• Noreen’s View:  Fighting Cancer, Saving Lives
• Chile’s President Visits Sacramento
• Budget Update
• Wine, Women & Shoes
• Noreen Sends Governor Bills to Help Local Businesses and Charities
• An Eye on the Governor

Noreen’s View:  Fighting Cancer, Saving Lives

California has the highest incidence of cervical cancer in the nation.  The real tragedy is that this disease is largely preventable.  With a vaccine against the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes cervical cancer, we have a historic opportunity to save countless lives.

So that all women can obtain the vaccine, I’ve authored Assembly Bill (AB) 16 with Assemblymember Ed Hernandez, MD (D-West Covina) to require insurers and health plans to cover the cost of the vaccine if they already cover cervical cancer screenings like the Pap test.  The Governor vetoed a similar bill that I authored last year, AB 1429.

I reintroduced this critical legislation because I believe in persistence when the cause is right and just.  And, California’s women can’t wait.  Each year, more than 1,400 are diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 400 will die from the disease.

Two years ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the widespread use of an extremely effective vaccine against the two strains of HPV which cause most cases of cervical cancer.  However, current law fails to protect millions of women and girls throughout the state by only requiring coverage of the vaccine for girls aged sixteen years or younger who belong to group plans.

The vaccine requires three doses which cost approximately $120 each.  Naturally, those least likely to be able to afford the vaccine are those most likely to develop cervical cancer.  As with so many other diseases, low-income women and women of color are woefully overrepresented in cervical cancer mortality rates.

In his veto message for AB 1429 last year, the Governor argued that this mandate on insurance companies would drive up premiums, making health insurance less affordable and more inaccessible.  However, the Governor’s rationale doesn’t hold up.  Most insurers and health plans already cover the vaccine.  Also, the vaccine is a one-time expense that would prevent billions in long-term health care costs associated with cervical cancer treatment.

I intend to send AB 16 back to the Governor in the coming weeks.  It has gained an outpouring of support from both sides of the aisle and a variety of advocates within the medical community.  If passed by the Legislature, the Governor will be presented with a decision that means the difference between life and death for thousands of women throughout the state.

We hold the key in our hands to prevent nearly all cases of cervical cancer.  We know vaccinations work.  Imagine how different a place California would be if mumps and whooping cough continued to ravage our children.  Imagine the outrage if the now commonplace vaccinations for these and other ailments weren’t part of our basic health plans.  HPV should be no different.

We can help secure a healthy future for all women and girls in California by making cervical cancer a disease of the past.  If you’d like to contact the Governor and urge his support of AB 16, you may do so by clicking here.

Chile’s President Visits Sacramento

I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle Bachelet, President of Republic of Chile, on June 12th when she spoke to the State Assembly.

In a year when Americans debated the prospect of having the first woman serve as our President, it was a timely opportunity to meet President Bachelet, the first woman in Chile to hold its highest office.  Bachelet has served as President of Chile since 2006. 

A physician, advocate for children, and her nation’s first female Minister of Defense, Bachelet’s life is an inspiring story for women.  During our visit, we discussed education, sustainable development, and Chile’s growing wine industry.

For more information about Chile, please visit http://www.chileangovernment.cl.

Budget Update

A frustrating ritual has repeated itself:  our state budget is late.

Our challenge this year is enormous and there are no easy choices.  We must close a $17 billion budget gap, roughly one-sixth of our entire General Fund.  Democrats support a combination of new revenues with spending cuts.  Republicans support a cuts-only approach.  And, without Republican support, we cannot pass a budget.

Notwithstanding Republican arguments to the contrary, California has a revenue problem.  Voters have clearly told us through the initiative process that they want after school programs for kids, reliable public transit, quality K - 12 education, mental health services, children’s health care and local government services.  These aren't just Democratic priorities.  They are voter mandates that cost money to provide.  Our challenge in Sacramento is to find how to fund these and other services that voters demand.

For information about the impacts of a late state budget on state government services, please visit this website.

Wine, Women & Shoes

High heels can be both cute and uncomfortable!  But I “modeled through” last Sunday for a good cause at the Wine, Women & Shoes benefit at St. Supéry Vineyards and Winery, in Rutherford.

The benefit featured a shoe fashion show, local wines, a live and silent auction, and the "Sip-n-Shop" boutique, where guests previewed the season's hottest shoes and accessories.  All proceeds benefited Planned Parenthood: Shasta-Diablo, the affiliate serving the Napa Valley.

Wine, Woman & Shoes was conceived by Napa Valley vintner, Elaine Honig.  Since its inception, some 20 events have taken place across the country, with over 6,000 attendees, and have raised more than $2.5 million for women's and children's causes.

For more information, please visit http://winewomenandshoes.com/.

Noreen Sends Governor Bills to Help Local Businesses and Charities

I recently sent the Governor a package of legislation that will help our local businesses and charities.

The wine industry drives our economy in the North Bay.  Millions of people visit wine country each year and enjoy picnicking with wine at winery picnic grounds.  Turns out these picnics aren’t legal!  AB 2004 makes it legal to enjoy a glass of wine in winery picnic grounds.  It is supported by the Wine Institute and the Family Winemakers of California.

4.7 million people visit the Napa Valley each year to sample our world class food and wine.  To help local restaurants meet the growing demand, AB 2266 directs the state to issue five new liquor licenses a year for three years to Napa County restaurants.  AB 2266 is supported by the Napa County Board of Supervisors and the Napa Chamber of Commerce.

As our economy slows, the demands on local charities increase.  Our laws should make it easy for the wine industry, which has a history of being extremely generous, to partner with non-profits supporting important causes.  AB 1964 will help non-profit organizations raise much needed funds by allowing them to host three wine dinners and wine auctions per year.  The bill also allows non-profits to temporarily store wine before such events.  AB 1964 is supported by the Wine Institute, the Family Winemakers of California, the California Association of Nonprofits, and the Napa Valley Coalition of Nonprofit Agencies.

Further information about this legislation is available at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.

An Eye on the Governor

On June 30, the Governor signed AB 1252 by Assemblymember Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), which will expedite $300 million in funding for important transportation and housing projects across California.  This funding will stimulate our economy, create thousands of jobs, and help workers who have been hit especially hard by the mortgage crisis and housing slowdown.

On June 27, the Governor urged the President to declare an emergency for the State of California as a result of the many fires burning across the state.  The Governor requested direct federal assistance, debris removal, and emergency protective measures - including air and ground firefighting resources, evacuation operations and sheltering of displaced people and animals.

On June 21, the Governor ordered the California National Guard to assist in combating the wildfires burning throughout Northern California.

On June 4, the Governor proclaimed a statewide drought and issued an Executive Order to expedite existing grant programs to help local water districts and agencies improve water efficiency and conservation, coordinate with other state and federal agencies and departments to assist water suppliers, and help farmers suffering losses.

Appointments of Note:

Richard Cuneo, of Sonoma, has been appointed to the California Exposition and State Fair Board of Directors.  He previously served on the board of directors from 1997 to 2002. Cuneo has served as chair of the board of Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery since 1974.  Cuneo is a member of the Sonoma Valley Grape Growers Association, California Farm Bureau, Audubon Society, and Ducks Unlimited.