EMILYs List on the AHCA Passing the House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to pass the American Health Care Act after weeks of contentious town halls and multiple – and dangerous – amendments. Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILYs List, released the following statement:

“Not one of Paul Ryan’s late-night, last-minute changes to his deeply unpopular health care bill have changed this central fact: The AHCA is an extraordinarily dangerous piece of legislation that will hurt the American people Republicans claim to represent. Donald Trump and Paul Ryan are so desperate for a hollow legislative victory that they have stooped to forcing through a bill few members have read in full – and before the Congressional Budget Office even has a chance to weigh in.”

“Let’s not forget this is a bill that defunds Planned Parenthood, institutes an age tax, and lets states eliminate maternity care and bar coverage from people with pre-existing conditions – including survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.”

“Members who voted for this bill should get ready for town halls next week while they're on recess. The American people have made it clear that they do not support this bill – and soon, Republicans will find out that Americans do not support them, either. EMILY's List is aggressively recruiting strong, pro-choice Democratic women to take their place – and the GOP is right to be worried. This cruel vote was a mistake they'll learn in 2018.”

EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $500 million to support pro-choice Democratic women candidates – making them one of the most successful political organizations ever. Our grassroots community of over five million members helps Democratic women wage competitive campaigns – and win. We recruit and train candidates, support strong campaigns, research the issues that impact women and families, and turn out women voters. Since our founding in 1985, we have trained nearly 10,000 women to run and helped elect 116 women to the House, 23 to the Senate, 12 governors, and over 800 to state and local office. Forty percent of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color – including every single Latina, African American, and Asian American Democratic congresswoman currently serving.