Planned Parenthood Rallies Against Rohrabacher's Vote

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — On Tuesday, activists from around Orange County descended upon their respective congressmen and women's offices to stand up for rights when it comes to health care and how they were being represented.

At Dana Rohrabacher's Huntington Beach offices, Planned Parenthood made a big statement toward the direct threat to lack of funding for the longstanding women's health group.

“Today’s US Senate action, while a procedural vote, is a direct threat to Planned Parenthood fulfilling our mission to support women and families of all backgrounds in California and around the country. It’s outrageous that the Senate is proceeding forward when even they don’t know their own plan," Ana Gonzalez, public affairs advocacy manager of Planned Parenthood Orange County said.

According to the Health Access Health Consumer Advocacy Coalition, there are over five million Californians rely on direct help through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), either to get their coverage

through the Medicaid (Medi-Cal) expansion, or to get financial assistance to afford a private health plan through Covered California. Over 1.2 million Californians who receive these direct benefits live in districts where their Congress member voted for a repeal proposal that would cut these benefits. Including the broader cut and caps to the whole of the Medi-Cal program, over 3.6 million residents in these districts would face cuts to their care.

"Make no mistake about it. If they are successful in repealing the Affordable Care Act later this week, it would have devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of Californians by denying them access to birth control, life-saving cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment and the important services, sexual health education and information that Planned Parenthood provides," Gonzalez said.

Locally, Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties serves over 100,000 patients a year with needed care and education.

"This is why Rohrabacher’s vote to repeal ACA and 'defund' Planned Parenthood is misguided," Gonzalez said. "The rallies that have been happening in Rohrabacher’s district demonstrate that his constituents oppose his votes that do not protect access to quality health care and education provided by Planned Parenthood."

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