Dear ,

This week marks a pivotal moment in both Virginia and federal politics, with significant new laws taking effect while Congress considers legislation that could impact millions of Americans' access to essential services. 

July 1 brought sweeping changes across the Commonwealth as eight major pieces of legislation officially took effect. These new laws represent meaningful progress in criminal justice reform, health care access, child safety, and environmental protection.

We are especially proud of VICPP’S policy team that led the coalition that helped pass rural maternal health care expansion and faith and housing legislation, and supported the bill limiting youth shackling:

• Rural maternal health care access expansion – Rural communities gained critical support for maternity care through legislation allowing qualified certified nurse-midwives, licensed certified midwives, and pediatric nurse practitioners to serve on 24-hour on-call rosters when physicians are unavailable. This addresses the ongoing maternal health care crisis in underserved areas. 
  
  
• Faith and housing – The new faith and housing law requires localities to incorporate strategies supporting affordable housing development by religious institutions into their comprehensive planning processes, potentially unlocking significant resources for addressing Virginia's housing affordability crisis. 
  
  
• Limiting the use of youth shackling – Virginia courts must now operate under stricter guidelines when considering restraints for young people, with judges required to make individual determinations about safety before ordering shackling. 

While Virginia moves forward with reforms, the Senate's narrow 50–51 vote approving a budget bill with substantial cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits puts millions of Americans at risk of losing access to healthcare and nutrition assistance. The legislation now returns to the House of Representatives, where a vote could happen as early as today. These proposed cuts would disproportionately impact children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families already struggling with rising costs. 

While Virginia expands health care access and supports vulnerable populations, Congress is considering legislation that would move us backward. This is a critical moment that demands immediate action from every Virginian who believes in protecting our most vulnerable neighbors.

Contact your representative today and urge them to vote NO on this harmful budget bill. Your call could make the difference between preserving these vital programs and allowing devastating cuts that would affect millions of Americans. 

Contact Your Virginia Representative: 

District 1: Rob Wittman (R) – (202) 225-4261 
District 2: Jen Kiggans (R) – (202) 225-4215 
District 3: Bobby Scott (D) – (202) 225-8351 
District 4: Jennifer McClellan (D) – (202) 225-6365 
District 5: John McGuire (R) – (202) 225-4711 
District 6: Ben Cline (R) – (202) 225-5431 
District 7: Eugene Vindman (D) – (202) 225-2815 
District 8: Don Beyer (D) – (202) 225-4376 
District 9: Morgan Griffith (R) – (202) 225-3861 
District 10: Suhas Subramanyam (D) – (202) 225-5136 

The time for action is now. While Virginia demonstrates what's possible when we prioritize people over politics, we cannot allow federal policies to undermine the progress we're making at home. Make your voice heard today – call your representative and demand they protect the programs that millions of Americans depend on for their health, nutrition, and basic dignity. 

In Solidarity,
Keisha 

Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook
Executive Director

Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, the new executive director of VICPP, continues her tour at Richbrau Brewing. Hear about VICPP’s work on justice issues such as maternal health, prison education, housing, and workers’ rights—and meet the first African American to lead the organization.

Want to bring Visionary Voices to your area? We’d love to partner with you. To host a future stop on Keisha’s tour, please email VICPP’s Development Manager, Tania Doles, at tania@virginiainterfaithcenter.org with your proposed date, time, and venue.

On June 26, over twenty people joined us for our first-ever in-person PUSH Maternal Health Coalition meeting at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center. Attendees traveled from Virginia Beach, Northern Virginia, Danville, and South Boston!

We may be separated by geography, but we are united in the need to center Black and Brown voices as we work together—across race, class, and religion—to fight for equitable maternal health and community-centered birth.

How you are supported in birth matters.

Pictured:
Back row – Dean Wanderer, Kelsy Jordan, Demya Faulcon, Natasha Aldridge, Jarene Fleming, Lori Murafka-Orme.
Front row, left to right – Kate Wanderer, Kitteria Mayo, Danielle Lucas, Teresita Hammond, Aariyana Britton, Marinda Shindler, D'Anne Graham, Kathryn Haines.

Thank you to Bon Secours for hosting and to Rev. Jeanette E. Washington, MHR, director of mission, for your work in making our first in-person PUSH meeting successful.

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy advocates economic, racial, and social justice in Virginia’s policies and practices
through education, prayer, and action.