibiting sexual intercourse between Aryans and Jews.

Thus, lesbians were not as readily readily identifiable as were gay men, whose pink marking excluded exclusively signify their homosexuality, rendering Mendelian lesbians as largely invisible, but not on the front lines. On the front lines, their presence was felt in the fight against the Nazi regiment, where many gave their lives in the pursuit of freedom.

One example is Frida Belafonte, who was a freedom fighter. Born in 1904 in Amsterdam. She was an accomplished musician who in 1941 became the first woman in Europe to be artistic Director and conductor of an ongoing professional orchestra ensemble.

The Nazi regiment forced her to put a pause on her musical career as she began to actively contribute to the Dutch resistance movement, mainly by forging personal documents for Jews and others wanted by the Gestapo.

She was part of the CKC resistance group that organized and executed the bombing of the population registry in Amsterdam Amsterdam on March 271943 which destroyed thousands of files and hindered the Nazis attempts to compare forged documents with documents in the registry.

Frida was then forced into hiding and disguised herself as a man for months, while the French underground helped smuggler her into Switzerland, which required her to cross the Alps on foot in the winter of 1944. Eventually, Frida immigrated to our beautiful State of California and settled in Laguna Beach and joined the music faculty of UCLA in 1949.

So today, as we bear witness to the horrors of the Holocaust, let us honor those who fought for what was right, who risked their lives in face of a fascist government so that all people could live free of oppression. Let us remember people like Frida and without asking for an aye vote on scr 46.

Thank you, Senator Grove. You are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I too thank the good Senator from San Francisco in bringing forth scr46. I am disappointed, however, that he made it political. Regarding President Trump and the Administration, I'd like to set the record straight. There is no greater ally than President Trump and his Administration. The Promise Keeper to Israel.

According to factual interview these are the actions. President Trump was the President who moved the US embassy to Jerusalem in 2018. He officially moved the US embassy even after many promises had been made from previous presidents. He recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He brokered the Abraham Accords and withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal.

He issued an Executive order combating anti Semitism. He increased military aid to Israel. He cut US Funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. And he supported Israel International forums. He also recently cut funding to universities who had anti Semitic protests swarming their capitals calling for the genocide of Jews.

The statement was from the river to the sea. I wasn't planning on saying that. I had conversations with my staff that I was going to talk about. My father, who rescued, was a medic in World War II and rescued individuals from the camps, internment camps. He was not a good man.

I mean, most people would not want to grow up under the rule that my father had. But he did serve in the United States army and he did rescue individuals from these internment camps.

And I can't think, can't help but think that maybe some of the things that he experienced in World War II caused him to be the person outside of the military that he was when he passed away. My brothers and my sister and I were in charge of taking his stuff out of his house.

And we found these three big trunks in the back of his tool shed and we opened them. There were flags, swastika flags, that when they overtook an area of the war, they could tear those flags down so that Nazis would not have authority over that.

As a, as a memento, there were also some photographs that were taken by A photographer that followed that regiment around and people that came up to him in the concentration camps were skeletal, almost not recognizable. And so I think about the things that he went and endured while he provided service to our country during World War II.

And then I really got a somewhat firsthand look when I did a tour to Birkenau. A group of individuals, pastors and some legislators went to Birkenau. They actually tried to reenact kind of in some way what our Jewish families and communities faced during that time.

They dropped you off at the tracks where you walked over a mile to the barracks and the check in facility. You passed a room and it was full of luggage, all types of luggage, leather, just all types of luggage.

And then the next room was full of thousands upon thousands of pairs of shoes, adult shoes, men's shoes, women's shoes and children's shoes.

Then the next room you went into was as tall as the building was, at least 30ft tall of nothing but hair, dark hair, blonde hair, brunette hair, ponytails with little pink ribbons on them, nothing but hair.

And then you went into another facility where they showed you films of what was happening in the medical experiences, the brutality that took place. And then you went to the barracks where they were stacked on top, six high five people to like a twin size bed cottage.

And then you went to the place where they had the toilets. And this is like not appropriate, I don't think, to sand the floor. But I remembered seeing a photo that my dad had in his trunk of a little boy barely breathing, barely with his face out of the human feces in a toilet where he would hide.

When uncertainty was happening and when Americans came into the camp, they were uncertain because of a lot of things that were going on. And these kids ran and hidden in the public toilets or the toilets assigned to the. To Birkenau. I agree with my colleague from San Francisco.

We do agree on a lot of things, even though we're from completely different parties and we have completely different ideologies. But I agree that this should be in every school and that every child should learn about the Holocaust and what happened so it doesn't happen again. And I agree that we should never forget what. What happened.

And I see the stuff that happens in this world today and the comments that were made about bombing other countries. I can tell you that the United States would have never authorized or allowed or participated in bombing another country if they didn't execute October 7th and try to start this entire process all over again. I respectfully asked for an aye vote for SCR 46.

Senator Archuleta, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I rise and support scr 46. But I would like to share with you everyone, as the chair of the Military and Veterans Committee, I've been honored to speak with so many veterans over my lifetime as a veteran myself. But just recently, I presented a scroll to a 100-year-old veteran, 100 years old.

And we talked. And I asked him, I know you've seen combat. I know you were there liberating Europe, and I know you did that. But tell me what. What weighs on your shoulders? And he said, dockhole. And he said, the Liberation Third army rolled in along with elements of the sixth and the eighth.

And what he saw, it still pulls at him. Nightmare after nightmare because of the bodies, the bones. And even after the liberation, people were still dying at the gate because they just didn't have the strength to go any further. Devastation. The Holocaust happened.

For those who think it did not, history will show and it will continue proving every single day it did. Because those veterans, The World War II, our greatest generations, they did that.

Ask if you're fortunate enough to in your district to find one who was in that age 99 to 102, or whatever, you ask him, and he will tell you, but that's what America is about, that we freed those individuals, but we must never forget. So those in the military, God bless you for your service.

To our greatest generation veterans, thank you for your service. And to our Senator from San Francisco, I would like to have a copy of your script because the data, the statistics you have there are overwhelming, and I think we should all have a copy.

When you're talking about millions of people with only 100,000 surviving, that means a lot. So for the guests that are here today, God bless you. We will never forget. Thank you.

Thank you. Senator Arreguin, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I wasn't going to speak, but I feel compelled to say a few words in recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day. And I want to thank my colleague from San Francisco for bringing this important resolution forward.

I stand in strong support of SCR 46, and I want to thank the survivors for being here today and the families of the survivors as well, not only for your courage for surviving this atrocity, but being a symbol of what happened. Because it's incredible that to this day there are people that deny the Holocaust happened.

And you are an example of not only the atrocities of what happened during the Holocaust, but why it's important that we say that never again must really be never again. When I was the mayor of Berkeley, I was proud in 2022 to visit Israel with the Jewish Community Relations Council.

And the most memorable part of that trip was my visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, and to see the exhibits showing the historical progression over millennia of antisemitism, but the escalation under the Hitler regime of state sanctioned hate, but leading to violence and ultimately murder of Jews and of gypsies and of our

Of LGBTQ, Europeans and others who are being othered and discriminated against by the Hitler regime. And to see this happen for somebody who's not Jewish really left a significant imprint on me about not just how can humanity do this, but how could we not speak out against this?

And so that's why today's resolution and this recognition is so important, because it's happening today. Fast forward to the present time. In my City of Berkeley, in 2017, we had Neo Nazis marching on the streets of Berkeley.

We've seen the increase of Nazism and antisemitism throughout this country, the normalization of hate by our leaders, and like I said, the shocking denial that the Holocaust actually happened, and the rise of anti Semitism, which has resulted in the increase of hate crimes against Jews and also against other communities as well, including our Muslim community.

So let's today not just be an opportunity to honor the survivors and reflect on what happened, but let this be an opportunity to commit ourselves to educate future generations about the atrocity of the Holocaust. And I agree with the comments of the Senator from San Francisco.

This must be part of the curriculum at every school in the State of California. So let's commit ourselves to say that never again must be never again. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, President. I too, rise today in strong support of this resolution to honor the memory of these 6 million Jews and countless other innocent victims who perished in the Holocaust. Remember not just the scale of the tragedy, but the human lives, families and communities that were destroyed.

The Holocaust stands as one of the darkest chapters in human history, a stark warning of what happens when hatred, bigotry, and indifference are allowed to grow unchecked. As we reflect today, we commit ourselves to the principles of dignity, tolerance, and justice.

This is not only remembrance of the past, it is a call to action for the present and the future. We must stand vigilant against anti Semitism, racism, and all forms of hatred wherever they arise, including Asian hate. I urge all my colleagues to join me in passing this resolution and ensuring that we never forget.

Thank you, Senator Perez, you are recognized.

Thank you. And thank you to the good Senator from San Francisco for bringing SR46 forward for Holocaust Remembrance Day. You know, I appreciated the comments from the Senator from Bakersfield.

My grandfather fought in World War II as well and took great pride in doing so and in killing Nazis, and oftentimes talked to me, you know, when I was a young girl, about the hatred that he saw, the awful things that he saw about seven years ago.

And, you know, my uncle had determined that, you know, I was old enough to have some of the. These deeper conversations showed to me that, you know, after my grandfather was in the war, many of the people he killed, he stripped them of his weapons.

And we still have many of those things, and they're like artifacts of hate. It's shocking and it's scary. And I recognize that it is a hard conversation to have and to understand that the road to the rise of the Nazi regime that Adolf Hitler led did not happen overnight.

There were many things that happened before that occurred to cause these events and to cause these horrific events. And I think it's really important for us to recognize that we are in a very dark time where we're watching very disturbing trends and themes come up, and we need to have a conversation about that. And permission to read?

Permission granted. Without objection.

I'd like to just bring up a couple of concerning parallels. You know, first and foremost, Executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion, restricting rights of specific groups such as transgender individuals, rapid implementation of discriminatory policies, using Executive power to bypass legislative processes, scapegoating and divisive rhetoric, undermining civil rights protections, centralizing power.

These are all themes that we are witnessing right now under President Trump's Administration. And we need to acknowledge it. We need to talk about it. Part of the reason why we speak so much about the importance of educating our young people about the Holocaust, about genocide, is so that we can avoid these events repeating themselves.

But it's important to also realize that those events started with these other disturbing trends, this divisive language, targeting of minority groups. And I just want to be sure that we highlight that as we're also doing a remembrance of Holocaust Day.

So I want to encourage an aye vote on SCR 46, and thank the good Senator from San Francisco for bringing this forward. Thank you.

Senator Stern, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Maybe I'll try to end on a strangely romantic note. This is fifth anniversary of the day I met my wife. She's seated in the back of the Chambers here. Alexandra. And it was on Yom Hashua. And in a strange way, it was the Holocaust that brought her to me. We honor Joshua Kaufman.

May his memory be a blessing. Those five years ago, Joshua was one of those boys hiding in that latrine in Auschwitz. The Senator from Bakersfield mentioned Joshua changed my entire life. And. And I saw them about, I don't know, 75ft away, maybe even all the way down the terminal. I don't know.

I knew my life had changed in that moment when I saw him and his daughter and her sister. And thank God for the Senator from Santa Monica who happened actually to know her sister. Rachel said. Senator Ben Allen. I'm Rachel Kaufman. He saved me an aisle seat. And her sister saved Alexandra an aisle seat.

And we flew up on a Southwest flight from lax. I had missed my flight to Burbank. I was actually at a Holocaust remembrance event going on too long with Edith Franke. May her memory be a blessing. A Hungarian survivor. God smiled on me that day. And strange circumstances led to all this.

I see our love and these generations of families growing up in this country as an act of Defiance. Babies were had in displaced persons camps. People found a way to fall in love and still have a hopeful future in the heart of darkness.

When you've been enslaved and everything has been taken from you and your whole family has been killed, somehow you find it in you to summon love.

Talked about Viktor Frankl earlier and the choice of an attitude when everything else is taken away, when your ability to work and find dignity and creativity and power in your work or find meaning in the things you enjoy or books you read, when everything else is stripped away and you're dehumanized, you still have a choice how you look at your life.

And even in those darkest times, people made that choice to celebrate life. We now have two little babies that are part of that act of Defiance. Very cute. Acts of Defiance, I might add. And they don't yet know this world they're entering into, where the divide feels so wide.

And, you know, it's very easy to look across at the other side and see evil and to not look into ourselves and find that we have to be better, too, and that we have to hold ourselves accountable, too. And I don't just mean at a political level. I mean at a very human level.

How do you want to go through your day? What kindness do you want to show? What generosity do you want to endeavor? And it's not to say you'll save the whole world with those efforts. And a lot of us want to leave behind acts of greatness and to be remembered for things we've helped build.

And I share those ambitions. But the smallest ambitions, in fact, are, I believe, what will save us. It's the common humanity. And I truly do. I have love for you all in this chamber. My colleagues, those who I most vehemently disagree with, I feel that love, too.

And if we can summon that as a country, I truly believe that we can get through this. It is a dark moment, but we are not there. We are not in that moment yet. That is not the America we live in. And yes, there are the warning signs and the fear.

And when you are at a music festival and a banner comes down to use profanity against the State of Israel where Jews found refuge and my father in law found a life of.

Of safety and peace, the one last democracy remaining in the Middle East, to treat that as some kind of genocidal or terrorist operation and to hear the kind of division that's happening defends me to my core.

And yet still, as an American, I know that we have to defend even that speech, even that swastika being sold on a T shirt during the Super Bowl. Somehow that has its place, too.

And maybe it's just to wake us all up and realize that none of us are that perfect and that we all are somehow complicit in this. And I search for that in my own self. I am so heartened by the diversity of voices across these caucuses and across the state and across these political lines. The prayer I read to open us up today, I'll close with permission to read.

Mr. President, if you don't mind, just read May the one who creates peace on high bring peace to us all. Amen.

Senator Gonzalez, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members, I rise today in strong support of SCR46. I want to thank my colleagues from the Jewish Caucus and all those who spoke today. And I want to thank the good colleague, my seatmate from San Francisco, for moving this forward.

I don't want to say exactly what's been said already, but I will say that, you know, having been in Munich last year on a work trip and deciding at that moment, you know, I can go and shop and do all those things as my extracurricular time was available to me, or I can learn about this tragic moment in time.

And I decided to go to Dachau. And I went. And I would say it was one of the most incredible experiences in the way that you read in a book. Yes, but you can't really absorb it until you're actually there and step foot and you absorb all of the emotions from history that were again, that you read in these textbooks. And it was riveting.

And I would advise all of the colleagues, if you have this opportunity to go to a memorial, to go to one of these concentration camps that is now memorializing those that have passed, but more importantly, those that are still here with us today, then do it.

Because I agree the division is too stark and we absolutely need to come together. Regardless of who you voted for, it does not matter. What matters is there's this moment in time. We need to acknowledge there are folks that are here that we need to recognize.

And I'm just so glad that we are able to do that today as a body bipartisan, in a bipartisan way, but in a way that hopefully will continue to be very respectful. With that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Majority Leader. Senator Jones, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Members, I've shared on this floor before my experience visiting the Mobile Holocaust Museum as it was traveling around the State of California several years ago. But that's not my purpose in rising today.

My purpose in rising today is to thank our colleague from Los Angeles, Sinnerstern, for his comments this afternoon and bringing us back to center and humanizing the purpose and the reason that we do this every single year. I stand in agreement with his comments. I endeavor to stand with him in his experience. As I've shared.

My grandfather was a POW in World War II, but that's not the same. I stand in agreement with him for his Compassion and his passion on this floor every single year when we have this recognition. Thank you, sir. I ask for your vote on SCR 46.

Thank you, pro tem. Senator Mcguire, you are recognized.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. First of all, want to take a moment to say thank you to the eloquent and emotional words that so many have shared on both sides of the aisle today. And I too want to voice my support for SCR 46.

And I think that we can all agree the Holocaust is one of mankind's darkest moments. And we also know that we must remember it and we have to keep talking about it.

It's important to recognize the tragic and horrific events like the Holocaust so they don't get watered down over time or for some, let's just be honest, choose to forget it. Future generations need to understand the depraved and merciless nature of the Nazis. And the Holocaust serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked prejudice and power.

I think we can all say it is an honor to be able to stand with these brave Californians who survived this horrific unhuman event and to be able to stand with their families here today. Today we memorialize the 6 million Jews who were systematically exterminated by Nazi Germany. We stand together, Democrats and Republicans, and support Ser 46.

Thank you. Seeing no further discussion or debate. Senator Wiener, would you like to close?

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for a very powerful debate, or not so much a debate, but I think broad support for this resolution. I'm very appreciative colleagues on both sides of the aisle for caring so much about this issue and about the Jewish community.

You know, I do want to say that I appreciate the remarks from the Senator from Bakersfield and her question about, I think the word she used was politicizing this. I appreciate that and I respect that perspective. I do just want to say, though, that when you look back in 1930s, Hitler came to power through a political process.

The Nazis did extremely well in the 1932 election. And the President of Germany then named Hitler chancellor. And that was done all through a democratic political process with political parties and elections and everything else. And then in the coming months, Hitler and his party dismantled German democracy. And we saw where that led.

And so politics for minority communities isn't just about winning or losing elections. It is all too often about life or death. And I just think it's important to say that. With that said, I also want to say when this country defeated Nazi Germany.

When we won that war, it was Democrats and Republicans and others fighting hand in hand to defeat Nazi Germany. It was a Democratic commander in chief, Franklin Roosevelt and a top General, Dwight Eisenhower, who ended up becoming a Republican President of the United States. They're all together, hand in hand or locked arms to defeat Nazism.

And I want us always, Democrats, Republicans, to be arm and armed for our democracy. And I think we all want that and we all need to be together. And I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Ayes 37, no 0. The resolution is adopted. Members, we are going to move to privileges of the floor. And I thank you ahead of time for your patience. We will have a handful of introductions that will take place in the back of the gallery. And so we will do individual pictures after each introduction.

And then the Jewish Caucus will come together with all those that are introduced. And then after that, we can all do a full group picture with those that are introduced. So beginning from the Majority Leader's desk, Senator Wiener, you are recognized for your guest introduction.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Colleagues, I'm honored to introduce you to Senate District 11's honoree, my honoree, George Elbaum. George survived the Warsaw Ghetto in large part due to the brave actions of his mother. A trained attorney, he and his mother were the only Members of his family to survive.

In 1942, George's mother smuggled him out of the ghetto and they found refuge with Polish families. In 1949, George and his mother were able to emigrate to the United States, where George earned a PhD from MIT before eventually settling in the great City of San Francisco with his wife, Mimi.

George has written two books about his childhood and has told his story to thousands of students. And we are deeply grateful to George's service to the community. So please join me in welcoming and honoring George Elbaum.

And Senator Becker, when you are ready from the pro tems desk for your guest introduction.

Mr. President, I'm honored to recognize Jeannette Ringgold, a survivor whose life is a very, very powerful testament to courage, resilience, and hope. Jeannette was born in 1939 in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

As the horrors of the Holocaust intensified, especially after the birth of her younger brother in 1942, she was forced into hiding through the efforts of the Resistance. Separated from her family, Jeannette spent her early childhood moving through seven different families before finding safety with her foster parents, the Janssens, who sheltered her until the end of the war.

After the Liberation, Jeannette faced the devastating news that both her parents had been killed in the Holocaust at Auschwitz in 1945, she united with her surviving uncle and grandmother, and later she and her brother were cared for by her aunt uncle. By 1954, they made a new home in the United States, eventually settling here in California.

Jeannette and her husband Allen, raised their two daughters in Menlo Park, building a life grounded in family strength and community. Her message is clear and vital. She survived because of the courageous actions of ordinary people who chose to do what was right.

Please join me in honoring Jeanette, a living reminder of the power of humanity in the face of unimaginable darkness. Thank you.

And Senator Allen, from the Majority Leader's desk, when you are ready, you may introduce your guest.

Members. It's a real privilege to honor Eva Brettler here on the Senate Floor. Eva's story is one of resilience and compassion and also taking her terrible experience and turning it into something that would benefit future generations and educate future generations. As she tells the story of her incredible hardship that she faced as a child in Hungary.

She had to learn how to adapt and navigate rapidly changing circumstances and learn how to be independent. From a very young age and through the Holocaust, she survived because of the compassion of total strangers, Hungarians who provided housing and false documents. Fellow survivors who banded together to protect and raise this young girl in Ravensbruck.

In Bergen Belsen, after Liberation, Eva returned to Hungary, pursuing an education and reuniting with much of her family. And when anti Semitism unfortunately rose again in the Hungarian Revolution, Eva and her family fled to America by way of Austria. Here she found a life, a beautiful life for herself.

She studied at community college in Santa Monica and at UCLA, where she received a degree in psychology before beginning her work as a social worker with Jewish Family Services, providing services to our broader Los Angeles community.

People in need from all different backgrounds, Eva has committed herself to giving back and to repay the kindnesses that helped her survive during the dark age of the Holocaust.

She's a regular speaker at the LA Museum of the Holocaust and the Museum of Tolerance at schools throughout Los Angeles, telling this story, making sure that these young people have an opportunity to to hear directly from a survivor. She's deeply connected to our community, she's beloved in our community.

And I'm so proud that we have the opportunity today to honor her and recognize her contributions to our state, but most importantly to the next generation here in the Senate today. Eva Bradler.

And Senator Wiener from the Majority Leader's desk, you may present your or introduce your guest.

Thank you, Mr. President. And first permission to use a proposal during the. Without Objection. Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. On behalf of Senator Rubio, I'm proud to introduce her honoree, Silva Sko. Silva is a San Gabriel Valley based writer and musician and the proud Jewish American granddaughter of Holocaust survivors.

Her late grandmother Ethel, a Jewish Polish Holocaust survivor, came as a refugee to the United States in 1949 with Sylvie's grandfather and then three month old mother who was born in a German displaced persons camp. Unfortunately, other Members of her family did not survive the Nazi atrocities of World War II.

Her grandmother was the strongest person she'd ever known. And she brings to Senate Floor today a portrait of her late grandmother which she is holding.

Sovay is a testament to her grandmother's strength and her legacy lives on, particularly in her recent song quote this Is My Jewish Heart, which is in part about her late grandmother being a Holocaust survivor and about Jewish resilience. Please join me in welcoming and honoring Silva Isco.

And Senator Stern. Where art thou? There he is. Senator Stern, you are recognized for your guest introduction from the Pro Tem's desk.

I rise to present this resolution to Ben Lesser, but my wife is accepting on his behalf. He was in Dachau with her father. Ben is in a hospital right now in Nevada and I hope we all pray for for his healing. He is the only person still alive who survived the death train to Dachau from Buchenwald.

The only person left on this planet to tell that tale. He's testified at two Nazi war crime trials, most recently in 2016 when he traveled to Germany to help prove the guilt of former Nazi guard Reinhold hanning.

And in 2023, Ben was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany. Ben established the Zakhor Foundation. I'm wearing his pin and Zakhor in Hebrew means remember. He's spoken to countless students and congregations all throughout this country. He and Joshua were on a bit of circuit together.

Ben had the pins, but Joshua took them on too. And now Alexander and I take them on too. So to remember not just Ben's story of survival, making it through Auschwitz A seven week march, seven week death march. He is not, he did not lose his life. He is still here. And I hope he hears us today.

With that, I hope you can accept his honor on behalf of the State of California. I know he and your father and your mother will be very proud.

And while they're taking pictures, how appropriate to have Senator Stern's guest, his wife, on the floor with us today. Let's welcome her as well with the Jewish Caucus. Please gather in the back for a picture with all those that were introduced.

The Jewish Caucus, if you'll gather in the back for a picture with all those that were introduced.

Now all Members, if you want to come or go to the back and join in for a picture. Members, thank you so much as you head back to your desk, we still have more business to do for the day.

However, as you are heading back to your desk, we do have a very special guest we would like to introduce on the floor today, former Assembly Member Mike Fuhrer, former LA City Attorney. Glad to have you with us. Let's welcome him to the chamber.

Members, we're going to hold for just one minute until we can get the chamber back to do business. Senators will reconvene in 30 seconds. If you'll please take your seats. We move on with business. Thank you very much.

Continuing with privileges of the floor. Senator Laird, you have guests today. From your desk, you may introduce your guest.

Thank you, Mr. President. It's with great honor that we have in the gallery today the Central Coast Section Division one championship team and the California Inter School Scholastic Federation Northern California Division 1 title winners from Everett Alvarez High School boys soccer team in Salinas.

Senator Leah, I know you have to admonish people, but thank you for the applause. It's richly deserved. They finished their season with an astounding record of 2024 wins, zero losses and two draws. They demonstrated the very best of competitive spirit. If you look at some of the individual Members and the facts.

Jorge Hernandez scored a pivotal goal, including a crucial free kick in the final. Alvaro Reyes was the goalkeeper recognized as the defensive player of the match. Edwin Moreno was a midfielder known for his composure and playmaking abilities.

And Coach Campos was at the center of this under steady leadership for a feat that will be remembered for generations going forward at this school. Each of these players played with heart and unity, showing us that greatness is born on the practice field, in the classroom and in the way you treat your teammates.

So to the families, the coaches, the school staff and the supporters who stood by them the all season long, I know some are here. Thank you very much. Your encouragement helped build a foundation that made this historic run possible. And to the players, you know this. But what you've accomplished is more than just wins and titles.

You've inspired your peers, uplifted their community, set a powerful example of young people can achieve with hard work and vision. And inspired the Members of the California State Senate who are here today to appreciate your efforts. So to my colleagues, let's give a hearty round of applause and appreciation to the Everett Alvarez High School boys soccer team.

Thank you, Senator Laird, and welcome to the guest up in the chamber. Senators, we will without objection, we will move back to Senate third reading to take up the following items out of order today. File item 21, SCR 24 by Senator Alvarado-Gil. Item 43, SCR 55, by Senator Niello. Item 70, SCR 63 by Senator Wahab.

After adoption of each resolution, we will move back to privileges of the floor for the Senator to introduce their guest. I will ask that if you have conversations or any discussion you need to have between another colleague, please take it off the floor. And let's give respect to those that are making presentations. Item 21, Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 by Senator Alvarado Gil, relative to Rosie the Riveter Day Senator.

Alvarado-Gil, you are recognized from the Majority Leader's desk.

Thank you, Mr. President and colleagues. I rise today to present Senate Concurrent Resolution 24 recognizing March 21st of 2025 as Rosie the Riveter Day in California. The Second World War had a profound impact on working women in American society.

And after the United States entered the war on December 7, 1941 millions of men left manufacturing jobs for military service and recruiters scour the country in search of replacements. Women answered that call of duty and joined the workforce in record numbers, filling industrial positions previously denied to them.

More than 16 million women were employed at the peak of wartime production in 1944, with over 3 million in skilled factory positions to support the massive increase in war related industries during World War II.

Rosie the Riveter emerged as an iconic symbol of empowerment, recognizing the vital contributions to the homeland by the American women who would change history. As millions of men left for military service, it was the women who filled the critical roles in factories, shipyards and beyond. Riveting, welding and assembling the tools of war.

For many, this was the first time stepping into jobs traditionally held by men, breaking boundaries of what women could possibly achieve. Wartime necessity reshaped societal perceptions, demonstrating women's capability in skilled trades and technical fields. While many returned to traditional roles after the war, the experience planted the seeds of change.

Women had proven their value in the workplace and the demand for work workplace equality grew louder in the decades that followed. The roots of the Rosie story traces to the 1942 song celebrated celebrating the fictional factory worker Rosie, a patriotic and industrious figure who embodied the collective effort of these women. The famous J.

Howard Miller's We Can do it poster for Westinghouse Electric became one of the most enduring visual representations of of the anonymous red polka.banana bandana clad woman in coveralls.

Norman Rockwell's 1943 depiction of Rosie on the COVID of the Saturday Evening Post offered another interpretation, showing a strong, confident woman wielding a rivet gun with an American flag backdrop. Indeed, Rosies have been an icon for many generations of women well beyond the war years.

Her image has become a rallying cry for the women's rights movements in the 1960s and the 1970s, inspiring legislation like the Equal Pay act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Today, Rosie continues to inspire advocacy for gender equality and representation in STEM fields like science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Did you know that the Rosies were recently awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor both symbolically and collectively for their service to our country. This is the highest military decoration awarded in the US and is a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. Rosie's legacy isn't just about breaking barriers.

It's about patriotism and showing what's possible in our great nation. The enduring message of we can do it continues to encourage people to challenge limitations, pursue their ambitions, and work towards a future full of responsibilities and possibilities. Ser 24 commemorates Rosie the Riveter Day in California.

In honor of those millions of women working in our state who embody the iconic image of Rosie, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank my colleague, the Senator from Jackson, for bringing this resolution forward and strongly in support of scr24.

Just want to acknowledge, as the Senator represents Richmond, that we are home to the Rosie the Riffeter Museum and National Monument, which honors the important role that women played not only in the wartime industry, but continue to play in industries throughout California and the United States.

And I know we'll recognize special guests later, but I'm proud to be joined here today by a few of my constituents from the Rosie the River Trust in Richmond.

And just once again, we're proud to be home to this museum that really honors the rich history that women played, and not just helping support America's defense, but continue to play to shape our state and shape our country. Respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Ashby, you are recognized.

Thank you very much. I have always felt a special affinity towards Rosie the Riveter, as my grandmother was a real life Rosie the Riveter working at the Boeing factory while my grandfather was a merchant sailor serving in the military at the time, leaving my grandmother to raise their son on her own and raise money herself by working.

But I rise today because as important as Rosie the Riveter is to reminding people that women were capable of doing it all along, it wasn't until the country needed us that we rose to the occasion, but that the Women's Caucus and now the majority of this body are still here to serve in every capacity.

Because the very unfortunate thing is that when the war ended, women were sent back back in time and back in pay and back in appreciation to a time where they were less appreciated, paid less for their work, and still had to manage the same issues of childcare, family, and balancing all of the needs that a woman carries in our society today.

So I am grateful to the Women's Caucus that never gives up on the issue of childcare and helping women work. I'm grateful for the iconic image of Rosie the Riveter, for my grandmother and all the other grandmothers, I'm sure many of whom from Members on this floor, proved long ago that women were capable of doing the job. And to the majority of Members in the California State Senate today, I say good on us.

Senator Richardson, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in supporting our friends here, the Rosie the Riveters, in an enduring symbol of strength, empowerment and transformation in American history. I too, it's interesting the history of our moms in this period.

My grandmother was able to become a elevator operator at the GE plant in New York because men had to go on and work. And in the war, Rosie the Riveter helped to create and recruit women into the workforce.

During World War II, Rosie helped to advance millions of women, all diversities of women, to have an opportunity to work in manufacturing, healthcare, science and engineering and other industries in support of the war effort. More specifically, in the district that I represent, 35 in San Pedro, women got involved with shipbuilding manufacturing in Gardena and Inglewood and Carson.

And who would forget the planes that were Produced by then McDonnell Douglas and many other major Air Force manufacturing companies. Women had the ability, because of their smaller fingers, to get in and actually do the fasteners quicker and better.

Rosie has long been a symbol of empowerment for women across the globe by representing the millions of women who entered the workforce During World War II, breaking traditional gender roles, improving their capabilities in industries dominated by men. My great colleague here mentioned what happened when the men returned from the war. But something that was interesting.

Yes, women were sent back to do child rearing and house cleaning and doing the laundry. But they never forgot those opportunities. And many women began to fight long before we had the women's movement to say no. They could still do those jobs and wanted to do those jobs.

Unfortunately, many of them fought and got some of those jobs back. I encourage you to visit and learn more about Rosie the Riveter.

As the gentleman from Richmond mentioned, the Rosie Riveter National Historic park and then also in Long Beach that I share with our Majority leader, we have the Rosie Riveter park and monuments which I was present when that park was first built.

So with that I request an aye vote for SCR 24 and urge everyone to remember the tremendous efforts of the Rosie the Riveter.

Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Alvarado-Gil, would you like to close?

Thank you to Members of the Women's Caucus and the Senator from Richmond for their kind comments. I kindly urge An I vote. Thank you.

Secretary, please call roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Alvarado-Gil moves the call and you have a guest, so moving to privileges of the floor. You can introduce your guest from majority leader's desk. Senator Alvarado-Gil, you are free to introduce your guest from the majority leader's desk.

Thank you, sir. Mr. President, we are very blessed to have some guests on the floor today. First, I'd like to welcome Executive Director Sarah Pritchard and and Board President Michelle Fedelli of the Rosie the Riveter Trust, the official nonprofit partner of the Rosie the riveter World War II home homefront National Historic park and Visitor center from the City of Richmond.

This year they're celebrating a major milestone, a 25th anniversary of connecting thousands of visitors through compelling stories and touching exhibits. This year's theme is the Rosy Spirit Continuing to answer the call and it honors the resilience and unity of those who shaped our nation during a pivotal time in history.

The work of the trust stands as a livable tribute to the American women and those patriots who answered the call. We have a resolution for them it. In addition, we're also joined by families and loved ones of some of the original Rosie the Riveters.

I'd like to acknowledge the family of Peggy Lucille Atherton from the City of Sonora in Tuolumne County, represented today by her grandson, R. Glenn Gamble, and his wife, Jennifer P. Rapp, affectionately known as Granny Peggy, was a single mother of two and worked in aviation, installing wiring in B25s in National City.

Guadalupe Lou Renteria from the City of Fresno in Fresno County. She worked as a union worker, a welder in the defense industry. She would meet her husband, Gilbert Garcia, two years later after he returned from Italy as a 50 mission B24 bomber.

Her daughter, Gilda Walker and her husband were unable to join us today, but we'd still like to honor them. Lily Gary from the City of Riverbank in Stanislaus County represented by son William Gary, his wife Libby and his wife Libby Lily worked for the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan.

The plant converted for making cars in the 1940s and started manufacturing Jeeps for the war. Lily is now 102 and lives in the City of Turlock. Hilda Hosmere from Murphy's in Calaveras County. She's represented by her son James Hosmer, his wife, Diane.

Hilda worked for Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach during the war and just turned 101 this year. Ruth Christine Dodgson from the City of Jackson in Amador County. She's represented by her granddaughters Charlotte Dodgson and and Marilyn Clothier.

Ruth worked at the McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento while her husband, John Charles Dodgson, was overseas fighting in the war. Ruth never wore pants, but she instead tucked her dress into her coveralls for work, then untucked her dress at quitting time.

Ruth was very proud of her service to her country as well as the opportunity to provide for her family after her husband returned with serious injuries after the war. Teresa Rieger Green from the City of Lodi in San Joaquin County. While working at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, she met her future husband, Forrest Greene.

Both Teresa and Forrest worked in the war effort and were very proud of their service to the country.

Nephew Jack Caulfield was unable to be present today but wanted to honor his great aunt and last but not least, Katherine Dubrino from the City of Modesto in Stanislaus County, represented today by her daughter Susie Mihalten, affectionately known as Susie Q.

She's our chaplain for the American Legion Auxiliary, Culver City, Unit 46, District 24, and with unwavering dedication and the spirit of patriotism, Catherine worked in the factory that was crucial to to the American war efforts. Just this past Saturday, I was able to honor a true Rosie, Vita Fota, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

She was honored by the Patriots of the City of Ione in Amador county as part of the annual Walk for Veterans Tribute during World War II. She was also given her symbolic Congressional Medal of Honor in front of her community.

I'd like to note that these are just a handful of the powerful stories within our Senate district, but I wanted to encourage all of you to celebrate the Rosies in your community and to join us today in thanking the family Members and loved ones of our living Rosies to join us today on the floor. Thank you.

Members. You can join in the back if you so wish for a picture and Members if you can go back to your desk. We will move on to the next file. Item file item 43.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 55 by Senator Niello relative to apprenticeship week.

Senator Niello, you are recognized from the majority leader's office. I'm not kicking you out of the chamber. You can stay here in the chamber from the desk.

And Senator Grayson, you are doing a fine job. You're a fine gentleman, sir. Thank you for the opportunity to present SCR55, which declares this week as Apprenticeship week in the State of California. Apprenticeships are more than just training programs. They are powerful engines of opportunity. They provide hands on experience, industry, relevant skills and real wages.

From day one, registered apprenticeship programs allow youth, young adults and veterans to obtain relevant education and experience to start their careers while earning competitive wages. And often include the opportunity to earn college credit as well. Creating a sustainable pipeline of skilled and diverse talent for critical industries such as firefighting and construction.

From construction to energy, healthcare to high tech, apprenticeships are fueling our workforce and filling critical gaps in California's economy. They represent a smart, sustainable solution to our state's need for skilled labor while giving individuals a chance to earn while they learn without the burden of student debt.

Members, let's give our undivided attention to.

Hammer that gavel one more time. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. You may continue.

Recognizing National Apprenticeship Week in California sends a powerful message that we value equitable access to education, economic mobility and workforce innovation. It's an opportunity to celebrate success stories, elevate the voices of apprentices and employers, and encourage more businesses to invest in these programs. So Members, please join me in recognizing the week of April 27th through May 3rd as apprenticeship week and support SCR55.

Thank you, Senator Ochoa Bogh, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, a rise in strong support of SCR55. My district includes some of the state's fastest growing areas. From the logistics centers in San Bernardino to the renewable energy projects of the Coachella Valley, Apprenticeship programs are directly aligned with the needs of these industries.

The Inland Empire has a long tradition of hardworking people who helped build California's economy. Today, that legacy continues through robust apprenticeship programs tied to local projects ranging from construction, manufacturing technology, health care and more.

In a region where the cost of living is rising and student debt weighs heavily, apprenticeships give people a chance to earn good wages and gain valuable skills without taking on the burden of a four year degree.

Across San Bernardino and Riverside counties, these programs are graduating trainees with an Average starting salary of $84,000 and a 90% employment retention rate. Whether it's in manufacturing or construction, employers are looking for skilled workers, and apprenticeships are the most effective way to meet that demand.

And thanks to partnership with community colleges, trade groups and local businesses, there's more opportunity for people to take advantage of apprenticeship programs. Colleagues, let's recognize the real work happening in our communities and celebrate the power of apprenticeships by supporting STR55. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you. And seeing no further discussion or debate. Senator Nielo, would you like to close? Beautiful. Close. Thank you so much, sir. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Niello moves to call back to privileges of the floor. You have guests you may introduce from the majority leader's desk.

Thank you again, Mr. President today. Joining me on the floor in coordination with this resolution are two electrical apprentices. Please provide a warm Senate welcome for Kamin Peterson and John Laypary with Helix Electric who are current examples of the hard working people taking advantage of these opportunities provided by apprenticeship programs.

And back to Senate. Third reading file, item 70. Secretary, please read

Senate Concurrent Resolution 63 by Senator Wahab relative to Vietnamese American Remembrance Day.

Senator Wahab, you may begin at the Majority Leader's desk when you're ready.

Thank you, President and Members and Members of the public. The horrors of the Holocaust taught the world that standing against tyranny and violence is a moral obligation, not a choice. The United States, shaped by this painful history, has strived to protect the values of freedom and human dignity around the world.

During the Vietnam War, though the path was difficult and the cost profound, America stood with those who sought to resist oppression. On this day of remembrance, we honor the sacrifices made, reflect on the lessons of history and reaffirm our shared commitment to safeguarding peace, freedom, and the dignity of all people.

On April 301975 the Northern Vietnamese captured Saigon, which effectively ended the Vietnam War. 5,822 Californians lost their lives or are missing in action in service to our country during the Vietnam War. And you can see each of their names etched into black granite at State Vietnam Veterans Memorial just east of here in Capitol Park.

After the fall of Saigon, millions of Vietnamese fled their country, and the United States welcomed approximately 800,000 refugees. San Jose is home to the largest Vietnamese American population in the country, and Oakland received the most Vietnamese refugees in Alameda County after the war, both who have official Little Saigon districts.

SCR63 commemorates the struggles and sacrifices of those who fled war and rebuilt their lives here, while also honoring the veterans who played a role in this history. War tears apart societies, destroys cultures, makes survivors struggle their entire life. And children of survivors lose generational progress.

In fact, as we acknowledge the refugee communities impacted by war, I want to highlight as the daughter of refugees, how people are impacted.

Our elders, who have been diplomats, doctors, teachers, businessmen and students in their home country, struggle to survive as painters and drivers and janitors and maids in their new home just to support their families, sacrificing their potential and lives to just ensure the next generation is able to thrive.

The cost of human life, not only in life and death, but potential, is deeply impacted by war for generations, let alone every soldier that is deployed and those who see the horrors of war firsthand.

Our combat veterans that are left with lifelong trauma due to the true nature of war, brutality against humanity, let alone the many prisoners of war and those that died in combat, we cannot ever forget them. We owe it to them to remember what happened and what we learned, to preserve our humanity, even in war.

We must be cautious when discussing war at all times. Because of these sacrifices by these people that are directly impacted by these decisions, the refugee crisis is great and often ignored. After war. Southeast Asian and refugee communities have played and continue to play a vital role in our communities, contributing significantly in academia, the arts, politics, and beyond.

Right here in our state capitol. The Vietnamese community and the larger Southeast Asian community have worked hard to build a home in this country as Americans. They have contributed to every fabric of our society and are a deep part of the American history that we so boldly shape every day, generation after generation.

SCR63 acknowledges the diverse contributions and resilience of all refugee communities in California who have enriched the cultural, social and economic fabric of our state. Sometimes war is unavoidable, but our decisions must always be rooted not just in defeating enemies, but in upholding the fundamental value of every human life.

A lesson learned from the darkest chapters of our history. May it not be lost why we have these days of remembrance. It's not just for performative speech, but so that we learn the lessons of our ancestors and not repeat the darkest moments.

Please join us in ensuring the future generations are aware of our shared history and in order to move toward greater freedom, peace, and Democracy by supporting SCR 63. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Senator Strickland, you are recognized.

Mr. President, Members, I want to thank the Senator for bringing this forward. I support SCR 63. My hero of my life is my dad, Sergeant First Class Donald Strickland. And my dad actually served in the Vietnam War and earned a Bronze Star for valor during the Tet Offensive. My dad's a true bonafide war hero.

And there's no one I could say that I've been so blessed to have a father that fought for the freedoms. And I want to thank people like my father and all those who served in the Vietnam War and the South Vietnamese army for fighting to preserve freedom and democracy throughout Southeast Asia.

After the fall of Saigon 50 years ago, millions of Vietnamese refugees fled their homeland. Nearly 800,000 ended up here in the United States of America. And the good center just pointed out they're a fabric of our society. They've been vital part of everyday life here in the United States, here in California specifically.

And I'm humble and honored to serve and represent Little Saigon in Orange County. And I just can't tell you how much these refugees have come in and made a difference in the United States and made the United States a better country because of our participation in our communities.

And so with that, I want to Again, thank the author for bringing this forward. And remember, freedom is never free. Thank you.

Thank you, Dr. Choi. Senator Choi, you are recognized.

Thank you, President. Again, I am rising in strong support of Ser63. When I was serving in the Korean military, my division was almost sent to the Vietnam War. But it was not finalized as I was serving as a lieutenant in the Korean artillery in the 3rd Infantry Division.

Today we remember a turning point, not just in the history of Vietnam, but in the lives of millions who carried the spirit of freedom across the ocean and continents. I want to thank the Vietnamese American community, especially our veterans who served. American veterans who served in Vietnam.

In April 301975 the fall of Saigon marked far more than the end of a war. It marked the beginning of the profound and painful journey for so many families. Torn apart, dreams uprooted and an uncertain voyage into the unknown. Refugees risked everything, crossing treacherous seas, walking through unfamiliar lands, not out of despair, but out of hope.

As a Korean American, I feel a deep kinship with this story. Korean soldiers fought for their freedom alongside the Vietnamese and American allied troops. These are also. There are many, also many episodes involving Korean ship captains that rescued the stranded Vietnamese boat people. Therefore, South Koreans and the South Vietnamese share the mutual feelings of brotherhood and sisterhood.

We together share the understanding what it means to survive war, division and displacement. We understand that the fight for liberty is never abstract. It is personal and demands everything. California is blessed to be the second homeland for so many who made that journey.

The Westminster is so close to my City of Irvine and entire 37th district near my district. Home to some of the largest Vietnamese communities in the entire state. Communities like the Westminster and Garden Grove. There are not just. These are not just places on a map, but they are living monuments.

The resilience, perseverance and underlying belief in the promise of America. The Vietnamese American communities have contributed immeasurably to the fabric of our state. Not just through economic vitality, but through a spirit that the refugees to let down. Los B. A final word. You have transformed tragedy into triumph.

Today we remember the lives lost, the families separated and the sacrifices made the Vietnamese people and by the American veterans who fought shoulder to shoulder with them. But remembrance is not enough.

We must renew our commitment to stand against tyranny, to protest the ideals of liberty and democracy and to ensure that the lessons of Black April continue to guide us. The fight for freedom is never continued to one time or one nation.

It is a shared struggle and it is a legacy we must honor not only with words, but with an action. Thank you. And may we always stand together for freedom. Please join me on voting for SGR 63. Thank you.

Thank you. Seeing no further discussion or debate, Senator Wahab, would you like to close?

I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you very much. Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Senator Wahab moves the call, and we will move to privileges of the floor. Senator Wahab, you have some guests from the majority leader's desk.

Thank you. I'd like to just recognize Dr. Jennifer Tran with the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce. Kathy Chao Rothberg with Lao Family Community Development, and David Kakishiba with the East Bay Asian Youth Center. All three of them have carried the South Asian community on their backs in the Bay Area for literally decades. So I'd like to honor them on the floor. Thank you.

And any others would like to take a pic and join in the back.

Members moving on in our agenda. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be deemed read and amendments adopted.

And under motions, resolutions and notices without objection, the Senate journals for April 21, 2025 through April 24, 2025 will be approved as corrected by the minute Clerk under consideration of the file. Second reading File. Secretary, please read

Senate Bill 17 with amendments 525. 317 with amendments 338 with amendments 306 with amendments 596 with amendments.

Second reading. File will be deemed read. Senate, third reading, items 27 and 41, if you are ready, Senator Umberg. Item 27, Secretary, please read

Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 by Senator Umberg relative to the fall of Saigon.

Thank you. Mr. President and colleagues. This is a momentous occasion, the fall of Saigon. And it's appropriate that we actually do have two resolutions today to acknowledge this important day of remembrance. I remember it very well. I was a cadet on April 30th of 1975.

And when we heard what was happening, the cadets all gathered in the day room, along with our instructors and our teachers, military officers, all of whom had fought in Vietnam. Some of them had been wounded in Vietnam.

And we sat there in silence for hours and hours and hours as we watched the television coverage, the helicopters being pushed off the aircraft carriers, the helicopters rescuing folks from the embassy. And although I had not served in Vietnam, we were there with a number of people who had.

And I watched these folks, grizzled veterans, their eyes well up and tear. No doubt this was the first time we as Americans had ever experienced anything like this. Anything like this.

And so we remember those 58,523 individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice and the thousands and thousands who are still making that sacrifice today, as well as their families and those who are still unaccounted for. We recognize the sacrifice of the Vietnamese American community, and in particular those who fled Vietnam.

Today is a special day here because we honored and recognized the victims of the Holocaust and the remembrance of the Holocaust, Man's inhumanity to man. And just as that, that absolutely horrendous historic event in some ways was repeated. We did not learn the lessons. Some of us didn't learn the lessons. And 500,000 fled Vietnam.

50% of them died as boat people. 50% of them died as boat people. And today, today, as we remember, we were actually the beneficiaries to the extent there are beneficiaries of that horrible, horrible event.

Because those who came here to the United States and settled in Little Saigon, those who settled in Orange County, those who settled in Alameda and Santa Clara County, and those who settled throughout the United States brought with them a determination and a character to improve their lives, the lives of their children.

In our lives, we've been the beneficiary. I started representing Little Saigon in 19901990 just 15 years after 1975. And the vitality of that community and their resilience and all the things they brought to us culturally, culinarily, economically, have made such a huge difference in so many lives.

And so today, it is appropriate that we, as a state, thank them and remember that sacrifice both of the Americans as well as the Vietnamese. And with that, I ask all of you to join in recognition and support SCR4.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of SCR4 and want to thank our colleague from Santa Ana for once again authoring the resolution. He's been doing this for all the years that I've been here, recognizing the very large population in his home area.

I, too, have a very large Vietnamese population, well over 100,000 population in the city. And as earlier noted by our colleague from Hayward, they've made significant contributions. I just want to make a very specific point. There are a lot of iconic images, and I have my own memories.

Like our colleague from Santa Ana, I was carrying a draft card at that time, as the draft had just been suspended, and we were waiting to see whether or not the United States was going to go back in to deal with the situation.

The iconic image that was most heartbreaking was seeing the yellow flag with the three red stripes, the flag of the Republic of South Vietnam being pulled down. And we hear this term.

And the term was coined, I think, by President Carter, referring to those refugees as boat people, because they were leaving on boats of any size, shape, or condition. But almost all of them left with the flag on some kind of a mast.

And they were instructed by military personnel on helicopters, friendly personnel, to take those flags down as a matter of survival, because they were being targeted. They were essentially outing themselves, identifying themselves as the enemy of the North Vietnamese. Can you imagine? I can't. And, of course, we all would more than hope that that day would never come.

But can you imagine pulling down the flag of your own country as a matter of survival, as a matter of personal survival? Heartbreaking.

But then when this population of refugees got here, it was hard for some to understand at first, but they started asking for flag resolutions that this flag would be identified as the official heritage flag of the Republic of South Vietnam and of the people who are now Vietnamese Americans, it would be their heritage flag.

And you see it in these areas of large populations, flying everywhere. It seems the City of San Jose, the County of Santa Clara, and so many jurisdictions have adopted official resolutions documenting that and making legal the flying of that particular flag in any public place, in any municipal place, any county facility.

And this Wednesday, in conjunction with the resolutions that are being adopted and one that's coming from the Assembly as well, for the first time in history, that yellow flag with the three red stripes will be flying over the state capitol from dawn to dusk. And it'll be a historic moment.

And I know for the population in all of our districts of Vietnamese Americans who remember that day of having to take that flag down as refugees, seeing it fly over the most powerful state capitol in the United States is going to mean a lot to them. Thank you. And I urge support of of SCR4.

Thank you, Senator Strickland. You are recognized.

I'll be very brief, Mr. President, Members, I echo a lot of my comments from the earlier measure, but I'm a co author of SCR 4. I want to thank Senator Umberg for bringing this forward and actually representing Orange County with distinction for many, many years.

So I, I, I appreciate him allowing me to be a co author of this Bill. I would also be remiss if I didn't talk about my predecessor, Janet Nguyen.

One example of a person who came and was a refugee into this country and made our community a better place to be in Orange County and also in the United States and particularly here in California.

Janet Nguyen is the exact kind of story who served right before me here in the state stands, doing great work on the Board of Supervisors in Orange County. Her story is the story of many other Vietnamese Americans.

And I also want to say it says a lot about our country as America because you can move to Ireland and not become Irish, you can move to France and not become French, but only you can move to America and become an American. And so it makes me proud to be an American.

And I want to also thank the Center for bringing this forward on this important memento of a tragedy that happened 50 years ago. But actually all those refugees that came in here to the United States, as I said before, made United States a better country. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator. Senator Unberg, seeing no further discussion or debate, would you like to close?

Thank you, Mr. President. In honor of all those who made the Sacrifice to come here to the United States Post Vietnam War. And in honor of my father in law who fought in World War II, Korea and finally in Vietnam, I urgenai vote.

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

[Roll Call]

Ayes 38 no 0 resolution is adopted. Moving on to item number 41. Secretary, please read

Senate Resolution 14 by Senator Cervantes relative to Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Denim Day.

Senator Cervantes, you're recognized from your desk.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and Members for allowing me to present Senate Resolution 14 today, which is an annual women's caucus resolution commemorating April 30 as Denim Day and April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Though I have presented this resolution before, this is my first time time as a Member of this Senate.

I'm heartened to see many of you wearing Denim in this chamber today as well around our capital community. Whether that's jeans or Denim jackets and clothing, I encourage everyone to do so on Wednesday on Denim Day as well.

Today we commemorate the protest after the heinous 1998 Italian Supreme Court ruling that vacated a rape conviction because the survivor was wearing jeans. We stand together to affirm the principle that clothing can never provide consent. Any assertion to the contrary wrongly places blame on the survivor instead of the perpetrator who committed sexual assault in the first place.

I cannot help but think about the survivors who never stepped forward because they were afraid that they would be blamed because of what they were wearing. And my heart goes out to the survivors who have not seen justice rendered for the crime committed against them. This is why we observe Denim Day.

I want to uplift the survivors who have yet to come forward. The survivors whose stories have not been told. The survivors who have not seen the perpetrator punished. We know that for every 1,000 survivors in the United States, only 230 reports of assaults are perpetrated against them.

Out of 230 survivors, only 80 have criminal cases that go to trial, and less than 5 will ever see their perpetrator serve any jail or prison time. For survivors, seeking justice can be an essential part of healing and regaining control over their lives and bodies. But two too many feel that our legal system doesn't do enough.

When we maintain these broken systems, we trivialize sexual assault and promote stereotypical beliefs that survivors invite the crimes perpetrated against them. Yes, there has been progress in recent years. In 2021, this Legislature finally closed the Denim Day loophole in California and prohibited the use of clothing as evidence of consent by approving my Assembly Bill 939.

Nevertheless, as a Legislature, there is still so much more work for us to do to end sexual assault. We must pursue holistic, trauma, informed policies and create a culture where survivors both feel safe and empowered to step forward and report what happened to them. Colleagues, I ask you today to join me in doubling down on our commitment.

As Members of the Senate, we must continue fighting to ensure that the words of this resolution do not remain mere ink pressed on a piece of paper. We must use our power as Members of the Senate to reform and rebuild our state system and structures to protect sexual assault survivors.

There are over 38 million survivors of rape in the United States, and in 2021, rape crisis centers provided services to over 44,000 Californians. We also know that rates of sexual violence are disproportionately higher among people of color and Members of the LGBTQ community.

Until the number of new sexual assault survivors reaches zero, until we end the Commission of rape of sexual assault, we cannot consider our jobs to be done because we know that it is never, ever any excuse for committing sexual assault. Zero. Full stop. Respectfully, I ask for a vote on Senate Resolution 14.

Senator Valladares, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members, today I rise in support of SR14 to recognize Denim Day, a day of global awareness and solidarity in the fight against sexual violence.

What began as a protest against a court ruling that blamed a survivor's clothing for her assault has grown into a powerful reminder what someone wears is never an imitation or justification for assault.

Denim Day has grown from a local protest into a global movement, with millions of people worldwide participating to raise awareness and support survivors of sexual assault. As a public servant, I believe it's our responsibility to stand with survivors, to challenge harmful stereotypes and to foster a culture where consent, respect, and accountability are non negotiable.

Wearing denim today is a visible act of support, but the Real impact comes from how we listen, how we speak up, and how we act together. Let's continue working toward a society where everyone feels safe, heard, and value. I respectfully urge an aye vote.

Senator Caballero, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise today as a proud co author of Senate resolution number 14, which recognizes April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and and April 30 as Denim Day. This resolution underscores our collective commitment to addressing sexual violence, supporting survivors, and fostering a culture of dignity and respect.

However, it's crucial to acknowledge that while California leads in these efforts, recent actions have created significant challenges to service providers nationwide. In 2024, the Federal Victims of Crime Act Fund was cut a dramatic 40%, reducing allocations by 700 million. This money traditionally supports essential services such as rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, and legal assistance for survivors.

In California alone, this reduction led to $70 million in cuts threatening the ability of our service providers to help individuals who have been traumatized, hurt, hurt, and who desperately need help to get back on their feet again. These federal funding reductions have had immediate and severe consequences.

In California, organizations are struggling with the loss of shelter beds, hotlines and legal aid all at the same time when demand for services increases. While challenges persist, California continues to demonstrate leadership by enacting policies that protect and support survivors.

As we observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Denim Day, let us not only raise awareness, but reaffirm our responsibility to advocate for sustained funding from our federal partners and our support for survivors. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to recognize both the progress we made and the work that remains. I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Senator Weber Pierson. You are recognized from your desk.

Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon, colleagues. Today I rise in support of Senate Resolution 14. On behalf of my colleagues in the California Legislative Black Caucus, I am proud to rise in solidarity to help communicate the message that there is no excuse for and never an invitation to commit sexual assault.

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, There are over 22 million survivors of rape throughout the United States, with 2 million of those survivors of rape currently living in the State of California. And often, Members of the black community experience higher rates of sexual violence.

According to the Center for Sexual assault survivors, about 45% of black women have experienced partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence, and or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes. And about 40% of black men have experienced partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence, and or intimate partner stalking in their lifetime.

Members of the black community also often encounter barriers when it comes to seeking justice and support, which can be attributed to a range of institutional and historical factors, it is clear that we must continue to remain vigilant in our efforts to not only raise public awareness about rape and sexual assault, but to dismantle the range of institutional and historical barriers that serve as a barrier for all survivors seeking justice and support.

I want to thank the Senator for Riverside for your leadership in presenting this resolution and respectfully ask for an aye vote on SCR 14.

Thank you, Senator Rubio. You are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, today I also rise as a proud co author of SR14. Denim is not just a symbol, but it's really a promise that as a community we're going to stand together, we're going to stand in solidarity and that we are going to believe victims, survivors.

I believe that there's nothing more harmful than when, you know, you hear survivors saying they're not believed. They have to prove their case. And it's so interesting that we take the word sometimes of perpetrators and we continue to re traumatize victim by saying it didn't happen. This particular resolution is so important because awareness to me is key.

I want to thank the great Senator for bringing this resolution forward because we know that this started in a time where someone thought that wearing jeans gave consent, consent to be violated, consent to invade someone's personal space. And yet it feels like it was so long ago, but we're still fighting the same issues today.

We keep fighting for survivors to be believed. We keep fighting. So. So survivors are not questioned and re traumatized. It feels like survivors continue to have to prove their case and it should never be the case. We should always stand in solidarity with victims. And I can share that. Again, there's nothing more harmful.

As a survivor of domestic violence and constantly being questioned whether things happen or not, really, it is the most horrific thing anyone could do to survivors when they are having to prove over and over again that something happened. When we know that it's only the victim that knows what that circumstance was.

And I know that the journey for so many victims, in particular sexual assault, is it's hard, it's harmful. And many have shared that when they have to prove over and over again, it's even more traumatizing when they have to go in a court and have to face their abuser is even 10 times more hurtful.

But yet, you know, here we are trying to bring awareness because it is up to us to really, you know, stand in solidarity and show that we Believe them. And I choose to believe victims. I choose to stand with victims. And I think we need to keep showing up for victims.

And I will keep showing up especially for those that don't have a voice. Oftentimes we push victims into silence the minute we say, but, you know, you know, she wore jeans, which was why this resolution is now before us.

When that victim wore jeans and it was said that, it was an invitation, that is how incredibly, you know, far behind we are into solving some of these issues. So Denim Day today is incredibly important. I want to thank everyone on this floor who wore denim to show that we stand in solidarity with victims.

And once again, thank you to our Senator from Riverside for authoring this resolution. And I stand wholeheartedly in strong support of this resolution. Thank you.

Senator Wahab, you are recognized.

Thank you. I rise in support of SR14, sexual assault awareness Month and Denim Day. You know, it's deeply troubling that just not even too long ago in 1992, that this case came forward with a jeans alibi that because a young woman wore jeans, that it gave a 45 year old man the right to sexually assault her.

And I'm glad that this has been moving through the international community to stand up against things like this. We have a long way to go.

And I want to highlight this as an Afghan American who has grown up with many of my elders even commenting on the fact that it is largely and historically placed on the woman, the woman's responsibility to make sure that she's not in a dangerous situation. And the reality is that that is not the case.

Being fully covered or even fully exposed does not give the right to sexually assault another human being. And I want to be very clear about that because we have so many loopholes in our laws.

We also have the concept of the mere fact that there are many people that have experienced sexual assault and are not believed, number one. And it's not just women, it is men, right, who are actually less likely to come forward and report their assault. And this is deeply disappointing.

The work that we do here, even in the last couple of decades, is to prioritize the victim and protect the victim. It is not about the fact that it is the woman's right or the victim's right to not put themselves in a position, not expose themselves, not do something like that.

It is really, the reality is that the society actually needs to inform people that you are not allowed to violate another human being, regardless of who is around you, what state they're in, or whatever the case may be.

You are responsible for your actions, and if you violate another human being, you should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. And our laws, like I said, has a significant amount of loopholes that we still have to work on today. We still have loopholes in spousal rape that allows the rape of a disabled spouse.

We still allow child marriages that force a victim to marry their rapist to circumvent statutory rape laws. Here in California, we have a long way to go to ensure that all victims are prioritized, not only in society, but under our laws.

And so I really highlight this as we raise our voices to declare that what someone wears or how they behave does not invite anyone to sexually violate them.

We must ensure that our systems are created in a way that affirms what these individuals are stating and ensure that we are preventing as much as possible through education and through our laws, that this behavior is unacceptable.

And we must take action to ensure that the victims have the support to feel empowered in reporting sexual assault and work with our community partners to fix our systems to prevent assaults in the first place. So respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Thank you, Senator Perez. You are recognized.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise in support of SR14 by the good Senator from Riverside. I stand here not just in support of the over 22 million survivors of sexual assault and rape, but also as one of them.

Denim Day is a day to recognize the strength, courage, and persistence of those who have endured the horrendous experience of a sexual assault and manage the endless trauma that occurs as a result. Today is a reminder that we must never go back to the paradigms of the past where our institutions actively enable shaming and blaming victims.

While I acknowledge, and I'm grateful, that the State of California is a leader in protecting survivors and preventing sexual assault and rape, there is still work to be done. And I just want to take a moment to highlight, you know, for many, many years, you know, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment has been a crime here in California.

But as you know, the good Senator from Hayward, the good Senator from Baldwin park, mentioned what is most critical is that we actually believe victims, and we've seen so much of that kind of that impact on victims, not being able to feel comfortable to come forward and tell their stories, even within our own University and college system.

Back in 2014, I was a part of a group of sexual assault survivors that came up here to the state Legislature, and we helped pass a yes means yes Bill, SB967, which made it the standard to use Affirmative consent as the standard for all colleges and universities.

Because there is a time period, one, many schools are trying to cover up these cases. And during that time, there were so many students, other students on campus, who actively did not come forward with their cases because they did not feel that they would be believed and that action would be taken.