• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) announced the Health Equity and Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Community Inclusion act, legislation that would help make sure the federal government accurately recognizes the experiences and needs of members of MENA communities, according to a Sept. 22 statement from the senator’s office. This bill would help make them eligible for targeted minority public health programs and resources. “Every individual deserves access to high-quality and affordable health care, but the federal government has consistently failed to adequately address the unique health needs of many racial and ethnic minority groups like Middle Eastern and North African communities,” Padilla said in the statement. “California is home to the largest MENA population in the United States, and I am proud to introduce this legislation to finally ensure they get the recognition and resources they deserve. This bill also supports targeted government research into health outcomes for MENA populations so we can continue to break down historical health inequities.” Specifically, the Health Equity and Middle Eastern and North African Community Inclusion Act would amend the Public Health Service Act of 1944 by adding “Middle Easterners and North Africans” to the definition of “racial and ethnic minority groups” at the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health, making MENA individuals and communities eligible for resources designed for historically marginalized groups. These resources and programs—which MENA communities have not been able to fully access because the federal government often categorizes them as “white”—are specifically designed to address the negative public health impacts experienced by many in historically marginalized communities.
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) joined a bicameral group of Democratic lawmakers to introduce the Child Care Stabilization Act to extend federal child care funding—which is set to expire at the end of this month—and to ensure that child care providers can keep their doors open and continue serving children and families in every part of the country, according to a Sept. 19 statement from Carbajal’s office. “This funding for child care has been critical to California providers and the working families that rely on them—and I’m committed to seeing Congress prevent this devastating funding cliff at the end of this fiscal year,” Carbajal said in the statement. “Child care is not just a family issue, it is an economic issue. The ripple effects of this expiration would be felt by small businesses, industries, and communities across our nation.” During the pandemic, Democrats in Congress delivered $24 billion in child care funding to save the sector from collapse and prevent families from losing their spots, and that funding was set to run out Sept. 23. The Child Care Stabilization Act could prevent a potential crisis when funding expires by providing $16 billion in mandatory funding each year for the next five years to continue the Child Care Stabilization Grant program that aims to provide child care providers with a stable, reliable source of funding to help them deliver high-quality and affordable child care for working families across the country.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to urge Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to take action to stabilize and improve California’s property insurance marketplace as climate change threatens more communities with extreme wildfires, floods, and droughts, according to a Sept. 21 statement from the governor’s office. Some insurance companies have already announced they will stop issuing new policies in California and others are limiting policy renewals. “This is yet another example of how climate change is directly threatening our communities and livelihoods. It is critical that California’s insurance market works to protect homes and businesses in every corner of our state. A balanced approach that will help maintain fair prices and protections for Californians is essential,” Newsom said in the statement. “I look forward to continuing to work with Commissioner Lara and others to strengthen our marketplace and protect Californians.” Specifically, the executive order requests that the commissioner of insurance strengthen and stabilize California’s marketplace to expand choices, have a better rate approval process, a stronger FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) plan to protect policyholders in the face of climate change, and accelerate regulation implementation.
This article appears in Sep 28 – Oct 8, 2023.