One Year After Voting for the Default on America Act: Lawmakers, Advocates Join Affordable Virginia Calling for Rep. Jen Kiggans to Stand With Working Families

From left to right: Heidi Dragneff, Dr. Donna Sotolongo, Del. Nadarius Clark, Sen. Aaron Rouse, Eric Lopez, Emily Yeatts| Credit: Affordable Virginia 

Virginia Beach, Va. – Yesterday, lawmakers and advocates in Virginia Beach joined Affordable Virginia for a press conference calling for Congresswoman Jen Kiggans to support the care economy and investments in resources for working families in the Biden Administration’s proposed budget.

In attendance were two state lawmakers, Senator Aaron Rouse (SD22) and Delegate Nadarius Clark (HD84), Eric Lopez, a representative from Care In Action, an organization that advocates on behalf of care workers, local veteran and mother of three Heidi Dragneff, and Virginia Beach psychologist, Dr. Donna Sotolongo.

The press conference was set against a backdrop of a large mobile billboard featuring the image of a local mother and veteran who is calling out Kiggans for voting to hike the cost of child care for working families

Kassaundra, a local mother and veteran from a recent Affordable Virginia ad  calls out Congresswoman Kiggans for voting to hike the cost of child care for working families| Credit: Affordable Virginia 

Following the press conference, the mobile billboard drove around the district, including stopping at Rep. Kiggans office. 

“Instead of fighting for working families, Rep. Kiggans has spent much of her time in Congress trying to make life easier for the ultra-wealthy,” said Emily Yeatts, Campaign Director for Affordable Virginia. “Representative Kiggans, please hear us loud and clear. The working families of this district are at a breaking point. Instead of siding with billionaires, we are calling on you to support the proposed budget and deliver much-needed relief for the families you represent.”

Advocates drew attention to Rep. Kiggans voting record, highlighting the Default on America Act, which Kiggans voted for and included harmful cuts across the board, including child care funding. The bill would have caused 3,600 children in Virginia to lose access to Head Start slots and 2,300 children lose access to child care. By contrast, the Biden Administration’s budget would expand access to high-quality, affordable child care. Rep. Kiggan’s Default on America Act vote comes up on its one year anniversary today.

“In the General Assembly, we have been working on solutions to invest in the care economy and offer families and workers the relief they deserve,” said Senator Aaron Rouse. “But the fact is, we need action from our federal government. And here in this district, our Congresswoman Jen Kiggans has voted for harmful cuts to essential funding and raised child care costs for working families. That’s why today we’re calling on Congresswoman Kiggans to support the Administration’s budget, which will make historic investments in child care, early childhood education, and other essential services for families.” 

“Like Congresswoman Kiggans and so many here in our district, I also come from a military family where I learned the importance of service and working collaboratively on critical issues, and I call on her to live by those values,” said Delegate Nadarius Clark. “But instead of standing with working families, Kiggans has voted for harmful cuts for working families, like voting to eliminate 5,900 preschool and child care slots in Virginia, strip nutrition food assistance from women and children in Virginia and gut funding for low-income students. These cuts are not only harmful, but they are in direct opposition to the values Kiggans purports to hold.”

“It’s appalling that the workers who work on the front lines working more than 40 hours a week, including at the height of the pandemic, experience wage theft, have little or no access to health benefits, and cannot take a paid sick day,” said Eric Lopez, Field Manager for Care In Action. “The care economy is an economic issue that affects everyone in this country. Care is critical, and we urge Congresswoman Kiggans to work with her colleagues to invest in care workers to keep our economy moving forward.”

“When families have limited income or resources, there are fewer options open to the patient and family,” said Dr. Donna Sotolongo, a Psychologist in Virginia Beach. “Paid family and medical leave would fix this by helping improve health outcomes for Virginians of all backgrounds and ages across the commonwealth. With paid family leave, mothers are less likely to develop postpartum depression, and babies are more likely to benefit from prolonged breastfeeding as well as higher immunization rates.

“We want leaders like Jen Kiggans to fight for us, not the billionaires,” said Heidi Dragneff, veteran, community activist, and single mom of three. “That’s why today, we’re calling on her to support the Biden Administration's proposed budget, which will guarantee affordable, accessible child care for all families. Jen Kiggans has the opportunity to provide desperately needed relief for working families, and we urge her to make the right decision.”  

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