Central Valley families demand Rep. David Valadao oppose $880B Medicaid cuts
Many Central Valley families in U.S. Rep. David Valadao’s congressional district who risk losing their health care due to $880 billion in Medicaid cuts urged the Republican congressman to oppose the cuts.
Families and healthcare advocates want Valadao to speak out and vote against Medicaid cuts, also known as Medi-Cal in California.
“David Valadao has one job in Congress, to protect the families of the Central Valley. But instead of standing up for them, he’s letting harmful budget cuts move forward. Cuts that would devastate healthcare access for our most vulnerable,” said Norberto González, California state program director for Poder Latinx.
Republicans voted earlier this month to advance a budget plan that includes $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid that could affect approximately 5 million children in California who have Medi-Cal.
Health advocates criticized Valadao for not showing up for that vote saying that it affects four out of five children in Valadao’s district (225,525 children, or 87%, are on Medicaid) who depend on Medi-Cal for health care. About 67 percent of residents (527,192 people) in the district rely on Medicaid.
“That is not just a number. It’s thousands of kids whose health and futures are on the line,” said González.
In a statement Valadao said he was not present to vote earlier this month due to a personal family matter.
Families and advocates rallied outside of Valadao’s district office in Bakersfield last week, two days after Valadao and 11 other republicans sent a letter to House Leadership, including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, on April 14 regarding the Medicaid cuts.
“A letter to House leadership isn’t leadership. It’s the bare minimum. Our communities need action, not empty gestures,” González said. He said families and advocates were not able to meet with Valadao even though he was back in the district while congress was on recess.
Paige Ash, Valadao’s communication director, said Valadao has been outspoken about his desire to support Medicaid and strengthen the program.
Ash said Valadao doesn’t want people to feel afraid that the government is coming after their health care.
“He’s actually been taking a lot of steps to speak with House leadership and make sure that Medicaid is to be part of the conversation as the budget talks continue,” Ash said.
In a statement about the Republican vote on the House budget resolution earlier this month, Valadao said he supported the budget resolution in February to move the process forward. With this month’s passage, it unlocks the next steps for committees to prepare a “reconciliation bill that focuses on our priorities, reauthorizing tax policies to help drive down cost for Central Valley families while protecting essential program like Medicaid,” he said.
Valadao said he would only support a final reconciliation bill that strengthens Medicaid, SNAP and other programs that Valley families rely on.
Advocates said the proposed Medicaid cuts not only affect children but would also terminate health care for parents that could lead to financial strain for vulnerable populations.
Medicaid provides health care coverage for more than 525,000 Californians in the Central Valley, including more than 225,000 children, according to a fact sheet from Families USA. The Central Valley, particularly Valadao’s congressional district, has one of the highest Medicaid enrollment in the nation.
“The proposed deep cuts to Medicaid would be devastating for Central Valley residents, resulting in significant coverage losses, forcing rural hospitals, long-term care facilities or community clinics to close or scale back services, and throwing state budgets into crisis,” said Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA.
According to Families USA, families in the Central Valley already struggle to pay for health care with 75% unable to afford out-of-pocket health care costs and 63% reportedly skipping or delaying medical care due to costs. Almost half of surveyed residents reported have medical debt.
More than 60 percent of patients at California’s eight children’s hospitals receive health care through Medi-Cal. Proposed cuts to Medi-Cal would also affect those hospitals.
Medi-Cal payments to hospitals totaled $820 million in Valadao’s district, according to the California Health Care Foundation.
Many “Fight for Our Health” rallies have been taking place across the Central Valley including Modesto, Clovis and Bakersfield in protest of Medicaid cuts.
In his latest newsletter to constituents on April 18, Valadao said balancing a federal budget can’t come at the expense of people in his district who depend on Medicaid for healthcare.
This story was originally published April 29, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Central Valley families demand Rep. David Valadao oppose $880B Medicaid cuts."
