National Partnership for Women & Families Comments on HHS Selection by Trump

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 -- The National Partnership for Women and Families issued the following statement by President Debra L. Ness:

"We are extremely disappointed with President-elect Trump's nomination of Rep. Tom Price - a vocal and staunch opponent of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), reproductive rights and efforts to improve women's health - to serve as secretary of HHS. Price's abysmal record of leading the fight in Congress to dismantle the health care law that has expanded coverage to 20 million previously uninsured people, working to deny women access to abortion and contraception coverage and voting many times to defund Planned Parenthood exacerbates health disparities and pushes women deeper into poverty.

"Price's ACA replacement proposals, centering around health savings accounts, high-risk insurance pools, and allowing interstate insurance sales, would significantly reduce access to care, drive up health care costs and diminish health care quality, especially for those who need it most--seniors, the seriously ill, and those with pre-existing conditions. And his opposition to contraception coverage and abortion care harms women whose economic security, health and dignity are tied to their ability to plan whether and when to have children.

"We need a health secretary who will fight to ensure high quality care is available and affordable to all and who will make women's health needs, including reproductive health, a priority. This is essential to strengthening families, our economy and the country. We urge the Senate to refuse to confirm a nominee who poses such a significant threat to the health and well-being of women and families."

The National Partnership for Women & Families is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace, access to quality health care and policies that help women and men meet the dual demands of work and family. More information is available at www.NationalPartnership.org.

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