National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) applauds efforts by leaders in Congress to protect women’s rights to access birth control

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democrats in Congress introduced a bill that would block the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate that provided guaranteed birth control coverage for 62 million women. The Protect Access to Birth Control Act was introduced by co-chairs of the Congressional Pro Choice Caucus, Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY), along with Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and chair of the Democratic Women’s Working Group, Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL). Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum Executive Director Sung Yeon Chiomorrow issued the following statement in response: “We applaud the leaders in Congress and the Pro Choice Caucus for taking a stand against the Trump administration’s continued attacks against women. Birth control coverage respects women’s bodily autonomy and gives us — not our bosses — the ability to make decisions about our own lives.

“Birth control coverage is crucial for low-income women and women of color. The Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community already faces disproportionate barriers to insurance access and has low rates of contraception use. Without this mandate, those with the greatest need will lose critical access to contraception and family planning services. A plan that denies critical health services is not health care.

“We’ll keep fighting and resisting these attacks on our communities by this administration. We’ll continue to work to ensure that all AAPI women have access to complete and comprehensive reproductive health care because it is critical to preserve and expand our reproductive health and rights.” ###