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AB 1357

Blog Posts tagged "AB 1357"

Your Calls Needed TODAY to Help Fight California's Diabetes Epidemic!

Kimberly Chen, State Policy Director, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
May 11, 2015

The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is creating a health crisis in California. Tomorrow, the Assembly Health Committee will be voting on an important bill that will begin to address this crisis.

AB 1357 (Bloom) – The Children and Family Health Promotion Program – will create a dedicated revenue source to fund community clinics, school based health centers, and preventive programs to address the health impacts of sugar sweetened beverages. An estimated $3 billion dollars will be raised annually through a small 2 cent per ounce fee on sugar-sweetened beverages. These funds would help improve the health of our communities by preventing diabetes and other devastating health impacts in California’s most vulnerable communities.
 
If you live in the following areas, please call your Assemblymember TODAY and ask them to support AB 1357!

Autumn Burke – Inglewood – (916) 319-2062
Jimmy Gomez – Los Angeles (Northeast) – (916) 319-2051
Lorena Gonzalez – San Diego (Chula Vista) – (916) 319-2080
Roger Hernandez – West Covina – (916) 319-2048
Sebastian Ridley-Thomas – Culver City – (916) 319-2054
Freddie Rodriguez – Chino/Pomona – (916) 319-2052
​Miguel Santiago – Los Angeles (Downtown) – (916) 319-2051

California Can’t Wait to Fight Diabetes

Xavier Morales, Executive Director, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California
May 8, 2015

This article appeared on the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California's blog.

On May 12th, the California Assembly Health Committee will hear a new bill seeking to address one of the major health crises of our time. AB 1357 (Bloom) – The Children and Family Health Promotion Program – will create a dedicated revenue source enabling California to start to address the diabetes epidemic that is impacting our communities with devastating consequences. Comprehensive prevention efforts to reduce the diabetes epidemic in California will be supported through a 2 cent per ounce fee on sugary drinks that are distributed in the state.

California must get out in front of this preventable disease that is disproportionately affecting communities of color.

To “get” diabetes in our communities has become normal. As I travel across California where we host regional meetings from as far north as Eureka to El Centro in the South and all points in between, it saddens me when I ask those in the audience to raise their hands if someone in their immediate family has diabetes. It saddens me even more when I ask them if they have diabetes and they answer me, “Not yet” or “Todavia no.”

We cannot afford to wait any longer to take action.

Inaugural LCHC Advocacy Day Highlights Policy Priorities for Latino Health

Shayla Spilker, Health Policy Communications Manager, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California
April 14, 2015

The Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC) is hosting our first advocacy day at the Capitol on April 28th. We invite partners and friends to join us in Sacramento to advocate for four priority bills that will help improve the health of our communities across California. We will be visiting legislators to discuss:

  • AB 1321 (Ting) aims to create access to fresh, California-grown fruits and vegetables for low-income families. 
  • AB 1357 (Bloom) will increase access to clean drinking water and generate support for community-based diabetes prevention programs. 
  • SB 4 (Lara) will extend access to health care for all regardless of immigration status  
  • SB 23 (Mitchell) will generate critical support through CalWORKS for families with small children.

The day will be an opportunity to learn more about LCHC’s policy agenda and participate in fun events, but we’ll also break up into small groups so that we can prep participants on how the legislative advocacy process works and ensure that everyone feels confident speaking with their representatives. We hope you’ll join us for this important day!

Info on the day’s schedule and events below:

Your Letters Needed TODAY to Curb Diabetes Epidemic!

Kimberly Chen, State Policy Director, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
April 13, 2015

You can help advance legislation to stem the growth of diabetes and promote healthy options to consumers. Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death in California and continues to disproportionately impact communities of color. Two legislative proposals are seeking to help make consumers aware of the health problems associated with sugar-sweetened drinks and to promote healthy alternatives. Please send in your letter of support for AB 1357 (Bloom) and SB 203 (Monning).

Letters of support must be received by this Wednesday, April 15th, so please download and send in your letter TODAY.

AB 1357 (Bloom) would require a 2-cents-per-ounce fee on sugary drinks, which would allow the state to invest in communities that are disproportionately impacted by type 2 diabetes and related sugary drink consumption diseases. Download a sample letter of support for AB 1357.

  • Hearing Date: April 21, 1:30 PM, Room 4202
    Assembly Health Committee

SB 203 (Monning) would require a warning label on sugar-sweetened beverages sold in California. Download a sample letter of support for SB 203.