August 12, 2019

In recognition of Indian Independence Day, the Honorable Sanjay Panda, Consul General of India in San Francisco, was welcomed on the Senate floor.

June 6, 2019

The Honorable Andreas Launer, Consul General of Austria in Los Angeles, and a delegation of consular and cultural officals were introduced on the Senate floor by Senator Ben Allen in acknowledgement of the 50th anniversary of the Consulate General of Austria in Los Angeles

June 3, 2019

The Honorable Maria Joao Lopes Cardoso Consul General of Portugal in San Francisco and Diniz Borges, Director of the California Portuguese American Coalition, were welcomed on the Senate floor and presented a resolution by Senator Henry Stern, recognizing June as Portuguese National Heritage Month.

March 7, 2019

His Excellency Wang Donghua, Consul General of China in San Francisco, made his first visit to the Senate floor since assuming his post in August 2018, where he was introduced by Senator Scott Wiener. His protocol visit included a tour of the beautiful State Capitol.

February 25, 2019

The Senate welcomed Mr. Miguel Fraga, First Secretary of the Embassy of Cuba in Washington D.C., who came on a protocol visit to the Capitol. He was introduced on the Senate floor by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, and met with other members of the legislature in order to share information about the new constitution of the island nation of Cuba, as well as the 500^th anniversary of the city of Havana happening later this year.

February 21, 2019

As is tradition, the Senate celebrated Canada Day at the Capitol by welcoming the Honorable Rana Sarkar, Consul General of Canada in San Francisco. He was accompanied by Mr. Yves Beaulieu, Consul at the Consulate General in San Francisco. Senator Nancy Skinner introduced the Canadian guests on the Senate floor.

February 14, 2019

The Honorable Armen Baibourtian, Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles, made a protocol visit to the State Capitol. He was introduced on the Senate floor by Senator Scott Wilk, and is pictured here with Senator Anthony Portantino and Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins.

Photo credit: Matthias Carette, Consulate General of France in San Francisco

January 31, 2019

Mr. Anthony Sadler, Mr. Spencer Stone and Mr. Alek Skarlatos, three native Sacramentans who prevented a terrorist attack on a train in France, were presented Senate Certificates of commendation from Senator Richard Pan by Ms. Shannon Shellenberg, Deputy Director of the Senate Office of International Relations. Their efforts were recognized by honoring them with the French nationality during a French Naturalization Ceremony at the Alliance Française in Sacramento. Also pictured here are the Honorable Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens, Consul General of France in San Francisco, and the Honorable Guy Michelier, Honorary Consul of France in Sacramento.

January 24, 2019

Mr. Masahiro Nishikawa from the Proceeding Division of the Yokohama City Council Bureau in Japan was welcomed on the Senate floor during his visit to the Capitol as part of a research project on state and local legislatures' operations.

 January 14, 2019

The Honorable Miyagishima Okamoto, Deputy Mayor of Rikuzentakata and Mr. Kiyoshi Murakami, Special Advisor to the Mayor of Rikuzentakata, were presented a resolution on the Senate floor by Senator Mike McGuire commemorating the Rikuzentakata -Crescent City Sister City Relationship. This bond was formed when a boat from a school in Rikuzentakata arrived in Crescent City two years after the 2011 tsunami in Japan sent it off on a journey. Schoolchildren from Crescent City took it upon themselves to fix up the boat and send it back. The relationship now encompasses not only an educational component but cultural, trade and government exchanges.