Women and Families Comments on Senate Passage of Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 -- The National Partnership for Women and Families issued the following statement by President Debra L. Ness on Senate passage of a budget resolution:

"The U.S. Senate continued its march toward repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and dismantling the Medicaid program today by passing a budget resolution that furthers Republican leaders' plan to destroy the greatest advance for women's health in a generation. Republicans in Congress are hell bent on taking away health care from tens of millions of people without offering a comprehensive, transparent or vetted replacement plan.

Today's vote also continues the Republican leadership's plan to defund Planned Parenthood health centers and deny millions of people access to birth control and other essential preventive health care - a move that will further restrict access to care for the low-income, minority and rural women and families who need it the most.

Senate Republicans demonstrated blatant disregard for women's health and economic security by voting against amendments designed to prevent insurance companies from charging women higher premiums than men and denying coverage to women simply because of their gender; ensure access to affordable birth control; and preserve Medicaid expansion and the Medicare program as we know it.

As the budget moves on to the U.S. House of Representatives, on behalf of the millions who stand to lose health care, we demand that House leadership stop playing politics with our health care, especially women's health, including reproductive health, and instead make it a priority. We need our leaders to ensure that everyone has access to high quality, affordable coverage, which is essential to the strength and vitality of our people, our families and our country."

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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