Since this letter was circulated, Senate leadership has repeatedly changed course – from the BCRA, to a repeal of the Affordable Care Act without a replacement, to amendments of bills from 2015. This is not good governance. Catholic Sisters are united in defense of our nation’s most vulnerable, who are most at risk in these healthcare negotiations. Rather than continuing to negotiate partisan legislation that would cause tens of millions of Americans to lose access to health coverage, Congress should seek bipartisan solutions to expand quality, affordable coverage. As Catholic Sisters, we stand by our belief that health is a universal right and urge Senators to vote no on the motion to proceed for any bill that would repeal the ACA and cut Medicaid. July 24, 2017 United States Senate Capitol Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senators: We, more than 7,000 Catholic Sisters in the United States, write to urge you to cast a life- affirming “no” vote against the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). We have many concerns with this bill, but we are most troubled by the cuts it would make to Medicaid by ending the Medicaid expansion and instituting a per capita cap. Our faith urges us to care for all people and all of creation, especially the most vulnerable. The BCRA would be the most harmful legislation for American families in our lifetimes, and it goes against our Catholic faith teaching. As Pope Francis teaches, “health is not a consumer good, but a universal right, so access to health services cannot be a privilege.” Responding to this integral part of our faith, many of our religious congregations founded hospitals and hospital systems in the United States. Other congregations sponsor clinics and various services for people on the economic margins. The passage of this bill would cause far more suffering than we could possibly attend to through charity. For this reason we are speaking out. As Catholic women religious, we have witnessed firsthand the moral crisis of lack of quality, affordable healthcare in this country. We have seen early and avoidable deaths because of lack of insurance, prohibitive costs, and lack of access to quality care. We fought for the expansion of coverage in the Affordable Care Act because we saw the life-giving value of crucial healthcare programs such as Medicaid. This program covers over 70 million Americans, including children, pregnant women (and nearly half of all births in this country), people with disabilities, people struggling to get by, and senior citizens. Further, some of our fellow women religious rely on Medicaid in nursing homes when we can no longer care for our sisters at home. The BCRA would end the Medicaid program as we know it by taking lifesaving healthcare away from millions. The BCRA takes hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and gives it to 25 E Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20001 | 202-347-9797 [email protected] | www.networklobby.org | www.networkadvocates.org www.facebook.com/NETWORKLobby | @NETWORKLobby the very wealthiest individuals and corporations in the form of tax breaks. This is simply immoral and contrary to the teachings of our Catholic faith. Jesus teaches that “whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.” Our response should not be to take healthcare away from the most vulnerable by cutting and capping Medicaid. To cut Medicaid and take healthcare from millions of people is not a pro-life stance. We urge you to be mindful of the needs of all of our people and the call to the common good. Vote no on the BCRA. Sincerely, 7,150 Catholic sisters from all 50 states and the District of Columbia: Sister Simone Campbell, SSS Executive Director NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice Washington, DC Sister Kathleen Radich, OSF Sister Therese Haydel, OSB Sister Genevieve Sogota, OCD Saint Mary's, AK Cullman, AL Mobile, AL Sister Regina Barrett, OSB Sister Treva Heinberg, OSB Sister Tonette Sperando, OSB Cullman, AL Cullman, AL Cullman, AL Sister Jane Bishop, OSB Sister Deborah Kennedy, RSM Sister Therese Walker, MSBT Cullman, AL Mobile, AL Fort Mitchell, AL Sister Sara Burress, OSB Sister Margaret Liang, OSB Sister Christine Wiltrakis, MSBT Birmingham, AL Cullman, AL Fort Mitchell, AL Sister Susan Carr, RSM Sister Karen Ann Lortscher, OSB Sister Dorothy Calhoun, RSM Mobile, AL Cullman, AL Barling, AR Sister Brigid Clarke, SHM Sister Judith Dianne McGowan, Sister Maria DeAngeli, OSB Cullman, AL RSM Fort Smith, AR Birmingham, AL Sister Mary Ruth Coffman, OSB Sister Anita DeSalvo, RSM Cullman, AL Sister Lynn McKenzie, OSB Cave Springs, AR Cullman, AL Sister Jacqueline DeBone, OSB Sister Elise Forst, OSB Birmingham, AL Sister Kathleen Christa Murphy, Fort Smith, AR OSB Sister Aidan Donaldson, RSM Sister Mary Sarto Gaffney, RSM Cullman, AL Mobile, AL Barling, AR Sister Barbara Murray, RSM Sister Janet Flemming, OSB Sister Rita Killian, RSM Mobile, AL Birmingham, AL Barling, AR Sister Carolyn Oberkirch, RSM Sister Marilyn Graf, RSM Sister Kathleen Miles, DC Mobile, AL Mobile, AL Little Rock, AR Sister Mary Robert Oliver, OSB Sister Eleanor Harrison, OSB Sister Dorothea Moll, DC Birmingham, AL Cullman, AL Gould, AR Sister Mary Riordan, RSM Sister Regina Ann Hatton, RSM Sister Marilyn Perkins, DC Mobile, AL Mobile, AL Gould, AR Sister Bernadette Sachs, OSB Cullman, AL 25 E Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20001 | 202-347-9797 [email protected] | www.networklobby.org | www.networkadvocates.org www.facebook.com/NETWORKLobby | @NETWORKLobby Sister Kimberly Prohaska, OSB Sister Carmel Jacobs, OSF Sister Marjory Ann Baez, DC Fort Smith, AR Phoenix, AZ Lot Altos Hills, CA Sister Joan Pytlik, DC Sister Helen Jones, SSND Sister Paula Baker, PBVM Little Rock, AR Douglas, AZ San Francisco, CA Sister Eileen Schneider, OSB Sister Joneen Keuler, OSF Sister Dolores Barling, SNJM Jonesboro, AR Tucson, AZ Campbell, CA Sister Stephanie Schroeder, OSB Sister Susan Kolb, CSA Sister Patricia Barnes, SNDdeN Fort Smith, AR Bisbee, AZ Belmont, CA Sister Marian Abing, SSSF Sister Christi Ann Laudolff, CSA Sister Ruth Marie Barreda, CHS Surprise, AZ Bisbee, AZ Los Angeles, CA Sister Dympna Anne, IBVM Sister Eileen Mahony, CSA Sister Carmen Barsody, OSF Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ San Francisco, CA Sister Anne Archer, AND Sister Jean Mariani, OSF Sister Mary Bartosh, CHS Show Low, AZ Tucson, AZ Spring Valley, CA Sister Lydia Armenta, OSB Sister Margaret McBride, RSM Sister Joanne Bauer, CSC Phoenix, AZ Phoenix, AZ Fresno, CA Sister Marilyn Barnett, OP Sister Carolyn Nicolai, FSP Sister Dianne Baumunk, OSU Tucson, AZ Tucson, AZ Santa Rosa, CA Sister Catherine Berg, SSSF Sister Lucy Nigh, SSND Sister Catherine Marie Bazar, OP Phoenix, AZ Douglas, AZ Los Angeles, CA Sister Mary Richardine Blue, RSM Sister Laura Paita, MC Sister Sharon Becker, CSJ Phoenix, AZ Sacaton, AZ Santa Ana, CA Sister Esther Calderon, OP Sister Joleen Retzer, CSA Sister Judith Benkert, OP Tucson, AZ St. Michael's, AZ San Francisco, CA Sister Linda Campbell, OSB Sister Debbie Riches, Sister Aileen Bermingham, SNDdeN Phoenix, AZ Flagstaff, AZ Belmont, CA Sister Elizabeth Carey, IBVM Sister Mary Senglaub, OSF Sister Joan Bernhart, SNDdeN Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ Belmont, CA Sister Jeanne Carrigan, OSF Sister Mary Ann Spanjers, OSF Sister Geneva Berns, OSF Oro Valley, AZ Tucson, AZ Indian Wells, CA Sister Theresa Chato, SBS Sister Rachel Torrez, RSM Sister Cecile Bertheau, CSJ Chinle, AZ Phoenix, AZ Orange, CA Sister Elizabeth Christensen, SDS Sister Nancy Wellmeier, SNDdeN Sister Betty Bienlein, SNF Tucson, AZ Mesa, AZ Thousand Oaks, CA Sister Kathleen Cook, CSA Sister Gabrielle Marry, IBVM Sister Jeannette Black, CSJ Bisbee, AZ Phoenix, AZ Orange, CA Sister Barbara DeBoo, CSA Sister Ruth Agee, OSF Sister Ybonne Bondi, SNDdeN St. Michael's, AZ Altadena, CA Belmont, CA Sister Mary Dempsey, IBVM Sister Sue Allbritton, OP Sister Mary Geneva Bonhote, CSJO Phoenix, AZ San Rafael, CA Santa Ana, CA Sister Deborah Eastman, Sister Rosalie Anderson, SNJM Sister Barbara Boudreau, SNJM Glendale, AZ San Mateo, CA Los Gatos, CA Sister Patricia Ferrick, SSND Sister Maria Jeanette Ansberry, CSJ Sister Margaret Bowens, OP Douglas, AZ Orange, CA Fresno, CA Sister Anne Fitzsimons, IBVM Sister Jo Marie Arredondo, SHF Sister Christine Bowman, OSF Phoenix, AZ Fremont, CA Altadena, CA Sister Catherine France, DC Sister Milda Avila, CSJ Sister Grace Boys, SSS Tuba City, AZ Encino, CA San Diego, CA Sister Victoria Brady, RSM Sister Janet Chau, RSM Sister Maria Goretti DeCoite, CSJ Anaheim, CA Burlimgame, CA Orange, CA Sister Mercedes Braga, SHF Sister Margaret Ann Chincholle, CSJ Sister Marie Deering, SHF Sacramento, CA Orange, CA Fremont, CA Sister Marie Ann Brent, SHF Sister Madeleine Clayton, CSC Sister Susan DeGuide, RSM Fremont, CA Ventura, CA San Diego, CA Sister Margaret Brown, DC Sister Jeanne Clennon, CSC Sister Jane DeLisle, CSJ San Jose, CA Ventura, CA Santa Ana, CA Sister Sheila Browne, RSM Sister Mary Ann Clifford, RSM Sister Liane Delsuc, SNDdeN Burbank, CA Burlingame, CA Watsonville, CA Sister Kathleen Bryant, RSC Sister Una Connolly, RSC Sister Jo'Ann DeQuattro, SNJM Culver City, CA North Hills, CA Alhambra, CA Sister Cathy Bundon, CSJ Sister Patricia Connor, RSHM Sister Judith Dieterle, SSL Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA Woodland Hills, CA Sister Anne Burgard, SNJM Sister Trudy Considine, RSCJ Sister Mary Dietz, SSND Concord, CA Atherton, CA San Diego, CA Sister Marie Annette Burkart, SNDdeN Sister Elaine Coutu, CSJ Sister Kathleen Dolan, RSCJ Hayward, CA San Jose, CA Atherton,