Advocates Rallied Ahead of Critical Vote, Will Continue to Show Up to Hold Rep. Kiggans Accountable

Virginia Beach, VA - This week, ahead of the House of Representatives’ vote on the Trump’s tax plan, advocates from Affordable Virginia, Planned Parenthood, SEIU, and Protect Our Care gathered outside Representative Kiggans’ office to raise awareness about the bill’s massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP and the impact in Hampton Roads. 

Photo credit: Josh Stubbs

Representative Kiggans unfortunately voted in support of the bill, claiming that it would reform these programs – though the Congressional Budget Office has said it will result in huge cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, as well as raise the deficit, all while cutting taxes for billionaires and corporations.

Dianne Creekmore, photo credit: Josh Stubbs

“Representative Kiggans has been lying through her teeth that she cares about Medicaid,” said constituent Dianne Creekmore, of Virginia Beach and chair of Sickle Cell Family and Peer Advocates of Tidewater Inc. “I came out to advocate for my friends and family members who rely on Medicaid to get care for their chronic, lifelong fight with Sickle Cell Disease. Some of them live in areas where it’s hard to get to a doctor even if they can get an appointment. While billionaires continue to get huge tax breaks, those are at the expense of my family. Billionaires don’t need help accessing healthcare, or any help at all, and I’m appalled that my representative continues to prioritize them over those struggling to get care. I’m very disappointed in Rep. Kiggans’ decision to not be supportive of the marginalized and vulnerable communities that I advocate for.”

“We are disheartened, but not surprised, that Representative Kiggans voted to gut Medicaid and SNAP,” said Emily Yeatts, Affordable Virginia Campaigns Director. “She continues to speak out both sides of her mouth, claiming to support Medicaid and then voting to slash it. The bill passed by a single vote, so there are at least a couple of Republicans willing to stand up for their constituents but Rep. Kiggans isn’t one of them. Her constituents will continue to make their voices heard and hold her accountable. She will be hearing from each of them about the impact these cuts will have on their lives, and I hope that haunts her. It’s all the more callous that as a former nurse she would vote to strip people of healthcare access. If this passes in the Senate, we’re going to see the fallout ripple through our community, with clinics closing and people dying. It’s tragic and absolutely preventable.”