Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove hosts South LA town hall on health care affordability, accessibility

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Amid growing concerns over a possible government shutdown next month, Democratic Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove hosted an in-person town hall in South Los Angeles on Wednesday to discuss health care affordability, accessibility and equity.

Prescription drug price negotiations, affirmative action and the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe vs. Wade were also among the topics discussed at the meeting.

Kamlager-Dove said she wanted to hear from her constituents before heading back to Washington amid congressional debate over the budget that includes health care funding.

"Health care is not a blue issue, it's not a red issue, it's a human issue," Kamlager-Dove told ABC7.

"I decided to hold this town hall because constituents were calling me all the time, saying: 'Are you going to protect my health care?' 'Drug prescription costs are so high,'" Kamlager-Dove said.

The program comes as Congress faces a deadline to keep the government funded and avoid a shutdown.

"Over 360,000 Californians now have access to health care because of this administration -- over 33,000 folks in my district alone," Kamlager-Dove said. "When I go back, we have to protect all of that. If we shut down the government, that means my constituents may not have access to health care."

Attendees at the town hall submitted questions on topics from maternal health to mental health and resource access -- finding it important to make their voices heard.

"I think it's very monumental that we are having the discussion today in the 37th District, because it is an income area that is sometimes considered depressed or in need of more resources," said Tracy Sanders of the California Black Women's Health Project.

The event comes as the country faces a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases. First lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID on Monday.

The latest data from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health shows a rise in positive cases over the seven-day period ending Aug. 26.

"The public health emergency is over, but COVID is still around, which means we need to take reasonable steps to protect ourselves and our communities," said Dr. Jerry Abraham, director of Kedren vaccines at the Kedren Community Health Center, where the town hall was held.