American Lung Association in Virginia Urges Representative Wittman to Oppose Reconciliation Bill and Cuts to Medicaid and Clean Air Funding

This month, members of Congress in Washington, D.C., are working on a budget reconciliation bill, which currently includes devastating cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and critical healthy air programs. To advocate for people who depend on these lifesaving programs, Aleks Casper, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association in Virginia, issued the following statement: 

“The American Lung Association urges Representative Robert Wittman to oppose the reconciliation bill and reject its cuts to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and clean air funding. These programs are essential to protecting the health and well-being of Virginia residents, particularly those most vulnerable to chronic lung diseases and air pollution. 

“Across Virginia and the entire country, families rely on Medicaid for lifesaving healthcare services, including regular check-ups, cancer screenings and treatments that allow them to work, care for their loved ones and live healthy lives. Cutting Medicaid would impact more than 1.8 million Virginia residents who currently depend on this program for healthcare. If these cuts move forward, children with asthma, people going through cancer treatment and millions of other people in the United States who rely on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act will lose their healthcare coverage. The cuts will impact everyone in Virginia: clinics and rural hospitals could close and healthcare would cost more for everyone.

“In addition to these devastating healthcare impacts, repealing programs that reduce air pollution while simultaneously paving the way for more dirty energy sources to be built puts polluters over public health. Further, terminating tax credits that make cleaner cars and home energy efficiency upgrades more affordable for residents in Virginia takes away the choice for healthier options. These provisions will worsen respiratory conditions and increase health risks, especially for children, seniors and people with chronic lung disease. Every person in Virginia and across the country deserves to breathe clean air, but these cuts would put that fundamental right in jeopardy. 

“The American Lung Association is committed to protecting lung health and ensuring that every person has access to the care and clean air they need to thrive. We call on members of Congress to stand with their constituents and oppose any harmful budget cuts that would take away healthcare access and weaken protections for clean air. The House must reject this legislation and its dangerous cuts and prioritize the health and well-being of all Americans. 

“The American Lung Association in Virginia encourages everyone to take action by contacting Representative Robert Wittman and urging him to reject this legislation.”