The California Legislative Black Caucus joined state, labor and community leaders at a Capitol press conference last week to support a resolution by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (AD 64) which attacks federal budget proposals by the Trump Administration.
Resolution HR 28 takes aim at federal proposals specific to healthcare, immigration, worker protections and the disproportionate impact on the African American community.
“For generations, federal policies like the Civil Rights Act, Educational Opportunity Grant and most recently the Affordable Care Act have lifted millions of black families out of poverty and provided an expansion of resources and gave them the chance to live the American Dream to the fullest. Now, all of this progress is under attack”, said Assemblymember Gipson.
Federal plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act would impact millions of uninsured Black Californians who have incomes below the Medicaid expansion limit under the Affordable Care Act. And 30 percent funding cuts to the EPA (Environment Protection Act) would also negatively impact poor and Black communities that are disproportionately impacted by air pollution.
Assemblymember Shirley Weber (AD79) warned that Trump’s proposals would roll back Civil rights enforcement,” while Assemblymember Chris Holden (AD41), Caucus chair called the budget proposals a “hard power” approach and an example of America First. “The policies and the budget promoted by Trump will set us back creating a harsh reality for all of us, and roll back many of our hard fought gains.”
Speakers at the conference said that they will not sit by silently while the Trump administration works to erode 50 years of progress in all areas of American life.
Speakers who attended the Press Conference included Assemblymember Mike Gipson, Assemblymember Chris Holden, Assemblymember Shirley Weber, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, Senator Holly Mitchell, Alice Huffman with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Aubry Stone with the California Black Chamber of Commerce, Yvonne Walker with the Service Employees International Union Local 1000, Dr. David Carlisle with Charles Drew University, and Dr. Ruth Shim with the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
