BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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SENATE THIRD READING
SCR
50 (Nielsen)
As Introduced April 29, 2015
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE: 36-0
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Veterans |8-0 |Irwin, Mathis, Alejo, | |
|Affairs | |Brough, Brown, Daly, | |
| | |Frazier, Salas | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY: This measure:
1)Urges the Governor to proclaim the month of June 2015 as World
War II Remembrance Month, and call upon all Californians to
observe the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.
2)Makes the following legislative findings:
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a) The Second World War, which lasted from 1939 to 1945,
was the most widespread war in human history, directly
involving more than 100 million people from more than 30
different countries, which were split between two opposing
military alliances - the Allies, led by the United States
of America and the United Kingdom, and the Axis, led by
Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan.
b) On December 11, 1941, four days after the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor, Germany and Italy declared war on
the United States.
c) The Axis powers initiated military aggression and
maintained the strategic momentum until gradually slowed by
Allied resistance in late 1942 and 1943, after which the
Allies reversed the momentum and commenced operations to
liberate Axis-conquered lands.
d) Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Western
Allies at Reims on May 7, 1945, and to the Soviet Union on
May 9, 1945, in Berlin.
e) President of the United States Harry S. Truman declared
May 8, 1945, "V-E Day," marking the end of World War II in
Europe, although the war with Japan continued until August
14, 1945.
f) During World War II, an estimated 292,000 members of the
United States Armed Forces were killed in action and more
than 400,000 members of the United States Armed Forces
died.
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EXISTING LAW: None applicable.
FISCAL EFFECT: None. This measured is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS: According to the author:
World War II was one of the great historical
watersheds in United States (U.S.) history. The events
that occurred during and after the war emplaced the
U.S. as the dominant global military and economic
superpower, which it remains today. This war forced
the U.S. to transform from a still largely
agricultural economy into an industrial manufacturing
colossus.
In turn, California was transformed during the
post-WWII era by the resulting changes in economic and
political balance and the enormous swell of
immigration that came to the state as people around
the world sought economic opportunity and political
freedom in the most opportunity-laden state in the
most opportunity-laden nation.
Victory in Europe (V-E) Day is recognized annually by
the U.S. on May 8, the calendar day in 1945 on which
German forces surrendered to the Allies. The Japanese
fought on alone until August 1945, and Victory over
Japan (V-J) Day is recognized on August 14. The month
of June is approximately midway between the two
recognized days and suitable to serve as a sole month
of remembrance.
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Analysis Prepared by:
John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550 FN:
0001123