Dear Friends,

It’s been over three weeks since the Republicans shut down the government rather than address a health care crisis of their own making.

Speaker Mike Johnson once again canceled votes. Indeed, the House has not held a vote or a hearing on anything for over a month, as the clock runs out on enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and millions of Americans see their health insurance premiums spike when open enrollment begins next week.

During this unprecedented House recess, I’ve continued working in the district and beyond spreading awareness of what’s at stake and who stands to lose if health care premiums skyrocket under Republicans’ watch. Meanwhile, Republicans vehemently refuse to come to the table — or even come to work in Washington.

Read on to learn more about what you may have missed last week.

ELEVATING VOICES OF PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS ABOUT WHY ACA ENHANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDITS MATTER

Sometimes the voices of people and businesses impacted by Congressional action — or inaction — get lost in the back and forth between the White House and Congressional leaders in Washington. For months, I have focused on amplifying the stories of people like Lester and Yolanda Johnson, co-owners of Mama J’s, and other small business owners, their employees and the self-employed who could find themselves unable to afford health care without an extension of the enhanced premium tax credits.

Last week, I joined Protect Our Care Virginia, small business owner Bron Hansboro and his employee Ronni Moss, and health care safety net providers the Daily Planet and Health Brigade for a roundtable discussion on how the expiration of ACA enhanced premium tax credits will drive up health care costs for Virginians.

Open enrollment for the Virginia Marketplace begins November 1st, meaning we can’t afford to wait. State Corporation Commission officials expect over 106,000 Virginians to drop out of the Virginia Marketplace altogether if they lose their premium tax credits. This in turn will raise premiums for the rest of us and further strain emergency rooms, free clinics and community health centers as more uninsured patients show up for care sicker because they can’t afford primary and preventative care. 

After the roundtable, I spoke with the Daily Planet’s Medical Director Dr. Patricia Cook about how the past year and looming health care crisis will affect community care clinics and safety net providers across Virginia.

We all want this government shutdown to end, but we also must address the devastation of our health care system now. Republicans have tried for years to gut the ACA. Now, their efforts to do death by a thousand cuts could be disastrous for those who just want to know they can see a doctor and get the treatment they need without going bankrupt. I continue to urge House Republicans to come back to Washington and work with us to give them that peace of mind.

REPUBLICANS RIP AWAY NO-COST CONTRACEPTION AND ATTACK WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

October 18th marked World Menopause Day, a time to raise awareness of and break the stigma around menopause, its symptoms and support available to women experiencing it.

This year’s commemoration fell in the midst of a looming health care crisis that threatens access to no-cost contraception for thousands of Virginia women. Comprehensive reproductive health care means allowing women access to the treatment they and their providers think best to treat their perimenopause symptoms. For many women, the best treatment is some form of contraception.

All Affordable Care Act plans provide contraception at no-cost. But when enhanced premium tax credits for ACA plans expire, those who can no longer afford their premiums could lose access to contraception. According to a 2024 KFF survey, one in five uninsured women had to stop using a contraception method because they couldn’t afford it.

Last Friday, I joined Americans for Contraception, Planned Parenthood and health care advocates to discuss the mounting risks faced by reproductive health services in the midst of the shutdown, looming ACA premium spikes, Medicaid cuts from the Republicans’ Big Ugly Law, the defunding of Planned Parenthood, cuts to the Title X family planning program and more.

People deserve the freedom of choice to decide whether, when and how to become a parent — meaning access to contraception is critically important. But contraception does so much more than help determine parenthood, like regulating menopause symptoms and treating ovarian cysts, fibroids, PCOS, endometriosis and more. 

For me and so many other women, these attacks are personal. I consulted a doctor in college to receive contraception and treat the pain of ovarian cysts. Then, when I was pregnant with my daughter Samantha, I almost died in childbirth after my placenta ruptured — and my access to reproductive health care is what saved me. Now, as I approach menopause, I want the full range of options to treat potential symptoms that may arise.

All women deserve that freedom of choice, yet Republicans either don’t recognize or don’t care about maintaining access to those services. I’ll continue fighting in Washington to ensure the perspectives of reproductive health care advocates are heard throughout this process. 

MY BRIGHT SPOT: J.R. TUCKER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RELEASED FROM ICE CUSTODY

Last Wednesday, J.R. Tucker High School Student Arman Momand returned home after his arrest and two-month detention by ICE. I spoke out against Arman’s August arrest. Arman’s father aided our military in Afghanistan as a translator, and his family fled to the United States on a special visa once the Taliban resumed power. Instead of being honored for their service, Arman’s family instead spent months worrying for the fate of their son after he was detained by ICE. Thankfully, after a long legal battle, Arman has finally been granted permanent residency and is now reunited with his friends, family and community. He now looks forward to returning to school.

I am immensely relieved to hear of this news, and I will continue speaking up for our immigrant communities amidst the campaign of terror launched by ICE across the Commonwealth and in Virginia’s Fourth District. 

REMINDERS

Today is the deadline for nominations for my 2025 Veteran of the Year Program! Have a veteran in mind you’d like to see recognized for their service? Send your submissions using the link on our website.

Applications for Spring 2026 internships are open! College students, graduate students and recent graduates can apply for legislative, press and district internships in both my D.C. and Richmond offices. You can apply here.

If you have any concerns or questions about the shutdown, visit the government shutdown resources page on my website.

Thursday, October 30th is the deadline to apply for the Congressional App Challenge and for a Service Academy Nomination.

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