Two days after the September 11 attacks in 2001, the California Senate gathered for a somber floor session.

Senator Maria-Elena Durazo is joined by Senate colleagues in presenting a resolution recognizing the work of the Royal Chicano Air Force. Founded in 1970 with a mission to create a bilingual/bicultural space for artists to come together and create murals, political posters, and sculptures, the Royal Chicano Air Force is an artist collective based in Sacramento, California.  

In recognition of California Native American Day and the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference, Senator Bob Hertzberg welcomes Bo Mazzetti, Chairman of Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians; Michael Hunter Chairman of Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians; Garth Sundberg, Chairman of Trinidad Rancheria; and Dale Miller, Chairman of Elk Valley Rancheria to the Senate Floor

Senator Ben Hueso is joined by Senators Stern, Nielsen, Durazo and Archuleta for a floor introduction of Special Olympics representatives in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the Special Olympics

Senator Brian Dahle is joined by Senator Nielsen to honor The Forest Foundation in recognition of their 20th anniversary and their work educating Californians on sustainable forest practices.

Established in 1973, the California Senate Fellows program is one of the oldest and most distinguished service-learning programs in the country. Those completing the 2018-2019 Fellowship are: Blake Zante, Delphert Smith III, Claire Marks, Carney King, Emily Cornett, Fred Williams, McKinley Thompson-Morley, Frank Thomsen, Ales Lee, Christopher Morales, Zaire Bailey, Motunrayo Tosin-Oni, Abraham Mendoza III, Jennifer Kaku, Cassidy Denny, Mina Hanin, Megan DeSousa and Dean Talley

The Fellowship program is jointly operated by the California Senate and the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State University. It provides college graduates an opportunity to become full-time Senate staff members in a Senator's personal office or with a policy committee.  They participate in academic seminars with Senators, senior staff, journalists, lobbyists, and other government officials. Here, Fellows occupy a committee room for a discussion with Senator John Moorlach.

Each year the California Council on Science and Technology recruits PhD scientists and engineers to work as legislative staff in the Senate. Science Fellows spend one year in Sacramento, directly serving policymakers within the California State Legislature. Senators Allen, Durazo, Wieckowski, Pan, Stern, Wiener, Gonzalez and Glazer present resolutions to the 2019 Science Fellows: Chanel Matney, Samantha Tucci, Eric Walter, Lizeth Perez and Sydney Chamberlin

                                                      Waddie Deddeh

Former Senator Waddie Deddeh was the first Iraqi-American elected official in the United States. He represented San Diego in the California Assembly from 1967 to 1983, and in the California Senate from 1983 to 1993.  Shown here during a visit to the Senate in 2005.

                                    September 6, 1920 -- August 27, 2019

Mervyn M. Dymally's family members, friends and former colleagues gather for the unveiling of a bust of Mervyn M Dymally, sculpted by Mr. Nijel Binn. 

Mr. Dymally served in nearly every house of governance in Sacramento: the California State Assembly (1963-1966), the State Senate (1967-1975), as the 41st lieutenant governor (1975-1979), and again in the State Assembly (2003-2008). He also held a seat in the the U.S. House of Representatives (1981-1993).

 The Mervyn Dymally bust will be placed near the Lt. Governor's office in the Capitol Annex. 

Senator Bill Monning adjourns the Senate in memory of the victims of the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting, including the three who were killed: Stephen Romero, age 6; Keyla Salazar, age 13; and Trevor Deon Irby, age 25.

Senator Mike McGuire celebrates Upper Lake High School student and state wrestling champion Adriana Lopez during a Senate floor ceremony.

Senators Grove, Umberg, and Nielsen greet Army Staff Sergeant Alex Jauregui on the Senate floor. In 2012, Mr. Jauregui lost both legs, hearing in both ears and sustained extensive injuries to his right hand and forearm when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Sangsar, Afghanistan.

Senators Glazer, Morrell, Archuleta, Umberg, Wilk and Nielsen pose with J.R. Wilson and Alex Jauregui. Mr. Wilson is President of Delta Veterans Group; Mr. Jauregui is an 11-year Army veteran and recipient of a specially adapted home from Homes For Our Troops.

Commemorating the month of June as LGBTQ pride month, the rainbow flag flies over the California Capitol. 

State Senator Brian Dahle takes the Oath of Office with his wife, Megan by his side. Senator Dahle was recently elected to serve the 1st Senatorial District. 

Senator Brian Dahle

State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara administers the Oath of Office to Senator Lena Gonzalez.  Senator Gonzalez represents the 33rd Senate District. Accompanying her for the Oath, partner Adam Carrillo and son, Zorian.

Senator Lena Gonzalez

Senator Gonzalez signs the Oath of Office

Senator Tom Umberg welcomes Alexander Nicholas Anastassiades and Carlos Daniel Rivera-Vega along with representatives of California State University, Long Beach in recognition of the Men's Volleyball team as the 2019 NCAA Champion.  

Senators Wieckowski, Jones, Moorlach, Umberg, Durazo, Bates, Archuleta and Nielsen pose with NCAA Volleyball Championship players and representatives from Cal State University, Long Beach 

Senator Ben Allen presents a resolution to representatives of the University of California, Los Angeles in commemoration of their 100th anniversary

Senator Tom Umberg presents a resolution during session on Thursday, May 2, to four affiliates with The Walt Disney Company in recognition of Star Wars Day

Senator Brian Jones welcomes 1st Lt. Ryan Michael O'Brien to the Senate floor. Mr. O'Brien turned 97 years old on March 19th and is still active in several veteran's organizations. He flew more than 34 missions during WWII, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross; 4 Air Medals; the Order of the Purple Heart; and the European-African Middle Eastern Medal with 3 Battle Stars. 

Springtime at the state Capitol

Recognizing him as a dedicated public servant and "a true trailblazer as a Mayor, Congressman and cabinet member" Senator Bill Dodd welcomes Norm Mineta to the Senate Chamber. 

Senator Bob Archuleta greets Norm Mineta on the Senate floor

Senator Cathy Galgiani welcomes women in construction to the Senate floor

Ambassador Wang Donghua, Consul General of China in San Francisco is welcomed to the Senate floor by Senators Galgiani, Rubio, Hurtado, Wieckowski, Borgeas, Jackson, Mitchell, Caballero, Pan, Wiener, Monning, Nielsen, Durazo, Dodd, Moorlach, Bates, Grove, Wilk and Archuleta.

Senators Ling Ling Chang and Brian Jones

Senators Maria Elena Durazo and Tom Umberg

Senator Holly Mitchell introduces guests from A New Way of Life Reentry Project

Senator Skinner welcomes the Honorable Rana Sarkar, Consul General of Canada in San Francisco to the Senate floor

Senate pro Tem Toni Atkins introduces Miguel Fraga, First Secretary of the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Senator Benjamin Allen presents a resolution to individuals affiliated with the Compton Unified School District and Capitol Music Group (CMG) in recognition of the Bonus Tracks Program that teaches students about careers within the music industry through in-person seminars at the school led by CMG executives.

Senator Cathleen Galgiani recognizes representatives from the Tax Recovery and Criminal Enforcement Task Force for their work in investigating, prosecuting and recovering revenue lost to the underground economy.

Senator Jim Beall presents a resolution to representatives of the Prison Arts Collective and Anti-Recidivism Coalition for their collaborative efforts to provide arts and other rehabilitative programming to thousands of incarcerated individuals throughout California.

Senators Steve Bradford and Jerry Hill introduce Dr. Clayborne Carson with Stanford University who edited and published the papers of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the request of his widow, Mrs. Coretta Scott King.

Senators Bob Wieckowski, Bill Monning, Maria Elena Durazo, Bob Hertzberg, Steve Bradford, Bob Archuleta, Jerry Hill, Susan Rubio and Richard Pan greet Dr. Clayborne Carson and thank him for his work on behalf of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Senator Mike McGuire welcomes officials from Rikuzentakata, Japan and Crescent City, California who have formally established a sister-city relationship. From left: Kyoshi Murakami,Senior Executive Advisor of the City of Rikuzentakata; Masayuki Okamoto, Deputy Mayor of the city of Rikuzentakata, Japan; Blake Inscore, Mayor of Crescent City, CA and the Honorable Tomochika Uyama, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco

Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson welcomes Ken Pimlott, chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to the Senate floor. After three decades as a firefighter, the last eight leading the state's largest fire agency through some of the worst fires in the state's history, Pimlott is retiring from public service.

Senators Jim Nielsen and Shannon Grove

Senators Brian Jones and Bob Wieckowski