Rep. Payne Jr., Colleagues Tell Trump: ‘The Women of America Are Watching’

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-N.J., issued the following news release:

Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) joined 173 of his House Democratic colleagues in a letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging him to reconsider his support of efforts that would undermine women's health care, including repealing the Affordable Care Act and defunding Planned Parenthood.

"Throughout this reckless quest, Republicans have made no promises nor put forward any plans to preserve the ACA's crucial protections for women," the letter states. "Prior to the ACA, being a woman was effectively a pre-existing condition. Women were often denied insurance for having a C-section, breast cancer, or even a history of sexual or domestic abuse. When women were able to obtain coverage, they were charged much higher premiums than men based on gender alone. Thankfully, the ACA banned those discriminatory insurance company practices."

"Blocking patients from accessing care at Planned Parenthood would only exacerbate the untenable situation we face with ACA repeal. During the presidential campaign, even you acknowledged that Planned Parenthood does good work and helps millions of women and men....The women of America are watching, Mr. President-elect. As are the men who care about them. The true test of whether your policy agenda will harm or help women begins tomorrow," the letter concludes.

A pdf version of the full letter can be found HERE (http://payne.house.gov/sites/payne.house.gov/files/documents/Letter%20to%20President-Elect%20Trump.pdf).

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