The Feminist Majority condemns the cruel draft of the U.S. Senate healthcare bill released today that threatens to decimate Medicaid as we know it and rip health insurance away from millions. We’re calling on U.S. Senators to oppose the Senate’s deadly, heartless version of Trumpcare.
Statement by Feminist Majority President, Eleanor Smeal:
“Today, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a draft of the Senate’s healthcare bill that shamelessly targets women: pregnant women trying to access maternal and pre-natal healthcare; elderly women that make up two-thirds of nursing home patients; the women who make up two-thirds of all Medicaid recipients; and young women trying to access reproductive healthcare.
Just like the House version, the Senate bill has almost nothing to do with healthcare, but is instead concerned with syphoning off enough money from Medicaid to give a massive tax break to the wealthiest 1% of Americans. This bill disgracefully places Medicaid on the chopping block, along with 74 million people who rely on its services, two-thirds of whom are women.
What can we expect when this bill was drafted by 13 white male Republican Senators who have no understanding, nor seem to care, about what women need to survive? As a result, the bill looks almost exactly like the House’s version—which currently has only a 17% public approval rating—and is completely out of touch with the reality of the majority of people in America.
That Majority Leader McConnell is trying to force this bill through with no hearings, debate or time for amendments shows exactly how recklessly they are willing to play with people’s lives. Feminists have to fight back, we have no other choice.”
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