BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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Date of Hearing: August 1, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
Richard S. Gordon, Chair
HR
59 (Quirk) - As Introduced June 30, 2016
SUBJECT: Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month
SUMMARY: Recognizes the month of August 2016 as Muslim
Appreciation and Awareness Month and acknowledges the rich
history and guiding virtues of Muslim Americans, and commends
Muslim communities in California for the lasting positive impact
they have made toward the advancement of the state and the
nation. Specifically, this resolution makes the following
legislative findings:
1)Freedom of religion holds distinction as a cherished right and
a foundational value upon which the laws and ethics of the
United States are based.
2)Enriched by the unparalleled diversity of its residents, the
State of California takes great pride in supporting individual
religious freedoms and is strengthened by the many varied
religious, political, and cultural traditions of its diverse
population, including those Americans who practice Islam.
3)The United States benefits greatly from the expertise,
patriotism, and humanitarianism of Muslim Americans, who
represent 10 percent of America's physicians, helping to heal
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hundreds of thousands of Americans each year; who have long
distinguished themselves as courageous and dedicated members
of the United States Armed Forces, fighting and sacrificing in
every major war from the American Revolutionary War to
present-day conflicts; and who regularly contribute to the
health and vitality of their communities.
4)The earliest Muslim immigrants to California mostly worked on
farms and made significant contributions to early agricultural
efforts, and since the abolition of the national quota on
immigration in 1965 by the passage of the Hart-Cellar Act,
more and more Muslims have migrated to California, with
approximately one million Muslim Americans currently residing
in communities throughout the state, the highest number in the
United States.
5)There are currently more than 240 mosques in California, more
than any other state in the nation, and the people of
California and the greater United States benefit from the
several large Muslim religious, educational, charitable,
advocacy, and empowerment organizations that operate within
the state, as well as from the countless prominent Muslim
community leaders who distinguish themselves professionally as
business owners, law professionals, doctors, engineers,
teachers, and farmers, among numerous other valued
professions.
6)Although the majority of Muslim Americans within California
and throughout the nation strive to promote peace and
understanding between all faiths, identities, and
nationalities while upholding those values and principles that
define the American people, they have nonetheless been forced
to endure harassment, assault, and discrimination since the
terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, and during the year
2015 alone, there were approximately 174 reported incidents of
anti-Muslim violence and vandalism in the United States.
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FISCAL EFFECT: None
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Nicole Willis / RLS. / (916) 319-2800