Airport employees who keep Washington Dulles International Airport running gathered Monday morning in the airport’s cell‑phone lot to press for affordable health care. The “Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now” bus tour stopped at the terminal, bringing together baggage handlers, wheelchair agents, other service workers, patients and several Virginia lawmakers.

Local workers share personal impact

Speakers described how a job does not automatically guarantee reasonable health coverage. Some workers rely on Medicaid, while others lack any insurance at all. One baggage handler explained that high premiums force her to choose between paying for her children’s school supplies or her own prescription medication.

Lawmakers join the call

U.S. Representatives Suhas Subramanyam and James Walkinshaw, along with Virginia State Senator Kannan Srinivasan, addressed the crowd. They echoed the workers’ message that recent Republican‑backed Medicaid cuts have left many families vulnerable and that the Affordable Care Act’s premium‑lowering tax credits should be fully restored.

Organizers also urged the federal government to allow Medicare to negotiate prices for a broader range of prescription drugs and to extend drug‑cost protections to more people with private insurance.

Union and advocacy backing

The rally was supported by the 32BJ SEIU union, which partnered with the Protect Our Care campaign. The tour is traveling through more than 15 states, highlighting real‑world stories of workers and patients burdened by soaring health‑care costs.

After the Dulles stop, the tour will continue to Williamsburg for another rally later in the afternoon, continuing the push for policy changes that would make health coverage more affordable for working Americans.

Why this matters for Virginia families

Virginia’s Medicaid program serves hundreds of thousands of low‑income residents. Recent policy changes have reduced eligibility and benefits, prompting concerns from both community advocates and elected officials. Restoring the cuts and expanding ACA tax credits could lower premiums for thousands of Virginians who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but still struggle to afford private plans.

Local leaders say the rally underscores the need for bipartisan solutions that protect families while respecting the role of personal responsibility and market‑based health‑care options.

Original reporting: Arlington County | FOX 5 DC — read the source article.