Our kids' health is so especially important. That's why I've worked to protect our youngest children from dangerous chemicals and demand the federal government renew the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). As a member of the Health Committee, I have focused on improving children's health with product safety initiatives, measures to protect health care coverage, and a focus on oral and vision care that is too often overlooked.

A few examples:

Authored ACR 28 which declares February 22 through 28, 2009 and February 21 through 27, 2010 as Eating Disorders Awareness Weeks.
Sponsor: National Eating Disorders Association

Authored AB 543 which will improve pregnancy outcomes of first-time families by establishing the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) pilot program to place nurses with low-income first-time parents in the first two years of infancy.
Sponsor: Nurse-Family Partnership

Authored AB 684 which will protect consumers and dentists by ensuring that dentists receive prompt payments from dental insurance plans by incrementally increasing the interest penalty for non-payment.
Sponsor: California Dental Association

Authored AB 245 which will protect doctors and patients by requiring the Medical Board of California (MBC) to publish only factually proven information on accusations and investigations.
Sponsor: Union of American Physicians and Dentists

Authored AB 1108, which passed the Legislature, to protect children from dangerous chemicals called phthalates, which cause reproductive harm and could lead to cancer.

Authored AJR 19, calling on California's federal legislative delegation to renew the State Child Health Insurance Program. Facing President Bush's veto threat for this critical legislation, helped organize legislators to send a letter urging its renewal.

Co-authored AB 834 to improve California's dental disease prevention program to increase quality dental care for children and youth.

Principal co-author of SB 468 to address the shaken baby syndrome in California by providing parents and the public with critical information on how to prevent infant injury.

Helped lead San Francisco's efforts to expand health insurance coverage to young people ages 18-24 to ensure that health coverage would continue through college.