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I applaud Governor Brown for signing SB 892, which I co-authored. An annual proclamation of the Lunar New Year encourages schools to participate in the holiday’s traditions and discuss the accomplishments of API Californians across our state. It’s a great way to promote cultural understanding and inclusivity to our children.

I’m honored to stand with Governor Brown, as he signed his last California budget as governor. This spending plan:

• Combats homelessness
• Invests in youth
• Helps struggling Californians
• Boosts reserves to historic levels

It makes the right investments & reflects California values. Watch remarks from me and Governor Brown here.

May is Asian Pacific Island Heritage Month. The California State Assembly celebrated the accomplishments of several Californians, including author & fellow UC Berkeley alumni/classmate, Viet Thanh Nguyen, whose New York Times best-selling novel “The Sympathizer” won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction & numerous other awards. In addition, we honored former Asian Law Caucus Executive Director and my former Board Chair at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Law Caucus, Peggy Saika, who has been a big influence in my career. Long-time leaders and honorees, Dave Low Amanda Nguyen, Maeley Tom, Ron Wong and Vincent Zhou, were also recognized for their contributions.

Assemblymember Phil Ting honored Rabbi Carla Fenves during the California State Assembly’s annual recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Week. She is the granddaughter of two Holocaust survivors, Ervin and Vera Fenves of Hungary. During World War II, Vera survived by hiding in the kitchen of a righteous gentile family’s restaurant. Ervin escaped a Nazi labor camp and joined the resistance using his artistic talents to forge documents. After first meeting as children, Ervin and Vera reconnected after the war, married, and had two children.