Statement on the Affordable Care Act

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy affirms Governor Terry McAuliffe’s desire to expand healthcare in Virginia by drawing down federal Medicaid dollars.

The General Assembly has been reluctant to expand healthcare, given the uncertainty of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Now that the ACA remains the law of the land, Virginia should join the other 31 states in expanding healthcare for its citizens.

All major faith traditions support expanding healthcare and oppose efforts to reduce healthcare for low-income families. Helping 400,000 Virginians have access to healthcare is the right thing to do and embodies core religious values of “care for the poor,” “tzedek,” and “zakah.”