A packed town hall gathered on Tuesday evening to address looming threats to healthcare funding, with community members expressing concern over potential cuts that could impact half a million people in California’s 22nd Congressional District. Despite being invited, Representative David Valadao was notably absent from the event.

“As you may have heard, there are proposals from the Republican Party to threaten health care funding,” said Melissa Cedillo, campaign organizer with Health Care Access, addressing the crowd. “What does that mean? That’s half a million people in this congressional district.”

Speakers at the town hall emphasized that these cuts would disproportionately harm vulnerable populations, including seniors, children, farmworkers, small business owners, and veterans. Cedillo underscored the broad impact, stating, “A cut to one of these is a cut to all.”

A Mother’s Fight for Her Medically Fragile Son

The event allowed residents to share personal stories about how reduced healthcare funding could affect their lives. Diane Schneider, a representative of Disability Voices United and the first speaker of the night shared a deeply personal account of how these potential cuts could devastate her family. Her son, Nicholas, who recently turned 37, has multiple medical conditions, including cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, and severe scoliosis. His survival has defied medical expectations, but he remains medically fragile and dependent on home care services.

“If these things were cut, he would not be able to have help in the home. He would have to go everywhere with me. I would probably never leave the house,” Schneider said. “And at some point, we would probably lose the house because I retire, but I don’t think I make enough to support us both.”

She painted a stark picture of the ripple effect such cuts would have—not just on her son, but on the caregivers and support workers who assist him. “All those girls that come out to my house and help him, that he adores, they don’t have a job now. This doesn’t just impact him, this impacts everybody that’s part of our life,” she said.

Clinics That Serve Thousands at Risk

Nancy Torres, a longtime employee at Clinica Sierra Vista, took the stage to highlight the broader consequences for the healthcare system. Clinica Sierra Vista operates 54 locations across 6,000 square miles, primarily serving Medi-Cal and Medicare patients, most of whom are Hispanic.

“Clinics like mine are known as federally qualified health centers. That means we rely on federal funding as much as our patients,” Torres explained. She detailed the essential services her clinic provides, from pediatric care and addiction medicine to diabetes management and women’s health.

Torres, who grew up in the community and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child, knows firsthand how critical Medi-Cal is. “I was diagnosed at 10 years old, and my mom was a single mother. I had Medi-Cal, and I couldn’t imagine not having Medi-Cal,” she said. “It would be devastating to pay out of pocket.”

She warned that cutting Medi-Cal funding would have a domino effect, forcing patients to delay care, which could lead to medical emergencies. “If people’s health issues arise and they don’t have Medi-Cal, they will end up probably going to the ER. Who’s going to pay for that?” she asked.

Torres also emphasized how much progress has been made in recent years, particularly in preventive care and reducing wait times. “I can’t believe we have to fight for this after working so hard to survive this pandemic and get to where we are now,” she said. “But I’m proud to be part of this fight. We all are—to protect the right to care.”

Medi-Cal is a Lifeline, Not a Luxury

Yuri Lopez, a local Medi-Cal recipient, spoke passionately about how vital the program has been for her and others in the community.

“As many families in our community know firsthand, raising children with love and effort is not always easy,” Lopez said. “One of the biggest pillars that has allowed families like mine to keep going is Medi-Cal. It’s not just a government program—it’s a lifesaver.”

Lopez described Medi-Cal as essential for single mothers, essential workers, and elderly individuals who would struggle to afford health care otherwise. “This shouldn’t be a privilege, but a fundamental right,” she said. “When we talk about cutting these programs, we’re not talking about numbers or budgets. We’re talking about lives.”

She stressed that reducing Medi-Cal funding would have dire consequences, leaving children without access to doctors, elderly individuals unable to afford medication, and parents forced to work under the stress of not being able to provide medical care for their families.

“I appeal now to the empathy of our representatives,” Lopez said. “They were elected to serve the whole community, not just those of a certain social or economic status. The measure of a true leader is in how they protect others, especially the most vulnerable.”

Lopez ended her speech with a call to action: “Defending Medi-Cal and Medicaid means defending the dignity of our families. We cannot let indifference divide us. Together, we can make a change.”

The town hall provided a platform for residents like Schneider, Torres, and Lopez to share their fears and frustrations, urging community members to spread awareness and push back against policies that prioritize tax breaks for the wealthy at the expense of essential health services.