BILL NUMBER: SCR 80	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Fuller

                        MARCH 28, 2012

   Relative to the Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez Memorial
Interchange.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 80, as introduced, Fuller.  Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez
Memorial Interchange.
   This measure would designate the Rosamond Boulevard Interchange of
State Highway Route 14 in the City of Rosamond as the Lance Corporal
Joseph C. Lopez Memorial Interchange. This measure would also
request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of
appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon
receiving donations from nonstate sources covering those costs, to
erect those signs.
   Fiscal committee: yes.



   WHEREAS, Joseph C. Lopez enlisted in the Marine Corps in March
2009, and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st
Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton;
and
   WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez was a strong Marine, physically and
mentally, who made a conscious decision to let his faith in God lead
him through whatever might happen; and
   WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez was a mentor to many younger Marines
from his life experiences and helped his fellow Marine brothers
simply by being a good listener; and
   WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez was deployed to the Sangin district
of the Helmand province of Afghanistan in late September 2010, with
his unit; and
   WHEREAS, On October 14th, 2010, Lance Corporal Lopez had returned
safely to his Marine camp, after successfully patrolling an area of
responsibility for more than 20 hours on foot; and
   WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez's team was then dispatched to a
nearby location to assist a Marine unit taking heavy fire; and
   WHEREAS, The then 26-year-old Lance Corporal Lopez was killed by
an improvised explosive device during that combat operation in
Helmand province; and
   WHEREAS, In 2011, Lance Corporal Lopez's family and church
established an inaugural annual five kilometer run in remembrance of
him, in which members of his Marine unit participated, all proceeds
of which are donated to the Wounded Warriors Project and church youth
programs; and
   WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez was a kid at heart with a soft spot
for children who spoiled his nieces like they were his children; and
   WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Lopez is survived by his grandparents,
John and Lorraine Elam and Mary Pratti; his parents, Tracy and Arthur
Pratti, Sr.; his brothers, Arthur Pratti, Jr., Richard, Christopher,
and Anthony Pratti; his nieces and nephew, Hailey, Jax, Arianna, and
Alessandra Pratti; and members of his Marine unit; and
   WHEREAS, In recognition of Lance Corporal Lopez's service and
sacrifice to our nation, it would be a fitting tribute to designate
the Rosamond Boulevard Interchange of State Highway Route 14 in the
City of Rosamond as the Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez Memorial
Interchange; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the
Rosamond Boulevard Interchange of State Highway Route 14 in the City
of Rosamond as the Lance Corporal Joseph C. Lopez Memorial
Interchange; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to
determine the cost of appropriate signs consistent with the signing
requirements for the state highway system showing this special
designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources
sufficient to cover the cost, to erect those signs; and be it further

   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Department of Transportation and to the author for
appropriate distribution.