Video & Transcript : 'Italian immigrants' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs Dec 9th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I came to California as an immigrant from Colombia, and I started my career as a preschool teacher.
- I came to California as an immigrant from Colombia, and I started my career as a preschool teacher.
- So I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and I immigrated to this country at the age of 18.
- I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and I immigrated to this country at the age of 18.
- I’m a member of CCPU and an immigrant, also a worker of this country.
Summary:
The Assembly Select Committee on Child Care Costs held its third hearing, focused on how transitional kindergarten (TK) fits into California’s mixed-delivery early learning system, with an emphasis on the Central Valley. Opening remarks stressed that TK and child care should complement each other, not compete, and that families need both part-day school-based options and full-day, year-round care. Committee members outlined hearing goals around aligning TK with existing programs, understanding family needs, and examining the economic impact of early learning on workforce participation and local economies.
Panelists from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, Every Child California, Early Edge, Children Now, and others described TK’s rapid expansion to all four-year-olds, the growth in enrollment, and related changes to state preschool and after-school programs. Witnesses generally supported TK but warned that its expansion has shifted enrollment away from community-based providers, especially centers and family child care homes, creating financial strain, vacant classrooms, and staffing challenges. They urged stronger partnerships between school districts and community providers, more flexible licensing and facilities support, higher and more uniform reimbursement rates, permanent authority for state preschool to serve two-year-olds, and better compensation and training for educators across settings.
Parents and providers testified about the importance of trusted, culturally and linguistically responsive care, the need for infant-toddler and home-based options, and the difficulty of affording child care when TK is not full-day or does not fit family schedules. Several speakers emphasized that many families still face long waits for subsidies and that reimbursement and payment delays threaten provider stability. Public comment echoed these concerns, with providers calling for true cost-of-care rates, more vouchers, support for transportation and nontraditional hours, and protection from insurance and facility costs that can force programs to close.
State education officials said California’s UPK system works best when TK, state preschool, Head Start, and community-based providers are treated as a shared system, and noted that planning and implementation grants and local coordination efforts have helped build mixed-delivery partnerships. The hearing ended without formal votes or actions, but committee members indicated they would continue gathering input to inform future policy and budget decisions.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS Senate Floor - 31 March, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><02:55:49.680><c> and</c><02:55:49.800><c> Customs</c> States Immigration and Customs States Immigration
- And Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Immigration. >> Thank you. Senator Brumfield, a question, Mr.
- 37.320><c> uh</c> States Immigration and uh States Immigration and uh Yes.<02:57:38.800><c> Immigration
- Immigration Yes. Yes. Yes. Immigration Yes. Yes. >> Thank<02:57:40.920><c> you.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- The committee heard testimony that the bill would impede immigration enforcement operations and reduce
- Now, the elephant in the room: this involves issues of immigration enforcement.
- </c> uh issues of immigration enforcement. uh issues of immigration enforcement.
- When residents fear anonymous immigration enforcement, they stop reporting crimes.
- "Joselyn Nungare, these individuals were killed by illegal immigrants, murdered, raped.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - Part 1 - 04/02/25
Jobs and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- advocating for all motans to be able to experience the American dream, especially our underserved immigrant
- </c><01:15:12.400><c> and</c> etiquette, educate immigrants and etiquette, educate immigrants and refugees
- Uh, we have a large immigrant and refugee community in central Minnesota, and particularly in St.
- </c><01:24:30.800><c> mothers,</c> experience between immigrant mothers, experience between immigrant
- </c> especially those from immigrant especially those from immigrant communities<01:58:19.679><c> and
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 03/18/26
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- And I just want to say that everybody is out there doing the fight on the ground, immigrants, Black,
- But also thanking people who really care about the immigrant and giving them land access, like Karen
- ,<00:53:01.480><c> black,</c><00:53:01.800><c> indigenous,</c> immigrants, black, indigenous, immigrants
- , who are really uh looking for immigrant, who are really uh looking for land<00:53:31.480><c> access
- </c><00:54:10.280><c> and</c> really care about the immigrant and really care about the immigrant and
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 2/24/26
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- on</c><00:05:08.080><c> their</c> lawfully um depending on their lawfully um depending on their immigration
- 10.080><c> Um</c><00:05:10.400><c> some</c><00:05:10.720><c> changes</c><00:05:10.960><c> to</c> immigration
- Um some changes to immigration status.
- Another provision in HR1 specified what legal non-citizen immigration statuses were eligible for Medicaid
- </c> ineligible due to their immigration ineligible due to their immigration status.<00:33:06.640><c>
Bills:
HR1
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 003 Jan 17th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:43:58.000><c> status,</c><00:43:59.119><c> or</c> income, immigration status, or income, immigration
- c><00:47:44.079><c> and</c> witnessing immigration enforcement and witnessing immigration enforcement
- People of color and immigrants should not have to prove their worth.
- That promise is not being fulfilled right now, especially for immigrants and refugees.
- enter the country, not really immigrants because they've entered here not in a legal manner.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- senators and representatives and all leaders who may struggle with understanding and kindness toward immigrants
- Help us to see immigrants not just as statistics, but as individuals with dreams, struggles, and stories
- Grant us wisdom and encourage us to seek knowledge about the experiences of immigrants.
- Encourage dialogue and lead us to engage in open conversations with immigrants and those who advocate
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the journal, and received routine communications from the governor and House. The body then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House bills, including HB 2369 on photo-enforcement traffic citations, HB 2423 on advanced math course enrollment, HB 2481 on school district financial records, HB 2621 on access to special education in public schools, and HB 2756 on public utilities and high-load factor customers. Each of these bills received amendments and were advanced with do pass recommendations. Members discussed HB 2423 at length, with supporters saying it would better identify high-achieving students for advanced math while critics argued the larger issue was funding and teacher shortages. HB 2756 also drew debate over data centers, utility reporting, and ratepayer impacts, but was amended and advanced. The Committee of the Whole then rose and reported its recommendations, which the Senate adopted.
The Senate also adopted a proclamation supporting stronger Arizona and U.S. relations with Taiwan, and welcomed Taiwan’s Director General Jason Poyon Ma. The chamber calendared HB 2192 for additional Committee of the Whole consideration, adopted a Bolick amendment clarifying that telecom and broadband providers are not included in the definition of online hosting platform, and advanced the bill as amended. Later, the Senate took up third-reading votes on multiple measures, including HB 2249, HB 2482, HB 2641, HB 2661, HB 2662, HB 2673, HB 2745, HB 2752, HB 2895, HB 2923, and several House concurrent memorials on foreign ownership, endangered species, and related federal policy. Most passed, though several senators explained no votes on grounds such as budget concerns, policy objections, or opposition to limiting testimony or subpoena enforcement authority.
At the end of the session, the Senate also passed HB 2369, HB 2423, HB 2481, HB 2621, HB 2756, HB 2192, and other listed bills by recorded roll call, with final vote totals announced for each. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, bills were properly assigned, and committee announcements were made for the following Monday. The Senate then adjourned until Monday, April 20, 2026 at 1:15 p.m.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- senators and representatives and all leaders who may struggle with understanding and kindness toward immigrants
- Help us to see immigrants not just as statistics, but as individuals with dreams, struggles, and stories
- Grant us wisdom and encourage us to seek knowledge about the experiences of immigrants.
- Encourage dialogue and lead us to engage in open conversations with immigrants and those who advocate
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Apr 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I speak today on behalf of immigrant and low-income communities.
- I speak today on behalf of immigrant and low-income communities across Los Angeles who rely on equitable
- Low-income households, mixed-status families, and immigrant communities face limited access to broadband
- through know-your-rights education, family preparedness planning, and emergency response during immigration
Summary:
The Communications and Conveyance Committee heard several bills focused on telecommunications, emergency response, and digital access. AB 1540 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez would restore the 988 “press 3” option for LGBTQ+ youth crisis support, with strong support from suicide prevention advocates, mental health organizations, local governments, and family groups, and opposition from groups arguing it politicizes crisis services and raises safety concerns. Members emphasized the bill’s life-saving purpose and noted it would depend on federal approval. The committee voted AB 1540 out on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations.
The committee also approved the consent calendar, including AB 2093 and AB 2193, both sent to Appropriations. AB 1832 by Assemblymember Ransom, as amended, would expand and stabilize statewide 211 services through a state fund, a community needs dashboard, and integration into emergency planning; supporters described 211’s role during disasters and service gaps in many counties, and the bill passed unanimously as amended to Appropriations. AB 2289, the chair’s bill, would create an Office of Broadband and Digital Equity, consolidate broadband programs, and narrow CPUC jurisdiction to voice communications; TURN and CWA District 9 opposed the regulatory changes but acknowledged shared goals, and the bill passed to Appropriations.
AB 2424 by Assemblymember Carrillo would create a new low-income telecommunications advisory board to oversee California Lifeline and address fraud and oversight concerns. Supporters said the board would add needed telecommunications expertise and improve access for low-income and immigrant communities, while opponents argued an existing advisory structure already serves that role and warned of added costs and surcharges. After discussion, the committee voted AB 2424 out on a 7-2 vote to Appropriations. The meeting concluded after all listed bills were reported out.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee Apr 15th, 2026
Communications and Conveyance
Transcript Highlights:
- I speak today on behalf of immigrant and low-income communities.
- I speak today on behalf of immigrant and low-income communities across Los Angeles who rely on equitable
- Low-income households, mixed-status families, and immigrant communities face limited access to broadband
- through know-your-rights education, family preparedness planning, and emergency response during immigration
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- questions I have is: with the state court temporarily requiring DMV to maintain licenses of thousands of immigrant
- individuals who can't read and write and follow the rules of the road, but I have met with hundreds of immigrants
- I'm an immigrant myself.
- My family was granted an immigration visa in '88, and we moved here in 1990.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several items, beginning with gubernatorial appointments not required to appear. The committee approved multiple appointments on 3-2 and 5-0 votes, including members to the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Contractors State License Board, and the Medical Board of California. Members also approved a bill referral item, a rule waiver request to suspend SR 55 for guests on the Senate floor during an adjourn-in-memory for former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgment items, all by 5-0 vote.
The committee then heard the required appearance of Dina El-Tawansy for Director of the California Department of Transportation. In her opening remarks, she emphasized Caltrans’ priorities of safety, equity, climate resilience, economic prosperity, workforce development, and multimodal transportation. Senators questioned her on a range of issues, including impacts from federal and state rules affecting immigrant truck drivers, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane project, DBE reevaluation under new federal guidance, asphalt recycling and waste disposal, climate-related damage to infrastructure, and the future of transportation funding as gas tax revenue declines.
El-Tawansy said Caltrans would prioritize emergency and safety projects, continue work on the Highway 58 corridor, and help DBEs through a reevaluation process and outreach efforts. She described ongoing climate adaptation work, including vulnerability assessments, vegetation management, and corridor studies such as Route 37 and LOSSAN, and said the department is researching road user charges through pilots and national collaboration. She also discussed small-business programs, local hiring, toll lane agreement consistency, and efforts to address litter and homelessness on Caltrans property through delegated maintenance agreements and new staff positions.
After public testimony from numerous transportation, construction, local government, labor, and technology organizations in support of the nominee, the committee voted 5-0 to advance El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate floor for confirmation. The meeting then adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Rules Committee Mar 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- : the state, with the state court temporarily requiring DMV to maintain licenses of thousands of immigrant
- individuals who can't read and write and follow the rules of the road, but I have met with hundreds of immigrants
- we talk about safety, when we talk about economic prosperity, or opportunities for others, I’m an immigrant
- My family was granted an immigration visa in ’88, and we moved here in 1990, from Egypt.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several governor’s appointments, bill referrals, a rule waiver, and floor acknowledgments. The committee approved multiple appointments not required to appear, including members of the Board of Behavioral Science, the Contractors’ State License Board, and the Medical Board of California, with most votes either 3-2 or 5-0. It also approved a reference of bills to committees, a waiver of SR 55 to allow guests on the Senate floor for an adjourn-in-memory of former President Pro Tempore John Burton, and floor acknowledgments, all by 5-0 votes.
The committee then heard testimony on the appointment of Dina El-Tawansy as Director of Caltrans. In her opening remarks, she emphasized her 28 years at the department, and said her priorities would be safety, equity, climate resilience, economic prosperity, workforce development, and a multimodal transportation system. Senators questioned her on a range of transportation issues, including impacts from federal and state disputes over immigrant truck drivers, the Highway 58 truck climbing lane, DBE certification changes, asphalt recycling and waste disposal, climate adaptation on coastal infrastructure, and the future of road funding as electric vehicles reduce gas tax revenue. El-Tawansy said Caltrans is pursuing project prioritization, climate vulnerability assessments, partnerships with local governments, DBE reevaluation guidance, recycling efforts, and research into road user charges.
Members also asked about toll lane agreements, homelessness encampments and litter on Caltrans property, and the Los Angeles-San Diego rail corridor and broader transit integration. El-Tawansy said Caltrans is moving toward more consistent statewide toll agreements, has signed or is negotiating delegated maintenance MOUs with local agencies to address encampments and litter, and is expanding rail and transit planning. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with representatives from transportation agencies, contractors, local governments, labor, and technology firms backing the nomination. The committee voted 5-0 to move El-Tawansy’s appointment to the full Senate for confirmation, and then adjourned.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- observances in the United States, reflecting both Irish heritage and the broader American story of immigration
- Patrick's Day, may be embraced by the people of Phoenix as a symbol of unity, resilience, and the shared immigrant
- Patrick's Day, may be embraced by the people of Phoenix as a symbol of unity, resilience, and the shared immigrant
- Now, therefore, be it resolved by the ...and the shared immigrant journey that has shaped our state.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Environmental Quality Committee Jan 13th, 2026
Environmental Quality
Transcript Highlights:
- affect vulnerable and environmentally overburdened communities, including low-income households, immigrant
- affect vulnerable and environmentally overburdened communities, including low-income households, immigrant
- The Salton Sea is surrounded by predominantly low-income, Latino, Indigenous, and immigrant communities
- The Salton Sea is surrounded by predominantly low-income, Latino, Indigenous, and immigrant communities
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of Brian Burch, of Illinois, to be Ambassador to the Holy See, Brandon Judd, of Idaho, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Chile, and Nicole McGraw, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, all of t Apr 8th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Foreign Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- administration in 2019 to develop the very successful border patrol policies it brought illegal immigration
- Notably, his work with the first Trump administration contributed to a 45-year low in illegal immigration
- it a cornerstone of my ambassadorship. to deepen our ability to work together in curbing illegal immigration
- where since the 1970s, the Christian population has decreased by 75 percent, primarily through immigration
Keywords:
legislative process, public involvement, community engagement, transparency, introductions
Summary:
The meeting was characterized by a series of introductions and personal anecdotes shared by the committee members, with a focus on the importance of community engagement and transparency in legislative processes. Members expressed their commitment to open hearings and the necessity for public involvement in discussions impacting constituents. Several members remarked on how personal experiences shape their legislative priorities, thus reinforcing the human element of governance. However, there was a noticeable absence of discussion regarding specific bills, indicating that the session may have been more exploratory or introductory in nature.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Combatting Antisemitism Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- He had a focus on Hayes, which is the Hebrew Immigrant Youth Society.
- It was essentially that he was focused on immigration.
- He was not trying to obstruct anybody's exercise of their religion, but immigration was, and still is
- In my school district, there have been immigrants, slurs, and antisemitic phrases written in work pages
- Born in 1920, Brooklyn to immigrant parents, and he lost family during World War II.
Summary:
The meeting focused on the commission’s work addressing antisemitism in Massachusetts, including security, education, victim services, and legal responses. A major presentation came from former federal prosecutor Eric O’Sham, who described the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, the attack’s planning and execution, the 11 victims killed, the defendant’s white supremacist and antisemitic online activity, the federal prosecution, and the long aftermath for the victim community. Commissioners asked about prevention, radicalization online, security for houses of worship, and how to support victims; O’Sham emphasized the limits of law enforcement when speech is protected, the importance of public education, security grants, and victim-witness support. The commission also heard from Ariel Holman of Agudath Israel, who described a wide range of antisemitic incidents affecting Orthodox Jews, including assaults, threats, vandalism, school harassment, and zoning barriers, and urged expanded security personnel grants, mental health resources, kosher food access, and support for synagogue development. Other speakers included advocates and local officials who supported Holocaust education, the planned Boston Holocaust Museum, cemetery protection, and broader public education efforts, while some public commenters criticized the commission’s focus or raised concerns about definitions of antisemitism and free speech. The meeting concluded with approval of prior meeting minutes and the start of public comment, which was limited to three minutes per speaker due to time constraints.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Higher Education Committee Apr 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It does not change hiring practices, expand employment eligibility, or interfere with federal immigration
- While traveling to my classroom, I was approached by an officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- not only immigrants, but United States citizens—I could not be certain in that moment of the outcome
- In California community colleges specifically, many of our students are immigrants, first-generation,
- A student on campus once told me that just hearing about a professor impacted by immigration enforcement
Summary:
The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard several measures focused on community college baccalaureate programs and trustee compensation. AB 2528 would raise the maximum monthly compensation cap for community college district trustees, with the author and supporters arguing the change is permissive, long overdue, and needed to make service more accessible to working people and better reflect community diversity. CSEA took a tweener position, warning about optics and asking for longer public notice before any compensation increase, while some members raised concerns about taxpayer costs and benefits. The bill was discussed but no final vote is reflected in the transcript excerpt.
The committee then took up AB 2053, which would authorize Coast Community College District to offer a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree. Supporters said the bill addresses a workforce shortage, serves working adults and veterans, and includes an LAO evaluation and a sunset. CSU and its Academic Senate opposed the bill, arguing it duplicates existing CSU programs and could set a precedent for more one-off degrees. Members also raised questions about funding, Prop. 98, and whether the program would divert resources; the author said the district already has funding and that the bill is a narrow pilot. The committee voted to do pass and re-refer the bill to Appropriations, with several ayes and some no votes, and the roll left open for additional members.
AB 2301, a pilot allowing up to 10 community college districts to offer nursing bachelor’s degrees, drew broad support from nursing, labor, and community college groups who said California faces a severe nursing shortage and that community colleges offer a more affordable pathway for working and rural students. CSU and other opponents argued existing ADN-to-BSN pathways are more efficient and that the bill could worsen competition for limited clinical placements and faculty. Members questioned funding and Prop. 98 impacts; the Chancellor’s Office said the pilot would not require new state funding and would rely on existing mechanisms such as Strong Workforce and nursing infrastructure grants. The committee voted to do pass and re-refer AB 2301 to Appropriations, with the roll again left open. The transcript then began AB 2694, a broader workforce-responsive baccalaureate expansion bill intended to address duplication rules and create a more flexible process for community college bachelor’s degrees, but the discussion was not completed in the excerpt.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- not be able to meet that part of Senator Givens' committee substitute because of the size of the immigrant
- of overstatement but they<00:50:22.400><c> have</c><00:50:22.600><c> large</c><00:50:23.000><c> immigrant
- </c><00:50:23.360><c> populations</c> they have large immigrant populations they have large immigrant
- the<00:50:32.640><c> size</c><00:50:32.960><c> of</c><00:50:33.040><c> the</c><00:50:33.080><c> immigrant
- </c><00:50:33.680><c> immigrant</c> the size of the immigrant immigrant the size of the immigrant immigrant
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- the subsidies and patient premiums they receive, including investments in for-profit prisons and immigrant
- These detention centers are solely designed to profit off immigrants.
- These detention centers are solely designed to profit off immigrants.
- is profiting from the violent apprehension of car washers, day labors, street vendors, and all immigrants
- the health care space, an entity is investing in private detention centers that are locking up immigrants