Bill Text: CA ACR99 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Immigrant Heritage Month.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 59-18)

Status: (Passed) 2023-07-20 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 128, Statutes of 2023. [ACR99 Detail]

Download: California-2023-ACR99-Chaptered.html

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Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 99

CHAPTER 128

Relative to Immigrant Heritage Month.

[ Filed with Secretary of State  July 20, 2023. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 99, Cervantes. Immigrant Heritage Month.

This measure would designate the month of June 2023 as Immigrant Heritage Month.

Digest Key

Fiscal Committee: NO  

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Bill Text

WHEREAS, Generations of immigrants from all around the world built our country’s economy and created our nation’s unique character; and

WHEREAS, More than 44,000,000 immigrants are residing in the United States, constituting 17 percent of the general United States workforce, and account for around one-quarter of United States entrepreneurs; and

WHEREAS, California is home to 10.5 million immigrants, 23 percent of the foreign-born population nationwide, including 28 percent of DACA recipients (183,000 individuals), and the second largest state in the United States with the majority of Temporary Protected Status holders (53,840), who are considered essential critical infrastructure workers; and

WHEREAS, Almost one-half (46 percent) of California children have at least one immigrant parent, and 75 percent of noncitizens live in households with citizens; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants have served in the Armed Forces since the founding of the United States and have fought in every major conflict in United States history, including the Civil War, World Wars I and II, and the conflicts in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants serve in emerging industries with labor shortages in the United States, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and bolster the economy and global leadership; and

WHEREAS, Immigrant essential workers, including first responders, health care workers, agricultural workers, meat packers, childcare providers, and hospitality and transportation workers, have heroically helped provide medical care, food, and shelter in California and the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, The majority of farm workers in California are immigrants and have been deemed “essential workers” and maintain a safe food supply for California during the COVID–19 pandemic and beyond; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants comprise more than 35 percent of California’s civilian workforce, accounting for over two-thirds of all agricultural workers, nearly one-half of all workers in the manufacturing industry, over 40 percent of all workers in wholesale trade, construction, and other service industries, 41 percent of all workers in computer and mathematical occupations, and 57 percent of all software developers and workers in applications and systems software; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants continue to develop and expand businesses, innovate, strengthen our economy, and create American jobs in California; and

WHEREAS, One in three small business owners in California are immigrants, immigrants founded around 45 percent of all new businesses from 2007 to 2011, inclusive, and immigrants make up 36 percent of the state’s business owners; and

WHEREAS, Immigrant households make up 28 percent of the total household income in California, representing a substantial share of spending power in the state; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants contribute $715 billion of California’s gross domestic product and $26.4 billion in state and local taxes; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants fundamentally enrich the extraordinary character of our state and nation with their unique cultures, heritages, religious beliefs, experiences, and rich diversity of people, cuisine, literature, art, language, academia, music, media, fashion, and customs; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants have been tireless leaders, not only in securing their own rights and ensuring access to equal opportunities, but also in pursuing a fairer and more just society for all Americans; and

WHEREAS, Despite countless contributions made by immigrants, we have frequently overlooked and undervalued the role of immigrants in building and enriching our nation, both throughout our history and in the present day; and

WHEREAS, Continued integration of immigrants from around the world in a manner that encourages and facilitates a pathway to citizenship, economic and social mobility, and civic engagement will preserve the prosperity of the United States and reinforce the patriotism all people of the United States feel for the United States, no matter the color of skin, sexual orientation, gender identity, country of origin, or religious background of the individual; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the month of June 2023 as Immigrant Heritage Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.