Congressman Adam Gray (D-Merced) held the inaugural Veterans Advisory Committee meeting at the Atwater Veterans Hall. It was the first in a series of meetings Congressman Gray will convene with district stakeholders, advocates and local officials.
“I appreciate the veterans and advocates from across the Valley who took the time to meet with me this week,” said Congressman Gray. “Yesterday’s meeting was just the first I plan to have with our neighbors who served in our armed forces. We discussed ways to improve delivery of veterans’ medical services, supports for unhoused veterans and opportunities for increased funding for veteran services offices.”
Congressman Gray was joined by representatives from veteran service organizations across the Valley, including:
- Steve Fimbrez, Commander, G.I. Forum
- Ed Skelton, Veterans Service Officer, Merced County
- Ryan Kegley, Stanislaus County Veteran’s Service Office
- Amanda Brown, VA Certifying Official, UC Merced Veteran Services
- Julie Cusator, Information Officer, CALVet
Senator Caballero champions health equity and youth support with new legislation
In an effort to address critical challenges facing California’s most vulnerable populations, Senator Anna M. Caballero (D-Merced) has introduced two pieces of legislation—SB 520, aimed at expanding nurse-midwifery education to combat the state’s maternal health crisis, and SB 624, designed to enhance financial support outreach for foster youth—underscoring her commitment to improving equity and access across health care and social services.
SB 520 is the Nurse-Midwifery Education & Workforce Act, which would expand access to maternal and infant health care by investing in the nurse-midwifery workforce. This legislation will establish the California Nurse-Midwifery Education Fund to support new midwifery master’s degree programs, ensuring that expecting mothers—particularly in rural and underserved areas—receive high-quality, evidence-based maternity care.
“Too many mothers and infants, especially in rural communities, face unnecessary risks due to the lack of labor and delivery services,” said Senator Caballero. “California must take immediate action to expand and strengthen our maternity care workforce. SB 520 will ensure more midwives are trained and available to provide life-saving care to mothers and babies in need.”
The United States has one of the highest maternal and newborn death rates among high-income countries and California is not immune to this crisis. Since 2013, more than 50 maternity units have closed and 20 freestanding birth centers have shuttered in the last three years alone. These closures create significant barriers to safe and timely reproductive healthcare, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas.
At the same time, California is experiencing a shortage of obstetric and reproductive health providers, limiting access to essential prenatal, labor and postpartum care. Without enough trained providers, maternal and infant health will continue to suffer, disproportionately affecting communities of color and low-income families.
Nurse-midwives play a critical role in reducing maternal and infant mortality while improving birth experiences and overall health of mothers and babies. Research shows that when midwives are well-integrated into health care systems, there are more spontaneous vaginal births, successful labor after Cesarean (TOLAC), vaginal births after Cesarean (VBAC), breastfeeding success rates and patient confidence during childbirth. Midwifery care is also linked to lower overall maternity care costs.
Despite these benefits, California currently has only one nurse-midwifery master’s degree program, located at CSU Fullerton. This lack of educational opportunities severely limits the number of midwives available to meet California’s growing maternal health needs.
SB 520 is sponsored by the California Nurse-Midwives Association. Kim Q. Dau, Co-Chair of the California Nurse-Midwives Association’s Workforce Development and Education Support Committee explains, “California is in the midst of a maternal health crisis, and we cannot afford to stand by. Expanding access to midwifery is not just part of the solution—it’s essential. Senator Caballero’s bill is a bold and necessary step toward strengthening our maternity care system. By funding new midwifery education programs, we can break down barriers to care, grow a more diverse workforce, and ensure more families receive the high-quality, evidence-based support they deserve. This is about saving lives, improving outcomes, and building a healthier future for all Californians.”
SB 520 establishes the California Nurse-Midwifery Education Fund within the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) to support new, state-based master’s degree programs in nurse-midwifery. By combining state and private funding SB 520 will expand access to maternity and reproductive health care in underserved and rural areas by increasing the number of clinically trained nurse-midwives, reducing maternal and infant mortality rates through evidence-based care, and address California’s growing health care workforce shortage.
Senate Bill 624 is legislation to expand access to the Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC). This bill will direct $1 million in unutilized FYTC funds, to establish standardized outreach protocols for county child welfare agencies, to ensure that foster youth are equipped with the financial resources they need to thrive once they reach 18 years of age.
“The Foster Youth Tax Credit is a lifeline that far too many eligible youth miss out on,” said Senator Caballero. “SB 624 is about more than just dollars. It is about California’s commitment to support vulnerable youth. My bill is a promise to foster youth that they are not forgotten.”
The FYTC, a component of the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), provides a refundable tax credit to young adults ages 18-25 who were in foster care at or after their 13th birthday and who qualify for CalEITC. In 2023, 5,680 recipients collectively received $6 million in benefits. However, only 16% of eligible foster youth claimed the FYTC, leaving millions of dollars in much-needed financial support unused.
This tax credit is especially beneficial for foster youth who are parents, who are eligible to receive an average of $5,265, while single filers can receive $1,117. Unfortunately, many foster youth fail to file taxes, which prevents access to this critical support.
SB 624 will bridge this gap and require counties to enhance outreach efforts using existing unspent funds, to ensure foster youth are informed and equipped to claim the FYTC. The bill mandates that the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) provide statewide guidance and best practices for outreach, and include stronger education initiatives and partnerships with local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. Additionally, county child welfare agencies will be required to distribute tax credit resources annually to eligible youth, with personalized QR codes linked to free tax assistance services.
