Watching Senator Kristen Gillibrand defend women’s health coverage perfectly for 60 seconds gives us hope
With Inauguration Day quickly approaching, the policy changes that are racing toward us are particularly front of mind. It also doesn’t help that the Republican Party is already working to repeal the Affordable Care Act — even though President Obama hasn’t even left office yet.
On Thursday, the Senate approved a budget proposal that would allow them to take apart Obamacare without the threat of a filibuster from the Democratic Party. To do so, the House and Senate committees must come up with alternative legislation by January 27.
The health care legislation was considered instrumental in protecting women’s health care rights by many, including female politicians. Not to mention, Republicans are also trying to dismantle other women’s health initiatives. For instance: Planned Parenthood, birth control coverage, and treatment for women who have had abortions.
Many Democrats took to the floor during the vote, sounding off on why Congress should keep Obamacare alive. And New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand made an especially convincing — and passionate — case.
“(The Affordable Care Act) said to women of America, 'You can't be charged more just because you're a woman.' It said, 'You can't be dropped coverage when you become pregnant.’ Imagine becoming pregnant and having your insurer drop coverage because you are no longer economic or you cost too much money. Imagine being a cancer survivor and then having your coverage dropped because you survived cancer, and you cost too much money.
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Watch the video below for more from the senator:
Kirsten Gillibrand's fierce defense of contraception coverage and other women's health protections under Obamacare. pic.twitter.com/Hfm5X6euWN
— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) January 12, 2017
The fight for women’s healthcare coverage is definitely on, but we’re glad to know there are some in Congress who will continue to stand up for our rights and welfare.
