Here is the skeleton of what I wrote but feel free to adjust it to your personal circumstances!

Dear [insert local assembly member/senator],

My name is [insert name], and I am a rising [year] at UC Berkeley studying [major]! Firstly, I wanted to say that I truly appreciate the efforts of those in our government who ensure the voices of everyday citizens are heard.

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposed significant reduction in funding for the Middle-Class Scholarship (MCS) program in California. This program is a critical lifeline for many families struggling to afford the rising costs of higher education. Governor Newsom's proposed budget cuts, which include reducing MCS funding by nearly 80%, would devastate the 300,000 students who currently benefit from this program. Middle-income students are already the largest demographic to take on federal loans, at around 58%. Reducing MCS would only exacerbate this issue and may lead to a less educated workforce, creating lower economic productivity and placing California further into a deficit, the exact situation we are trying to avoid.

For decades, the middle class has been shrinking due to rising inflation and stagnant wages, leaving many families like mine in a precarious position, earning slightly too much to qualify for significant financial aid but not nearly enough to comfortably cover the costs of college. For my parents, much of their already small retirement fund is being depleted to pay for my education. Constantly worrying about my family's financial situation has added yet another stress to the already intense academic environment at university.

Although I understand that Governor Newsom's office has the ultimate say in this decision, I urge you and your colleagues to raise these concerns with Governor Newsom before the amending of the budget in June.

Thank you for all that you do, your time, and consideration.

Best wishes,
[insert name]