HR 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and similar federal proposals would undo decades of bipartisan progress in Virginia and jeopardize the health, independence, and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities across the Commonwealth. The bill’s sweeping changes to Medicaid—particularly work requirements and six-month eligibility redeterminations—create barriers that would disproportionately disenroll people with disabilities. In Arkansas, similar efforts led to tens of thousands losing coverage—not for failing to work, but because they couldn’t navigate red tape. Scaling this nationally would result in millions losing coverage they rely on. Cuts to Medicaid’s provider tax and state-directed payments also threaten the financial viability of home- and community-based services (HCBS), waivers, and personal care. This would deepen the existing workforce crisis and potentially leave people without direct support professionals (DSPs), who are essential to community life. These proposals also threaten the support systems that people with disabilities rely on every day. Many DSPs work part-time or for small providers that can’t offer insurance, depending on Medicaid or ACA subsidies for their own health coverage. Family caregivers, while exempt from work requirements, may still lose access to affordable insurance if ACA subsidies are cut. When caregivers and DSPs lose coverage, the stability and well-being of the individuals they support are directly at risk. These ripple effects are just as threatening as cutting services themselves. Federal budget cuts would also severely impact Virginia’s State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP), which relies on federal housing dollars to complement state investments. We appreciate Virginia’s funding for housing and local trust funds, but these efforts depend on continued federal support. The FY26 federal proposal would slash HUD and rental assistance by 43–51%, threatening programs like Section 8. Replacing these with capped block grants reduces flexibility and undermines our legal obligations under the ADA and Olmstead. Cuts to Medicaid, housing, and disability infrastructure—like the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and its core programs—would unravel essential protections. This includes Virginia’s DD Council (VBPD), UCEDD (Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU), and Protection & Advocacy system (disAbility Law Center of Virginia). These three organizations provide the backbone of rights protection, oversight, and systems change. Without them, people with disabilities are more vulnerable to abuse, institutionalization, and systemic failure. We urge you to act now. Virginia’s Delegates must be a line of defense for Virginians with developmental disabilities. Speak out publicly against harmful federal proposals and urge your congressional colleagues to oppose HR 1. At the same time, commit to state-level solutions that protect access to Medicaid, stabilize the direct support workforce, preserve housing assistance, and sustain core disability infrastructure of Virginia’s DD Council (VBPD), the Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU, and the disAbility Law Center of Virginia. Don’t let Virginia’s progress be erased. Virginia must be ready to lead if federal protections fall short. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on behalf of our 21 local chapters, Board of Directors, and statewide membership of people with disabilities, families, and allies.

On behalf of Hope House Foundation (HHF), thank you for the opportunity to share our deep concerns regarding the proposed federal budget cuts and their impact on affordable housing, SNAP, and Medicaid supports across the Commonwealth. HHF provides home- and community-based Medicaid waiver services to 118 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), all of whom live independently in their own homes or apartments in South Hampton Roads. Many rely on affordable housing made possible through Housing Choice Vouchers or the State Rental Assistance Program (SRAP), a vital resource for people with IDD who live in poverty. We are especially alarmed by HR 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which proposes sweeping changes to Medicaid, including work requirements and eligibility redetermination every six months. These measures would disproportionately harm people with disabilities, many of whom cannot meet arbitrary reporting rules due to cognitive, physical, or mental health limitations. Past state-level experiments have shown these policies result in large-scale disenrollment—not due to unwillingness to work, but because people cannot navigate complicated systems. Medicaid is not a safety net—it is essential for health care, daily support, and community inclusion. Cuts to Medicaid’s provider tax and state-directed payments would also jeopardize the financial viability of home- and community-based services (HCBS), which are already strained by workforce shortages, low wages, and high administrative burdens. Reductions in funding will further erode the fragile system that allows people with disabilities to live with dignity and choice—rather than in institutions, which are not only more isolating but also significantly more expensive for taxpayers to operate than supporting individuals in inclusive community settings. These cuts also threaten Virginia’s ability to meet its legal obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Olmstead decision, which require services in the most integrated settings possible. On housing, proposed federal cuts of 43–51% to HUD and rental assistance programs (a $26–45 billion national reduction) are deeply concerning. Programs like Housing Choice, long a lifeline for people with disabilities, could be converted into capped block grants, removing flexibility and long-term affordability. For people with IDD, losing rental assistance doesn’t just mean housing instability—it means losing access to community life. We are also deeply concerned about proposed reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Many individuals we support live on just $967/month in Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and SNAP is often what allows them to survive. Direct support professionals—already underpaid—also rely on SNAP to feed their families. Rising food costs and increased prices from food banks have made this crisis worse. HHF had to stop monthly food bank shopping because costs nearly matched grocery stores. SNAP is essential. Cutting it now would harm both those with disabilities and the workforce that supports them. In closing, we urge this Committee to resist measures that reverse decades of bipartisan progress. Reject eligibility restrictions, preserve rental assistance, and protect Medicaid & SNAP. These are not luxuries—they are the foundation of civil rights for people with disabilities. Grey Persons Advocacy and Outreach Liaison Hope House Foundation

Full statement attached: We are grateful for all the speakers and partners that have contributed to sharing impacts in so many key areas at this hearing. I have been asked to provide written comments on the impacts to the Hampton Roads Community Action Program (HRCAP), which is a key nonprofit service provider in the region. We are one of 31 community action agencies across the state that are focused on delivering a range of economic mobility programs that create pathways out of poverty. Our efforts work with the private sector, nonprofits and all levels of government to move families from financial crisis to economic security through a whole family approach. HRCAP has served Hampton Roads for almost 60 years. Our agency serves over 7,500 individuals annually through evidence-based programs that are innovative, adaptable, and provide transformational pathways out of poverty. We employ 237 amazing staff in the region and bring in $23,445,144 in resources to deploy with 90 percent being federal. We are known for our stellar early childhood services including an incredible Head Start program and a nationally recognized whole family initiative with offices in Hampton, Newport News and starting in July in Chesapeake. HRCAP provides early childhood education, workforce development programming, reentry services, housing, financial literacy services/tax preparation, health coaching, and Whole Family Approach strategies and other necessary services. Our annual report provides additional stories and data that demonstrate our effectiveness at providing essential services and transforming lives. Federal funding represents most of our capacity to serve and for community action the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is the key funding stream that provides HRCAP and our sister community action agencies the flexible funding to meet the specific highest priority needs of the communities we serve. Head Start; LIHEAP and Weatherization Assistance are also core programs administered by community action in much of the state. In 2024-2025, our Head Start program served 772 children and their families in the cities of Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Newport News, and Hampton. We are the largest Head Start provider in the Commonwealth of Virginia and any cuts to Head Start would have devastating impacts on our community. We are encouraged that Head Start is proposed to have level funding in the President’s Budget after months of uncertainty about the future of Head Start. However, we are deeply concerned that the Community Services Block Grant is proposed for elimination in the President’s budget along with LIHEAP and weatherization. HRCAP serves 471 individuals and families through CSBG. With CSBG we conduct a regular community needs assessment and develop programming with our board that has community leaders, local government representatives and representatives of the low-income individuals we are serving to develop and adjust programming to fill gaps in service to overcome impediments to economic mobility. This funding flows through the Virginia Department of Social Services and is a core component of the state and region’s human services capacity. Statewide this funding is over $12 million and with level funding HRCAP will receive $468,000 this upcoming state fiscal year and an additional $1.5 million will flow through partner community action agencies in the region. We are grateful for your support.

Within the non profits in the Hampton Roads area there is a risk, if all federal contracts to military bases were cut, that several 100 people with disabilities will be unemployed. They are the back bones to our federal sites in this area. To then assist them to find jobs, be supported with job coaching, it will cost the Commonwealth (DARS and other resources) a minimum of 1.75 million. The impact on the non profits who provide these federal contracts would additionally result in other people with disabilities losing services due to the snowball with the loss of funding. Many people who are supported by non profits live within poverty levels and there independence is dependent on housing, transportation, and other supports and safety nets There is grave concerns of the 'what if's... ' We would suggest looking at taxes/ tax revenue/ use of the 900 million that is unencumbered to ensure the most vulnerable citizens are safe.

I have attached a letter with information about the potential impacts of proposed federal budget cuts and restructuring on affordable housing and homelessness programs across the Commonwealth.

Through a recent EO, the president rescinded the federal minimum wage of $17.75 and pushed it down to $13.30 per hour. This EO is being slowly realized across federal contracts and helps contractors reap additional profits from the government off the backs of a blue-collared workforce. Essentially, the president told the lower and middle class, "your wages were too high and corporations should have more in their pockets". This will become a larger workforce issue and result in a domino effect of labor tensions and lower incomes.

Please stop excessive wasteful spending on programs and services that don’t work and benefit all Virginians especially in the next election. Our state must have qualified workers to help safe lives and protect our communities. We don’t need the woke agenda pushing unqualified people into positions they are not qualified to do. I see this in our medical system.

Virginia Democrat Representatives, Please stop wasting our hardworking taxpayer’s money on government dependency. Governor Youngkin might not be perfect, but he’s trying to use our money properly and save it for emergencies. The last four years of Biden-Harris and the Democrat majority have been a travesty for our state and country.