Senator Patty Murray's office issued the following today:
Senator
Murray, who has been a vocal opponent of the Trump-Pence
Administration’s efforts to undermine the Title X federal family
planning program, invites patient advocate to State of the Union
After losing her insurance, Vancouver resident Emma Bosley was able to get the medical care she needed at Planned Parenthood thanks to the Title X program
Trump-Pence
Administration recently forced Planned Parenthood and other trusted
providers out of Title X with harmful and medically unnecessary
restrictions and a “gag rule” limiting the information health care
providers can share with patients
Senator Murray: “I’m
proud to welcome Emma Bosley as my guest to the State of the Union and
to help lift up stories like hers, even as Republicans try to ignore
them”
Emma Bosley:
“Title X was critical to me finding care, managing my disease and
taking control of my life. Without it, I don't know where I would be
today”
(Washington, D.C.) –
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate
health committee, will attend the State of the Union, joined by Emma
Bosley, from Vancouver, Washington, a patient who received care funded
by Title X, the nation’s only federal funding program dedicated to
family planning services. Senator Murray and Emma have both been vocal
advocates against President Trump’s gag rule that restricted Title
X-funded providers from even giving patients information about safe,
legal abortion, forced trusted providers like Planned Parenthood out of
the program with harmful and medically unnecessary regulations, and
threatens to take care away from millions of women across the country.
When Emma was
diagnosed with endometriosis—a painful condition that can lead to
infertility if not treated—she had a minimum wage job, no health
insurance, and no idea how she would be able to get the medical care she
needed. Like so many women across the country, Emma was able to turn to
Planned Parenthood, where she was able to get the care she needed
regardless of how much she made.
“From
Vancouver to Seattle, families across Washington state and the country
have been calling on Republicans to fight back against the Trump-Pence
Administration’s efforts to undermine the historically bipartisan Title X
family planning program and take needed health care away from millions
of people. Republicans may be trying to shut these voices out, but I’m
absolutely not going to let them. That’s why I’m proud to welcome Emma
Bosley as my guest to the State of the Union and to help lift up stories
like hers, even as Republicans try to ignore them,” said Senator Murray.
“I know patients like Emma are going to keep fighting to reverse
President Trump’s damaging ‘gag rule’ so that patients across the
country can get the care and information they need from providers they
trust, like Planned Parenthood—and I am going to keep fighting alongside
them.”
“Being
diagnosed with a chronic disease without insurance or support was
overwhelming and is a situation no one prepares you for; after my
diagnosis the last thing I wanted to think about was the cost and how to
navigate the system,” said Emma Bosley. “Title
X was critical to me finding care, managing my disease and taking
control of my life. Without it, I don't know where I would be today.”
Before the Trump
Administration’s gag rule went into effect, Title X-funded centers
provided care for over 90,000 women in Washington state, and millions
more nationwide.
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