At United Way, our mission has never been about politics—it’s about people. We’ve stood with communities through challenge and change for more than a century. Now, we face a moment that calls each of us to act.

Federal lawmakers are advancing the “Big Beautiful Bill,” but behind the name is a troubling reality: It proposes sweeping cuts to programs that keep families afloat. If passed, it could jeopardize children’s access to food, seniors’ access to medicine and the health of our entire community system.

Here in our region, we believe no child should go to bed hungry, no senior should choose between food and medication, and no working family should be pushed to the brink. This bill undermines those values.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, nearly 11 million people across the country could lose health coverage if the bill becomes law. Researchers at Yale and the University of Pennsylvania estimate that more than 51,000 additional people could die each year as a result of these cuts. These aren’t just statistics. These are our neighbors, coworkers and loved ones—real people with real lives who will bear the burden of this bill.

Here in California, more than 3.8 million families already struggle to meet basic needs, even while working full-time jobs. Programs like SNAP, Medicaid and the Child Tax Credit don’t just offer relief—they offer stability. They prevent hunger, keep families housed and allow children to succeed in school while their parents hold onto their jobs.

And let’s be clear: Cuts to Medicaid won’t just hurt those who rely on it directly. Medicaid keeps our health infrastructure running. It helps fund pediatric care, mental health services and school nurses. It keeps rural hospitals open and ensures nursing homes have the support they need. When Medicaid is gutted, we all feel the impact. Emergency rooms get overwhelmed. Insurance premiums rise. Local clinics shut down. The health of our entire community is put at risk.

In our region alone:

72,355 households with children rely on SNAP to eat dinner tonight.

646,040 working families count on the Child or Earned Income Tax Credits to afford school supplies and child care.

1,291,688 of our neighbors receive life-saving care because Medicaid helps fund their health clinic.

Think about what this means for families right here at home. A mother in West Sacramento using the Child Tax Credit to afford reliable transportation—so she can get to work and keep food on the table. A retired veteran in Placerville finally managing his diabetes because of access to Medicaid. A young boy in Rocklin relying on a free school lunch during the week and a local food pantry on weekends to stay fed. These stories remind us: behind every program cut is a family facing harder choices.

If this bill passes, we will see an immediate spike in families seeking emergency assistance for food, rent and medical care. Our nonprofit and faith-based communities are already doing everything they can, but this legislation would push those systems beyond their limits and unravel the safety nets that hold our communities together.

Budgets reflect our priorities. They are moral documents that speak to who we are and what we value. And this bill sends the wrong message. It says we are willing to sacrifice our children, our seniors and our neighbors in the name of cost-cutting—without regard for the consequences.

We can do better. And we must.

I’m asking you to raise your voice. Call your representative. Send an email. Share this message with someone in your life. You can find your member of Congress at www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member.

Tell them: “This bill will harm my neighbors, my family and my community. The cuts are too deep, the timeline is too fast, and the consequences are too dangerous.” At United Way, we’ll continue to advocate for policies grounded in compassion and opportunity so all can thrive. But we cannot do this alone. We need your voice, your action and your heart.

Together, we can protect what matters most.

Dr. Dawnté Early is president and CEO of United Way California Capital Region and the first Black city council member in West Sacramento. She holds a doctorate in human development from UC Davis and previously worked with the Department of Public Health and Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.