For Immediate Release
May 5, 2017
Contact: Amy Lebowitz, Camino PR
212.255.2575 / amy@caminopr.com

NEW YORK — On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted yet again on the American Health Care Act (AHCA), an attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The House of Representatives voted 217 – 213 to pass the reform bill. The bill originally was set for a vote in March and was pulled last minute due to lack of support by GOP members. Subsequent amendments moved the bill forward, despite lack of public support or an updated score from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) Interim Executive Director Sung Yeon Choimorrow issued the following statement in response:

“The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum is disappointed by conservative Republicans for continuing to push the ACA repeal bill. A little over a month after announcing ACA ‘the law of the land,’ the GOP has yet again put our lives and health on the line. The decision to strip Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders of their health insurance is unconscionable. This administration and our elected officials are making it clear that that they do not value their constituents, which include women of color, aging women, low-income communities, transgender and gender non-conforming people, LGBTQ communities and immigrants. We continue to support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women representatives like Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, Rep. Kamala Harris, Rep. Stephanie Murphy, Rep. Grace Meng, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard who have championed on behalf our communities against the AHCA.

“Over two million AAPI people could lose health insurance coverage under the repeal bill — and many more women of color and low-income women could lose access to preventive health and reproductive health services. While members in the House of Representatives have decided to gamble our health care to win over a corrupt administration — we urge members in the Senate to think of the millions of people whose lives and health are at stake. Our country is better and stronger when people are able to care for their health and the health of their loved ones.

“AAPI women, transgender and gender non-conforming people need access to health care if we are to have the full ability to define and make decisions about their bodies and families. That essential right is core to reproductive justice. We will continue to hold this administration and our elected officials accountable and advocate for the right of our communities to live full, healthy lives.”

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The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF): NAPAWF is the only multi-issue, progressive, community organizing and policy advocacy organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls in the U.S. NAPAWF’s mission is to build a movement to advance social justice and human rights for Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and girls.