Health Care & Abortion

I support the right to safe, legal abortion access under the terms set out in the Roe v. Wade.    I believe every person should have access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health care services, including access to safe and legal abortion services.    Access to abortion is legal, constitutionally protected, and consistently supported by a majority of Americans.

I oppose all barriers to abortion access.   I believe Abortion services should be regulated similarly to other comparable procedures.    I am against any restrictions on abortion access including restrictions on; providers, facilities, and drugs related to abortion services.

I believe in, and support, public funding (federal, state, and local) of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion services, for all individuals.   

I support additional investments needed to expand access to care for in and out-of-state patients.

The right to safe, legal abortion services is meaningless without affordable access to those services.   According to a new Guttmacher report, if 26 states banned abortion there would be a nearly 3,000% increase in out-of-state patients who would find their nearest health center in California.    

Over one-third of all Fresnans are enrolled in the Medi-Cal system.

I support increasing reimbursement rates and ensuring Californians have timely access to the care they need and deserve.   Recently significant progress has been made to ensure state funding is budgeted to increase the rates.    This does not mean everyone now has the access to Health Care they need. 

There is a continuous need to further ensure that funding is available and should be a priority.   Central Valley Medi-Cal providers will not be able to meet growing demand and will be forced to make impossible decisions without prioritizing continued investment in County Medi-Cal services.   

I support a minor’s right to access confidential services.   This access includes family planning, abortion, prenatal care, and sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment.

I believe in the power of communication and have found most teens involve their parents in important life decisions.    Parents rightfully want to be involved in their children's lives, yet this isn't always possible due to a teen's fear of violence or being kicked out of their home based on their personal Health Care decisions.

Californians have voted three times to protect teen safety by upholding a teen's ability to confidentially access services.    Often without confidential access to sensitive services they need if they would forgo treatment.    

Based on my experience as a Fresno County Social Worker I fully believe in and support current California law allowing students, aged 12 and older, to be released confidentially from school to obtain confidential services related to sexual and reproductive health, drug and alcohol abuse treatment, and mental health services. 

Perhaps, if homeless teens had the opportunity to exercise the right to access health care services we wouldn't find so many of them living on the streets.

An overwhelming majority of Californians support teaching comprehensive sexual health education in our schools.  California has some of the strongest laws ensuring that students receive comprehensive, age-appropriate, medically accurate sexuality and HIV/AIDS education in schools that is free of racial, ethnic, and gender bias information.   

I support the continued active monitoring, enforcement, and funding of current California laws requiring sex ed. 

I support requiring any health care entity that receives public funding (like hospitals) to provide or refer patients for comprehensive reproductive health care services including abortion and gender confirmation surgery. 

I support requiring all California health insurance plans to provide coverage for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care including abortion services.

I support enacting and enforcing laws that protect reproductive health care providers, their staff, patients, and their families from violence, intimidation, and harassment both at health centers and at their homes.