Reps. Barbara Lee and Ayanna Pressley Lead a Health Care Discussion with Faith Leaders
OAKLAND, CA -- On Friday, June 14, 2019, Reps. Barbara Lee and Ayanna Pressley led a discussion with faith leaders from the East Bay on health care and voting rights at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland.
“We’re facing unprecedented attacks on the health care of Americans,” Rep. Lee told several dozen faith leaders. “The Trump administration and the GOP are undermining access to health care by continuing their crusade to do away with the Affordable Care Act and trying to roll back protections for people with pre-existing conditions.”
During the discussion, Rep. Lee lifted legislation that House Democrats have passed this year, including the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019, which blocks the Trump Administration’s efforts to give states the ability to weaken the ACA’s critical protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. Lee also discussed the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act, which lowers drug costs by promoting generic competition and rescinds the Trump Administration’s devastating junk plan rule.
“Protecting the ACA is critical for ensuring access to quality, affordable health care for everyone— but especially for people of color and low-income families,” Rep. Lee said. “We know people of color experience grave health disparities in this country – as well as gaps in access to health care compared to white Americans. The Affordable Care Act has been instrumental in helping to change that.”
There were more than 30 members of clergy from various faith backgrounds in attendance, all from within Rep. Lee’s congressional district. The meeting also included a Q&A portion, during which Reps. Lee and Pressley took questions from clergy on health care and other issues.
###