Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorses Health Care Champions in Competitive Races
For Immediate Release: April 21, 2020
Priority races will increase pro-reproductive health majority in U.S. House of Representatives
WASHINGTON — Today, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund (Action Fund) announced endorsements in critical races for the U.S. House of Representatives, including Christina Hale (IN-05), Jill Schupp (MO-02), Eugene DePasquale (PA-10), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), and Sri Kulkarni (TX-22). In the 2018 midterm election, voters flipped the House to a pro-reproductive health majority, and voters have an opportunity this November to elect candidates who are dedicated to protecting their sexual and reproductive health and rights. As the nation struggles to address the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear how urgently we need champions in Congress who will protect the health and rights of everyone in America, and who will show strong leadership in the face of a crisis.
This announcement — including a majority of female candidates (70%) and more than half are candidates of color (60%) — is part of the Action Fund’s continued endorsement of federal candidates committed to reproductive health and rights around the country.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:
“People need to know their elected officials are looking out for them, especially during a public health crisis like we’re experiencing now. It’s more important than ever that we have reproductive health champions in Congress fighting back against Donald Trump and leadership in the Senate who are actively working to undermine our health care and leaving us woefully unprepared to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is excited to endorse this diverse wave of candidates, who will work to make sure that everyone can access the care they need — no matter what.”
Since taking office, Donald Trump and his administration have pushed legislation to attack access to health care and reproductive rights. They’ve tried to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, block access to care at Planned Parenthood health centers, and undermine important safety net programs such as Title X and Medicaid. The impact of these policies is felt acutely now, as our nation responds to the growing COVID-19 emergency.
Get the facts on the Trump administration’s efforts to chip away at health care access:
FACT: After the White House’s top official in charge of response to a global pandemic left the administration, the White House did not fill the role and instead disbanded the National Security Council’s entire global health security team.
FACT: The Trump administration assigned leadership of its coronavirus response to Vice President Mike Pence, who exacerbated a devastating HIV outbreak as governor of Indiana because he had personal “moral” objections to CDC-approved measures like providing clean syringes.
FACT: The Trump administration sabotaged the Affordable Care Act by drastically curbing enrollment assistance, allowing junk health insurance plans on the marketplaces, and reducing the number of people who have health insurance today. The Trump administration is supporting a lawsuit that could gut the protections and coverage established by the ACA. In addition, state politicians across the county have refused to expand Medicaid under the ACA, leaving millions of people without needed health insurance.
FACT: The Trump administration pushed for Medicaid work requirements, an additional barrier to health insurance that is proven to kick tens of thousands of people off their health care. Women, particularly women of color, are significantly more likely to lose coverage as a result of these work requirements.
FACT: The Trump administration attempts to block patients from getting care at Planned Parenthood health centers in any way they can, including their Title X gag rule that forced Planned Parenthood out of the nation’s only dedicated affordable birth control program. The administration also encourages states to block people with Medicaid from accessing Planned Parenthood health centers. Many communities already have extreme health care provider shortages, and Planned Parenthood is often the only trusted provider. We’re in the midst of urgent public health crises — not just COVID-19 but also the opioid epidemic and extremely high rates of STIs — we need a strong public health safety net, not fewer trusted providers in our communities.
FACT: The Trump administration's cruel public charge rule was designed to keep immigrant families from accessing health care and basic needs. Experts believe that the rule could weaken America’s response to COVID-19 by preventing immigrant families from seeking health care.
FACT: The Trump administration proposed gutting CDC funding by 16 percent in the FY21 Budget, even amidst the early warning signs of a global pandemic. In fact, despite the rising threat to public health, top Trump officials continued to irresponsibly defend the agency cuts. There is no fiscal reason that could justify stripping down the nation’s life-saving health care infrastructure when we need it the most.
FACT: The Trump administration proposed a budget for FY21 that would slash funding for Health and Human Services (HHS) health care programs, including over $900 billion in cuts to Medicaid over 10 years. Without access to safety-net health care coverage, many people with low incomes or people who live in rural areas will have no options to cover the cost of care, leading to delayed testing and treatment for the deadly virus. The Trump administration stacked HHS with anti-abortion ideologues like Secretary Alex Azar, who spent his time on TV to tout his anti-abortion agenda while confirmed cases of COVID-19 were on the rise.
Find Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s presidential candidate spotlight here.
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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.