Women’s Caucus Releases Statement on Governor Newsom’s Proposed Budget

Jan 10, 2023
Contact: 
Sulema Landa, Sulema.Landa@asm.ca.gov

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Napa), Vice-Chair of the Legislative
Women’s Caucus, released the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2023-24
January budget proposal:

“I congratulate Governor Newsom on the release of his 2023-24 January Budget Proposal. I am pleased it
safeguards investments the Women’s Caucus has championed to improve the lives of women, children,
and families in California. Specifically, the significant investments made in previous years to boost early
care and education for our children ages 0-4, expand reproductive health care, and help bring women back
into the workforce were either maintained or increased in what the Governor proposed today.

“However, considering the significant challenges that California families face in accessing safe,
affordable and quality child care, and the importance of child care to our economic workforce, California
desperately needs to continue prioritizing investments that increase pay for child care workers, fees to
childcare providers, and subsidies to low-income families. Improving the state’s early childhood care and
education has long been a priority of the Legislative Women’s Caucus. The fact that the current number
of families accessing slots is under-subscribed cannot be explained as a lack of demand. Delaying the
availability of this critical funding means fewer services are available for all who need childcare and the
loss of the economic opportunity families can only access if childcare is available.

“As the Legislature moves through the budget process, the Women’s Caucus will work to ensure that
every aspect of the budget addresses the unique challenges faced by women and girls in our state, with a
special emphasis on those challenges faced by women and girls who have been marginalized.”
“I look forward to working with our LWC colleagues to craft our priorities for this year’s budget, and
work with our Assembly and Senate Leadership, and the Governor’s office, to achieve a final budget that
achieves those goals.”

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