Press Releases
Open Letter to CA Congressional Delegation: Pass Legislation to Protect California Dreamers and DACA
Sept. 8, 2017
To: Members of California’s congressional delegation
RE: Pass Legislation to Protect California Dreamers and DACA
Dear Majority Leader McCarthy, Minority Leader Pelosi, Senator Feinstein, Senator Harris, and all members of California’s congressional delegation:
This week the White House announced its decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects approximately 242,339 young people from deportation in California. Nationwide, the DACA program is a lifeline for nearly 800,000 young immigrants who came to this country as children. We urge you to take action to protect them by passing legislation to protect their status.
State Budget Helps Low-Income Californians and Children by Expanding CalEITC and Denti-Cal
06/28/2017
California’s United Ways applaud Governor Jerry Brown on signing a state budget that takes two major steps to helping the working poor in California.
First, the budget significantly expands the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), a refundable state tax credit that increases the economic security of low-income working families. It increases the income eligibility for, working families with children up to $22,300. The budget also extends the CalEITC for the first time to the self-employed.
Joint Press Release: Advocates Celebrate the Expansion of the California Earned Income Tax Credit to Reach More than One Million Additional Low-Income Working Families
June 28, 2017
Contact: Cadonna Dory, (213) 355–8790
Advocates Celebrate the Expansion of the California Earned Income Tax Credit to Reach More than One Million Additional Low-Income Working Families
Governor Signs Budget to Expand the Credit to Include Workers with Self Employment Income and Families with Incomes up to $22,300
Governor’s Revised Budget Avoids Drastic Cuts but Misses Opportunities
May 11, 2017
Los Angeles, CA – Pete Manzo, President and CEO of United Ways of California made the following statement regarding Governor Jerry Brown’s Revised State Budget:
Today, Gov. Jerry Brown released his revised $183 billion budget, keeping close to his original January budget. This May Revise unfortunately, misses key opportunities to help move California’s children and families toward a more stable life while keeping on a track of fiscal responsibility.
American Health Care Act Puts Millions of Californians at Risk
May 4, 2017
The American Health Care Act passed today by the U.S. House of Representatives will have a devastating impact on California’s children and families. This new version of the bill is significantly worse than the previous version, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated would result in over 24 million Americans losing health insurance. Congress rushed this through before getting an independent analysis from CBO, which means that our nation’s leaders and their constituents have no idea how much worse it’s gotten and how many more people will lose coverage. At a minimum, we know that the bill guts Medicaid, cutting more than $800 billion over 10 years, and will cause at least 24 million more uninsured people within a decade. It will also expose everyone with private insurance, from their employer or purchased on their own, to discrimination for pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps on care.
Governor’s Budget Proposal Shows Commitment to Children and Families in Education, Health and Income in a Time of Uncertainty
January 10, 2017
Los Angeles, CA – Below is a statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO, on behalf of United Ways of California (UWCA), regarding the Governor’s proposed budget release:
In a time of great uncertainty about federal budget commitments to California, United Ways of California understands the cautious nature of this proposal and is pleased to see the Governor’s commitment to continuing crucial support to families and children.
CA Sees Largest Decline of Uninsured Children In The Nation
October 27, 2016
LOS ANGELES, CA — California is leading the way in a national trend that has brought the child uninsured rate to a historic low, according to a new report by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. The number of uninsured children in the state declined by 55 percent between 2013 and 2015 – the highest percentage point decline in the nation. That translates to an additional 371,000 children in the state now having insurance. California’s Children’s Health Coverage Coalitionagrees that this decline in uninsured children in the state is impressive.
“Our focus on the health of our children is a critical investment in the future of our state. When children get the coverage they need, they are more likely to grow up healthy, reach their full potential and become tomorrow’s leaders,” said Mayra Alvarez, President of The Children’s Partnership. “California embraced the Affordable Care Act, including Medicaid expansion, creation of a marketplace, and targeted outreach to communities, and dramatically improved health coverage for children and families.”
California Reduces Number of Uninsured Latino Children
January 15, 2016
OAKLAND, CA – A report released today confirms California leads the nation in reducing the number of Latino children without health coverage. The report, Historic Gains in Health Coverage for Hispanic Children in the Affordable Care Act’s First Year*, notes that the uninsurance rate for California’s Latino children declined from 9.6 percent in 2013 to 6.8 percent in 2014. In California, where nearly half the children under the age of 18 are Latino, a focus on enrollment of Latino children is an especially high priority for advocates.
Governor’s Budget Proposal Shows Strong Promise for Children and Families in Education, Health and Income
January 7, 2016
Los Angeles, CA—Below is a statement from Peter Manzo, President and CEO, on behalf of United Ways of California (UWCA), regarding the Governor’s proposed budget release:
United Ways of California applauds the Governor for once again making significant investments in K-12 education. With an increase of $3,600 per pupil in K-12 funding over last year, and a continued commitment to the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant program, California will continue to move toward an improved education system. The Governor’s proposal also makes a very welcome increased investment in Transitional Kindergarten, a vital bridge to helping children enter K-12 schools ready to learn.
United Ways of California Joins Governor Brown to put $2.3 Billion in the Hands of California Working Families and Individuals
December 2, 2015
Los Angeles, — California. Today, United Ways of California joined Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and other California leaders to announce the launch of CalEITC4me, a statewide campaign involving community, faith, civic, labor and business leaders to ensure the first-ever California Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) winds up in the hands of those who worked hard to earn it.
“United Ways of California is pleased to have collaborated with Governor Brown and other California leaders to address the lack of income gains for working Californians in the Post-Great Recession economic recovery and provide a much needed economic stimulus in the most economically distressed communities,” said Pete Manzo, President & CEO of United Ways of California. “With over 3.2 million California households struggling to meet basic needs, we are excited to see our long-term goal become reality. California’s EITC program will benefit an estimated 600,000 families and 2 million individuals, a great start that we hope we can build on to reduce the high rate of poverty in California.”
United Ways of California Releases New Financial Stability Report on California Households
July 14, 2015
Los Angeles—CA. Almost 1 in 3 California households struggle each month to meet their basic needs, according to a report released today by United Ways of California.
The report, Struggling to Get By: The Real Cost Measure in California 2015, finds that 3.2 million California households do not earn enough income to account for the types of expenses—food, rent, health care—that are essential to maintain even an adequate level of economic security. Not only do these households not have enough money to save for the future or afford “luxuries” like eating out, but they are forced to confront tradeoffs each month about whether to forgo necessities like child care or doctor’s appointments in order to make ends meet.
Struggling to Get By introduces the Real Cost Measure, a new tool that provides a more realistic picture of poverty than the Federal Poverty Line. The Real Cost Measure creates “basic needs” budgets for households, using actual costs for food, housing, transportation, health care, childcare, and taxes throughout California.
Among the questions Struggling to Get By seeks to answer are: What is the true rate of financially challenged households? How many are led by working adults? What do we know about these households? What do their family configurations look like? What regions and communities struggle more than others? What do income challenges look like across race, ethnicity and gender boundaries and more.
Some of the key findings from Struggling to Get By include:
California’s New Asset Building Tools: Putting the Secure Choice Retirement Plan and the New State EITC to Work
Join asset building practitioners, advocates and funders for a conference on helping families and individuals build assets and plan for the future through two new programs. California Treasurer John Chiang and Controller Betty Yee will join other special guests on Tuesday, December 1 to discuss the laws, and what is necessary for successful implementations. Agenda items include:
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.
More Articles ...
- Brown Administration Calls For Extension Of Successful Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- 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
- 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
