AB 1557 – AB 1912 – AJR 33
Sacramento – The California Assembly today gave overwhelming, bi-partisan approval to three bills authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena). The three include legislation to give veterans a stronger voice in college leadership, ensure the legacy of President Obama is included in school textbooks, and a resolution to honor unsung heroes of the Vietnam War.
AB 1557 gives veterans permanent seats on the Board of Governors of the California Community College system by adding a student member who is a veteran or current member of the military. The bill also requires one of the existing 12 board seats to be held by a member or former member of the Armed Forces who has demonstrated expertise and leadership in the field of veterans’ affairs.
AB 1912 would encourage the State Board of Education to provide academic curriculum on the election of President Barack Obama and its historical impact. The state’s history-social science standards for grades 7 – 12 have not been revised in nine years due largely to the state’s fiscal crisis. The next review and adoption of instructional materials will not take place until the 2015-2016 school year.
AJR 33 calls on the Department of Defense to “set the record straight” by adding the names of 74 sailors killed during the Vietnam War, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The men were killed when their ship sank in the South China Sea during naval exercises. The Defense Department has said the destroyer was outside the combat zone when it collided with an Australian aircraft carrier. The families of the brave men who died have been battling for 45 years to have the names of their loved ones inscribed on the Vietnam wall memorial.