By just one vote, the House of Representatives passed a Budget bill (H.R. 1) that puts vital programs at serious risk. The proposed changes would cut food programs, health care, and critical child tax credits, while offering tax breaks to wealthy individuals and corporations.
House Republicans' proposed cuts would be devastating for Californians, especially low-income families, immigrants, and communities of color. This bill will increase food insecurity and impact how Californians feed their families, get medical care, and afford everyday essentials.
What is at Risk for our Food Safety Net?
If passed, this bill would:
- Make the biggest CUT in history to the SNAP Program —slashing the national program by $300 billion (30%). As a result, California would be forced to end or reduce CalFresh for hundreds of thousands of Californians, increasing hunger and poverty.
- Shift over $1 billion in costs to the state, forcing California to choose between cutting CalFresh benefits or stretching already limited resources.
- Make it harder to qualify for CalFresh for all applicants—and make refugees, asylees, and immigrants ineligible.
- Expand work requirements to parents of young children and older adults.
- Threaten free school meals for children who qualify through CalFresh.
- Reduce CalFresh benefits by limiting the amount families can claim for utility or internet expenses.
In California, nearly 5 million people use CalFresh to buy food, and 15 million people rely on Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) for healthcare. These proposed changes will harm families already facing the nation's highest cost of living.
Deep Cuts to Medi-Cal, Tax Credits, and Higher Education
The House bill includes harmful changes to vital programs, such as Medi-Cal, the Child Tax Credit, and college funding. This bill would take away healthcare from over 1.6 million Californians, including more than 200,000 children. Increasing premiums, adding work requirements, and reducing coverage for many essential healthcare services. It would block millions of Californian children—especially in mixed-immigration status and low-income families—from receiving the full Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. It also makes college less affordable by cutting Pell Grants and eliminating key financial aid programs.
These cuts would hold families back just as they’re working hard to move forward.
This bill has NOT passed the Senate yet
The Senate Agriculture Committee released their bill proposal last week and the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) released their proposal on Monday; both are different from the House proposals, but they still include still devastating and harmful cuts to vital programs.
The proposals are currently under negotiation in the Senate and a vote is expected on the Senate floor next week to pass this harmful legislation. A Senate Bill may also be sent back to the House for a second vote.
It is NOT over. There is still time to speak up!
Our communities deserve access to food, health services, and opportunities to thrive.
We are urging our Senators and House Representatives to:
- Protect CalFresh from harmful cuts
- Restore the full Child Tax Credit
- Protect access to the social safety net
- Fully fund Medi-Cal
- Keep college accessible for all students
Your Voice Matters!
Two Ways to TAKE ACTION
- Call BOTH, Senator Alex Padilla and Senator Adam Schiff and use a script to urge them to protect these programs.
- Senator Alex Padilla - (202) 224-3553
- Senator Adam Schiff - (202) 224-3841
Sample script:
Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I live in [City], California.
I am calling to urge Senator [Name] to protect and strengthen CalFresh (also known as SNAP), Medi-Cal, and the Child Tax Credit as the Senate drafts its own Reconciliation Bill.
These programs are lifelines for California families, like mine — They help make food more affordable, keep families healthy, and support our children’s futures. Please tell the Senator to VOTE NO on any budget package that cuts basic needs programs.
Thank you.
- Send a letter to Senator Alex Padilla and Senator Adam Schiff using this form.
Every call made, every letter sent, every story shared, counts!
Together, we can make sure our communities are heard and protected.
Washington DC
331 Hart Senate
Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3553
Washington DC
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3841
