V.O.I.C.E. of Northern Virginia

On Monday evening, 20 July, 1,140 V.O.I.C.E leaders – more than double the number anticipated -- from 45 religious institutions assembled for an Action with Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and the Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Jim Webb. The message delivered by V.O.I.C.E. on access to dental care and immigration reform was supported by powerful testimonies from low-income residents who are suffering due to a lack of adequate dental care and hard-working, tax-paying immigrants who have faced substantial and burdensome delays in the processing of their citizenship, permanent residency, and political asylum applications.

Results of the Action:

Immigration reforms:  Gov. Kaine and Paul Reagan, who stood in for Sen. Webb because the Senator was detained unexpectedly in meetings on Capitol Hill, pledged to set up a meeting for V.O.I.C.E. officials with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to discuss the significant backlogs in the processing of applications by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Both Sen. Webb and Sen. Mark Warner have committed to hold the USCIS accountable for taking action as soon as possible on the backlog of 150-200 citizenship, permanent residency, and political asylum applications identified by V.O.I.C.E. leaders. Most of these cases involve V.O.I.C.E. leaders from Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center and St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Parish, both in Falls Church.  For more information on the delays and VOICE's action in response see the New York Times article:  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/us/05religion.html?_r=1

Dental care:  Gov. Kaine pledged to work with V.O.I.C.E. to try to find funding to expand dental care coverage as his Administration prepares the biennial budget that he will submit to the General Assembly before he leaves office in January. He said he has instructed his Secretary of Health and Human Services, Marilyn Tavenner, to try to identify funds for this purpose.

Other highlights:

            -- Both Gov. Kaine and Reagan commented on V.O.I.C.E.’s success in turning out so many people on a Monday night in July.

            -- Gov. Kaine said that, while expanding health care coverage for children had been among his priorities since taking office, dental care for low-income adults had not been on his radar screen until V.O.I.C.E. leaders raised it with him in two recent meetings.

            -- Sen. Warner, who could not be present due to a previous commitment, had a staff member hand-deliver a letter during the V.O.I.C.E. Action.  Sen Warner noted the dental care issue as raised by V.O.I.C.E. leaders in a meeting with him last week and pledged to work with V.O.I.C.E. to secure a meeting with top U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials to discuss V.O.I.C.E.’s immigration reform agenda.  For more information on the delays with immigration paperwork and VOICE's action in response see the New York Times:    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/us/05religion.html?_r=1

Click on this link to see testimony on the need for dental care:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFeuujreDVQ

Click on this link to see Governor Kaine's response:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO9S5dj_2dQ  

 Radio, television, and print pieces

on the VOICE Action with Governor Kaine:

To view the NBC 4 Television News segment please click here: Videos

WAMU Radio 88.5 audio news:     

WAMU Radio 88.5 print:  http://wamu.org/news/09/07/21.php      

Mount Vernon Gazette and Alexandria Gazette Packet:  http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=331069&paper=69&cat=104

The Washington Hispanic:  http://washingtonhispanic.com/html/metro.html#4 

El Pregonero:  http://www.elpreg.org/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=20&ArticleID=3240&TM=53132.26

Falls Church News Press:  http://www.fcnp.com/around-fc/4783-community-news-a-notes.html   VIRGINIA GOVERNOR TIM KAINE took the stage to participate in a meeting with hundreds of religious leaders from all over Virginia at T.C. Williams High School Monday night to hear concerns about the lack of dental care for the poorest of Virginia’s residents and the persistent federal delays in processing naturalization applications of Northern Virginia residents. The meeting was organized under the auspices of Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE), and a representative from the office of U.S. Senator Jim Webb was also present. (Photo: News-Press)

Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Kaine-confronted-with-budget-woes_-health-care-hopes-at-rally-8004049-51352462.html, 7/22/09

New York Times 4 Sept 09: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/us/05religion.html?_r=1