House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today in response to President Trump's executive order reinstating the 'global gag-rule,' action which undermines women's access to health services in developing countries around the world:
"That the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are using their first full week of controlling the government to attack women's health is very telling about their priorities. It should be no surprise to the millions of women and men who gathered in protest this weekend across the country -- and around the world -- that Republicans are focused more on making it harder for women to access health care than on the serious economic and security challenges we face. By reinstating the so-called "global gag-rule' today by executive order, President Trump is actively preventing vulnerable women in developing countries from being able to receive the health care they need when foreign aid organizations, supported by the United States, carry out their important, lifesaving work. In the same vein, the bill Republicans are considering on the Floor tomorrow would restrict American women's access to comprehensive reproductive health coverage and services -- even in cases where a mother's health is endangered.
"This week's attacks on women here at home and around the world will only galvanize the strong opposition we saw this weekend to the radical Trump-Republican agenda to put government regulators between women and their doctors. I will continue to join with other House Democrats in strongly opposing these measures and fighting for women to be able to access the full range of health care services."