Schakowsky slams anti-abortion extremists drafting policy for the Trump Administration

Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Chief Deputy Whip, released the following statement in response to recent revelations indicating that an extreme right-wing anti choice group known as ‘Alliance Defending Freedom’ was responsible for crafting and advancing a recent attempt by the Trump Administration to allow states to block individuals on Medicaid from using Planned Parenthood as their health care provider. These revelations came to light today after Rep. Elijah Cummings, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Eric D. Hargan to inform him that information and documents had been obtained from a whistleblower with close knowledge of the issue.

“The information unveiled today by Ranking Member Cummings once again shows that the Trump Administration’s HHS is more interested in responding to the demands of right-wing fringe groups than in protecting women’s health. Shutting down women’s access to Planned Parenthood clinics and denying coverage through Medicaid would be devastating, and yet the Trump HHS rammed forward with a policy change that would do just that. Now, based on whistleblower-provided materials, we can see that this decision was made without full and fair debate and without considering the consequences – just because it was requested and ghost-written by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a radical organization labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“This is just a continuation of the assault on Planned Parenthood and women’s health. Republicans in Congress and in the Administration continue to point to allegations made in heavily-edited and erroneous videos released by David Daleiden as an excuse for their actions – knowing full well that no Congressional or state investigation has found those claims to be truthful, and that Mr. Daleiden is currently under criminal indictment in the state of California. It is time to reject baseless claims made by extreme radical groups and to let Planned Parenthood continue serving America’s women and families.

“I thank Ranking Member Cummings for his letter and hope that HHS will comply with his request for prompt disclosure about a decision that could have harmful effects on women in my district and around the country.”