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California Children’s Groups Urge Senate to Extend Funding for Children’s Health Insurance Program for Four Years

SACRAMENTO, CA — Recognizing the urgency of quick action to protect children's health, the U.S. House of Representatives voted today, with a strong show of bipartisan support, to approve the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). The bill would, among other things, extend funding and current policy for the highly successful Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two years, ensuring that children from low- and moderate-income working families can get the comprehensive, affordable health coverage they need to reach their full potential. More than 1 million children and pregnant women in California have health coverage funded by CHIP. While thanking the House members for taking timely action to extend CHIP, children's health care advocates in California urged the Senate to come together and build on the solid policy in the House bill by extending CHIP funding for four years. [...]

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Caliph Assagai Named Lobbyist for Children’s Defense Fund – California

Sacramento, CA – The Children's Defense Fund – California announced this week that Caliph Assagai, founder of the political consulting firm Public Interest Advocacy, has been selected to lead the organization's statewide lobbying efforts. In this role, Assagai will serve as CDF-CA's chief political strategist and spokesperson in the state Capitol, responsible for overseeing a policy agenda that includes legislation to reform juvenile solitary confinement policy, increase educational access, and reduce child poverty, among other critical issues facing children in the state. "Caliph Assagai is an exceedingly well-regarded and influential political advocate in Sacramento, and we are excited to welcome him as the newest member of our team," said Alex Johnson, Executive Director of CDF-CA. "Caliph's sterling reputation, demonstrated commitment to public service, and keen political insight will make him an invaluable partner in our efforts to level the playing field [...]

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Governor’s Proposed Tax Credit for Working Poor Families is a Positive First Step to Reduce Child Poverty in California

In response to Governor Brown's May Revise budget proposal released today, Alex Johnson, Executive Director of Children's Defense Fund-California, issued this statement: "Governor Brown has taken a positive first step to reduce California's highest-in-the-nation child poverty rate by proposing a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that will help working poor families make ends meet. We are pleased that Governor Brown is recognizing the urgency of addressing the state's child poverty crisis and proposing some relief for Californians who have not seen the benefits of the economic recovery. "Growing up poor negatively impacts the entire trajectory of a child's life and reinforces a generational cycle of poverty that steals hope and opportunity from our most vulnerable children. California needs a bold, comprehensive multi-year plan to end child poverty – and with state revenue surging, we have the resources to make [...]

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How to Cut California Child Poverty by 58 Percent Right Now

Groundbreaking Report Released by Children's Defense FundLos Angeles, CA – Today, the Children's Defense Fund released a groundbreaking report entitled Ending Child Poverty Now Children's Defense Fund that details how the U.S. could substantially reduce child poverty immediately. Ending Child Poverty Now Children's Defense Fund–California If policymakers invested an additional 2 percent of the federal budget to expand existing federal programs and policies to increase employment and make work pay for parents and ensure children's basic needs are met, 60 percent of poor children across the country – and 58 percent of California's children – would be lifted out of poverty and 97 percent of all poor children would benefit.A California companion report by the Children's Defense Fund - California presents key state policy recommendations for how California can reduce child poverty by investing in programs that work: including enacting a [...]

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Governor’s Budget Proposal Fails to Adequately Address the 1 in 4 California Children in Poverty

Alex Johnson, Executive Director of Children's Defense Fund-California, released the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown's 2015-16 budget proposal: "The Governor's proposed budget fails to make the significant investments necessary to repair the tattered safety net and provide the critical support services children, particularly those living in poverty, need to survive and thrive. While the Governor's continued investment in K-12 education is a positive step, children also need health care, quality child care and development, and family supports to succeed in school. Recession-era state budget cuts to critical health and human service programs continue to harm the state's most vulnerable children and families. We urge the Governor and the Legislature to do right by our children and protect and invest in essential safety net programs. California cannot afford to continue allowing more than one in four children to [...]

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