For Immediate Release
Cindy Hoffman: 202 524 5330
CHoffman@ywca.org

Statement by Casey Harden, Interim CEO of YWCA USA

“None of the proposals currently on the table in the Senate will provide Americans with better health care options or services. In fact, the opposite is true. The alarming projection by the Congressional Budget Office that 17 million people would become uninsured within the next year—and 10 million more by 2020—should stop any further consideration of the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without a replacement. Other proposed legislation is just as dire. The risk is too high, especially for women of color, who saw dramatic increases in health care coverage thanks to the ACA.

“YWCA USA whole-heartedly opposes any replacement legislation that does not include a fully-vetted plan to preserve essential health benefits, coverage for pre-existing conditions, access to the full range of reproductive health services, and a strong Medicaid program that maintains both the expansion and the current financing structure, without block grants or per-capita caps.

“We are asking plainly: do not play political games with health care. Protect the gains we’ve made through the ACA, and support women, girls, and communities of color who stand to lose the most. There is too much at stake for Congress to move forward with repealing the ACA or replacing it with second-rate legislation.”

About YWCA USA

YWCA USA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. We are one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the nation, serving over 2 million women, girls, and their families.

YWCA has been at the forefront of the most pressing social movements for more than 150 years — from voting rights to civil rights, from affordable housing to pay equity, from violence prevention to health care reform. Today, we combine programming and advocacy in order to generate institutional change in three key areas: racial justice and civil rights, empowerment and economic advancement of women and girls, and health and safety of women and girls. Learn more: www.ywca.org.

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