Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                      SR 26
Office of Senate Floor Analyses
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                               THIRD READING
Bill No:      SR 26
Author:       Gonzalez (D)
Introduced:   4/7/21
Vote:         Majority
SUBJECT: Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This resolution recognizes the week of April 11 to April 17, 2021,
inclusive, as Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, and calls upon all Californians
to observe the week by participating in appropriate activities and programs.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:
1) The Cambodian people have a long and rich cultural heritage symbolized by the
   capitol city Temple of Angkor Wat, which flourished during the Khmer Empire
   from the 9th to the 12th centuries and was considered one of the Wonders of the
   Ancient World, and now stands as a living icon of the endurance and genius of
   all Cambodians throughout the world.
2) The relationship between the United States and Cambodia had been forged
   through educational and professional exchange, and therefore in 1975, with the
   impending overthrow of the government by the totalitarian Khmer Rouge
   regime, the United States accepted over 4,000 Cambodian evacuees to ensure
   their safety.
3) April 17, 2021, will mark both the 46th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge, led by
   Pol Pot, seizing control of Cambodia and the beginning of the Cambodian
   Genocide. Between April 17, 1975, and January 7, 1979, the Khmer Rouge of
   Democratic Kampuchea, led by Pol Pot, General Secretary of the Communist
   Party of Kampuchea, and other members of the Standing Committee of the
   Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kampuchea and their agents,
   committed acts of genocide and other crimes against humanity.
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4) The genocide and other crimes against humanity committed against the people
   of Cambodia, including various religious groups and ethnic minorities, during
   the Khmer Rouge regime led to the deaths of over 1,700,000 Cambodians,
   which was 21 percent of the nation’s population. The Khmer Rouge regime also
   sought to eliminate all aspects of Cambodian culture by systematically killing
   those with education, separating families, and destroying institutions such as
   Buddhist temples, schools, libraries, dance, and music. Countless victims have
   since come forward to tell their stories of imprisonment, starvation, slavery,
   rape, and systematic forced marriage.
5) After the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, over 140,000
   Cambodians came to the United States as refugees, a group of special
   humanitarian and foreign policy concern to the United States because of the
   well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality,
   membership in a particular social group, or political opinion and thus in need of
   protection in accordance with the United Nations 1951 Convention Relating to
   the Status of Refugees.
6) The State of California has the largest population of Cambodians and the City
   of Long Beach is known around the world as home to the largest Cambodian
   community outside of Southeast Asia.
7) The Cambodian Genocide was a human tragedy and must be remembered for
   the scale of violence and devastation perpetrated against the people of
   Cambodia so that it does not happen again, there or in any other country.
8) The suffering and loss of the Cambodian people and their accomplishments and
   perseverance in reestablishing families, communities, and enhancing the
   cultural and historical diversity of our state and nation should be recognized and
   honored.
9) The Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week will honor the survivors and their
   descendants for their courage and contributions to our state and country. This
   week will serve as a way to remember those who lost their lives in Cambodia
   and in genocides around the world.
This resolution recognizes the week of April 11 to April 17, 2021, inclusive, as
Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, and calls upon all Californians to observe
the week by participating in appropriate activities and programs.
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Related/Prior Legislation
SR 102 (Lara, 2018) recognized the week of April 17 to April 23, 2018, inclusive,
as Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week.
SCR 36 (Lara, Resolution Chapter 4, Statutes of 2017) recognized the week of
April 17 to April 23, 2017, inclusive, as Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week.
SCR 107 (Lara, Resolution Chapter 29, Statutes of 2016) recognized the week of
April 11 to April 17, 2016, inclusive, as Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week.
SR 21 (Lara, 2015) recognized the week of April 13 to April 17, 2015, inclusive,
as Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week. The resolution was adopted by the
Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No            Fiscal Com.: No       Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 4/12/21)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified 4/12/21)
None received
Prepared by: Jonas Austin / SFA / (916) 651-1520
4/14/21 15:20:38
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