In a Santa Cruz Sentinel opinion piece, state Assembly Committee on Health Chair Bill Monning (D-Carmel) writes that the federal health reform law "represents a monumental step forward in the promotion of health and health care access for all." According to Monning, for those "who would have otherwise been denied health treatment coverage, the [law] has indeed been transformative, and for some, life-saving." He writes that he and his colleagues plan to "develop policies that will assist consumers and advance health promotion and wellness in our state."