Congressional Leaders Condemn Trump Administration Assault on ACA’s Anti-Discrimination Protections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 12, 2020
CONTACTS:
Danielle Cohen (Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus), 202-394-7556
Nissa Koerner (Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus), 202-225-2661
Laura Brantley (Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus), 202-650-7909
Ben Suarato (Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus), 202-225-5464
Alex Sarabia (Congressional Hispanic Caucus), 202-760-0802
Toyin Awesu (Congressional Black Caucus), 202-710-0659
Olivia Hodge (Democratic Women's Caucus), (202) 225-9890
Congressional Leaders Condemn Trump Administration Assault on ACA's Anti-Discrimination Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leaders of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, and Democratic Women's Caucus released the following statement today condemning the finalized Trump administration rule that rolls back Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which protects individuals seeking health care services, including comprehensive reproductive health care, from discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, race, national origin, age, and disability and provides protections for individuals with Limited English Proficiency:
"To finalize a rule that will embolden discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, Black people, indigenous communities, Latinos, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, people with limited English proficiency, and those living at the intersection of more than one of these identities, is both cruel and unconscionable. In the midst of a pandemic disproportionately taking the lives of Black people, indigenous communities, Latinos, and Pacific Islanders, amid unprecedented protests for Black lives and racial justice, and in the midst of both Pride Month and Immigrant Heritage Month, the Administration's final rule is exactly the opposite of what our country needs.
"Black, indigenous, and other women of color, and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals have historically been discriminated against when seeking health care. They continue to face obstacles to receiving the care they need as a result of systematic barriers, including poverty, racism and lack of insurance.
"No one should ever have to fear seeking health care because they may be discriminated against based on who they are or the care they seek. No one should have to worry about being denied health care because they have had an abortion or are seeking a full range of birth control options. Section 1557 provides critical protection precisely because it recognizes that discrimination can be intersectional – meaning that someone is discriminated against because of multiple identities; for example, because they are Black and a woman, or because they are an immigrant and LGBTQ, or because they are elderly and disabled. The Administration's efforts to unlawfully roll back Section 1557's protections is shameful. It not only denies people their lived experiences but undermines their ability to seek health care with dignity."