FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 16, 2025

RICHMOND, Va. – 112 faith leaders from various traditions across Virginia have signed a letter calling on all U.S. Senators to reject the budget bill approved by House Republicans.  

“The proposed legislation fundamentally contradicts our shared moral obligations and threatens the well-being of millions of Americans,” said Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, executive director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP), the organization leading this effort. 

The bill includes significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.  If passed, hundreds of thousands of Virginians risk losing healthcare coverage and food assistance. VICPP is calling out to leaders from all faiths across the Commonwealth to collectively join in this urgent action. Link to letter with faith leader signatures 

TEXT OF THE FAITH LEADERS’ LETTER TO US SENATORS 

As faith leaders representing diverse religious traditions across Virginia, we are united by a common understanding: our sacred calling demands that we stand with the most vulnerable members of our communities and advocate for justice and compassion in our public policies. Today, we write with one voice to urge the United States Senate to reject the budget bill approved by House Republicans—a proposal that fundamentally contradicts our shared moral obligations and threatens the well–being of millions of Americans. 

Across our faith traditions—whether Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or others—we are taught that a just society is measured not by the prosperity of its wealthiest citizens, but by how it treats its most vulnerable members. The Hebrew scriptures call us to “defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” (Psalm 82:3). The Gospel teaches us that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). The Quran instructs believers to “give food to the needy, the orphan and the captive for the love of Allah” (76:8). Buddhist teachings emphasize compassion for all beings, while Hindu dharma calls us to serve others as expressions of the divine. 
 
These are not merely ancient texts—they are living mandates that compel us to take action and speak out in this moment. 

The proposed budget bill represents a fundamental betrayal of these sacred principles. By cutting at least $700 billion from Medicaid and nearly $300 billion from SNAP, this legislation would strip healthcare coverage from 16 million Americans nationwide, including over 262,000 Virginians. It would remove food assistance from families struggling to feed their children, elderly individuals living on fixed incomes, and adults with disabilities who depend on this support for survival. 

In Virginia, this means that Cardinal Care—our state’s lifeline for children, seniors, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and adults with low incomes—would be devastated. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that these cuts would result in 51,000 American deaths annually. We cannot remain silent when legislation threatens to transform policy differences into matters of life and death. 

We call upon our Senators to remember that leadership is not merely about political calculations, but about moral courage. We urge them to: 

• Reject this budget bill that prioritizes corporate tax cuts for the wealthy over health care and food assistance to the most vulnerable Americans 
• Protect Medicaid and SNAP funding that serves as a moral safety net for millions 
• Seek alternative solutions that address fiscal concerns without abandoning our most vulnerable neighbors 
• Remember their oath to serve all constituents, especially those without powerful lobbies or political influence

We invite all people of conscience, regardless of religious affiliation, to join us in this moral imperative. The test of our society is not found in our economic indicators or political victories, but in how we treat the hungry, the sick, and our most vulnerable. 

The choice before our Senators is clear: they can choose the path of justice and compassion, or they can choose to abandon those who need help most. If this current budget bill is rejected, we are asking our Virginia Congressional delegation to work together to pass a budget that will keep Medicaid and SNAP intact. 

Link to letter with faith leader signatures 

MEDIA CONTACT: Roberta Oster, Communications Director,  
Virginia Interfaith Center or Public Policy, Roberta@virginiainterfaithcenter.org