On Senate floor, Shaheen Says Price is “Wrong Person” for the Role of Secretary of Health & Human Services
**Shaheen cited her deep concerns on Price’s record of support for repealing the Affordable Care Act, defunding Planned Parenthood and making cuts to the Medicaid program**
**SHAHEEN: “The policies advocated by Representative Price would have profoundly negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of the people in my
(Washington, DC) — U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) spoke on the Senate floor today in opposition of President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Congressman Tom Price. Shaheen voiced her concerns over Price’s record of advocating for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as well as his support for defunding of Planned Parenthood and making widespread cuts to the Medicaid program. “The policies advocated by Representative Price would have profoundly negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of the people in my state of New Hampshire,” said Shaheen.
Shaheen cited Price’s efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and restrict access to family planning services, saying “Price has spent his entire Congressional career authoring, sponsoring and voting for legislation that would put women’s health at risk.” Shaheen said, “I urge my colleagues to listen to the millions of women across America who marched last month in opposition to the policies of the Trump administration and Congressman Price” who “had a simple and powerful message: we will not be dragged backward.”
Shaheen also voiced her strong concern for his plan to repeal the ACA, which would have “devastating consequences” for New Hampshire. Repealing the ACA would cause nearly 120,000 Granite Staters to lose health coverage. “Make no mistake, repeal of the Affordable Care Act would destroy much of the progress we have made in New Hampshire and other States to fight the opioid epidemic,” said Shaheen. Citing her time spent with treatment providers, first responders and individuals addressing substance misuse, Shaheen said she is “convinced that Tom Price’s plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act would mean that thousands of Granite Staters would lose access to treatment with devastating consequences.”
“We need a Secretary of Health and Human Services who will respect women’s healthcare choices and constitutional rights, and who will defend the enormous progress we have made thanks to the Affordable Care Act,” said Shaheen. “Representative Price is the wrong person for this critically important position in our federal government. I will vote against his confirmation.”
Sen. Shaheen released a video on her Facebook page on Wednesday to announce her opposition to Price’s nomination.
