LOS ANGELES -- The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), the largest immigrant rights organization in California, cheers Gov. Gavin Newsom's announced commitments to finish the job of ensuring the health of all Californians, regardless of immigration status, in announcing his draft 2022 state budget today. We are also encouraged by his commitment to ensuring that all Californians have access to food through expansion of Food For All programs for senior Californians, regardless of their immigration status, and for outlays for COVID-19 pandemic response and to help new arrivals at the border. We also celebrate budget commitments that help integrate immigrants and strengthen programs for undocumented students. All are crucial to preparing all Californians to contribute to the state's prosperity. Some details: - $819.3 million ($613.5 million from the general fund) in 2023-24 and $2.7 billion ($2.2 billion from the general fund) annually at full implementation, to expand full-scope eligibility to all income-eligible adults ages 26-49 regardless of immigration status. As of January 1, 2024, Medi-Cal will be available to all Californians who qualify.
- $35.2 million in general fund money for planning, increasing to $113.4 million yearly in 2025-26, to expand the CFAP program to Californians age 55 and older, regardless of immigration status.
- $74 million from the general fund to help the California Department of Public Health fight COVID-19, as well as humanitarian aid for for newly arrived migrants in border communities.
- $11.6 million in general fund money this year, and $500,000 yearly thereafter, to coordinate and innovate immigrant integration across state agencies.
- $2.7 billion to increase stipends for the Cal Grant B Dreamer Service Incentive Grant program to increase participant stipends from the equivalent of a The governor’s proposal includes $2.7 billion to be implemented by January 1, 2024 at the earliest.
- $30 million to the Employment Development Department’s Workforce Services branch to expand English language learner pilots in the integrated education and training programs to 15 sites across the state.
Please attribute the following statements to Angelica Salas, CHIRLA executive director: "We look forward to working with Gov. Newsom to move this significant expansion of MediCal to those in our community who truly need it. California's aging, undocumented residents need health care, as does everyone. This is a significant step that reaffirms our belief that health care is a human right." "Likewise, we are gratified by the significant expansion of food benefits for senior Californians, regardless of immigration status. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on immigrants' food security, and this contribution ensures they are prepared to give their best to this state. "In addition to the monumental investments in our social safety net we welcome investment in language access programs and efforts to strengthen access to workforce development programs. Ensuring that the information needed to advance in the current workforce is available in multiple languages and meets people where they are is a key to unlocking economic mobility. "These budget priorities reflect Gov. Newsom's commitment to renewing and strengthening California's tradition of welcoming immigrants. We will advance these and other important budget items with lawmakers in Sacramento as we look to the May revision and final budget in June. We are honored to be partners in this work, to ensure all of us can unlock all the benefits of California's golden promise." ### | 
