RELEASE: Congresswoman Friedman Meets with Healthcare Advisory Committee
Remains committed to protecting and expanding healthcare
Above: Friedman listens to concerns from local healthcare providers.
GLENDALE, CA — U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) spoke with heads of local hospitals and leaders in healthcare in the first meeting of her Healthcare Advisory Committee. Topics of discussion included the impacts of Republican cuts to Medicaid and freezes in grants affecting research and prevention services.
“Our healthcare providers are rightfully concerned about Republican cuts to Medicaid, which guts one trillion dollars from our health system to give one trillion dollars in tax breaks for the ultra rich,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “This administration couldn’t make their misplaced priorities more apparent, but I’ll make my priority clear: I’ll never stop fighting to protect affordable healthcare.”
Friedman has been a constant proponent of protecting and expanding affordable healthcare. In light of the passage of the harmful Planned Parenthood defund provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill, Friedman introduced the Restoring Essential Healthcare Act to repeal the ban, which has the support of over 130 Democratic cosponsors. Friedman also led an effort to restore $19.7 million in HIV prevention funds to LA County which were previously frozen, and is a cosponsor of legislation that expands access to healthcare, including the Medicare for All Act, Dental Care for Veterans Act, and Women’s Health Protection Act.
Attendees included Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center CEO Collier Douglas Long, Kaiser Permanente LA Senior Vice President of the LA Service Area Sal Ababneh, Saban Community Clinic CEO Muriel Nouwezem, Providence St. Joseph’s of Burbank CEO Karl Keeler, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles Associate VP of Health Policy Lindsey Berman, Cedars-Sinai VP of Government and Industry Relations Stephanie Cohen, Community Clinic Association of LA County (CCALAC) Director of Government Affairs Joanne Preece, and Adventist Health Glendale Manager of Marketing & Communications Nicholas Samaniego.
Below: Friedman with local healthcare providers and hospital leaders.
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