The Shadow
RICHMOND, VA — After Governor Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday signed Executive Order 20 to strengthen the Commonwealth’s response to the devastating healthcare cuts imposed by President Donald Trump, AARP thanked the Governor for taking action to support seniors, their families, and their caregivers.
In a statement, AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau praised the Governor’s “prudent and necessary executive order” and highlighted the concerns shared by Virginia seniors and caregivers about the “onerous” requirements in H.R.1 — President Donald Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The Governor’s order directs the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to protect healthcare coverage and food assistance for as many eligible Virginians as possible. More than 1.8 million Virginians are enrolled in Medicaid and nearly 800,000 Virginians are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The order lays out the Commonwealth’s plan to contend with H.R.1 in a way that mitigates harm by preventing gaps in coverage, improving statewide coordination, promoting economic mobility, keeping Virginia families safe and healthy, and prioritizing affordability.
Click here to read the statement from AARP Virginia or see the full text below:
AARP Virginia Commends Gov. Spanberger for Executive Order 20, Safeguarding Access to Health Care and Food Assistance
Executive Order 20 safeguards Virginians’ access to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
RICHMOND — AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau issued the following statement in response to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s Executive Order 20, which safeguards Virginians’ access to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits:
“As household costs continue to rise, too many Virginians are making impossible choices between things like food and rent, between medicine and school supplies, between caring for a loved one and picking up an overtime shift. Virginians must be able to access the health care and food they need, and we applaud Gov. Spanberger for ensuring the protection of these critical benefits that hardworking Virginians rely on – particularly family caregivers.
Caregiving is work, and more than that, it is the foundation upon which our long-term care system is built. Exempting caregivers from onerous Medicaid work requirements is critical, not only for their individual health and well-being, but for the continued existence of our broken long-term care system.
I’m grateful that Gov. Spanberger recognizes how crucial these programs are, and on behalf of the many Virginians over 50 who rely on them, I thank her for issuing this prudent and necessary executive order.”
AARP Virginia works to empower people to choose how they live as they age. Through advocacy, community engagement and educational programs, AARP helps Virginians build financial resilience, improve health and strengthen communities. With nearly 1 million members in the Commonwealth, AARP is the largest organization representing the interests of people age 50 and older and their families in Virginia.
