WASHINGTON — April is Medicaid Awareness Month, and the DLCC is spotlighting how Republicans’ continued attacks on abortion and health care access are putting Americans at risk — and especially harming mothers and families. Republicans’ obsession with rolling back abortion rights in the states has led to even fewer resources for maternal health care across the country — forcing maternity wards to close, forcing patients to drive for miles or go without care, which hurts pregnant women of color the most. The Dobbs decision led to delays in care for pregnant women and instead of addressing an already dire situation for rural moms and moms of color, the GOP is making maternal health care worse by criminalizing reproductive care, causing maternity wards to shutter and doctors to flee. The GOP’s war on reproductive freedom will likely worsen the conditions of “maternity care deserts” where health care is inaccessible – disproportionately impacting women of color and rural communities.
“The GOP’s anti-abortion crusade is harming pregnant women and making it more difficult for them to receive health care,” said interim DLCC President Heather Williams. “This lack of health care access is particularly harmful to rural communities and women of color. Republican lawmakers are making it more difficult for pregnant women to live safely in their states — and they must be held accountable. In stark contrast, Democratic legislatures are keeping their campaign promises to protect and expand reproductive freedoms. The DLCC is committed to creating more Democratic majorities to protect health care access.”
State legislatures are on the frontlines of this issue, and the fate of health care access will be decided in the states – the only 10 states that haven’t expanded Medicaid are controlled by Republican legislatures. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we elect Democrats and win majorities. The DLCC is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures. Last year, the DLCC defied the odds by not losing any state legislative majorities, flipping four key chambers, and creating four new Democratic trifectas – the best midterm year for the party in power since at least 1934. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and pass the policies that have the biggest impact on Americans’ day-to-day lives.
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