On June 30, residents, healthcare workers, and community advocates protested outside Valadao’s office to urge Representative David Valadao, who serves Congressional District 22, to change his vote on defunding public health care. The community showed up to discuss protecting reproductive healthcare and funded health care, as they say this could impact millions of lives.
Several speakers voiced strong opposition against Rep.Valadao for supporting the H.R. 1 bill and not the needs of his constituents. Many are concerned that their social safety net will change with the cuts from Medi-Cal. The community emphasized that health care is a vital component of life, and without it, there would be harm and impacts to many.
Devon Newton shared his family’s story of his son with Spina Bifida and how the cuts to programs like Medi-Cal could impact them.
“The social safety that has been essential to getting my son the specialty care he needs. While we appreciate the help we’ve gotten from our various benefits, I can’t help but feel it’s only been enough to stop us from drowning,” said Newton.
He also argued that Valadao was choosing to reduce healthcare funding instead of investing in vulnerable communities.
“In our great leader’s infallible wisdom, they decided we were already living too high off the high, taking advantage of Uncle Sam,” Newton stated. “Really, what they decided is that our tax money would be better spent on Trump’s ballroom instead of funding healthcare for the most vulnerable of us. He took a look at my son, who may be 10 years old before he learns to walk. They looked at him and decided he got enough handouts. He’s a burden. They decided that instead of helping the people, the money would be better spent rounding up immigrants, putting them in prisons, surrounded by alligators.”
Ana Palacio, a clinic nurse, pointed out that healthcare is a fundamental right, not a luxury, and relying on emergency rooms should not be the solution to receive care.
“Healthcare is the foundation that keeps families and community standing,” said Palacio. “But here’s what I know as a nurse. The emergency room should not be the first place people turn to because they have nowhere else to go. The ER is where we save lives, but the ER should not be the only safety net holding our communities together. And healthy communities do not happen by accident.”
Palacio explained that prevention is important and having access to health care is essential.
“Prevention is the key, and it means having access to a primary provider. It means getting screenings before a diagnosis becomes a crisis. Having mental health support before someone reaches a breaking point, and it means having access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare because reproductive healthcare is health care,” she stated. “When we protect access, we are protecting families. We are protecting communities. And we are protecting the ability for people to choose to build the lives that they choose.”
Palacio said the H.R. 1 bill has profoundly affected the community, and argued that the community needs government and elected officials who care about the community.
“No matter how hard he may try to spin it, voting to pass that bill last year, voting three times to pass that bill last year has profoundly affected the lives of people across the Kern. We know that we need elected officials and local leaders who understand that investing in healthcare is not optional. It is one of the most important responsibilities we have, and we need to elect leaders who see healthcare as a right for everyone, not as a privilege for the wealthy few,” said Palacio.
Robert Biggs, an In-Home Support Services (IHSS) worker who cares for his brother, also shared his personal story on how medical needs to be protected. He stated that IHSS was established to help people of all ages who are dealing with serious health conditions receive the care they need at home rather than in an institution.
“My biggest fear is that H.R.1 restrictions on Medi-Cal and food stamps will send California backwards in a way that will harm all of us. If we don’t fight to protect our safety net programs, like Medi-Cal, Tulare County and Kern County will see more food insecurity, more crimes, and a lot more homelessness, as medical debt forces people, even kids, into the streets. Programs like Medi-Cal and IHSS benefit the entire community,” said Biggs.
Biggs argued that the bill would divert funding away from essential public services while benefiting wealthy Americans.
“One of the most frustrating things about this whole situation is that the money H.R.1 is taking from the services we need isn’t going to serve some higher good. It’s going to line the pockets of people who will never have to worry about food, shelter, or our healthcare,” said Biggs. “And worst of all, David Valadao voted to harm his own constituents by supporting H.R.1 every step of the way.”
Biggs urged residents to make their voices heard, stating that speaking out is one of the few ways communities can hold elected officials accountable and push back against policies they oppose.
“Your voices matter, because this is the only way that we have to take control of our lives from big business and big politicians like David Valadao. If you don’t speak up, you’re going to be greatly affected in so many ways,” said Biggs.
Norberto Gonzalez, California State Program Director of Poder Latinx, spoke regarding the ways the community can work together to keep their money and prevent funds from being directed outside the community.
“Every single one of you, remember that this year, there’s an election. This year, we can make a change not just by showing up here in person during this heat in front of his office, but on the ballot box, you have a second voice that you can use. We all pay these taxes. We’ve heard about where this money went. It went to line the pockets of their elite. They think we are the burden. Yet they’re the ones reaping all the benefits of your work. Your work matters more. Your healthcare matters more; without you, they are nothing,” said Gonzalez.
Socorro Santillan, Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood, outlined the organization’s struggles to provide essential care in the Central Valley after the H.R.1 Bill. On July 4, 2025, when Valadao signed the bill, Planned Parenthood was no longer eligible to serve Medicaid and Medicare patients, stated Santillan.
“And that is devastating when you think about that; most of our patients, especially in the Central Valley, you’re talking about 80% count on Medicaid, Medicare for their healthcare. It is devastating,” said Santillan.
Santillan revealed that the health department claimed that Planned Parenthood is important because they provide STD testing, and if Planned Parenthood goes away, that goes away for the community.
Sydney O’Connor from United Domestic Workers of America emphasized the event’s purpose to inform the community of Valadao’s action that will have a broad impact not solely on Planned Parenthood, as well as on other programs that rely on Medicaid.
“Planned Parenthood is putting on this event because it is the anniversary of Valadao going against his word. When he said he wouldn’t, he voted to cut Medicaid from a bunch of his constituents, which is going to be devastating. And we’re already seeing the effects,” said O’Connor. “It’s not just Planned Parenthood; it’s all the programs that rely on Medicaid, including the in-home supportive services program. Healthcare is a human right. And to take that away is just ridiculous. It’s disgusting. And David Valadao should be ashamed of himself.”
