January 2012 Newsletter
Dear Friend,
The new year brings many new opportunities and challenges.
In terms of opportunities, the deadline for applying for a 2012 Cal Grant is March 2. With nearly 400,000 California high school seniors graduating in 2012, we need to aggressively raise awareness about the availability of Cal Grants as an option for financial aid to low- and middle-income students. Cal Grants provide financial assistance to students and because they are grants, they do not have to be paid back. Cal Grants are available to California resident students who wish to attend two or four-year colleges or are pursuing technical education and can be used to cover fees, tuition and living expenses. For more information, please click here or see below.
The new year also brings challenges. Chief among these challenges is California's budget situation. Working with my colleagues, I am confident that we will once again produce an on-time budget that protects the priorities of working families in the 53rd District and throughout California.
As always, please know that we are happy to be of service if you need assistance with any state or local issue. The district office can be reached at (310) 615-3515.
The very best to you and yours in 2012,
Betsy Butler
Assemblymember, 53rd District
LATEST NEWS IN THE 53RD DISTRICT
New Cal Grant Information
 March 2, 2012 is the deadline for applying for Cal Grants.
The Cal Grant Program ensures that any qualified student will not be turned away from a college education because they cannot pay. Additionally, 50,000 competitive grants are awarded to deserving students each year.
Recent Democratic legislation signed by the Governor has expanded and improved the program. These bills include:
AB 130, also known as the California Dream Act of 2011, makes undocumented students who are exempt from paying out-of-state fees at California's public higher education institutions eligible to receive scholarships that are funded by non-state funds.
Its companion bill, AB 131, allows students who qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities, regardless of immigration status, to be eligible for institutional financial aid awards, starting January 1, 2013.
Finally, SB 451 of 2011, requires the California Student Aid Commission to give priority to Cal Grant C students pursuing training in fields with high employment growth, high need, high demand and/or high wages.
Click here for more information on the Cal Grant Program.
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Honoring Our Veterans
 Over 1.6 million men and women have served inOperation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF/OIF) to date. Almost half of those service members are married and many have dependent children under the age of five. In today's unique combat situation, we know that the wounds of war are not limited to the battlefield. Because individuals are serving as many as four deployments which are longer in duration than in the past and the fact that service members and families are asked to give more because of our all-volunteer military, our understanding of the needs of our returning service people are at present undefined and unclear.
The U.S. Army has launched a formal campaign through Army OneSource to encourage civilian and behavioral health providers to complete a FREE online course in the series titled, "Treating the Invisible Wounds of War." This series of courses was designed to help primary care physicians, case workers, mental health providers, and other professionals - who may see a veteran or family member on an unrelated issue - develop a better understanding of the culture in which service members and veterans, as well as their families, live and work. The course also provides best practices for identifying, assessing, and treating behavioral health problems resulting from the trauma of war.
For more information, visit the Citizen Solider Support Program (CSSP).
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Hero of the Month
 This month, Tree Musketeers was presented with Assemblymember Butler's Hero Award. Tree Musketeers is the nation's first youth-led environmental nonprofit and was founded in 1987 by Brownie Girl Scouts. Since its founding, the organization has been working around the world to accomplish its mission of empowering young people to be environmental leaders. With their current campaign, the 3 x 3 Campaign, Tree Musketeers is hoping to inspire 3 million kids to plant 3 million trees around the world. Additionally, the organization's events and programs are educating our community's youth about leadership and environmental stewardship.
To find out more, visit the Tree Musketeers website.
In the photo in order of appearance:
Raquel Gerard (Volunteer), Stephanie Molen Asm. Butler District Director, Adam Gerard (Past Tree Musketeers President), Julian Poyourow (Current Tree Musketeers President)
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Cervical Health Awareness Month
 The United States Congress designates January as Cervical Health Awareness Month as part of an effort to enable women to discuss this issue with their health-care providers.
Current state law requires health plans and insurers cover all vaccines recommended by the federal government, for girls who are 11 or 12 years old, including vaccinations against HPV.
Federal health care reform (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA) also requires health plans and insurers to provide preventive care (including recommended vaccinations and cervical cancer screening) with no copays or deductibles. California is leading the country in implementing federal health care reform and coverage expansions through the creation of the nation's first Exchange with AB 1602 (Perez) of 2010 and coverage expansion through AB 1692 (Bonilla) of 2011.
State law also established the Every Woman Counts Program, which provides free clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams and pap smear tests to California's underserved women.
If you would like more information on preventing cervical cancer, please visit the National Cervical Cancer Coalition's website.
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Upcoming Events
VETERANS RESOURCE TOWN HALL
Friday, February 24, 2012
3 - 4:30 p.m.
Santa Monica Community College
Bundy Campus - RM 123
3171 S. Bundy Dr.
Los Angeles, CA
Click here for more information or call (310) 615-5315.
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