Civil and Human Rights Coalition Lauds Senate Rejection of Latest Iteration of Trumpcare

WASHINGTON— Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement on the bipartisan Senate vote to protect health care for millions:

“For now, the millions of Americans who enjoy access to health care because of the Affordable Care Act and the expanded Medicaid program can breathe a sigh of relief. But we know that the Trump administration and Senate Majority Leader McConnell will not stop. While the latest iteration of Trumpcare — the ‘Skin and Bones’ bill — may have been defeated, we fully expect the Republicans to try again. When they do, we will continue to fight and stand with the countless Americans who are speaking out to protect their care.

Leader McConnell should be ashamed for how this process was handled. McConnell pushed Senators to vote on this bill only two hours after its release, before it could be fully examined by lawmakers and the public. If McConnell had any confidence in the content of his legislation, he would not have hidden its content until just before the vote.

We applaud Senators McCain, Collins and Murkowski and the entire Democratic caucus for voting no. Because of their stance, at least for now, millions, including people of color, people with disabilities, women, seniors, and low-income families, will continue to have access to health care, including from Planned Parenthood. We also applaud the countless constituents who stood up and demanded their senators do the right thing.”

On Monday, The Leadership Conference, the National Health Law Program, the National Partnership for Women & Families, and 163 other civil and human rights organizations sent a letter to the Senate to urge opposition to the consideration of the Senate Republicans’ Better Care Reconciliation Act. More on that letter is available here.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.