By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Friedman, Kamlager-Dove, Gomez celebrate ACA passage
U.S. Reps. Laura Friedman (D-Burbank, Glendale, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Culver City, View Park-Windsor Hills, parts of South LA) and Jimmy Gomez (D-Downtown LA, Koreatown, Boyle Heights, Eagle Rock) yesterday celebrated the house passage to restore the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits for the next three years – a major sticking point between Democrats and Republicans and the major cause of the federal government shutdown last year.
“After months of fighting, Democrats successfully forced a vote and passed ACA tax credits extension through the House. This will help millions of Americans afford health insurance. Letting them expire would have been unconscionable,” said Friedman. “This bill means more affordable healthcare, better access to care, and less financial strain for hardworking families. I’ll keep fighting to get it signed into law. The Senate should act without delay to protect coverage for millions of Americans.”
Friedman noted how healthcare costs will rise in California:
- Nearly 5.5 million Californians rely on the ACA for coverage.
- In Los Angeles County alone, nearly 2 million residents are enrolled.
- Nearly 90% of Covered California enrollees receive tax credits.
- Without action, many Californians could see premiums rise by over $100/month.
- In Friedman’s district, more than 47,000 constituents face premium increases up to 300%, and 28,000 will lose access to health coverage because of Republican cuts to Medicaid.
Kamlager-Dove said Congress is finally focused on affordability and helping everyday Americans make ends meet.
“For months, House Democrats fought to restore the enhanced ACA tax credits and fix the health care crisis created by Trump and Republicans. When Republicans shut down the government, we stood firm by refusing to support any funding bill that failed to prevent health care premiums from doubling for 22 million Americans. Today’s vote to extend these tax credits for another three years reflects Democrats’ tireless work in both Washington and our communities,” said Kamlager-Dove..
“But this fight is not over. As this legislation moves to the Senate, the urgency only grows. We must keep the pressure on and share our receipts on how price hikes are forcing families to make impossible choices about where to cut costs and putting lifesaving care out of reach.”
Gomez noted that In his district, up to 27,000 people rely on these enhanced ACA subsidies, and without action, many are now facing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in additional annual health care costs.
Gomez said the bill passed after House Democrats forced a vote through a discharge petition, a rare procedural move used only after House Republicans blocked efforts to bring the legislation to the floor.
“Most House Republicans opposed this bill, but Democrats forced a vote and passed it anyway. Now, Donald Trump and Senate Republicans are standing in the way and may not even allow a vote. When premiums go up and people lose coverage, Republicans will be to blame,” said Gomez.
Chu brings bacon home to her district
U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Pasadena) announced yesterday that the House passage of a three-bill funding package includes more than $6 million in funding for six projects that will directly benefit residents in her district.
In a 397-28 vote, the House passed the FY26 Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water, and Interior-Environment appropriations minibus that invests in science, public safety, energy and water infrastructure, and environmental protection for communities nationwide.
“While I would have liked to see even stronger investments, this bill makes progress toward rejecting the Trump administration’s draconian cuts and reinvesting in American communities,” said Chu.
“However, while I am glad this package rejects the White House’s plan to gut science funding and reinvests in NASA and the National Science Foundation, I am deeply disappointed that it supports their plan to cancel the Mars Sample Return mission led by Jet Propulsion Laboratory in my district. We cannot afford to lose more of our Mars experts, which is why I plan to continue working with NASA and my colleagues in Congress to protect JPL and bring these samples back.”
The $6 million in funding for six projects that will directly benefit residents of her 28th District includes:
- $1,092,000 for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works’ Altadena Public Sewer Enhancement Project
- This funding will expand public sewer service to approximately 600 properties in Altadena, an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County that currently rely, or previously relied, on septic systems prior to the January 2025 Eaton Fire.
- $1,031,000 for the Sierra Madre Public Safety Improvement Project
- Will equip the Sierra Madre Police Department with modern public safety tools, including upgraded radio communications, mobile data computers, emergency response vehicles, and tasers.
- $1,031,000 for the City of South Pasadena to upgrade police communication systems
- This funding will modernize police radios and dispatch equipment so officers can communicate more clearly, meet federal safety standards, and better coordinate with neighboring cities during emergencies.
- $1,031,000 for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s helicopter
- This funding will be used to purchase a helicopter to help law enforcement quickly respond to emergencies, locate and apprehend fugitives, serve high-risk warrants, and support critical public safety operations, including in the Angeles National Forest.
- $1,031,000 for the Upland Police Department
- This funding will upgrade the department’s computer-aided dispatch and records management systems, improving response times, coordination, and access to critical information for officers and dispatchers.
- $1,031,000 for the City of Pasadena’s Regional Public Safety Communications Upgrade
- This funding will modernize radio and repeater site technology to increase system capacity and reliability, improve communication among first responders and essential personnel, and strengthen public safety across Pasadena and the surrounding region.
Pérez decries Altadena ICE activity and fatal Minneapolis shooting
State Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Altadena, Arcadia, Burbank, Claremont, Duarte, Glendale, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, South Pasadena, Upland) yesterday decried yet more troubling moment in our federal government’s war on immigrants.
“Locally, ICE desecrated a sacred moment of community mourning when federal immigration agents returned to Altadena on the one-year anniversary of the deadly Eaton Fire. At the very moment our community was gathered to remember the 19 lives lost in the fire, federal immigration enforcement intentionally launched another raid of terror in our town. These chaotic raids are never justified, but it’s especially cruel when they target our friends and loved ones, including some of the very people who are doing the physical and skilled work to help us recover and rebuild from this disaster,” said Pérez.
“I also became aware of the Pasadena arrest of community leader Jose Madera who was monitoring the ICE activity. Amid these troubling developments, we also learned about the shocking death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. She was also monitoring ICE activity when she was fatally shot in cold blood by undisciplined federal agents. I want to make this clear: the public has the right to monitor and record law enforcement activity without threat of prosecution, as long as they do not interfere with operations.
“I will continue to speak out against these raids that only make our communities more unstable, more scared and more siloed. I will continue to author legislation like the SAFE Act and the No Vigilantes Act to hold the federal administration accountable to follow the rule of law and adhere to basic boundaries of transparency and decency.”
Bass announces new executive leadership staff
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced yesterday that she has appointed Rachel Brashier as Deputy Chief of Staff for City Services, Anna Hovasapian as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Amanda Crumley as Deputy Mayor of Communications.
The three hirees will continue to drive Bass’s agenda to move Los Angeles forward, making unprecedented progress on homelessness, making Los Angeles safer, and delivering services for all Angelenos.
“At City Hall, we must continue breaking away from the old, failed ways of business as usual. We have made historic progress in bringing people out of tents and off the streets, driving down homicides and bringing new investments to the city,” said Bass. “Rachel Brashier, Amanda Crumley and Anna Hovasapian will fuel this momentum to ensure we continue delivering for the people of Los Angeles with maximum urgency.”
Brashier is a political strategist, policy and communications leader deeply entrenched in the fabric of Los Angeles. She previously served as senior advisor, among other senior roles, to Council President Harris-Dawson.
Crumley brings more than 30 years of strategic communications expertise with prominent roles in politics, government, and advocacy campaigns across the country. A longtime political and communications strategist, Amanda is a veteran of four presidential campaigns and multiple winning congressional and gubernatorial campaigns.
Hovasapian will lead policy development and coordination across the Mayor’s Office, and continue serving as Bass’s chief liaison to the City Council and oversee strategic engagement with federal, state, and regional governmental partners.
