Virginia Delegation: Kiggans, Wittman Vote YES for Biggest Cut to Medicaid in History and a Bigger Budget for ICE Than for the U.S. Marines

Jul 04, 2025

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VIRGINIA’S BATTLEGROUND HOUSE of DELEGATES RACES! 🎙️ NEW PODCAST EP53 🎙️ LISTEN! Fergie Reid, Jr. and Lauren Burke discuss Virginia’s Battleground races for 2025!

Virginia Delegation: Reps. Kiggans, Wittman, Vote YES for Biggest Cut to Medicaid in History and $175B for a Police State Bigger Than the U.S. Marines

What did the Republicans who votes YES vote in favor of? There were 218 Republicans in the U.S. House who voted in favor of close to $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. This will likely mean the closing of rural hospitals and health centers that rely on federal funding. A possible “collapse of nursing home industry,” is also a concern if 13 million more Americans go without coverage.

By a vote of 218 to 214, the GOP controlled U.S. House passed the massive bill that will also add $3.5 trillion to the national debt. All Democrats voted NO.

Both Rep. Jen Kiggans, who represents Virginia’s 2nd congressional district, and Rep Rob Wittman, who represents Virginia’s 1st congressional district, have stated in the past they were against cuts to Medicaid. On April 16, 2025, both Kiggans and Wittman signed a letter saying they would not support and bill that includes a “reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.”

But both lawmakers voted in favor of just that today, along with the three other Republicans in the Virginia delegation. President Trump also pledged not to cut Medicaid but his budget includes the largest cut in history to the heath care program.

“When you look at what this bill accomplishes overall — the tangible relief it gives working families, the investments it makes in our national defense, and the long-overdue resources it provides to secure our border — it is clear that it moves our commonwealth and our country forward. My vote reflects a commitment to delivering results, protecting Virginia families, and restoring confidence in the promise of American strength and prosperity,” Rep. Kiggans wrote in a July 3 statement after voting YES.

💵 Trump’s budget slashes $300 BILLION in nutrition assistance (SNAP) programs. States would be required to pay a share of SNAP benefits for the first time in history. Potentially ending assistance for 4.6 million people.

Above: A basic question for a GOP Governor may be: How are you going to deal with the biggest Medicaid cut in history in your state?

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💵 CLOSE TO $1 TRILLION in MEDICAID CUTS, the bill threatens health care access for more than 13 million people, and creates significant economic disadvantage to facilities that provide that care. The bill would create financial stress on the health care system, that could also drive up prices for private premium to offset costs. Studies show when people lose health care they often delay care and become more likely to require hospitalization.

💵 $175 BILLION FOR POLICE STATE. The bill provides $175B to immigration enforcement against immigrants of color. No, that’s not written in the policy but that’s what the Trump Administration is actively doing. The U.S. Marines budget for 2026 is $57 billion. Trump’s Republican Congress is allocating $175 billion to build a police state larger than the U.S. Marine Corps budget.

The Trump funding increase is for surveillance, detention, and deportation — without adding due process protections. ICE's annual budget for detentions would skyrocket from $3.4 billion to $45B annually through EOY 2029-- a 365% increase.

💵 INCREASES DEBT BY $3.8 TRILLION. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates Trump’s Budget would increase deficit by $3.8T, up from $1.83T in 2024. This could result in higher interest rates and reduced investor confidence.

💵 Trump’s bill restricts Pell Grant access, eliminates interest subsidies and weakens income-based repayment options. These changes would make college less accessible for students with low incomes. Meanwhile, it introduces a $5 billion tax credit for private school tuition, benefiting wealthier families.

U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) spoke for over eight hours in protest before the big passed.

Below: Leader Jeffries leaves there floor after eight hours of speaking.

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Historic Marker in Alexandria Honors Paul Sullivan and the Freeman Family

On the morning of June 29, a historic marker was dedicated commemorating the landmark Supreme Court case Sullivan v. Little Hunting Park, Inc. (1969).

The marker is located at the Little Hunting Creek Park next to Bucknell Elementary School in Alexandria.

As relayed by Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, “the marker honors the courage of Paul Sullivan and Freeman family, whose fight against racial discrimination in the Bucknell Manor neighborhood led to the integration of thousands of private pools across the United States.”

“When I first heard the story of Paul Sullivan in 2012, I introduced and passed a Memorial Resolution in the General Assembly to honor his efforts, and this marker will serve as a reminder to the community of this important chapter of history,” Leader Surovell wrote on social media.