When I talk about health care, it’s personal.

My mother is a two-time cancer survivor, fighting a lifelong battle with leukemia. She’s alive today because she had access to quality, affordable health care — something no family should ever have to fight for, and something far too many still lack in the Central Valley.

That’s why I was disappointed to see Congressman David Valadao (R-Kings County) vote to support a national budget that slashes billions from Medicaid, Medi-Cal, and other public health programs. These are real impacts on Valley families, including seniors, farmworkers, young people, and parents who are already struggling to stay afloat.

Let’s be clear, this vote wasn’t about fiscal responsibility. It was a choice to put a political agenda ahead of people’s health and lives. And here in the Central Valley, we can’t afford to be ignored again.

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Many Valley Residents Depend on Public Health Programs

Hospital closures, doctor shortages, and long wait times are already a reality. Chronic illnesses like asthma and diabetes are widespread. Many communities — especially those made up of low-income and immigrant families — depend on public health programs to survive.

Young people are especially vulnerable. I’ve worked with students who skip treatment because they can’t afford a co-pay. I’ve heard from young parents who can’t find affordable pediatric care. I’ve spoken to college graduates who lose healthcare the moment they age out of their parents’ healthcare coverage. These stories aren’t rare—they’re daily life for too many in our region.

Health Care Is a Right, not a Privilege

We need to do better. And that starts with treating health care as a right, not a privilege.

We should invest in programs that expand coverage, not cut them. We should improve mental health access, not take it away. And we should hold our elected officials accountable when they vote to dismantle the very systems our communities rely on.

I think about my mother often when I speak on these issues. Her journey through cancer could have ended very differently if she hadn’t had the support of affordable and high-quality health care. Every family in the Central Valley deserves that same chance at survival, that same peace of mind.

We can’t afford to stay silent. The fight for health care is a fight for the future of the Valley, and it’s time for all of us to step up.

About the Author

Noe Garcia is the Region 10 Director of the California Democratic Party.

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