Los Angeles, CA — Congresswoman Maxine Waters brought the crowd to its feet Saturday at the 25th Annual KJLH Women’s Health Expo, delivering a powerful call to action on women’s health, government accountability, and the future of democracy. Speaking before a packed audience, Waters honored the legacy of the Expo while sharply criticizing proposed federal cuts to health care programs under the Trump administration.
The KJLH Women’s Health Expo, founded and hosted by legendary musician and radio station owner Stevie Wonder, has become one of California’s largest health events dedicated to women and families. This year’s theme — “The Silver Lining: 25 Years of Building Generational Health” — celebrated the Expo’s continued mission to connect communities with vital health, wellness, and lifestyle resources.
“Each year since the Expo was founded, I am so pleased to join KLJH in advancing the health and wellness of women and families,” Waters stated. “The founders of this Expo knew that women wanted information about their health and needed better connections with health care providers, so that they could take control of their health and the health of their families.”
Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, used the platform to raise alarms about the Trump administration’s proposed budget, which includes over $30 billion in cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services — a reduction she described as “cruel and senseless.”
“This budget would dismantle the life-saving programs that enable Americans to stay healthy,” she said, citing potential harm to NIH research, CDC disease prevention, substance use treatment through SAMHSA, and workforce training for future health professionals.
In a speech that was equal parts passionate and urgent, Waters encouraged attendees to become more politically engaged in the face of what she described as an existential threat to public institutions.
“We have to be out there in the streets,” she declared. “We need to make our voices heard and show that we won’t stand silently by while they take away our benefits and destroy our government. Trump’s relentless assault on our institutions and individual freedoms is not just dangerous; it is a coup in slow motion.”
The Expo featured hundreds of exhibitors and offered free health screenings, wellness panels, and educational sessions, underscoring the commitment of KJLH and its partners to empower women with knowledge and access.
As the event marked its 25th year, Congresswoman Waters’ remarks served as both a celebration of progress and a sobering reminder of the political stakes ahead.
“We all must be committed to defending our democracy before it’s too late,” she concluded.
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