Weekly Newsletter, 8.20.25
This week, students across Virginia’s Fourth return to school, including my own. I wish all students the best for the new academic year.
Unfortunately, one Tucker High School student started the new school year in the Farmville Detention Center, picked up by ICE after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges arising from a traffic incident. Nineteen year old Arman Momand and his family fled to the United States from Afghanistan once the Taliban resumed power, fearing reprisal for his father aiding the U.S. military. I shared my concerns with the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Michael Paul Williams, and my staff is coordinating closely with Arman’s attorneys and the offices of Senators Kaine, Warner, and State Senator Schuyler Vanvalkenberg to get answers from ICE and assess next steps.
Meanwhile, we are in week two of the Trump Administration’s hostile takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deployment of the National Guard to the District of Columbia. President Trump claims his actions are to address a crime emergency, but crime is down, and these unprecedented actions stand in stark contrast to January 6th, when President Trump repeatedly ignored requests for federal National Guard assistance in response to a violent mob storming the U.S. Capitol. On his first day in office this year, President Trump pardoned roughly 1,500 people convicted of crimes stemming from the January 6th attack, including individuals convicted of violently assaulting Capitol Police. I joined my fellow colleagues in the National Capital Region Delegation to denounce these unprecedented actions, which amount to a soft launch of authoritarianism as the Administration engages in an overwhelming show of federal force and extends its aggressive immigration enforcement into the District.
Read on for more of what you may have missed last week.
ASSESSING THREATS TO HEALTH CARE ACCESS IN THE DISTRICT
During this recess, I have talked with a variety of health care providers about how the funding cuts in the Big Ugly Law and the Trump Administration’s freeze of grant funding will impact their ability to provide access to care, especially to vulnerable populations. Last week, I visited the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood (“VLPP”)’s East End Health Center in Richmond and the Waverly Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Sussex County.
VLPP’s East End Health Center opened in Church Hill in 2020 to provide primary care and a full range of reproductive health and gender-affirming care to historically underserved communities. VLPP health centers provide many services beyond just abortion, serving roughly 25,000 patients per month across 4 locations. In 2033, these services included:
- Contraception to over 12,000 patients;
- Over 12,000 sexually transmitted disease tests;
- Nearly 1,300 breast exams; and
- 705 cervical cancer screenings.
Between 700 to 800 VLPP patients per month use Medicaid to pay for services. While federal Medicaid funds cannot be used for abortion services except in very narrow circumstances, a provision in the Big Ugly Law blocks Medicaid payments for any services provided at a Planned Parenthood health center for up to a year. A federal judge partially blocked this provision — for now. But the Big Ugly Law’s Medicaid cuts will still hit the East End Health Center patients hard.
VLPP patients have already been impacted by the Trump Administration’s freeze of Title X family planning funding, which helps low and extremely low-income people access services such as contraception, sexually transmitted disease screenings and treatment, and cancer screenings at little or no cost. Since April, the Administration has withheld $65 million in Title X family planning funding from three VLPP health centers, including the East End Health Center. As a result, about 11,000 Virginia patients have had to pay more for these services or skip them altogether. During my visit, I talked to the East End Health Center Medical Director about what these cuts mean for her patients.
In April and June, I joined several House Democratic colleagues in sending letters to Secretary Kennedy urging the release of these funds.
The Big Ugly Law also threatens rural long-term care providers like the Waverly Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. Medicaid covers 90 percent of the patients at Waverly, with the remaining 10 percent covered by Medicare. Long-term care facilities operate on slim margins, and their reimbursements for providing care to Medicaid patients often fall below the actual cost of care. These low reimbursement rates make it difficult for rural facilities to pay staff at levels competitive with urban areas or other industries. Medicaid cuts under the Big Ugly Bill could significantly affect Waverly’s ability to attract staff, provide quality care or even stay open.
These site visits help me connect how funding cuts in Washington impact access to health care for my constituents. Just as I fought these cuts in the Big Ugly Law, I’m fighting now to repeal them.
MY BRIGHT SPOT: CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND FIGHTING TO PROTECT IT
Last week, I joined AARP Virginia for an ice cream social to celebrate Social Security’s 90th anniversary and encourage community members to share why Social Security is so important.
Created as part of the New Deal during the Great Depression, Social Security has provided a valuable safety net to ensure seniors can retire with dignity after a lifetime of work. Today, 156,277 VA-04 constituents receive $284 million in monthly benefits. I’m working with House Democrats to protect Social Security for generations to come through legislation like the Hands Off Our Social Security Act.
REMINDERS
Tomorrow, August 21st at 12 PM, join me, Climate Action Virginia, VALCV, Freedom Virginia and IBEW 666 for Our Brightest Future: Demanding Affordable Solar Energy. Get more information and register here.
Monday, August 25th, join me for a tele-town hall at 6 PM. You must RSVP using this link to receive the call invitation on Monday.
Tuesday, August 26th, join me for a seniors’ town hall at 9:30 AM. Get more information and RSVP here. RSVPs are encouraged, but not required.
Thursday, October 30th is the deadline to apply for the Congressional App Challenge and for a Service Academy Nomination.
Keep the faith, friends!