Dear Friend,

Happy September!

August recess is over, and Congress is back in session with just 28 days to pass funding bills before current funding expires at midnight on October 1st. Absent Congressional action by then, we face a government shutdown. So once again, the shutdown countdown begins…

Things aren't looking great.

Last Thursday, Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries sent a letter to Republican leadership calling for a bipartisan funding process that addresses the looming health care crisis caused by the Big Ugly Law and other Republican policies. The next day, President Trump issued a “pocket rescission” to cancel roughly $5 billion in Congressionally approved foreign aid and international organization funding he deems “woke” because it does not align with his priorities. As explained by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, pocket rescissions are an unlawful bypass of Congressional spending authority. You can find a more detailed explanation of the process here and here.

Even the Republican Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) called the President’s request an “attempt to undermine the law.” The Ranking Democrats on the Senate Appropriations and House Appropriations Committees also pushed back in statements you can read here and here. These actions make consideration of a funding bill complicated, to say the least. 

Stay tuned to see if we can avoid a shutdown.

In the meantime, read on for a recap of my last week of August recess. 

SOUNDING THE ALARM ON HOW SNAP CUTS WILL IMPACT VIRGINIA

During the August recess, I traveled the district and beyond to discuss how the Big Ugly Law’s cuts to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will impact Virginians. Last week was no exception.  

On Monday, I joined Senator Ghazala Hashmi and local advocates in Richmond to discuss the impact that $187 billion in SNAP cuts will have on the state budget and on the health of Virginia families. Voices for Virginia’s Children estimates these cuts put nearly 447,000 Virginians at risk of losing at least some of their SNAP benefits, including 73,000 families with children. The study shows the double whammy many Virginian families will face through cuts to both Medicaid and SNAP, and the cascading effect of these cuts on child nutrition and school meal programs. Moreover, the shifting of some costs for SNAP benefits to the state for the first time could add up to $352 million in costs to the state budget, according to a study by the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI). SNAP cuts also make it harder for small independent grocery stores operating on thin markets, like The Market at 25th or The Surry Market, to stay afloat.

Instead of “Making America Healthy Again,” Republican SNAP cuts do the opposite, putting more children at risk of food insecurity and increasing their risk of developing heart disease. The Big Ugly Law also eliminates funding for the SNAP Ed program, which provides nutrition education and obesity prevention services to SNAP eligible people to help them make healthy food choices, budget effectively, and adopt active lifestyles. 

You can watch remarks from all speakers at the press conference here.

VISITING RURAL PROVIDERS TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF MEDICAID CUTS

On Thursday, I visited with health care providers in Abingdon and Tazewell to discuss how the Big Ugly Law will impact rural health care across Virginia. Over 300,000 Virginians could lose their health insurance under the law, with rural Virginians potentially losing more in Medicaid funding than all but three other states. These patients will still get sick, and hospitals will not get paid for the services they are required by law to provide to patients.

When I was in the state legislature, we expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act on a bipartisan basis in part to keep our rural hospitals afloat. Already struggling rural hospitals faced with additional revenue cuts through higher uncompensated care or lower reimbursements will be forced to close or stop providing some services, such as obstetric, mental health and emergency room care. Closures will have a ripple effect through the rural economy, as hospitals are typically one of the largest employers in rural communities. These threats are not theoretical, as a rural clinic in Nebraska has already announced plans to close as a result of the Medicaid cuts.

Senate Democrats have identified six rural hospitals in Virginia at risk of closure once the Medicaid cuts take effect, including one in Emporia. I visited Tazewell last week to join providers and community advocates to discuss the hospital there at risk of closure thanks to Medicaid cuts. 

You can watch the full press conference here.

I also toured the Appalachian Highlands Community Dental Center (AHCDH) in Abingdon, where more than 80% of patients rely on Medicaid. The remaining patients are uninsured. Approximately 2,800 sit on a waiting list for services. Co-Founder and Site Director Scottie Miller, D.D.S. shared with me how the clinic fills a health care gap in the region, and his concerns of how Medicaid cuts could impact that work. 

You can see local news coverage of my visit here and here.

These visits echoed concerns I have heard all recess across the Fourth District from constituents, health care providers, state and local officials concerned about the impact of health care cuts across the district. That’s why I cosponsored the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act to reverse these devastating cuts. 

CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AT HOME

During the last recess week, I hosted two town halls and a community roundtable to hear directly from constituents their concerns about rising costs, SNAP and Medicaid cuts, the future of Medicare and Social Security, and the impact of aggressive ICE raids in our communities. Your voices shape my work in Congress, and I left inspired to keep pushing for solutions that ease these burdens.

Throughout the August recess, hearing constituent concerns, questions and stories in town halls, roundtables, site visits and press conferences will help me better serve you in Washington, work for policies that solve problems and fight against policies that harm people and communities. At a time when the Trump Administration and the Republican majority in Congress push policies that raise costs, cut vital support programs or make our communities less safe, your engagement matters more than ever before. In a government by, of and for the people, government reflects the perspective and meets the needs of the people who participate. Your participation helps me fight for dignity, opportunity, and fairness for everyone.

BRIGHT SPOT: SENDING OFF OUR WONDERFUL FELLOW

For ten months, Erica Eisenman served in my office through the American Association for the Advancement of Science legislative branch fellowship. In that time, Erica brought both expertise and heart to her work, diving into health care policy research, meeting with advocates, and helping our team navigate an especially busy year on Capitol Hill. With the end of August recess, Erica’s fellowship came to an end.

Erica, we are deeply grateful for your service to the people of Virginia’s Fourth District. You’ve been a delight to work with, and while we will miss having you in the office, we can’t wait to see the next chapter of your career unfold. We know you’ll continue to make a difference wherever you go.

REMINDERS

Applications are now open through Friday, September 19th for my 2025-2026 Youth Advisory Council. 

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

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