Schakowsky Statement on the Nomination of Rep. Tom Price as Secretary of Health and Human Services

Washington D.C. – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky released the following statement in response to reports that Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price has been tapped as Secretary of Health and Human Services:

“By nominating Representative Tom Price for Secretary of Health and Human Services, president-elect Trump has chosen someone with a clear record of opposition to expanding access to affordable health care. In doing so, Representative Price has directly opposed some of the President-elect’s own campaign promises.

Despite candidate Trump’s pledge not to harm Medicare, Representative Price has proposed privatization, putting seniors and people with disabilities at risk. And while candidate Trump promised to lower prescription drug prices, Representative Price has opposed giving Medicare the ability to negotiate for lower prices.

As a member of the House of Representatives and chair of the Budget Committee, Representative Price has repeatedly and consistently put forward legislation that would take away medical care and raise out-of-pocket costs for millions of Americans.

He has introduced legislation to repeal Obamacare –threatening health coverage for more than 20 million newly-insured Americans.

He offered a budget that would cut Medicaid by $2 trillion, jeopardizing care for children, pregnant women, people with disabilities and senior citizens.

He has worked to defund Planned Parenthood, which provides medical care to 3 million women and men, in order to restrict women’s access to reproductive health services, including family planning and abortions.

Given his track record, the nomination of Representative Price is felt by women, children and seniors as a direct threat to the health services that they depend on and that he will be tasked to protect. I strongly urge the Senate to take his dangerous proposals and their tragic impacts into account when considering his nomination. If confirmed, I genuinely hope that Representative Price will reconsider his harmful policy prescriptions, but I will not hold my breath. Instead, I will continue to do everything I can to make sure that all Americans, regardless of gender, age, or economic status have access to affordable, quality healthcare.”