Senate Floor

Just kidding. Before the Senate will convene in 27 seconds, Secretary will call the roll.

[Roll Call]

A quorum is present, and if I could have your attention. Members and guests beyond the rail and in the gallery, please rise. We'll be led in prayer by our chaplain, Michelle Gorman. And please remain standing, after which I will lead us in the pledge.

So let us bring our minds, hearts, and bodies into the presence of holy mystery. O God of all nations and peoples, you weep at fractured lives. Inspire us to heal the hurting. Help us to seal the cracks created by our complicity in failing to love. May our words and actions speak love and not complacency.

May we choose love when faced with mindless hate. Love when faced with retaliation. Love when tempted by deception. Love when addressing all the issues of our time. May we choose love when speaking with our neighbours. Love when lured by bad choices. Love when discerning leaders. May we choose love when facing racism, sexism, heterosexism, exclusivism.

In all the things we do, in all the words we say. May we always choose love and demonstrate our love with action. Amen.

Please join me in the pledge to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag. Well, members, if you really enjoyed the meeting last Monday, I'm afraid to inform you this week meeting is not going to be quite so long.

But without objection, we'll move to Senate third reading and we'll take up file item 22, SCR 87 by Senator Weber Pierson, after which she has some introductions. She's at her desk and appears ready. Secretary, please read.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 87 by Senator Weber Pierson relative to Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

You may proceed.

Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon, fellow Senators. Today I rise to present SCR 87, which will recognize June 10, 2025 as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, or FSGS Awareness Day.

This landmark day is dedicated to bringing education and awareness to fsgs, a rare and progressive disease that causes scarring in the kidney and often leads to kidney failure. FSGS affects all, regardless of race, gender, race or even lifestyle.

It is most common in men over the age of 45, but it is a leading cause of end stage kidney disease in children, meaning a lifetime of medical challenges for patients and their families. FSGS disproportionately impacts African Americans, occurring at rates four to five times higher than white Americans.

This is due in part to high risk of both genetic factors variants, systemic barriers to access, quality and also preventative care. The cause is often unknown, but half of all FSGS patients will require dialysis or kidney transplant within five to 10 years of diagnosis.

And even for those who are able to receive a kidney transplant, up to 50% of FSGS patients may experience recurrence of the disease in their new kidney. Many patients face years long delay in diagnosis, averaging five to seven years due to the rarity of this disease and a shortage of nephrologists specializing in rare kidney disorders.

Despite its serious impacts, FSGS remains largely unfamiliar to the public, making education and advocacy critically important. Early and accurate diagnosis is critical for improving outcomes and reducing the burden on patients and the health care System.

By designating June 10, 2025 as FSGS Awareness Day, we elevate the voices of patients, caregivers and spotlight the urgent need for research, investment, earlier diagnosis and life changing treatment options and honor the courage and strength of the community navigating this disease every day. And with that I respectfully ask for an aye vote on scr87.

Thank you and seeing no mics up Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

The ayes are 34, the noes are 0. The measure is adopted. I believe you have some guests to introduce.

Yes, thank you Mr. President. I would like to recognize a guest in the gallery who have lived experiences and inspired prior this important resolution. We have Kendra Carruth, a coordinator with NefCure, a non profit focused on rare kidney disease. Matt Coronel, an FSGS Patient Mark's wife, Cindy Michelle Atman, and his kidney donor, Shonda Robinson.

Thank you all so much for joining us today.

Thank you very much. And now, continuing with privileges of the floor, recognizing Senator Caballero. There she is. For Senator Stern. You may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, today we have the honor of welcoming a distinguished, distinguished delegation from Portugal. Here on the floor today are Mr. Francisco Duarte Lopez, Portugal's Ambassador to the United States, stationed in Washington D.C. Mr. Felipe Ramaliera, Portugal's Consul General based in San Francisco, and Mr. Denise Borges, President of the California Portuguese American Association.

They're visiting today in conjunction with ACR 91, which is being presented on the Assembly floor and recognizes June 2025 as Portuguese heritage Month. California has the largest population of Portuguese Americans in the United States, with over 350 people of Portuguese descent residing here.

Many have made valuable contributions, including art architect William Perea, best known for designing the Transamerican pyramid in San Francisco, as well as Tom Hanks, Katy Perry, and numerous state and federal elected officials.

The Senate has maintained a strong relationship with Portugal through legislative and governmental exchanges, as well as a sister city relationship with the Azores dating back to 2002. It is from the Azores that many Californians with Portuguese ancestry trace their roots. And many Portuguese Americans live in my district and are active philanthropic business people.

I'm pleased to have the opportunity to recognize them today and renew the relationship between our institution and this important European region. Members, please join me in warmly welcoming our special guest to the California State Senate. Some who are also with us in the gallery.

If other Members would like to join in the picture, now would be the time it. And now we will recognize Senator Cortese, who has some guests also to introduce at the Majority Leader's desk.

I think they're expecting. Please proceed. Thank you, Mr. President. Appreciate you bearing with me and colleagues today. I want to recognize the Jane center of Northern California, also known as JCNC. These leaders were recognized earlier this afternoon over in the Assembly on the floor as well.

And with us today here on the Senate Floor, we have Ajay Butariya, Biren Shah Parveen Jain, Girish Shah, Mittal Kothari and Yosh Bhuturi. There are also 27 other Members of JCNC joining us in the gallery today. Maybe we could pause and give them a round of applause. Thank you for being here.

This organization is worldwide and the local temple was established in our county in 1981. Jainism, for those that may not know, is one of the world's oldest religions. Originating in India at least 2500 years ago, JCNC is a volunteer run organization.

It has a vibrant community of dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to help JCNC host events such as Shawla programs, cultural events, senior mixers, religious events, Jivadaya events and many other programs and events. The Jane Bhavan of JCNC was the first green building among the Federation of Jean Associations in Northern California, also known as Jaina.

In April 2021, the JCNC hosted the Dick Shaw ceremony to take place in North America. JCNC and that was the first one to take place in North America. JCNC regularly hosts religious scholars from India and other dignitaries from around the world including elected city, county and state officials. Many can attest to that.

JCNC runs one of the largest education programs among all Jaina centers with over 350 students studying Jainism as well as languages such as Hindi and Gujarati. And it is really a sight to see to see all the young people when you go over to the Santa Clara County Jain Temple.

JCNC is a founding Member of the Silicon Valley Inter Religious Council, sometimes known as Civic. Civic, much like Jainism itself, really had dedicated itself for a number of years in Santa Clara County to the idea of nonviolent action. Nonviolent action. And we talked today about how much that's needed today.

And I'm sure the Jain community will be leaders in leading us all through some of the violence we're seeing all around us. It takes this opportunity to educate people from other faiths on the history and values of Jainism and its contributions to economic, scientific and educational evolution in India and the entire world over the centuries.

I have worked with them very closely in this regard for many years. JCNC sustains interfaith connections through interfaith education. Its leadership has a legacy of promoting cooperation and coexistence between traditions. It's often said we won't have peace in the world until we have peace among the world's religions. And I know the chains stand for that.

We in Santa Clara County used to have a tradition that I am regretting we ever let go of holding large non violence conferences, bringing in people like Bernard Lafayette, Ela Gandhi and many, many others to come in and help train people on nonviolent tactics and nonviolent response.

The Janes were always front and center among groups of 78001000 people. This relatively small Jane center was always front and center in that kind of advocacy. JCNC and those who practice Jainism are integral parts of California's diverse communities. I look forward to continued events and opportunities to connect with them.

Please join me one more time in welcoming them to the Senate. Thank you all very much. Thank you, Mr. President.

Now, if others would like to join in a picture, now would be the time. And now Senator Wiener also has some introductions at the Majority Leader's desk. You may proceed. Great.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise to recognize distinguished leaders from San Francisco's Chinese American community.

Could we give Senator Wiener our attention please?

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, I rise today to recognize distinguished leaders from San Francisco's Chinese American community. The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, also known as as the Six Companies, has served as the backbone of San Francisco Chinatown since the 1800s. It was originally formed to protect and support Chinese immigrants during a time of exclusion, discrimination and violence.

Originally made up of six family district associations, the Six Companies continues to provide social services, to advocate for civil rights and to promote Chinese culture and community leadership. Among the associations. The Sam Yup Benevolent Association is one of the original Six Companies. And it represents immigrants from the Southern Guangdong region.

And the Association has played a critical role in Chinatown's development and civic life.

So please join me in welcoming Stephen Liu, who is the the current President of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Gan Ng, the secretary of the Sam Yup Benevolent Association, Wei Ming he and Guo Xing Yang and Raymond Leung, who are on the board of Directors of the Sam Yup Benevolent Association.

I'm honored to welcome these tremendous community leaders to the State Senate today. And please join me in welcoming them.

Others may join in for a picture. Now.

It.

And moving on with our very busy, very packed schedule today. Messages from the Governor will be deemed read. Messages from the Assembly will be deemed read. Reports of committees will be read and amendments adopted under motions and resolutions.

Under motions and resolutions without objection, The Senate Journals 4 for June 2 through June 5 will be approved as corrected by the Minute Clerk. And if there is no other business, Senator Mcguire, the desk is clear.

Thank you so much. I don't know what it is, but. I think it may be the Niello touch. Fast and efficient and you always get a good deal. So.

Operators are standing by as we speak.

There we go. Members, the next floor session is scheduled for Thursday, June 12th at 9am for our Democratic Members. There will be a Democratic caucus immediately following floor session. Thank you all.

The Senate will be in recess until 3:30 this afternoon at which time the adjournment motion will be made. We will reconvene Thursday, June 12th at 9am and did I break the record for the shortest session? I might have.