UCC works to advocate for Medicaid and SNAP on Capitol Hill

The following piece was written by Hannah Santos, communications and campaigns specialist in the Office of Public Policy and Advocacy, recounting the several days of advocacy work and lobbying to bring attention to the billions of dollars in cuts to critical public aid programs.

Congress is currently pushing through a budget reconciliation bill that cuts Medicaid by $715 billion, and reduces $313 billion from the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) program to fund tax cuts to billionaires and corporations, as well as the continuation of an aggressive deportation program across the country.  

This is especially concerning, given Medicaid is the largest single payer of maternity care and pediatrics, providing healthcare for 40% of mothers and 49% of children. Congress is cutting billions from the SNAP program by redesignating children over the age of seven as “nonworking adults,” cutting them out of the program, leaving them without any nutrition assistance at all. 

Over the last few months, multiple settings of the United Church of Christ have fought back against this egregious attack on the poor.  From April 21 – 25, the UCC Council on Health and Human Services Ministries, UCC Wellness Ministries, and the UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy in Washington, D.C. came together to host the UCC’s Medicaid and SNAP Advocacy Week. It attracted 51 congregations and 16 nonprofit organizations to participate.  
 

After two advocacy trainings with Abigail Cipparone, Domestic Policy Advocate of the UCC D.C. office, participants met with their members of Congress to express how cuts to Medicaid and SNAP would violate their religious and moral values, as well as threaten church programming and the fiscal future of mission-based nonprofits.  

One church, Ada Congregational Church met with Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) to discuss the impact of possible Medicaid and SNAP cuts. “We met with Rep. Hillary Scholten and all went well,” said Rev. Rebecca Riekse, minister of faith formation. “She pointed us to colleagues to reach out to, suggesting that in some districts they receive less feedback from their more rural communities. She is grateful for our support.”
 

Another faith leader shared, “By the end of the meeting, we thought the congressional staff we met with was truly listening to us. In an email follow-up, she said she spoke with her boss about the impact of cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to individuals.” 

“As the United Church of Christ, we refuse to let our elected officials balance the federal budget on the backs of the poor. This legislation would let children go hungry and lose access to a doctor, all while giving even more tax breaks to corporations and billionaires,” said Cipparone. “I am heartened by the energy UCCers have brought to opposing this egregious piece of legislation and look forward to further actions in the coming weeks.” 

Raising our faith voice through interfaith letters to Congress

In addition to the advocacy held in the District, the UCC National Setting joined other faith denominations in lobby meetings with key members of Congress. Multiple letters were sent to the Capitol Hill regarding this attack on federal benefits. Some of the letters included:  

• A letter was sent to the Energy and Commerce and Agriculture Committees on the unique impacts of cutting the Medicaid and SNAP programs to religious communities (signed by over 35 faith organizations) ; 
   

• A letter sent to the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees described the negative impact of defunding human needs programs to fund a vast deportation program that risked the sanctity of places of worship and decreased participation in church programs;
   

• A letter with other religious organizations and disability organizations was sent to Congress described the impact of cuts to Medicaid on the disabled community, a majority of whom rely on Medicaid as the only insurer that will provide them the services they need.  
   

On May 8, UCC faith leaders joined more than 500 other faith leaders in New York, California, Maine, Arizona, and Michigan in signing letters to their Congressional representatives, hand delivered by faith leaders expressing their deep concern over these cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.  UCC members who want to send personal letters to their elected officials regarding these potential cuts, are encouraged to do so through the UCC action center.

“The current proposed budget ignores the needs of communities already disenfranchised and marginalized by hunger, poverty, low income, and lack of access to medical care. I urge the Congress to vote against the budget reconciliation bill that jeopardizes our sacred services for children, including the free school meal program and school health care services,” said Rev. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, UCC General Minister & President.  “Our mission as the United Church of Christ is to build a ‘Just world for All.’ I pray that members of Congress vote in line with these Christian values of generosity, charity, and love, and oppose this and any legislation that would make it harder for families to put food on the table or bring their children to the doctor.” 

In person prayer vigils in the halls of Congress

An interfaith coalition of leaders and advocates came together on May 13-14 to pray and sing for members of Congress as they walked to the committee hearings where Congressional committees considered the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Wearing homemade t-shirts emblazoned with “UCC for healthcare,” “Catholics for Medicaid,” “God is watching,” and “Whatever you do to the least of these,” these faith advocates sat in the committee rooms and witnessed as those committees passed legislation that would strip millions of their healthcare and nutrition.  

The House may soon pass this legislation, but the fight is not over. On June 10, faith leaders from across the country will descend on the Capitol for a procession and vigil led by clergy and congregants, religious and lay leaders at the U.S. Capitol. This comes before a key Senate vote on a reconciliation package that threatens to slash care for the sick, in Medicaid, and feeding the hungry, in SNAP, as well as other vital social programs that support and uplift vulnerable people. The UCC is co-sponsoring this event and encourages all who are able to register here. 

“Children are blessings that help us see Christ’s love for the world,” said Rev. Michael Neuroth, Director of the UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy. “That is why I cannot support Congress cutting assistance that helps children get enough to eat, see a doctor when they are sick, and meet their basic needs, to pay for tax cuts for corporations and billionaires.”

---

Content on ucc.org is copyrighted by the National Setting of the United Church of Christ and may be only shared according to the guidelines outlined here.