Press Releases
Children's Health Advocates Hail California's Budget as a Historic Leap Toward Health Coverage for All Children
June 19, 2015
Sacramento, CA – Children’s health advocates commended state legislators and Governor Jerry Brown for crafting a budget that addresses key children’s health priorities. The budget agreement includes $40 million in 2015-16 to expand access to Medi-Cal coverage to all income-eligible children, regardless of immigration status.
“Thanks to leaders in California’s Legislature and Governor Brown, more than 170,000 undocumented children will get access to health coverage, and the preventive care they need to grow up healthy and lead productive lives,” said Wendy Lazarus, Founder and Co-President of The Children’s Partnership. “This budget is a tremendous step toward providing coverage to every California child. When we invest in our hardworking families and their children, we will see substantial and lasting impacts that benefit all Californians.”
UWCA Applauds Bi-Partisan Vote on SB 4 - Health for All
June 2, 2015
(Sacramento, CA) - Pete Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California released the following statement following Senate passage of SB4 (Lara) - Health for All:
"United Ways of California applauds the historic, bi-partisan vote in the Senate this morning to pass SB4 (Lara) Health for All Act with a 28-11 vote. We thank the Senate who set aside partisan politics to lead the way in making all Californians healthy. For many years, United Ways of California and our member United Ways have worked to assure coverage for all California children—which means, all children, regardless of immigration status—and this bill brings our goal within reach. SB4 would not only create access for all children in California to grow up healthy and ready for life, but set the foundation for all workers and families to be insured as well.
Leaving hundreds of thousands of workers, students, and family members without coverage for preventable ailments does not protect our public health, nor does it reflect our values as Californians.
SB 4 is a more efficient use of taxpayers’ dollars that encourages preventive care and treatment of conditions before they become severe. SB 4 would ensure that the public health and welfare of all Californians is more secure. Today’s vote is a great start and we hope the Assembly and Governor will follow suit and not only support this bill but the $40 million in the Senate budget proposal to expand access to preventive care for all Californians.”
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United Ways of California improves health, education and financial stability results for low-income California families by coordinating the statewide advocacy and community impact work of 34 California United Ways.
Contact:
Peter Manzo, President & CEO
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877.355.8922 x1
Judy Darnell, Vice President of Public Policy
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831.246.3099
Governor’s Budget Proposal Good For Education, But Doesn’t Do Enough To Help Low-Income Families
January 9, 2015
Los Angeles, CA—Below is a statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California, regarding the Governor’s 2015-16 proposed budget release:
California’s finances continue to stabilize year after year under Governor Brown’s leadership. However, with a general fund proposal of $113.3 billion, the investment in our human capital continues to be insufficient to address the needs of children, families and individuals across California. While the Governor’s proposed budget invests in K-14 education, we are disappointed to not see similar investments in health and human services that would help low-income families achieve good health and financial self-sufficiency in order to increase their opportunities.
Governor Brown’s Earned Income Tax Credit Proposal is Important Step toward Helping Low Income Families, but May Revision Fails to Make Needed Investments in Quality Early Education and Health Care
May 14, 2015
(Sacramento, CA) - Pete Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California released the following statement on Governor Brown’s May Revision to his proposed California’s 2015-16 state budget:
“Our United Way network enthusiastically applauds the Governor for creating a refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit, joining 25 other states in helping low income working Californians to support their families. The proposed credit will benefit an estimated 825,000 families and 2 million individuals, a great start that we hope we can build on to reduce the high rate of poverty in California.”
While we are pleased to see the Governor’s commitment to fund a state Earned Income Tax Credit, we are also deeply disappointed in the May Revision’s failure to increase investments in much needed high-quality early childhood education, child care and health care.
Brown Administration Calls For Extension Of Successful Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
November 14, 2014
SACRAMENTO, CA—Children’s health advocates in California are praising the Brown Administration for joining the call on Congress to take quick action to extend funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which expires in September 2015. In a letter dated October 30th, California Secretary of Health and Human Services Diana Dooley on behalf of the Brown Administration responded to an inquiry from Congressional leaders about the importance of CHIP by “strongly encourage[ing] Congress to act early and extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).”
More Articles ...
- Senate on Right Path with Early Ed Investment
- Governor’s May Budget Revision Continues to Invest in K-12 Education while Missing an Opportunity to Improve Access to Health Care and Restore Cuts to Vital Services that Worked
- Governor's Budget Proposal is a Good Start, But Doesn't Do Enough to Help Low-Income Families
- United Ways of California is Proud to Partner with Covered California on Outreach and Education
