Dear Friends,

During last week’s House recess I was back in the district sounding the alarm on the damage Trump and Congressional Republicans have inflicted on two cornerstones of well-being for every family — their health and education.

House Republican plans to raid Medicaid to fund tax cuts for billionaires and the Trump Administration’s illegal and reckless attempt to dismantle the Department of Education his Administration’s will harm every Virginia family. Keep reading for the latest on what’s happening in Washington and how I am fighting back to preserve our communities’ well-being and our children’s future.

STANDING UP FOR VIRIGINIANS’ HEALTH CARE

Earlier this month, an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the budget plan adopted by House Republicans to fund tax cuts for billionaires like Elon Musk cannot be implemented without slashing Medicaid. House Democrats across the country sounded the alarm last Tuesday with a Medicaid Day of Action.

I stood alongside State Senator Ghazala Hashmi (SD-15), Delegate Mark Sickles (HD-17), and advocates in our local health care community to defend Medicaid and the critical care it provides for 1.8 million Virignians and outline how the House Republican plan will harm Virginia patients, providers, and the economy. In particular, we highlighted how 630,000 of our neighbors covered by Medicaid expansion would lose their health insurance due to these cuts.

Community leader Aida Pacheco shared her daughter's story, highlighting the real-world consequences of these proposed cuts. Diagnosed with breast cancer at 43, she tried to continue working part-time until the debilitating effects of chemotherapy made it impossible. Now, she relies on Medicaid to cover her life-saving care.

Small business-owner Katina Moss shared her story of having to reduce her work hours to care for her elderly mother and how Medicaid expansion has been a lifeline for her to continue her own care in the process.

Aida and Katina’s determination is a testament to the many challenges so many face when they fall sick, lose a job, or start a family that requires them to, unexpectedly, need Medicaid for their health care coverage.

Dr. Danielle Avula, a family physician at a local safety net clinic, highlighted the largest group of Medicaid beneficiaries — children. She noted that children with Medicaid are more likely to attend school consistently, graduate from high school, and become healthier adults. These are the futures we are fighting to protect.

This week, I also held a roundtable with health care providers from hospitals to community health clinics to discuss the impact Medicaid cuts would have on the services they provide. The providers made clear that by coordinating and covering primary and preventative care, Medicaid has led to better health outcomes — and lower healthcare costs — for their patients than even commercial insurance. Medicaid has also kept rural hospitals and health centers open.  

I also toured a kidney care center in the Tri-Cities area to see firsthand the life-saving dialysis covered by Medicaid for 90 percent of their patients. I spoke to Medicaid patients who must undergo dialysis an average of four hours a visit, multiple times a week. While the treatment makes it difficult — if not impossible — for them to work, they would not survive without it. 

Despite what Speaker Mike Johnson says, people insured under Medicaid include hardworking people not covered by employer-provided health insurance who do not get paid enough to purchase plans under the health care exchange, individuals whose life-saving treatment makes it impossible to work, pregnant and postpartum women, children, seniors, caregivers, and patients in long term care or with disabilities. They are all integral to the fabric of our communities, and we cannot turn our back on them. And if they cannot get the care they need, we will all pay the price.

Just as I opposed the House Republican budget plan, I will continue fighting against cuts to the lifeline that Medicaid provides to so many of our friends, family and neighbors in Virginia and beyond.

DEFENDING OUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION

On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education — an illegal and unfathomable attack on the hard-fought progress we’ve made in this country to ensure a good education for every child, regardless of their race, disability, zip code, or family income. This decision undermines generations of work, including my own parents, grandparents, and great grandparents who fought for a good education for every child.

Growing up as the daughter of educators who experienced the inequities of the Jim Crow South, I am acutely aware that not every child has historically received the education they deserve.

I’ve continued that legacy during my 18 sessions in the General Assembly, fighting for a quality education for every child, but know all too well that states and localities struggle to provide the necessary resources our kids need to learn.

The Department of Education was established to bridge these gaps and offer support where state and local efforts fall short. While there is always room for improvement, dismantling the department threatens to reverse the progress we've made in ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed. Despite the Trump Administration’s rhetoric, state and local governments have always had primary control over schools — from the curriculum to accountability.

As a mother of two children in public schools, I worry for all students, because I know that every parent wants their child to get the foundation that a good education provides for success. 

As I met with local government officials from the Tri-Cities area this week, all expressed concern over their inability to fill the gaps that the Department of Education has addressed for the past 40 years. Indeed, state and local officials and educators fear that local school divisions and the Virginia Department of Education do not have the funding or staff to handle the workload that the Trump Administration wants to dump on them — especially in areas like special education.

In these challenging times, I remain steadfast in my commitment to advocate for the health and education of all Virginians. Together, we will continue to fight for policies that uphold our values and serve the best interests of our communities. Because quality healthcare and education is not only key to individual success, but to a thriving healthy community, economy, and democracy.

MY BRIGHT SPOT: REVISITING MY ROOTS

My path to Congress began as a student at the University of Richmond. Every year since my first election to the Virginia General Assembly, I return to campus to speak to students about my journey and what it’s really like to be a legislator. Last Tuesday, I spoke to Dr. Dan Palazzolo’s U.S. Congress class.

It was a special treat to not only speak with the next generation of leaders, but revisit my roots. I also got to show some Spider Pride as the women’s basketball team headed to their first NCAA Tournament victory in the program's history and Sweet Sixteen appearance to cap off a fantastic season!

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