Yuba County representatives visit the Capitol May 29 to advocate for tobacco free communities. Photo courtesy of Yuba County

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Representatives from Yuba County Health and Human Services, First 5 Yuba County and Blue Zones Project Yuba Sutter took to the Capitol on May 29 to discuss with state legislatures the impact tobacco has on our community. This two-day event, hosted by the American Heart Association, is called Information and Education Days (I&E Days) and brings together advocates from across California. 

During I&E Days, members of the Yuba County Community Health Action Team (CHAT) joined forces to meet with Senator Roger Niello and staff of Assemblyman James Gallagher. The discussion focused on the unique challenges faced by rural communities in the fight against tobacco addiction and the urgent need for continued legislative support. 

"Californians today pay a staggering $3.8 billion to the Medi-Cal program specifically to cover the costs of tobacco-related illnesses,” shares Juliya Tkachenko, a Program Aide with HHS. “This event was a unique experience to educate our policymakers on tobacco-related initiatives and bring to light the very real struggles we are facing today.”

I&E Days provides a vital platform for Californians to engage directly with their legislators, sharing personal stories and data to highlight the harms of commercial tobacco use. “We thank Senator Niello and Assemblyman Gallagher for their time and attention to this cause,” added Tkachenko.