Richmond, Va. – In response to President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union speech, Virginia Organizing Chairperson Del McWhorter and leader Terry White, a guest of Senator Mark Warner’s at the event, released the following statements:

“President Trump continued his attempts to mislead the American people about his record on health care last night,” McWhorter said. “The truth is that President Trump and his allies have repeatedly tried to undermine the Affordable Care Act—including its protections for people with preexisting conditions—in Congress, through administrative actions, and in the courts. If he succeeds in destroying the ACA, he would leave the almost 400,000 Virginians who have been able to sign up for Medicaid since it expanded without coverage again. He wants to cut funding for Medicaid as a whole with block grants to states. He doesn’t support laws that would curb Big Pharma from over-charging for prescription drugs. That’s just a few of the many things his administration has done that would take health care away from Virginians.”

Terry White, a leader in the Norfolk Chapter of Virginia Organizing, was invited to be Senator Mark Warner’s guest at the State of the Union because White has years of experience fighting for access to health care. 

“Without the ACA I wouldn’t be here,” said White, who recently gained access to health care through Virginia’s Medicaid expansion program. “It was a once in a lifetime experience to be in the room with all of the most powerful people in our government. However, it also helped me realize we need a lot more regular people like me in those rooms.”

To ask questions or arrange an interview with Terry White or Del McWhorter, please contact Rosemary Gould at rosemary@virginia-organizing.org or 434-962-7261.