Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) has invited Dr. Ilan Shapiro, a community health pediatrician serving underserved children in Los Angeles, to attend President Donald Trump's address to Congress on March 4, 2025. Dr. Shapiro's work includes caring for patients who rely on Medicaid for their health care needs, including kids in Gomez’s district in East LA.

The Republican-controlled House recently passed a budget proposal that could include $880 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade, which would impact millions of Americans who receive health care through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

“President Trump and House Republicans are pushing to cut health care for 425,000 people in my district, and Dr. Ilan Shapiro knows firsthand what's at stake for working families,” said Rep. Gomez. “He has dedicated his life to keeping our children healthy by providing essential services to working class families who would be negatively impacted by cuts to essential federal programs and laws like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. That's why I'm bringing him to the presidential address this year.”

“Medicaid funding not only ensures that 37 million children in our country have access to care but also covers specific funding for critical programs for children addressing mental health and children with disabilities. As a pediatrician, I can tell you that if my Medicaid patients lose access or have to pay increased costs in care, the impacts will be long lasting and detrimental to their lives, their families, and their communities. I thank Rep. Gomez, for the invitation to bring my voice to DC, and with me the voice of over 16 million Medicaid patients served by Community Health Centers throughout the nation,” said Dr. Ilan Shapiro, a community health pediatrician in East Los Angeles.

Dr. Shapiro has developed and led health programs aimed at expanding access to healthcare and improving patient outcomes. During the pandemic, he leveraged digital platforms to connect patients with essential health resources, including support groups, weight management programs, long-term care services, food assistance, and social support networks. His commitment to patient advocacy has earned him national recognition, including the American Academy of Pediatrics Holroyd-Sherry Award for his leadership in delivering critical children's health information through media. Dr. Shapiro has also served as a liaison between Mexico and the World Health Organization (WHO) and was invited to join the White House Hispanic Policy Group in 2011, where he helped raise awareness about the Affordable Care Act and its benefits for Latino communities.

Rep. Jimmy Gomez has been fighting to protect health care access for working families. As President Trump and House Republicans push to dismantle these programs, Gomez remains committed to standing up for LA families and ensuring they continue to receive the health care they deserve. Last month, Gomez rallied more than a dozen LA health clinic providers to highlight the devastating impact of Trump Republicans’ plan to gut Medicaid, cutting Medi-Cal funding and putting 425,000 people in CA-34 at risk of losing basic health care.

###