RELEASE: Rep. Friedman Joins Protect Our Care in Burbank, Condemns Trump and Congressional Republicans for Skyrocketing Health Care Costs

Above: Friedman joins health care providers and advocates at McCambridge Park in Burbank.

BURBANK, CA - Today, August 11, 2026, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) joined Protect Our Care, local physicians, and health care advocates at McCambridge Park in Burbank to condemn Trump and Congressional Republicans for skyrocketing health care costs across California. Friedman and the speakers highlighted how Republicans cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and let the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits expire to finance tax breaks for the ultra-rich. They also called on the Senate to immediately take up the House-passed bill restoring those tax credits. The event was part of Protect Our Care's "Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now" campaign.

A recording of the press conference can be found here.

Democrats in the House forced a vote and passed a clean, three-year extension of ACA tax credits on January 8 by a vote of 230-196. Seventeen Republicans joined every Democrat after members forced the bill to the floor over the Speaker's objection.

"1.2 million Californians have lost their health coverage, and that didn't happen by accident," said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). "Trump and Congressional Republicans let the ACA tax credits expire and cut a trillion dollars from Medicaid to pay for a trillion dollars in tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. I'm proud to have helped force a vote in the House, where a bipartisan majority passed the fix seven months ago. Every day the Senate refuses to vote, more families in my district lose care they can't replace."

THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS IN CALIFORNIA:

• 1.2 million Californians have lost their health coverage since Republicans passed their reconciliation bill.
• Premiums more than doubled for nearly 22 million families nationwide on January 1 after the enhanced tax credits expired.
• More than 80 hospital wards, more than 40 maternity wards, and nearly 320 clinics have shuttered nationwide as of July 1, 2026 - including seven public health clinics in Los Angeles County.
• 1.8 million Californians are facing an average 10% rate hike next year, with some premiums rising as much as 20%.
• In Friedman's district, more than 47,000 constituents faced premium increases of up to 300%, on top of more than 42,000 constituents losing coverage under Medi-Cal cuts.

• Voted against the Republican reconciliation bill that cut more than $1 trillion from health care to finance tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.
• Voted to restore the enhanced ACA premium tax credits, the three-year extension that passed the House on January 8 by a vote of 230-196.

Friedman was joined today by Hannah Frame, Protect Our Care California; Monica Lazo, California Campaigns Director, Economic Security Project; and Dr. Jerry Abraham, Director of Public Health, Integration & Street Medicine.

Below: Friedman speaks alongside health care advocates in Burbank.

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