In the midst of a government shutdown, clergy and people being impacted by healthcare cuts in the federal budget gather in the Capitol Building in DC. The halls are active as we make our way into a room where House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries greets us.
We are a coalition of clergy and moral leaders from across southern states. We have been lifting up the voices and stories of people who will be harmed by the federal budget Congress has passed. For months, we have been asking to meet with our representatives, but none have met with us. So, when Leader Jeffries agreed to meet, we traveled to DC to share with someone willing to listen. We find our seats around the table, and Leader Jeffries introduces himself and the other members of Congress present. Then, Bishop William Barber, who helped bring us together for Moral Mondays and this meeting, asks people to share their stories directly with Leader Jeffries and the other members of Congress.
Our Stories
Chris Shumake, a 19-year-old member of my church from Taylorsville, NC, shares how Medicaid recently covered a life-saving emergency hospital stay, including surgery, inpatient and outpatient care, and follow-up visits. “Without that support, the cost would have been hundreds of thousands of dollars—something we could never afford,” he explains. Now, a recent high school graduate, Chris still depends on Medicaid as he attends community college.
Cassie Coleman, the daughter of a pastor in NC, shares that ACA subsidies are essential for her life. She works two jobs in SC, and neither offers health insurance. She only has insurance because of ACA subsidies. She’s young at 30 years old, but had a trip to the ER this summer and needs follow-up care. Without the ACA tax credits, she won’t be able to afford insurance for ongoing care.
Elaina Hurley from West Virginia explains that she depends on Medicaid for her life-saving medicine. Her friend Pam Garrison, sitting beside her, says she feels like her own government is attacking her. As a minimum wage worker, SNAP and Medicaid have given some additional support, though it is still not enough. Now, with the government shutdown and the gutting of Medicaid and SNAP, she and millions of others will suffer even more.
I tell Jeffries about the single, working mother of three children in my church. One of her daughters has Down Syndrome and depends on Medicaid for the therapies she needs. I lift up a member in my community who was in law enforcement until she started having chronic health issues. She tried to continue working, but ended up on disability and eventually on a feeding tube for over two years. She depends on Medicaid to get the care she needs to live. Finally, I share Lea’s story. Lea lives in Spruce Pine, a community devastated by Hurricane Helene last year. She and her husband have been to the ER four times this year. Once for a chainsaw incident, once for a bug bite that led to infection, once for a heart issue, and most recently, a stroke Lea suffered. “These budget cuts to Medicaid will lead to their hospital closing,” I say. “The nearest hospital will be an hour away, putting them at risk of death in an emergency.”
Our Ask
Bishops and leaders of denominations start sharing stories of people and how their churches are working to support their communities. From Bishop Brian Thompson Sr for the AME Zion Church to Bishop Vasthi Murphy McKenzie from National Council of Churches to Rabbi Esther Lederman from the Union of Reformed Judaism to Rev. Paul Raushenbush with the Interfaith Alliance to Rev. Terri Hord Own, the General Minister and President of the Christian Church Disciples of Christ to Rev. Todd Yeary, Chair of the Board of Red Letter Christians. Each repeat that the government must fully fund Medicaid and provide ACA tax subsidies for people.
Experts have said 10,033,670 people will lose insurance if Medicaid cuts happen and if Congress doesn’t continue ACA subsidies.
Together, clergy and impacted people make it very clear to Leader Jeffries: To reopen the government without negotiating the ACA subsidies might solve an immediate need, but it does nothing to deal with the long-term pain that will come next year as funding for Medicaid, SNAP, and ACA subsidies is taken away. Unless something changes, many families will be forced to choose between healthcare or food and rent.
People will die. Clergy will have to look families in the face and tell them God did not call their loved ones home. This was the result of a government that not only failed to care for its people, but refused to care for its people.
As the meeting ends, we walk down the hall for a joint press conference to make this clear to the nation.
Our faith demands a moral budget that supports healthcare.
Jesus blesses the poor. This budget curses the poor.
Jesus heals the sick. This budget takes away healing.
Jesus calls us to love our neighbors. Taking healthcare away from people is not love.
If our government is going to claim to care for its people, then it must care for the health of its people and ensure everyone has access to life-saving healthcare.
It is not only the moral thing to do. It is how we love our neighbors.
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