Washington, DC—With last night’s vote, the divide between partisan politics and the priorities and needs of this nation were put on full display. Simply, healthcare that creates more access and coverage for more people, not fewer, should be the priority for elected officials. Even as Sen. McConnell plans the Republicans’ next move, and considering the Administration’s open hostility toward 1.5 million transgender people in the nation, the Department of Health and Human Services has already signaled it will seek to weaken protections under the anti-discrimination Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. National Center for Transgender Equality Executive Director Mara Keisling offers the following statement, in reaction to the vote:
“Republican lawmakers have voted more than 50 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and have failed again with yesterday’s ‘Skinny Repeal;’ which threatens to extend their years long crusade to waste their time, energy and taxpayer money while they debate bills and plans to strip away health coverage for millions. The reality is that healthcare is complicated and requires solutions that expand access to care and coverage, irrespective of politics and certainly without discrimination. Sen. Schumer correctly acknowledged that folks who rely on ACA were relieved by last night’s failed repeal. But we must also remain vigilant against further attempts to chip away at coverage, access, safeguards and efforts to promote discrimination in the weeks and months ahead.”
