The Record · California
Laura Friedman
CA-30 · Democrat · House
The short version
Laura Friedman helped women and families in all 4 votes we track.
What helped most
Voted against the 2025 law that cut Medicaid.
What it means for herShe's 24, works part-time in Ohio with no insurance from her job, and hopes to have a baby someday. Medicaid pays for about 4 in 10 U.S. births. Starting in 2027 in most states, she must show 80 hours of work a month. If a slow month or a lost form cuts her off, she loses coverage before she is even pregnant. Source: KFF, 2025
Voted against adding prison time for health workers to a born-alive law that already exists.
What it means for herShe's 22 weeks pregnant and just learned her baby has a fatal condition. Only 1.1% of U.S. abortions happen at 21 weeks or later. If her baby is born alive after an abortion, this bill would make her doctor send the baby to a hospital right away, even if it cannot survive, or face up to five years in prison. Source: CDC, Abortion Surveillance, 2024
Voted against forcing penalties, up to cutting off child care money, on states that break program rules.
What it means for herShe's 26, a single mom who works at a nursing home. A state subsidy pays for her son's day care. About 1.3 million children get this help each month. When a state breaks the program's rules, this bill would force extra penalties, which can include cutting off its grant. If her state lost it, she could lose her help. Source: Administration for Children and Families, 2026
Every vote we track
Helped women and families3
- Voted noThe 2025 law that cut MedicaidWhat it means for herShe's 24, works part-time in Ohio with no insurance from her job, and hopes to have a baby someday. Medicaid pays for about 4 in 10 U.S. births. Starting in 2027 in most states, she must show 80 hours of work a month. If a slow month or a lost form cuts her off, she loses coverage before she is even pregnant. Source: KFF, 2025
Details
Official title: H.R.1 — 2025 reconciliation, Medicaid cuts (concur in Senate amendment, enacted)From the official House roll call (2025–26, Roll Call 190): voted NAY.official roll call - Voted noAdding prison time to an existing born-alive lawWhat it means for herShe's 22 weeks pregnant and just learned her baby has a fatal condition. Only 1.1% of U.S. abortions happen at 21 weeks or later. If her baby is born alive after an abortion, this bill would make her doctor send the baby to a hospital right away, even if it cannot survive, or face up to five years in prison. Source: CDC, Abortion Surveillance, 2024
Details
Official title: H.R.21 — Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (House passage)From the official House roll call (2025–26, Roll Call 27): voted NAY.official roll call - Voted noCutting child care money to states over rule-breakingWhat it means for herShe's 26, a single mom who works at a nursing home. A state subsidy pays for her son's day care. About 1.3 million children get this help each month. When a state breaks the program's rules, this bill would force extra penalties, which can include cutting off its grant. If her state lost it, she could lose her help. Source: Administration for Children and Families, 2026
Details
Official title: H.R.7726 — No Funds for Repeat Child Care Violations Act (House passage)From the official House roll call (2025–26, Roll Call 198): voted NAY.official roll call
Shown for context, not counted1
- Voted noAn immigration bill named after violence against womenShown for context. It is an immigration bill, so it does not count.
Details
Official title: H.R.30 — Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act (House passage)Shown for context, not scored. From the official House roll call (2025–26, Roll Call 17): voted NAY.official roll call
How we count
We wrote down which bills and nominations count, and why, before we scored anyone. A vote counts as hurting women and families when it takes away care, coverage, safety or rights, and as helping when it protects them. A missed vote never counts against anyone. Money and court cases are shown, but never change the grade.