What: Rally to call on U.S. Senators to protect health care and stop federal budget cuts

When: Tuesday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Corner of McIntire Road and Preston Avenue

Speakers: A variety of speakers who are directly affected by the proposed cuts

Charlottesville, Va.—Virginia Organizing will hold a rally at the corner of McIntire Road and Preston Avenue on Tuesday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m. to call on our U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, to protect health care and to stop the proposed federal budget cuts.

“The secretive U.S. Senate health care bill is now behind closed doors without any
hearings planned,” said Dell Erwin, a Virginia Organizing leader whose family has greatly benefited since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010. (Erwin will be a speaker at the rally.)

“From what we’ve heard, this bill will be similar to the disastrous bill that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, with major Medicaid cuts, ending Medicaid expansion, and weakening consumer protections. Millions will lose coverage,” Erwin said.

“Now is a critical time to weigh in. Call your senators. Send emails. Go to rallies. Let’s do everything we can to stop the Senate from destroying America’s health care,” Erwin said.

The proposed American Health Care Act would also provide over $600 billion in tax breaks to the richest households and health industry corporations. National organizations including AARP, the American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Hospital Association, the Catholic Council of Bishops, the March of Dimes and many other groups oppose the AHCA. Recent polls confirm that voters oppose this repeal by a significant margin.

In addition, the proposed federal budget proposal includes:

• $800 billion in funding cuts to Medicaid over the next decade;
• $190 billion in cuts for nutrition assistance to low-income families;
• Educational funding cuts of 13.5 percent; and,
• Environmental Protection Agency cuts of 31 percent.
• Also, the budget would eliminate the following: Economic Development Administration, EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program, Appalachian Regional Commission, National Endowment for the Humanities, Legal Services Corporation, National Endowment for the Arts, and AmeriCorps.

“These budget cuts won’t make America great again, they will only keep the wealthy rich, while preventing the poor from being successful members of society,” said Tamara Wright.

“By cutting funding for education you’re literally telling students that their education doesn’t matter,” said Valerie Washington.

“It is up to everyday citizens to make sure the National Endowment for the Humanities continues,” said Horace Ballard.

(Tamara Wright, Valerie Washington, and Horace Ballard will be speakers at the rally.)

For more information, or to interview a spokesperson, please contact Joe Szakos at 434-984-4655 x222 or szakos@virginia-organizing.org.

Virginia Organizing is a non-partisan statewide grassroots organization that brings people together to create a more just Virginia.

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