As Shutdown Continues, Military Families Bracing for Future Uncertainty

Virginia Beach, VA – With over 80,000 active duty members of the armed forces in Hampton Roads, many were bracing for an unprecedented possibility of not getting paid for the first time in history. After a late night fix, troops were paid, but if the shutdown continues, there is no promise that they will get paid next time.

As we enter the second week of an ongoing government shutdown, Rep. Kiggans and Congressional Republicans still refuse to reverse their deep Medicaid cuts and make health care tax credits permanent. Over 47,000 Virginia veterans rely on Medicaid for health care, putting Hampton Roads families at the center of the health care fight. 

“This is embarrassing, there’s no reason why military members’ pay should be on the line,” said Monte Pursifull, retired Army sergeant major and resident of Virginia Beach. “I spent 30 years serving our country. I know Rep. Kiggans is a nurse and veteran herself, so I can’t understand why she would support a bill that would result in our active men and women in uniform not getting paid. Working families deserve access to health care, military or not. The cuts we’ve seen this year to the VA, Medicaid, and now not making these tax credits permanent are detrimental to our entire community, to our nation. Health care is a basic need, and Rep. Kiggans owes it to all her constituents to make sure they continue to have access to it.”