Planned Parenthood Federation of America Statement on Trumpcare Defeat
 

For Immediate Release: July 28, 2017
Contact: Planned Parenthood Media Office, [email protected] or 212-261-4346

In Resounding Victory for Women, Grassroots Power Defeats Trumpcare

Planned Parenthood Grassroots Activists Refused to Let Bill Pass

Washington, DC — In a tremendous victory for women’s health, the Senate failed to pass Trumpcare.

The bill was defeated by a bipartisan vote, with every Senate Democrat voting against the bill as well as Republican Senators Collins (R-ME), McCain (R-AZ) and Murkowski (R-AK), who stood with the women of this country.

Tumpcare is the worst bill for women in a generation and would have cut off access to vital health care services, disproportionately impacting women who already face unfair barriers to care, especially low-income women and women of color. Trumpcare would have blocked millions from accessing birth control and cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood health centers, increased premiums by 20% and taken away health insurance from tens of millions of Americans.

That’s why Planned Parenthood supporters launched a vocal, persistent opposition to Trumpcare from day one. For months, an army of pink-clad Planned Parenthood patients, supporters, and advocates organized thousands of actions from coast to coast — including rallies, speak-outs at congressional town halls, phone banks, petition deliveries to congressional offices, and field hearings.

Over the last several months, Planned Parenthood supporters have:

• Made more than 200,000 phone calls to members of Congress
• Organized more than 2,200 events across the country, including rallies, petition drops, phone banks, and marches
• Delivered over one million petition signatures to members of Congress in opposition to  “defunding” Planned Parenthood.

All told, Planned Parenthood grassroots organizing has been a driving force in the successful, bipartisan effort to stop Trumpcare and protect people’s access to Planned Parenthood.

Statement from Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“Women stopped this bill in its tracks. Since day one, women have led the opposition, from organizing rallies and marches to flooding congressional town halls and hosting weekly phone banks. Americans across the country joined the rallying cry against this dangerous bill, rose up in opposition, and never let up. Against all odds, grassroots organizing defeated Trumpcare. We know this is the beginning, not the end, of fighting for what we believe in — but it’s a big step forward.

“It’s time politicians learned that they cannot attack women’s health and rights and expect to get away with it. This Congress — and this country — witnessed a never-before-seen groundswell of activism in response to politicians’ efforts to jam through the worst bill for women in a generation.

“To every one of the activists who called their members of Congress, who marched in the streets, who spoke out at a town hall, I want to say thank you. Together we defeated Trumpcare, the worst bill for women’s health in a generation. Because of you, tens of millions of people are no longer about to lose the health care that they and their families rely on. Because of you, tomorrow another 8,118 people will still be able to get care at Planned Parenthood health centers across the country. Today’s victory is a powerful reminder that, together, our voices have the power change the world.”