As constituents and faith leaders representing faith-based organizations, congregations, and religious traditions from across Arkansas, we urge you to oppose cuts and harmful changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as you draft and vote on the budget reconciliation bill.

We implore you to prioritize the needs of working families with low-paying jobs and those living at the margins, and we urge you to avoid all changes to the Medicaid and SNAP programs that will inevitably reduce access and threaten the very existence of these lifesaving programs.

As faith leaders, each with unique sacred traditions, we affirm the belief that every person is made in God’s image and deserves to thrive, not just survive. Our diverse traditions share the values of compassion and care. We are called by our sacred texts and faith principles to love our neighbors, accompany the vulnerable, and welcome the stranger. When the economy fails to meet the needs of its most vulnerable — people living in or near poverty, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations — the government has a moral responsibility to actively meet human needs. Government has an important role to play in this obligation to help build a just and fair economy that benefits all people. Government is at its best when it works to promote the common good.

Cutting, capping or shifting costs to the states for Medicaid and SNAP will harm our communities. More than 800,000 Arkansans get their health care coverage through Medicaid, including 400,000 children. 41% of births in the state are covered by Medicaid. With our state’s alarmingly high maternal and infant mortality rates, we cannot afford for pregnant and new mothers to go without health care.

Over the course of a year, almost 400,000 Arkansans use SNAP at some point to help feed their families. Slashing these programs is even more distressing considering these drastic cuts will be used to pay for tax cuts and to weaponize immigration enforcement. Indiscriminate raids in schools, our houses of worship, and hospitals, and tearing families apart and destabilizing our communities is wrong. We cannot abide it being financed by cutting programs to support health care and food security for the most vulnerable.

As faith leaders, we lead congregations and communities that have robust charity commitments. This includes leading food pantries, soup kitchens, rural community health clinics, and hospitals, which will all bear a greater financial burden if these policies go into effect. We know firsthand the support and services hardworking people and families locally need and how they stand to suffer should the current proposals advance; therefore, we implore you to OPPOSE policies that take from the many to enrich the few. The many people you represent who rely on programs like Medicaid and SNAP to access health care or put food on the table cannot afford the proposed cuts. As prices rise and the economy becomes increasingly uncertain, families and seniors and our state cannot afford proposals that slash the social safety net that keeps families from sinking further into debt and poverty. Faith organizations have long been on the front lines, providing health access and fighting hunger through community clinics, food pantries and other charitable work. This will never change, but charity alone cannot meet the need. We must have strong public policy as well. SNAP and Medicaid are our nation’s most effective tools to combat hunger and lack of health access, especially for children. It’s essential that we keep these programs strong.  

We hope that you oppose cuts and harmful changes to Medicaid and SNAP as you vote on the budget reconciliation bill.

Sincerely, the following faith leaders from Arkansas:

Abdul Abunasrah, Islamic Center of Little Rock
Rev. Karen Kokles Akin, Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.
The Rev. Kate Alexander, Christ Episcopal Church
The Rev. Thomas Alexander, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Little Rock
Rev. Andrea Allen, Arkansas United Methodist Church
Rev. Maxine Allen, The United Methodist Church
Rev. Paul Atkins, Canvas Community United Methodist Church
Rev. Toby Austin, The United Methodist Church
Rev. Davida Autry, The United Methodist Church
Rev. Deacon Gary Bair, The Episcopal Church
Rev. Nicholas Baker, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Candace Barron, The United Methodist Church
Brandon Bates, First United Methodist Church- Fort Smith
Sr. Pastor Hayward Battle, Eagle Rock Temple of Deliverance
Pastor Deborah Bell, Theressa Hoover Memorial UMC
Bishop Larry Benfield, The Episcopal Church
Chaplain Jennifer Bingham, Soul Fed Ministries
Rabbi Barry H. Block, Congregation B’nai Israel, Little Rock
Rev. Carol Ann Blow, Sr. Thea Bowman Inclusive Catholic Church
Rev. Dr. Melissa Ross Bowen, Canvas Community
Rev. Dr. Blake R. Bradford, Fort Smith First United Methodist Church
Rev. Willie Branch, Jr., Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. Cindy Bright, Russellville 1st UMC
Rev. Jacqui Buschor, Faith Lutheran Church, Little Rock
Rev. Patti Butler, The United Methodist Church
Pastor Suzanne Cain, Second Baptist Church
Rev. Katye Chambers, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church
The Rev. Charles Chapman, Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas
Rev. Sara Bayles Charlton, United Methodist Church
Rev. Karen Cherwein, Peace Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Jay Clark, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church
Rev. Wayne Clark, The United Methodist Church
Pastor Heather Clawitter, Arkansas United Methodist Church
Pastor Preston Clegg, Second Baptist Church- Downtown Little Rock
The Rev. Mercedes Clements, All Saints’ Episcopal Church
Caleb Conrad, Asbury United Methodist Church
The Rev. Deb Cooper, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Gene Crawford, Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas
The Rev. Peggy Cromwell, St Nicholas’ Episcopal Church
Rev. Daniel Curry, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church
The Rev. Dr. Teresa Wooten Daily, The Episcopal Church in Arkansas
The Rev. Dr. Marti Dalby, St. Francis Episcopal Church
Rev. Joyce Dalton, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Ryan D. Davis, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Denise Donnell, New Beginnings Church of Central Arkansas
Pastor Roy Elliott, Jr., Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Chris Ellis, Second Baptist Downtown
Rev. Eva Englert-Jessen, First United Methodist Church, Little Rock
Rev. Dr. Hammett N. Evans, The United Methodist Church
Minister Ruskin Falls, Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church
Margaret Falls-Corbitt, First Presbyterian Church of Morrilton, AR
Rev. Jason M. Ferguson, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Minister C.J. Fowler, Second Baptist Church Downtown Little Rock
The Very Rev. Stephanie Fox, St George’s Episcopal Church
Rev. David C. Freeman, First United Methodist Church, Little Rock
Rev. Dickie Goodman, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Pastor Terry Maurice Gosnell, United Methodist Church
Dr. Stephanie Gray, Taste of Olam Haba
Rev. Charles Green, The United Methodist Church
Rev. Jana Green, The United Methodist Church
Rev. Wendell Griffen, New Millennium Church/Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
The Rev. Lowell E. Grisham, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fayetteville
Pastor Lauren DeLano Grosskopf, Russellville First United Methodist Church
Hosam Aladdin Hadid, Masjid Annoor – Fort Smith, AR
Rev. Stacey Lynn Hammons, Presbyterian Church USA, Presbytery of Arkansas
Rev. Steve Hancock, Presbyterian Church (USA)
The. Rev. Mark Paul Harris, Trinity Episcopal Church, Searcy AR
Rev. Ron Hayes, First United Methodist Church Bella Vista
Fr. Brandon Haynes, All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Bentonville
The Rev. Keith Hearnsberger, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Susan Heath, Second Baptist Downtown
The Rev. Elizabeth Henry-McKeever, Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church
Chaplain Cameron Highsmith, Presbyterian Church, USA
Sr. Pastor David D. Hoffman, Augusta/Cotton Plant UMC
The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, Oscar Romero Old Catholic Church
The Rev. Hannah Hooker, Christ Episcopal Church
The Rev. Brandon James Hudson, St. Theodore’s Episcopal Church, Bella Vista, AR
Minister Thomas Hudson, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Pastor Marion Andrew Humphrey, Sr., Alison Memorial Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Randy Lee Hyde, Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Rev. Dr. Benjamin Kane, Second Presbyterian Church
Dr. Ali Khan, Interfaith Center
Rev. Lynn Kilbourne, The United Methodist Church
Rev. James Kjorlaug, Rogers First United Methodist Chuch
The Rev. Brenda Kroll, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Rev. Richard Lancaster, Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church
Rev. Justin Ledbetter, First United Methodist Church of Maumelle
Rev. Susan Ledbetter, United Methodist Church
Pastor Rick Lee, Moore’s Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church
Rabbi Gene Levy
Timothy Lee Looper, Unitarian Universalist Church
The Rev. Samuel Loudenslager, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Pastor Robert Wm Lowry, Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, Little Rock
Rev. Jacob Lynn, Cabot United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Charlie McAdoo, The United Methodist Church
The Rev. Michael T. McCain, Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church
Rev. John Mark McDonald, Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church
Rev. Shea McGinnis, Presbytery of Arkansas
The Rev. Stanley McKinnon, Grace Episcopal Church
Heather Lynn McMahan, Karisma Consulting
Rev. Katheleen McMurray, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church
R. Shane McNary, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-Great Rivers Fellowship
Rev. Dr. Michelle J. Morris, First United Methodist Church of Bentonville
Rev. Dr. Don Morrow, First Christian Church & WaterWay
Rev. Natasha Murray, First United Methodist Church-Downtown Little Rock
The Rev. Mark Nabors, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Hot Springs, AR
Pastor Mark Norman, Highland Valley UMC
Rev. K. Marie Mainard O’Connell, Presbytery of Arkansas
Rev. Katie Goss Pearce, First United Methodist Church of Batesville
The Rev. Jim Poinsett, Presbytery of Arkansas
Pastor Kevin Pranoto, Second Baptist Church Little Rock
Imam Faruq Bilal Rasheed, Islamic Community for Human Excellence (ICHE)
The Rev. David Reed, Presbyterian Church, honorably retired
Rev. Leslie Smith Reeves, Presbyterian
Rev. Dr. William O. (Bud) Reeves, The United Methodist Church
The Rev. Matthew Richardson, All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Paragould
Sr. Pastor John Robbins, Pulaski Heights UMC
The Rev. Caleb Roberts, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Leslie Roper, First Presbyterian Church, Hot Springs
Rev. Heather Rose, United Methodist Church
Rev. Ellen Rowland, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church
Rev. Lindsey Russell, United Methodist Church
The Rev. Danny Schieffler, Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Clint Schnekloth, Good Shepard Lutheran, Fayetteville
Rev. Randy A. Seale, United Methodist Church
Rev. Alisa Secrest, Second Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Dr. Joanna Seibert, Episcopal Church
Pastor Larry Shaw, New Walk Christian Church
Victoria Shine, Christian Angel Support Center
Rev. Britt Allen Skarda, United Methodist
Pastor C. Drew Smith, First Presbyterian Church, Monticello, AR
Pastor Christopher Smith, First Presbyterian Church, Monticello, AR
Rev. Cleo J. Smith, Saint Luke Baptist Church
Sr. Pastor Curtiss Smith, Redemptive Community Church
Pastor Stewart Smith, First United Presbyterian Church
Rev. Betsy Singleton Snyder, United Methodist Church (Pinnacle View UMC)
Carolyn Y. Staley, Cooperative Baptist
Rev. Brittany Stillwell, Second Baptist Church – Downtown Little Rock
The Rev. Carey Stoner, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church North Little Rock
The Rev. Suzanne Stoner, St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fayetteville
The Rev. Ragan Sutterfield, Christ Episcopal Church
Lowell Taylor, The Zacchaeus Foundation
Elder Shelby B. Taylor, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. Garry Teeter, United Methodist
The Rev. Barkley Thompson, Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church
Pastor Roderick Torrence, Christway Baptist Church
The Rev. Dr. John Scott Trotter, Episcopal Church
Rev. Melanie Tubbs, United Methodist Church
Rev. Michael Ulasewich, First Presbyterian Church
Rev. Mary Vano, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Lindy Vogado, Second Presbyterian Church
Pastor Willie Wade, Jr., Difference Makers of Hot Springs
Minister Theotis Christopher Washington, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. Brittany Richardson Watson, First United Methodist Church of Downtown Little Rock
Rev. Hayley Jones Wells, First United Methodist Church, Little Rock
Rev. Linda Whitworth-Reed, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Brenda D. Wideman, United Methodist Church
Rev. Renee Willett, White Memorial United Methodist Church
Christina Williams, Micah Fellows Program
Rev. Jennie McCain Williams, Central UMC Fayetteville
The Rev. Edwin F. Wills, Jr., Episcopal Church
Rev. Mackey Yokem, The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas

Click here for more information on these proposals and how to get involved.