In the last few days, after incredible grassroots pressure across the country to our representatives, Congress has found itself divided over the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Today, they may finally vote. Here’s what’s at stake: As written, this is the worst bill for women in a generation.
It threatens to gut maternity coverage, put egregious burden of women on Medicaid, and strip 55 million women from their birth control coverage. It also takes away healthcare from 24 million Americans, and restricts other basic coverage from millions of people.
This is unfair. And just when key issues over the lives of women and families are at stake, who is at the decision-making table? These guys.
We know access to health care matter even more in a changing environment. With increased threats of vector-borne diseases such as Zika, water quality in Flint, and other natural disasters across the country, that low income communities and the women who live within them face a greater risk of getting sick, losing their livelihoods, living in poverty, and being displaced when weather disasters strike. These communities are also the least likely to have affordable access to the healthcare they need to discover early warning signs of illnesses like those caused or exacerbated by environmental factors and get the treatments they need after illness has occurred. That is why the Sierra Club, joined by many of the nation’s largest and most influential environmental groups, sent a letter to Congress urging them to support Planned Parenthood and the ACA.
We must hold our elected officials accountable to the damage they seek to do. They want to deny coverage and strip our families of basic rights to health care. Let’s keep the pressure on and let our representatives know we’re watching:
#1: Flood the phone lines today.
Call your Member of Congress TODAY and tell them you oppose TrumpCare. See this list of target for additional social media action.
#2: Join the resistance!
Rallies are taking place across the countryTODAY at 4:30pm. Find one in your area here.
#3: Tell your senators you oppose Judge Gorsuch’s nomination.
Sign this petition to say no to Judge Gorsuch’s nomination today. Read here for more information on Gorsuch’s positions on women and environment.
#4: Share with your friends.
Now is the time to double down. We have delayed but the fight is not over. Invite your friends to join the cause through social media, emails and other channels. Start by sharing this article!
There is no overstating how important this moment is for woman and what it would mean for all Americans to defeat this terrible bill. Everyone should have a right to quality and affordable patient care, particularly communities and populations that are at risk from environmental health harms. Please join me in protecting women’s rights.
