Dear Friend,

This week’s newsletter continues to provide information on the devastating impacts of the “Unwieldy UnAmerican Ugly Bill” on the Commonwealth and our nation, shares the application for the 2026 Senate Page Program, and highlights select community engagements from this past week. Thank you for reading this newsletter and for staying informed.  

Health Care Access in Rural Virginia

Each week, new analysis on the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—or as I call it, the Unwieldy UnAmerican Ugly Bill—surfaces. In previous newsletters I have shared the bill’s impacts to Medicaid expansion, addiction services, healthcare access for children and people with disabilities, and the ability for hospitals to operate at the levels we need for an effective healthcare system. 

This past Thursday, I joined Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, Protect Our Care, SEIU, Committee to Protect Health Care, SAARA of Virginia, Freedom Virginia, and healthcare professionals at a press conference to sound the alarm about the threats to our hospitals and our entire healthcare system under this bill. This Congressional legislation represents the largest and most devastating cut to health care in our lifetime. It will result in millions of people across the country losing their insurance.

KFF (formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation) put out a new analysis showing that rural areas in Virginia stand to lose more than any other state, with the exception of North Carolina and Kentucky. Virginia will face losses of $6.8 billion in Medicaid spending in our rural areas over 10 years. Further, all of Virginia’s hospitals are expected to lose $22.5 billion in Medicaid-directed payments between 2028 and 2038. Additionally, when the provider tax* is taken into account, Virginia will lose $48 billion in Medicaid funding, including both state and federal dollars. These dollars represent the lives of Virginians including seniors, children, and people with disabilities, all of whom will lose access to necessary health care. 

Six hospitals in Virginia have been designated as particularly at-risk of closure because of the disproportionate number of Medicaid patients they serve. As hospitals shut their doors, all hospital employees, from maintenance staff and administrators to healthcare professionals, lose their jobs. Many of these healthcare facilities are the largest employers in the rural communities in which they operate; their closures will lead to a destructive economic ripple effect that upends the lives of all within a community, not just those who rely on Medicaid. 

Many constituents are asking, “If the bill has already been signed, why do Democrats keep talking about it? What is the course of action?” This single bill is going to leave states with shortfalls in the billions and impact budgets for years to come. In Virginia, we will have to make tough decisions about funding and allocations for health care, education, infrastructure, housing, child care, and other key areas that are the responsibility of state governments. Simply put, our state budgets do not have the revenue resources that can fully match federal dollars; we do not have the ability to cover all the costs that are now being shifted to the state.

This is a crisis of Donald Trump’s making, and it is the responsibility of the federal-level Republicans and their leader to bring an end to this crisis and prioritize working families over tax breaks for billionaires. 

*The provider tax is a state-levied fee or assessment on healthcare providers, such as hospitals and nursing homes, designed to help fund Medicaid. These taxes are a way for states to leverage critical federal matching funds for Medicaid, as the federal government typically matches a significant portion of state Medicaid spending.

The 2026 Senate Page Program

The application form for the 2026 Senate Page Program is now live. The Senate Page Program offers a unique opportunity for young Virginians to learn about policy making and state government processes. Applicants must be residents of the Commonwealth and either 13 or 14 years old on January 14, 2026, the first day of the new session. 

Pages perform administrative duties, participate in team building, undergo rigorous civics education, and help with day-to-day operations of the General Assembly. While immersed in the program, Pages live in Richmond throughout the duration of the General Assembly, visiting home on the weekends. The well-structured program provides time for Pages to keep up with schoolwork while also engaging in General Assembly activities. 

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 5:00 pm. Questions may be directed to [email protected] or (804) 698-7410.

Select Community Engagements

On Tuesday afternoon, my staff joined the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) for its TAP into Transit Day, celebrating the launch of GRTC’s new 60-foot articulated Pulse bus. This event also highlighted the Transit Access Partnership (TAP) debut, which offers a way for the community to contribute to ensure that fare-free transportation is available to everyone. I look forward to continuing to help expand public transportation access across our Commonwealth.

Pictured: Senator Ghazala Hashmi, Delegate Rodney Willett, Delegate Michael Jones

On Tuesday evening, I joined community members from across the Metro Richmond Area for an event in support of Delegate Rodney Willett’s re-election campaign in HD-58. A strong advocate for all Virginians with a record of working across the aisle, Delegate Willett is the kind of legislative leader we need back in the General Assembly.

On Thursday, my Chief of Staff had the opportunity to share her experience in state government and electoral politics during Virginia 21’s 2025 Summer Leadership Institute. This year’s cohort showed heightened interest in interactions between the legislative and judicial branches of government, how the results of the upcoming elections could affect lawmaking in 2026, and how students can be more involved in state-level governance outside of working at the General Assembly.

On Saturday, I was delighted to be the keynote speaker in KARAMAH’s Law and Leadership Summer Program, during which I addressed Muslim women leaders from across the country and globe. I had the opportunity to share my journey from academia to public office, the challenges that often face women in public office, and the critical need for diversity of representation.

On Sunday, I attended the 2nd Annual Muslim Heritage Festival in Hampton Roads, where I joined Muslim faith leaders alongside Attorney General Democrat nominee Jay Jones. The event celebrated the contributions of Muslim Virginians, showcasing the diverse cultures and communities within the Muslim American spectrum. 

Later that evening, my staff traveled to Henrico to meet with criminal justice reform organizations to discuss legislative ideas for the 2026 General Assembly session, including expanding access to higher education in prisons, preventing the school-to-prison pipeline, and increasing support systems for returning citizens.

Connecting With My Office

My office can be reached at the following:

Email:  [email protected] 

Phone:  804.698.7515

If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here. 

— Ghazala

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Friends of Ghazala Hashmi
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Richmond, VA 23235
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