FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 4, 2025
SACRAMENTO, CA — On this 4th of July, as our nation celebrates our so-called freedom and democracy, Parent Voices mourns over the losses in the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill and the California State Budget. Overnight, the Republican-controlled Congress passed legislation to deny health care and food assistance to millions of Americans while extending the Trump tax cuts that benefit the 1%. We cannot celebrate Independence Day when we have Americans struggling to put food on the table.
To paint a picture of what the budget means to Americans: for the benefit of 83 billionaires, 17 million lose health care, 16 million kids lose free school lunches, and $186 billion is cut from SNAP food assistance. More hungry children means fewer healthy kids—and that means more students struggling to concentrate in school. The increase to the Employer-Provided Child Care Credit disguised as a benefit for employees is corporate welfare for a select few.
Meanwhile, here in California, our Democrat-controlled government passed a state budget that delays promises made to expand affordable child care spaces and to pay early childhood educators higher and more sustainable wages. The state budget also limits access to life-saving health care services while maintaining tax breaks for the wealthiest. Californians deserve better from our elected leaders. Both the federal bill and state budget choose to fund mega-billionaires at the expense of Californians who need access to child care, health care, and other critical social services.
Our nation is in need of saving. We need elected officials to become the superheroes their position and platform allow them to be. Elected leaders have the power to do more for those with the least. This country was founded on dissent, and we must carry that legacy forward. Parent Voices stands with families, care workers, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, and all those who have been left behind. Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Parent Voices will continue to organize and educate voters on the power of their vote. We will continue to push our elected leaders to find their inner superhero to protect and ensure a California for All. Superheroes choose Kids, not Billionaires.
Parent Voices is a parent-led grassroots organization fighting to make quality child care accessible and affordable for all families. There are eight local chapters across California, including Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Sonoma.
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