Latest Posts

Podcasts

- NaPodPoMo 2020
  November 9, 2020PodcastsSound wave from a podcast I recorded on Garageband in 2013 I am participating in NaPodPoMo 2020. It stands for “National Podcast Post Month” – but it has included international podcasters as well. The goal is to post a total of 30 podcasts during November. Here is a list of the podcast episodes I released during NaPodPoMo 2020: ONE: Words of Jen episode 057 – When the Piggy Bank is Empty TWO: Diablo Video: Season 21: To Level 70! THREE: Words of Jen episode 058 – Dreaming of Buffets FOUR: Diablo Video: Season 21: Master Nephalem Rift FIVE: Words of Jen episode 059 – The Outrage Machine SIX: Diablo Video: Season 21: Queen Araneae SEVEN: Words of Jen episode 060 – Spider is Recalculating EIGHT: Shattered Soulstone episode 282 – Shades of the Nephalem NINE: Diablo Video: Season 21: Lunatics and Bloodmaw TEN: Diablo Video: Season 21: More Paragon ELEVEN: Words of Jen episode 061 – Mind Eraser TWELVE: Diablo Video: Season 21: Torment I Nephalem Rift THIRTEEN: Words of Jen episode 062 – That Demon Named Pain FOURTEEN: Diablo Video: Season 21: Running Greater Rifts Expert FIFTEEN: Words of Jen episode 063 – How a Washer and Dryer Changed Our Lives SIXTEEN: Diablo Video: Season 21: Greater Rifts and Revelations SEVENTEEN: Diablo Video: Season 21: Torment II EIGHTEEN: Words of Jen episode 064 – The Can of Tuna Rolled Away NINETEEN: Shattered Soulstone episode 283 – Ready for Season 22! TWENTY: Diablo Video: Season 21: Cow Level TWENTY-ONE: Words of Jen episode 065 – Ice Cream Delivery TWENTY-TWO: Diablo Video: Season 22: Barbarian Challenge Rift TWENTY-THREE: Diablo Video: Season 22: Nephalem Rift and Leveling Crafters TWENTY-FOUR: Diablo Video: Season 22: Cydaea and The Skeleton King TWENTY-FIVE: Words of Jen episode 066 – We are in the Wrong Timeline TWENTY-SIX: Diablo Video: Season 22: Adria and Vidian TWENTY-SEVEN: Shattered Soulstone episode 284 – MaxRoll TWENTY-EIGHT: Words of Jen episode 067 – Vicious Cycle TWENTY-NINE: Diablo Video: Season 22: Housekeeping THIRTY: Diablo Video: Season 22: Nephalem Rift on Hard Difficulty If you enjoyed these episodes, please consider supporting me on PayPal.me. Thank you!...

Diablo

- Season 22: Belial on Torment IV
  March 30, 2021Diablo III / Diablo VideosIn this video, my Softcore Barbarian killed Belial on Torment IV difficulty. It was a struggle! I refused to give up, and everything (eventually) worked out the way I needed it to. There are flashing lights in this video. Seasonal Achievement earned in this video: Lord of Losing: Kill Belial at level 70 on Torment II difficulty or higher. Objective completed in this video: Pursuit: Kill Belial at level 70 on Torment difficulty or higher. (Chapter IV) If you enjoyed this video, please consider supporting me on PayPal.me. Thank you! https://media.blubrry.com/bookofjen/p/ins.blubrry.com/bookofjen/Season_22_Belial_on_Torment_IV.mp4Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS...

Book Reviews

- Where’d You Go, Bernadette – by Maria Semple
  September 13, 2019Book Reviews / fictionBernadette is a quirky, unbalanced, architect who hasn’t worked in a while. Her husband, Elgin, works for Microsoft. They live in Seattle with their wonderful daughter, Bee. Bee comes home from school with a stellar report card and asks her parents for a trip to Antarctica (a promised reward for good grades). Bernadette disappears shortly before the trip. This leaves her family wondering: “Where’d you go, Bernadette?” I am aware that this book has been made into a movie, but I haven’t watched it yet. Everything I put into this book review is from what I read. The thing I liked the most about this book is the format that the story was presented in. Almost everything is a letter, note, email, or other type of information written by one of the characters and sent to another. The rest comes to the reader from the viewpoint of Bee. My best guess is that there may be other books written this way. But, this one felt unique because it included such a wide variety of things that the reader gets to take a look it. The reader learns about the various characters – their personalities, motivations, desires – by “snooping” on things they wrote that were intended to be private. Another advantage of using this technique of storytelling is that the reader never had to guess which character’s head they were in, or who was speaking. Just look at the bottom of the note, where someone signed their name! The reader isn’t the only one reading things they weren’t meant to see. As the book goes on, it is revealed that the little pieces of writing that connect to either Bernadette or Elgin are a collection that Bee is pouring over. She wants to try and solve the mystery of where her mother went, in the hopes of finding her. Without giving away too much of the story, I can say that part of it is about Bernadette’s past as an architect. She was brilliant, and had an eclectic style that often incorporated salvaged pieces. But then, something happened that she never quite got over. Elgin is described as a “guru” at Microsoft. He’s a bit distant, and tends to focus a lot on his work. As such, he comes across as either oblivious or simply uninterested in socializing with coworkers. Put this together with Bernadette’s agoraphobia, and it kind of explains why the two of them have become disconnected from each other. There is a hysterically funny scene involving a mudslide (and I know that sounds terrible). No one is physically harmed, but there is plenty of property damage. It is the culmination of a “fight” between Bernadette and a character that I found to be unlikable. I believe the reader is supposed to have that reaction to that specific character. There are beautiful descriptions of Antarctica, as seen from a cruise ship. Maria Semple paints a vivid picture, and I felt like I could “see” the different colors of the snow, ice, and sky as I read through that part of the book. As I already mentions, I have not watched the movie that was based on this book. I cannot help but wonder what the visuals in the movie are like. In many ways, this book is about characters who are too wrapped up in themselves to properly form relationships with others. They all have their own reasons for being like that. There is an underlying theme of broken trust and an attempt to repair it. By the end of the book, the mystery of where Bernadette went, and why she went there, is revealed. I found it to be a satisfying ending. The book is funny, and strange, and is has the most delightful way of giving the reader little pieces of the mystery of Bernadette’s disappearance to stitch together. Some of the characters grow, and in doing so, are able to see where they have made mistakes. It leaves the reader with the reassurance that, despite what happened, relationships can sometimes be repaired if everyone involved chooses to work on them. Where’s You Go, Bernadette – by Maria Semple is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on PayPal.me. Thank you!...

World of Warcraft

- WoW Classic: Flight Plans
  January 27, 2020World of Warcraft / World of Warcraft ClassicVaca has acquired a weapon called Goblin Smasher, and is ready to put it to use! She was Level 12, and prepared to go finish some quests. These screenshots were taken on September 12, 2019. The day started with a flight over The Barrens. The goal for Vaca, and her friend Neverlast, was to turn in a quest at Thunder Bluff. Shortly after arriving, Vaca fell right off the ramp. She sat at the bottom, waiting for Neverlast to catch up with her. They turned in the Ride to Thunder Bluff quest to Ahana the Leather Armor Merchant. As you can see, Vaca and Neverlast had matching, fancy, purple cloaks. Ahanu: Ah, a new bundle of hides. I will get to work on these immediately! Thank you, sister. You have done me a great service. Here are some coins to pay for your time and travel costs. Ahanu quickly crafted some leather goods. He put them into a bag (one for each of us to carry) and sent us to to Tal the Wind Rider Master. Tal the Wind Rider Master: Greetings, warrior! What can I do for you? The answer to that question was obvious. Now leaving Thunder Bluff – destination Crossroads. Somewhere along the way, our Wind Riders synced up and became one. After landing on solid ground, Vaca and Neverlast spoke with Jahan Hawkwing at the Crossroads. He is the Leather & Mail Armor Merchant. We gave him Ahanu’s Leather Goods. Jahan Hawkwing: Vaca, you are back from Thunder Bluff? Did you deliver the hides to Ahanu? Eventually, the Tauren found their way to Ratchet. Neverlast and Vaca found the dock, and spoke with Wharfmaster Dizzywig. Wharfmaster Dizzywig: You seek passage on the next ship, or have some item you wish to send aboard it? I honestly cannot remember who we got this quest from, or where we obtained the Secure Crate that Wharfmaster Dizzywig wanted. It didn’t take long to walk from the dock to the Flight Master. Neverlast and Vaca discovered a new flight path! They immediately made use of it! It was easy to see why this place was called Thorn Hill. Neverlast and Vaca make a good team. But, sometimes Warriors get the idea that they can take on more than they actually are capable of fighting. Both of the Tauren ended up here. The Tauren needed to collect a few more body parts from plainstriders in order to finish a quest. Vaca was very close to hitting Level 13. Killing plainstriders for experience points will do! Vaca hit Level 13 after killing a plainstrider. Neverlast was already at Level 13, and had been for a little while. The Tauren spoke with Serga Darkthorn at the Crossroads. She was the one who sent Neverlast and Vaca out to obtain plainstrider parts. Serga Darkthorn: Have you collected the plainstrider beaks? The Tauren handed over the beaks, and completed the Plainstrider Menace quest. What was Serga Darkthorn doing with the plainstrider beaks? It was a mystery. Serga Darkthorn: How many zhevra have you slain? This was a quest that the Tauren hadn’t gotten around to working on yet. Serga Darkthorn wants Vaca and Neverlast to collect zhevra hooves. It wasn’t clear what Serga was going to do with those. The Tauren decided it was better not to ask her about it. Before leaving the Crossroads, Neverlast and Vaca stopped to talk with Thork. He was the one who gave them a quest called Disrupt the Attacks and sent them out to kill Razormane. Thork gave them a new quest called The Disruption Ends. Thork: One of my scouts witnessed an attack on a caravan from Durotar, Vaca. The culprits are indeed from the Razormane tribe of quilboars. One of the quilboars in particular is leading the raids: Kreenig Snarlsnout. He was seen northeast of here, just south of the road from Durotar. If the threat is to be ended, then Kreenig must die. To be sure the attacks cease, though, I say we add insult to injury. Kill Kreenig along with more of their tribe, and return to me when you have his tusk. Before slaughtering more Razormane, Neverlast and Vaca returned to Thunder Bluff. Hunter’s Rise had class trainers that could give them access to new and improved skills. The Hunter Trainer and the Warrior Trainer share this space. Vaca spent some time – and money – getting new skills and upgrading some of the skills she already had. She would have to return here again after leveling up some more and unlocking new skills. This seemed like a good place to stop and take a rest. Much progress was made, and Neverlast and Vaca needed to gather energy to fight the Razormane when next they set out. WoW Classic: Flight Plans is a post written by Jen Thorpe on Book of Jen and is not allowed to be copied to other sites. If you enjoyed this blog post please consider supporting me on PayPal.me. Thank you!...

Out of Spoons (Chronic Illness)

- A Timeline of the GOP’s Attempts to Destroy Obamacare – Part Four: July, August, September
  September 28, 2020health insurance / Out of SpoonsImage by Comfreak from Pixabay This blog post is part of a series provides information about what President Trump – and the GOP – have done in an effort to restrict and remove access to health care from the American people. The series could be described as “reciepts”. The series also highlights everything that the Democrats have done in an effort to protect American’s access to health care – of all types. This includes protections for DACA recipients and people who are LGBTQ+ You may want to take a look at the previous blogs in this series. Doing so will give you an overall picture of what the Trump Administration and the GOP have done to harm American’s health starting in 2017. A Timeline of the GOP’s Attempts to Destroy Obamacare – Part One A Timeline of the GOP’s Attempts to Destroy Obamacare – Part Two A Timeline of the GOP’s Attempts to Destroy Obamacare – Part Three A Timeline of the GOP’s Attempts to Destroy Obamacare – Part Three – Continued A Timeline of the GOP’s Attempt to Destroy Obamacare – Part Four A Timeline of the GOP’s Attempts to Destroy Obamacare – Part Four: April, May, June July July 1, 2020: NPR posted an article titled: “Oklahoma Votes For Medicaid Expansion Over Objections of Republican State Leaders”. It was written by Jackie Fortier. From the article: Voters in Oklahoma narrowly approved a ballot measure Tuesday night to expand Medicaid to eligible adults who need health insurance. Oklahoma is now the 37th state to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act; coverage will begin a year from now, on July 1, 2021.Based on the final unofficial count, the measure passed with just over a 6,000-vote margin — less than one full percentage point……In Oklahoma, Medicaid expansion will likely help drive down the state’s 14% uninsured rate, the second highest in the nation after Texas. It’s estimated that at least 200,000 Oklahomans will be newly eligible for Medicaid, with enrollment potentially climbing even higher as millions lose their jobs amid the pandemic.Under 2020 poverty guidelines, expanded Medicaid coverage would provide health insurance to a single adult making less than $17,608 annually, or adults in a family of four making less than $36,156 annually….…The language used in the ballot measure ensures that Medicaid expansion is enshrined in the state’s constitution, which would make it extremely difficult for Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt or the Republican-controlled legislature to dismantle the expansion in the future… July 1, 2020: Senator Kamala Harris posted a press release titled: “Harris, Murray, Colleagues to Barr: Reverse Anti-LGBTQ Position, Protect Transgender Workers from Discrimination”. From the press release: Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., which held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ workers from discrimination, U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) on Tuesday sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) reverse its anti-LGBTQ position that federal law does not shield transgender workers. The senators called on Barr to immediately rescind a 2017 memorandum issued by former Attorney General Jeff Sessions articulating the Justice Department’s current anti-transgender stance. In 2017, Senators Harris and Murray led their colleagues in a letter condemning then Attorney General Sessions’s discriminatory memorandum.“We strongly urge you to rescind a 2017 U.S. Department of Justice memorandum in which former Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered DOJ to take the position that transgender workers are not protected from workplace discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” The senators wrote that the Supreme Court’s decision “compels DOJ to rescind the Sessions memorandum,” which “misstates the law, poses an ongoing threat to the well-being of transgender workers, and invites liability for employers that misguidedly rely upon it.”The senators continued, “In light of the landmark Bostock decision, there can remain no justification for leaving in place an enforcement policy that flatly contradicts Supreme Court precedent. Accordingly, we call on you to rescind the Sessions memorandum immediately.”Joining Harris and Murray on the letter are Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), and Tom Carper (D-DE). A full copy of the letter can be found HERE July 1, 2020: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi posted a press release titled: “Pelosi Statement on Passage of H.R. 2, The Moving Forward Act”. From the press release: Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the passage of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, House Democrats’ transformative infrastructure package For The People:“Today, House Democrats have taken a bold step to move America forward, as we deliver on our For The People promise to increase paychecks by rebuilding America with green, resilient, modern and job-creating infrastructure by passing H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. I salute Chairman Peter DeFazio and all the Chairs of the Committees of Jurisdiction, and especially our Freshmen who have invigorated Democrats’ mission to revitalize America’s infrastructure.“H.R. 2 takes bold, broad and transformational action to rebuild our infrastructure, while addressing key injustices in America, which have been laid bare by the COVID-19 crisis. We are proud that this legislation addresses environmental justice, including by investing boldly in affordable housing, expanding affordable high-speed Internet to underserved rural and urban communities, and ensuring that all have access to clean water. H.R. 2 makes a strong down payment in a clean energy future and solving the climate crisis, as we create millions of good-paying jobs and rebuild our highways, bridges, transit, rail, airports, ports and harbors to improve safety, reduce gridlock and put America on a path to zero pollution.“We urge Leader McConnell and the GOP Senate to join the House in supporting this transformative legislation For The People. As Americans across the country come together to peacefully demand justice, equality and progress, the Congress must meet this moment by moving our country forward with real action.” July 2, 2020: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) posted a joint statement titled: “Joint Statement from Women’s Health Groups, Medical Groups on June Medical”. From the joint statement: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists joins the American Academy of Nursing, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association, North American Society for Adolescent and Pediatric Gynecology, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Society of OB/GYN Hospitalists in issuing this statement.The medical community celebrates the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of June Medical Services v. Russo. This decision confirms once again that our justice system will not tolerate restrictions on our patients. However, we recognize that the law overturned in this case was just one example of a litany of restrictive policies that seek to interfere with the patient-clinician relationship. We also know that access to care continues to be delayed or denied for many women due to systemic inequities and inequalities. With the Supreme Court once again protecting the right to access safe, legal abortion, we now call on lawmakers to stop passing harmful, burdensome laws that target our patients. Policymakers must refrain from attempting to mandate if, when, and how we can provide them with the care they need. It is time to stop legislating medical practice and it is time for all lawmakers to recognize that reproductive health care is a critical part of comprehensive health care for all patients. As clinicians and public health practitioners, we advocate for patients every day and in many ways. The decision in June Medical Services encourages us to continue to do so, and we will remain vigilant in our demand for patient-focused policies that will help us achieve health equity. July 2, 2020: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra tweeted: “As groups supporting the healthcare repeal lawsuit submit amicus briefs about why they think “the #ACA must fall”, remember what’s at stake: #ProtectOurCare” July 2, 2020: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra tweeted: “Protections for 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions,” July 2, 2020: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra tweeted: “Coverage for 12 million Americans receiving insurance through Medicaid expansion” July 2, 2020: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra tweeted: “$900 million in grants to improve public health through the Prevention and Public Health Fund,” July 2, 2020: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra tweeted: “Essential health benefits like prescription drug coverage and hospital stays, and other patient protections.” July 2, 2020: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra tweeted: “The Trump Administration is fighting to rip away our healthcare during a global pandemic that has infected millions of Americans with no signs of stopping. Our coalition of 20 States + DC is ready to go to the Supreme Court to #ProtectOurCare. Lives are at stake.” July 2, 2020: New Times SLO posted an article titled: “Continued care: In the face of Trump’s rollback of LGBTQ-plus health care protections, Planned Parenthood isn’t going anywhere”. It was written by Malea Martin. From the article: Between a landmark Supreme Court ruling for the LGBTQ-plus community and a Trump administration rule that goes in the opposite direction, this year’s Pride Month has been one for both victory and distress for members of the queer community.But no matter what the federal government decrees, Planned Parenthood Central Coast wants residents to know that they will continue to get the services they need.“Regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity, where you’re from, the language you speak, or whether you’ve had an abortion, every person deserves access to health care, free from judgement and discrmination,” Planned Parenthood Central Coast CEO and President Jenna Tosh said. “I think especially during a public health crisis, any rule that makes it harder for marginalized people to access health care is unconscionable.”U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) echoed this sentiment, saying that the Trump administration “is looking at every way to continue to undermine , in this case health benefits, to members of the LGBTQ community.”Tosh explained that the Trump administration’s June 12 ruling, which rolls back nondiscrimination protections for sex and gender identity put in place by the Affordable Care Act, will allow “health care providers, hospitals, and insurance companies that recieve federal funding to refuse to provide or cover services such as LGBTQ health care.”But, she said, this will not have any immediate impact on Planned Parenthood patients’ ability to get access to care……In addition to welcoming folks regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, Planned Parenthood Central Coast started providing general affirming care about a year ago, Tosh said… July 2, 2020: ABC 27 News posted an article titled: “High court won’t hear abortion clinic ‘buffer zone’ cases”. It was written by Jessica Gresko. From the article: The Supreme Court on Thursday turned away pleas from anti-abortion activists to make it easier for them to protest outside clinics, declining to wade back into the abortion debate just days after striking down a Louisiana law regulating abortion clinics.The justices said in a written order that they would not hear cases from Chicago and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where anti-abortion activists had challenged ordinances that restrict their behavior outside clinics.As is usual, the justices did not comment in turning away the cases. The order from the court noted Justice Clarence Thomas would have heard the Chicago case……On Thursday, one of the two cases the court declined to take up involved an ordinance passed by the city counsel in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital, in 2012 that made it illegal to “congregate, patrol, picket or demonstrate” in a zone 20 feet from a health care facility. Anti-abortion activists sued, arguing that the ordinance violates their free speech rights. Lower courts have upheld the ordinance, however, ruling it doesn’t apply to “sidewalk counseling,” where individuals who oppose abortion offer assistance and information about alternatives to abortion to those entering a clinic.The second case the court turned away on Thursday involved a Chicago ordinance that regulates the space 50 feet from the entrance of any abortion clinic or other medical facility. In that space, a person cannot come within 8 feet of another person without their consent to hand them information or engage in “oral protest, education, or counseling.” The ordinance was modeled on a statute upheld by the Supreme Court in 2000……The court’s announcement that it would not hear the cases comes on the heels of its decision Monday that a Louisiana law requiring doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals violates abortion rights the court first announced in the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. The decision divided the court’s conservatives and liberals 5-4 with Chief Justice John Roberts joining his four more liberal colleagues to strike down the law.It was the first big abortion case of the Trump era and a surprising defeat for abortion opponents, who thought that the court’s new conservative majority with two members appointed by President Donald Trump would start chipping away at abortion access.As a result of the decision, the justices also on Thursday ordered lower courts to revisit cases involving Indiana abortion laws previously blocked by courts. One required a woman to have an ultrasound 18 hours before having an abortion and the other would have made it tougher for girls under age 18 to get an abortion without their parents’ knowledge.In their decision earlier this week, the justices told lower courts how to determine whether a restriction is permissible or puts an unconstitutional obstacle in the way of women who want an abortion. July 6, 2020: Representative Ayanna Pressley (Democrat – Massachusetts) posted a press release on her official website titled: “Rep. Pressley Statement on Inclusion of Hyde Amendment in Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill”. From the press release: Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) released the below statement following release of the proposed FY 2021 Appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies.“For generations, the Hyde Amendment has restricted the constitutional right to safe and legal abortion care for millions– disproportionately impacting our most vulnerable, low-income, Black, Brown and Indigenous communities.When I say it is time to legislate our values and write budgets that affirm the dignity and worth of Black and Brown lives, I mean it.Let me be clear, discriminatory abortion bans like the Hyde Amendment are blatantly racist and perpetuate systems of oppression and white supremacy that target people of color–especially Black people–and their bodily autonomy.This first ever pro-choice majority in the House of Representatives has a mandate and a responsibility to stand up for reproductive rights and justice for all, not just those who can afford it. This is a racial justice issue.We know that Black women are statistically denied access to medical care across the board. Their pain is delegitimized and their lives devalued by a broken for profit health care system.I am deeply disappointed to see that the Hyde Amendment was included in the House LHHS funding bill. Black and Brown people should not have to continue to wait to have their humanity and freedoms recognized. I intend to work with my colleagues to finally repeal Hyde when the bill comes to the House floor and I will file an amendment to do just that.” July 7, 2020: New York Attorney General Letitia James posted a press release titled:” Attorney General James Continues to Take on Trump Administration’s Anti-Abortion Rule as Coronavirus Pandemic Rages On”. From the press release: New York Attorney General Letitia James today continued her leadership in the national fight to ensure women’s reproductive health care is not stifled or infringed upon in any way during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) public health crisis. Attorney General James co-led a multistate coalition of nine attorneys general in asking the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to withdraw a new interim final rule or delay implementation of it as the nation continues to battle COVID-19. In response to the pandemic, the interim rule only delays for 60 days a previously-implemented HHS rule that threatens to potentially kick millions of women across New York and the rest of the nation off their health plans if they fail to comply with a technical billing issue related to abortion coverage. The coalition argues that the final rule is not only unlawful, but that it would harm states and insurers, as well as consumers seeking reliable health coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the coalition highlights that a 60-day delay is not a sufficient remedy to the problems posed by the final rule.“As the number of confirmed coronavirus infections continue to rise exponentially across the nation, it is unconscionable that President Trump and his administration continue to move forward with plans that risk stripping women of their health coverage at this time — something that endangers us all,” Attorney General James said. “Instead of repeatedly focusing on cutting off women’s access to reproductive health care, the Trump Administration should be expanding health coverage for all Americans, so that no one is left without the coverage they need as we continue to battle COVID-19. But the origin of this rule is no doubt rooted in the president’s anti-choice ideology that aims to take us backwards almost half a century, which is why our coalition will never stop fighting against this burdensome and controlling regulation that strips women of their constitutional right to an abortion.”Issued by HHS in December 2019, the final rule reinterprets Section 1303 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) by requiring qualified health plans that participate in the state exchanges, like the New York State of Health, to send two separate monthly bills for payments of a health insurance premium — even if no abortion service is provided — and collect separate monthly payments for abortion services to all consumers. One bill would be for the premium amount attributable to abortion coverage (and would need to be at least one dollar) and a second bill would compromise the premium amount attributable to the remaining covered services, which may include services like primary doctor appointments, hospital visits, and other services covered by insurance. If a consumer misses even a single one-dollar payment, that individual could lose all health coverage on the exchange. HHS itself has conceded that requiring separate bills and separate payments will inevitably lead to confusion, putting more than 160,000 New Yorkers who have already enrolled in a qualified health plan this year alone at risk of losing coverage if they inadvertently fail to make full premium payments on time. Additionally, the new rule places unreasonable burdens on health insurers by requiring them to make onerous administrative changes in the middle of the plan year, instead of at the end of the plan year — when all other benefit and rate changes are made. In January, Attorney General James and the coalition filed a multistate lawsuit arguing that HHS’s onerous and confusing requirement threatens women’s access to abortion and puts millions at risk of accidentally losing their health insurance coverage. In late March, the coalition filed a motion for summary judgment in the lawsuit, calling for the courts to immediately vacate the rule because it violates federal law and is inconsistent with the Affordable Care Act. And in early April, the coalition sent a separate letter to HHS arguing against final implementation of the rule, as the nation was first responding to the COVID-19 public health crisis that required every resource of the federal government to be focused on the pandemic. Following the onset of COVID-19, HHS issued the interim final rule that is the focus of today’s letter — delaying enforcement of the separate abortion billing rule by a mere 60 days — purportedly to allow insurers additional time to address immediate challenges posed by the pandemic.In today’s comment letter, the coalition argues that the interim final rule: Forces states and insurers to make onerous changes in the middle of the plan year, because the 60-day delay is insufficient;Burdens states, state agencies, and insurers, and hampers their efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; andEndangers the gains recently made through several exchanges’ special enrollment periods… July 7, 2020: EMILY’s List posted a press release titled: “EMILY’s List Puts Five More House Republicans “On Notice” For Targeting Women’s Rights”. From the press release: Today, EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, expanded its “On Notice” opposition program to include five more House Republicans. EMILY’s List is calling out incumbent Republicans for their anti-women and anti-family records and is working to flip governorships, congressional seats, and legislative chambers from red to blue by electing pro-choice Democratic women in the upcoming 2020 election.“With just over four months until the general election, EMILY’s List is expanding its On Notice program to include five House Republicans who have actively worked to impede progress and strip women of their fundamental rights. These members have cosponsored dangerous legislation, including the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a desperate attempt by Republicans to instill fear and spread misinformation about abortion. From supporting a party pushing to repeal health care in the midst of a global pandemic to pandemic to prioritizing big corporations over the small business owners they were elected to represent, it is clear that these Republicans must be voted out. EMILY’s List is actively targeting these flippable districts. We look forward to replacing these members with pro-choice Democratic women who will serve as true champions for women and working families.”The following Republicans are included in EMILY’s List’s of House targets. The full “On Notice” list, including Senate, statewide, and state legislative targets, can be found online here. Rep. French Hill (AR-02)Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01)Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-04)Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-02)Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) July 7, 2020: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra posted a press release titled: “Attorney General Becerra: Separate Abortion Billing Rule Threatens Health Coverage During the Pandemic, A 60-Day Delay Won’t Fix What’s Broken”. From the press release: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of nine attorneys general in filing a comment letter opposing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) new interim final rule relating to their unlawful 2019 rule for health Exchanges under Section 1303 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Separate Abortion Billing Rule requires consumers to make two separate payments for healthcare – one for their insurance premium and a separate one-dollar payment for abortion coverage – or risk losing their coverage altogether. The interim final rule would delay implementation of the new Separate Abortion Billing Rule by 60 days – despite states and the healthcare industry asking for more time or to halt the rule altogether. The coalition argues that the final rule is unlawful, would harm states, insurers, and consumers seeking reliable health coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlights that a 60-day delay is not sufficient remedy to the problems posed by the final rule. “The Trump Administration’s unlawful Separate Abortion Billing Rule puts Americans’ healthcare at risk in the midst of a pandemic, just as they need it most. A 60-day delay won’t fix what’s broken,” said Attorney General Becerra. “Issuing a rule halfway through the plan year that burdens our health system and risks consumers’ healthcare is simply irresponsible. It’s our duty to protect Americans’ healthcare, including women’s access to safe and legal abortion care.”On December 27, 2019, HHS issued a final rule requiring qualified health plans participating in health Exchanges to send and collect separate bills—one for a health insurance premium and one of at least one dollar for abortion coverage. If a consumer misses the one-dollar payment, they could lose all coverage. This onerous and confusing requirement threatens women’s access to abortion and puts health insurance coverage at risk for millions of individuals. HHS itself has conceded that requiring separate bills and separate payments will inevitably lead to confusion, putting more than 1.4 million enrollees in California alone at risk of losing coverage if they inadvertently fail to make full premium payments on time. Furthermore, the rule places unreasonable burdens on health insurers by requiring them to make onerous administrative changes in the middle of the plan year, instead of the end of the plan year, when all other benefit and rate changes are made. On January 30, 2020, Attorneys General Becerra and James filed a lawsuit contesting the final rule. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS issued an interim final rule, delaying enforcement of the Separate Abortion Billing Rule by 60 days, purportedly to allow insurers time to address immediate challenges posed by the pandemic.In the comment letter, the coalition argues that the interim final rule: Forces states and insurers to make onerous changes in the middle of the plan year, because the 60-day delay is insufficient;Imposes significant burdens given that insurers and state agencies must work through the summer months to establish and adjust new premium rates for the following open enrollment period;Burdens states, state agencies, and insurers and hampers their efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; andEndangers the gains recently made through several Exchanges’ special enrollment periods. Attorney General Becerra was joined in filing today’s comment letter by the attorneys general of New York, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. A copy of the comment letter is available here. More information on the Attorney General’s ongoing lawsuit challenging the final rule is available here. July 7, 2020: NARAL Pro-Choice America posted a press release titled: “NARAL Pro-Choice America Responds to Inclusion of Discriminatory Anti-Choice Amendment in House Democrats’ Spending Bill”. From the press release: NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue released the following statement in response to Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives including the discriminatory Hyde Amendment, an anti-choice policy restricting coverage for abortion care for those who receive their health insurance through the federal government, in the FY’ 21 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill:“Every day that the Hyde Amendment remains in place, it hurts women of color and women with low incomes just as it was intended to from the day Henry Hyde introduced it in 1976. It’s disappointing that, despite having a majority and the most pro-choice slate of elected officials ever serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democratic leadership has chosen to include a discriminatory abortion coverage ban in this year’s appropriations bill. The Hyde Amendment restricts access to abortion for those already facing the greatest hurdles to getting the time-sensitive and essential care they need. While we appreciate the spending bill’s inclusion of other pro-choice priorities, such as blocking the Trump administration’s dangerous refusal of care rule and its attempt to roll back nondiscrimination protections under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, it isn’t enough.As our country faces a public health crisis and a long-overdue uprising against entrenched white supremacy and structural racism, we must be more committed than ever to ending barriers to care like Hyde, which disproportionately affects communities of color and people with low incomes, so that every body is free to make their own personal decisions about pregnancy free from political interference.”Restrictions on abortion care like the anti-choice Hyde Amendment endanger women and families already facing enormous hurdles to accessing care, especially Black and Brown women and those with low incomes. At a time when the freedoms enshrined by Roe v. Wade face unprecedented attack, the 2020 Democratic presidential field coalesced around the party’s core values—including ending the Hyde Amendment’s ban on abortion coverage once and for all.We know that abortion is front and center for Democrats: Support for abortion rights is at an all-time high and polling confirms reproductive freedom is a major issue for Democratic voters in particular. These values are non-negotiable to the 77% of Americans who support the legal right to abortion in the United States. July 8, 2020: Bloomberg Law posted an article titled: “Top Court Backs Religious Rights in Contraceptive, School Cases”. It was written by Greg Stohr. From the article: The U.S. Supreme Court struck two blows for religious rights, including a decision that upholds Trump administration rules giving employers a broad right to refuse to offer birth control through their health plans.The justices also gave religious organizations a bigger exemption from discrimination suits, throwing out bias claims filed by two teachers who were fired by Roman Catholic grade schools in California. Both decisions Wednesday were 7-2 as Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan joined the court’s five conservatives in the majority.The decisions came as the court said it will issue the last opinions of its term on Thursday. Those will include rulings on subpoenas for President Donald Trump’s financial records from Congress and a New York grand jury.The contraceptive ruling, which stems from an Obamacare guideline requiring health plans to include free coverage, lets Trump’s administration expand a narrower religious exemption offered under President Barack Obama. Critics say the new exemption could leave tens of thousands of women without ready access to birth control.The ruling focused more on federal administrative law than religion. Writing for the court, Justice Clarence Thomas said the Affordable Care Act gives administrators “broad discretion” to carve out religious and moral exemptions. The law itself doesn’t explicitly mention birth control, instead requiring cost-free “preventive care and screenings” and leaving it to a federal agency to determine what’s included.Dissenting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg pointed to a government estimate that between 70,500 and 126,400 women would immediately lose access to free contraception.“This court leaves women workers to fend for themselves, to seek contraceptive coverage from sources other than their employer’s insurer, and, absent another available source of funding, to pay for contraceptive services out of their own pockets,” Ginsburg wrote.The ruling leaves open the possibility the exemption could be narrowed if Democrat Joe Biden wins the presidential election and revises the policy.The Trump administration issued its rules in November 2018. The new policy expands the types of employers who can claim religious exemptions to include publicly traded companies for the first time, and also applies it to universities in their student health plans. The rules also permit opt-outs on moral grounds.In a concurring opinion, Kagan said lower courts could still consider arguments that the administration didn’t engage in “reasoned decisionmaking,” as required under federal law. She pointed to a “mismatch between the scope of the religious exemption and the problem the agencies set out to address.”… July 8, 2020: NPR posted an article titled: “Supreme Court Undercuts Access to Birth Control Under Obamacare”. It was written by Nina Totenberg. From the article: The U.S. Supreme Court has made it more difficult for women to get access to birth control as part of their health plans if their employer has religious or moral objections to contraceptives. The opinion upheld a Trump administration rule that significantly cut back on the Affordable Care Act requirement that insurers provide free birth control coverage as part of almost all health care plans.“We hold that the had the authority to provide exemptions from the regulatory contraceptive requirements for employers with religious and concientious objections,” Justice Clarance Thomas wrote for the majority.He was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh……Dissenting from the opinion were Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor.“Today, for the first time, the Court casts aside countervailing rights and interests in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree,” Ginsburg wrote. The Supreme Court ruling on Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter And Paul Home v Pennsylvania can be found here. July 8, 2020: The Associated Press tweeted: “BREAKING: Supreme Court sides with Trump effort to let more employers out of health care law’s no-cost birth control requirement.” The tweet included a link to the Associated Press website. July 8, 2020: The Associated Press tweeted: “The high court said 7-2 the administration acted properly when it allowed more employers who cite a religious or moral objection to opt out of covering birth control”. The tweet included a link to an Associated Press article titled: “Court: Some employers can refuse to offer free birth control”. July 8, 2020: EMILY’s List posted a statement titled: “EMILY’s List Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in Trump V. Pennsylvania”. From the statement: Today, Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, released the following statement on the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. Pennsylvania, which weakens the “contraceptive mandate” of the 2010 Affordable Care Act.“The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Trump-Pence rule is an assault on reproductive freedom for all women, and it disproportionately targets low-income women and women of color. The ruling will allow employers and universities to dismantle no-cost birth control coverage, denying their employers vital health care during the height of a global pandemic. This decision greenlights discrimination in our health care system, but despite today’s ruling, the ability to get birth control should be a universal right, not a privilege. At EMILY’s List, we are proud to stand with the majority of Americans who support reproductive freedom and help elect women who will support those rights.” July 8, 2020: Center for Reproductive Rights posted a press release titled: “Supreme Court Gives Green Light for Employers to Deny Birth Control Coverage to Employees”. From the press release: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand the Trump-Pence rules allowing nearly any employer and university to deny birth control coverage to their employees and students. The Court held that the Trump-Pence administration had the authority to issue these harmful contraceptive coverage rules under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This decision leaves the rules in place, putting contraceptive coverage at risk for hundreds of thousands of people, especially low-income workers and students, people of color and LGBTQ people.Said Lourdes Rivera, Senior Vice President of U.S. Programs at the Center for Reproductive Rights:“Contraception should not be singled out from the rest of health insurance coverage. Today’s ruling has given bosses the power to dictate how their employees can and cannot use their health insurance—allowing them to intrude into their employees’ private decisions based on whatever personal beliefs their employers happen to hold.“Refusing women the health care they are guaranteed by law is an act of discrimination. This fundamentally wrong-headed ruling is a critical misinterpretation of the Affordable Care Act and what Congress intended. We now look to Congress to act swiftly to ensure that only workers and students, not their bosses or universities, have the authority to decide what health care choices are appropriate for them and their families. Congress should take action to ensure the Administration is prevented from enforcing these discriminatory rules.”This is the third time the high court has addressed the issue of the ACA’s contraceptive coverage benefit. The no-cost birth control guarantee remained intact for most people in the U.S. until 2017, when the Trump Administration introduced new rules that would expand the exemption so broadly that it could render the birth control guarantee meaningless for hundreds of thousands of people. Under the rules, any entity of any size, whether non-profit or for-profit, could deny birth control coverage for its workers or students as long as it claimed to have religious or in many cases even moral objections.Earlier this year, the Center for Reproductive Rights joined 20 other organizations, led by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, in filing a “friend of the court” brief in the case, telling the Supreme Court, “Through the rulemaking challenged here, the government has sought to… religious and moral exemptions that effectively nullify the contraceptive-coverage requirement’s protections for hundreds of thousands of women…”. The amicus brief filed by religious and civil-rights organizations, including the Center, notes, “The rights to believe and practice one’s faith, or not, are sacrosanct. But they do not extend to imposing on others by operation of law the costs and burdens of one’s beliefs. Government should not, and under the Establishment Clause cannot, favor the religious beliefs of some at the expense of the rights, beliefs, and health of others.” July 8, 2020: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) posted a statment titled: “ACOG Statement on Contraceptive Coverage Under the ACA”. From the article: The following is a statement from Maureen G. Phipps, MD, MPH, chief executive officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, regarding today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision about contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act:“Contraception is an integral part of comprehensive health care. Insurance coverage of birth control is essential for patients to be able to access this needed preventive service. ACOG is still reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision, but it is clear that once again the health of our patients has been subject to regulatory and legal scrutiny that is not medically or scientifically grounded. “Evidence has repeatedly shown that the freedom to choose if and when to become pregnant can improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients, their families, and their communities. In addition, the Affordable Care Act’s birth control provisions have provided our patients with the ability to control their own reproductive health. These gains are now in jeopardy after today’s ruling. “Denying our patients unimpeded, affordable access to the care they need, including all safe and effective methods of contraception, will exacerbate health inequities in the United States.”ACOG’s amicus brief can be found here. July 8, 2020: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Democrat – California) posted a press release on her official website titled: “Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on ACA Contraceptive Coverage Case”. From the press release: Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to weaken the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive-coverage requirement by allowing private employers to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage for their employees:“The Supreme Court’s decision to enable the Trump Administration’s brutal assault on women’s health, financial security and independence is a fundamental misreading of the statute. The Affordable Care Act was explicitly designed to prevent discrimination against women and to ensure that women have access to preventive care, including contraception.“It is unconscionable that, in the middle of the worst global pandemic in modern history, the Administration is focusing on denying basic health care to women that is essential for their health and financial security, instead of protecting lives and livelihoods.“The Democratic House will continue to fight to uphold and strengthen the ACA and just last week, passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act to further lower health care costs and strengthen coverage. Access to affordable health care is a matter of life-or-death, and Democrats will never stop fighting For The People at this devastating time.” July 8, 2020: Senator Kamala Harris (Democrat – California) posted a press release titled: “Harris Statement on Supreme Court Decision Restricting Access to Birth Control”. From the press release: U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Wednesday released the following statement in response to the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case that considered the Trump administration’s rules that would allow virtually any employer or university to declare itself exempt from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement that health plans cover birth control without out-of-pocket costs:“Today’s ruling is a setback for reproductive health. As our country continues to face an unprecedented public health crisis, we should be building upon the success of the ACA and expanding access to affordable health care for everyone in America. Instead, the Trump administration has relentlessly attempted to rip health care away from millions of people across the country, including the 61.4 million people whose contraception has been covered without out-of-pocket costs thanks to the ACA.“For scores of workers, the Court ruled that whether their health insurance covers birth control is up to their boss. This decision is dangerous, particularly for people of color, low-wage workers, and LGBTQ+ people who are more likely to face financial and other barriers to care. Now, more than ever, Congress must take action to protect and expand access to contraception and other reproductive health care.” July 8, 2020: NARAL Pro-Choice America posted a press release titled: “NARAL Pro-Choice America Responds to Supreme Court’s Reckless Decision to Green Light Trump’s Attacks on Birth Control Access”. From the press release: The U.S. Supreme Court today issued its decision in Trump v. Pennsylvania, allowing the Trump administration to implement its rule allowing virtually any employer or university to declare itself exempt from the Affordable Care Act’s landmark requirement that health insurers cover birth control without co-pays. In response, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue released the following statement:“The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Trump administration to put control over people’s birth control in the hands of the whims of their bosses and employers is deplorable. This decision just further exposes that ultimately, the Radical Right is really about controlling women and our lives with no eye towards equality or public health and well being. It’s clear that our reproductive freedom is in immediate peril. That’s why we’re more determined than ever to make sure Trump is a one-term president come November and to hold to account all of the politicians who have greenlit his agenda by voting to confirm his nominees to the Court.”The Supreme Court’s decision in the birth control case comes just after its narrow decision in June Medical Services LLC v. Russo striking down a medically unnecessary clinic shutdown law in Louisiana as unconstitutional. The law threatened to decimate abortion access in Louisiana, where access is already extremely restricted. The clinic shutdown law at issue in the case was identical to one blocked in another case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, decided by the Supreme Court in 2016 before Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch joined the Court. Though the Court’s ruling in June Medical Services LLC v. Russo will allow people in Louisiana to maintain access to abortion care through the three clinics in the state, what we really won was the chance to fight another day—and the Court’s anti-choice, anti-freedom majority means our reproductive freedom is still on the line. The threat to reproductive freedom presented by both of these Supreme Court cases is part of a coordinated effort by the anti-choice movement and the Radical Right to attack our fundamental rights in order to advance their unpopular ideological agenda and gain power and control. Leading voices in the anti-choice movement oppose birth control and have repeatedly pushed disinformation about it in order to restrict access to it, even though the public overwhelmingly supports access to contraception. Most voters (75%) consider birth control part of preventive care for women and 77% of women voters want to keep the Affordable Care Act (ACA) birth control benefit.As the Trump administration and anti-choice politicians across the country target reproductive rights in their quest to maintain white patriarchy and control women, NARAL has embarked on its multi-faceted, largest-ever electoral program for the 2020 election. Key to NARAL’s strategy is reaching, persuading, and mobilizing key voter segments including soft-partisan persuadable women voters, and low-propensity, pro-choice voters who are motivated by Trump and Republicans’ commitment to ending Roe v. Wade, criminalizing abortion, and punishing women. These critical voting blocs value reproductive freedom and align with the 77% of Americans who support Roe v. Wade. Donald Trump and Senate Republicans have waged a sustained war on the ACA, including its landmark birth control benefit requiring that contraception be covered without copays. When Republicans fought to repeal the ACA in 2017, NARAL and its members mobilized to let members of Congress know we wouldn’t stand by and allow them to jeopardize the healthcare coverage of millions of Americans. Our members made thousands of phone calls and sent 50,000 messages to Congress opposing the repeal efforts, ultimately helping to stop these dangerous efforts in their tracks. July 8, 2020: The Texas Tribune posted an article titled: “Texas is going to end Obamacare. It hasn’t produced a plan to replace it.” It was written by Emma Platoff and Edgar Walters. From the article: Last year, after a federal judge in Texas declared the entirety of the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, throwing into question millions of Americans’ health coverage, the state’s Republican leaders promised they would come up with a plan to replace it.But on Tuesday, after a legislative session that seemed to have no room for issues other than property tax reform and school finance, Texas will ask a federal appeals court in New Orleans to end the law in its entirety — without offering a replacement plan.The conservative crusade against portions of the act, known as Obamacare, has spanned a decade. But Texas’ latest lawsuit, filed in February 2018, became an existential threat to the law after U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled in December that it is unconstitutional in its entirety. At stake: the subsidized health coverage of roughly 1 million Texans, sweeping protections for patients with preexisting conditions, young adults staying on their parents’ insurance plans until age 26 and a host of low-cost benefits available to all people with health insurance, including those covered through their employers.Texas already has the highest uninsured rate in the nation.In a highly unusual — if not entirely surprising — move, the U.S. Department of Justice has declined to defend the federal law, leaving a California-led coalition of blue states to protect it. As the case proceeds, Obamacare has remained in place, and likely will until the litigation is finally resolved.Attorneys for the state of Texas argue the health law cannot stand since the Republican-led Congress in 2017 zeroed out Obamacare’s individual mandate — a penalty imposed on people who chose to remain uninsured. Democrats had favored the penalty as a way to induce more people to purchase health insurance, with the goal of reaching near-universal coverage. Without it, Texas argues, the whole law must fall.But the state’s Republican leaders have offered few ideas about what should replace Obamacare, a law that touches practically every aspect of health care regulations and includes several popular protections for patients. Gov. Greg Abbott — a vocal critic of the law — pledged in December that if the law remained struck down on appeal, “Texas will be ready with replacement health care insurance that includes coverage for pre-existing conditions.”Since then, he’s been quiet on the issue, including during this year’s 140-day Texas legislative session. Abbott did not respond to questions for this story.A three-judge panel on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments on the case Tuesday afternoon and then rule in the coming weeks on whether the law should stand.One bill that did emerge from the legislative session would allow the Texas Department of Insurance to reestablish a high-risk health insurance pool for individuals with severe health problems. That pool, an expensive option for sick patients that was phased out under Obamacare, only insured about 28,000 people at its peak, experts said — a tiny fraction of the Texans poised to lose coverage if Obamacare is struck down……It would be up to the governor to call a special legislative session to pass a more robust plan. If he does not, the Legislature next meets in January 2021.Reestablishing the high-risk pool in the absence of Obamacare would be like applying “a tiny Band-Aid” to a gaping wound, said Stacey Pogue, a health policy expert with the left-leaning Center for Public Policy Priorities……Total abolition of the law is one possible outcome from this week’s litigation. But legal experts across the ideological spectrum agree that Texas has a high bar to clear before Obamacare would be struck down.For the lawsuit to proceed at all, both sides will have to convince a three-judge panel that they have standing to sue. That’s not a given; the court recently asked for additional information on that issue… July 9, 2020: Planned Parenthood posted a press release titled: “House Appropriations Committee Affirms and Protects Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Around the World”. From the press release: Today, the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations passed a budget bill that increases funding and protections for reproductive health and rights across the globe. The FY 2021 State and Foreign Operations (SFOPs) bill would increase U.S. funding for international family planning programs, restore and increase assistance to the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), and fully repeal the expanded and harmful global gag rule.Opponents of reproductive health offered an amendment to try and strip these important provisions from the bill, which was soundly rejected along party lines 29-21. Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY-17), Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9), Brenda Lawerence (D-MI-14), Barbara Lee (D-CA-13), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-14), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12) offered powerful remarks about the urgent need to repeal the global gag rule, restore our partnership with UNFPA, and expand access to family planning globally.Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America: “As the administration doubles down on efforts to withhold funding from UNFPA and expand the global gag rule, Chairwoman Lowey and other health care champions in the House offer a welcome alternative vision of what U.S. leadership and engagement on sexual and reproductive health could look like. This bill would end the global gag rule once and for all and invest in UNFPA and other family planning partners, expanding access to life-saving services and sending a resounding message that reproductive health services are essential. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health systems around the world, we need policies like these that help build and strengthen health care access instead of undermining it.”The SFOPs bill includes: $750 million for family planning — an increase of $175 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $513 million above the president’s budget request.$55.5 million for the United Nations Population Fund — an increase of $23 million above the FY 2020 enacted level and $55.5 million above the president’s budget request.The Global HER Act, which would permanently repeal the global gag rule and it also includes a prohibition on current and prior funds from being used to implement the Mexico City Policy.Other smaller, but meaningful policy changes to ensure family planning is treated the same as other global health programs when it comes to aid exemptions and the use of the HIV/AIDS Working Capital Fund to effectively purchase family planning products. The bill continues to reiterate additional abortion restrictions for foreign assistance, which we hope to see repealed in the future to remove barriers to legal abortion for people around the world. July 10, 2020: Planned Parenthood posted a press release titled: “Breaking: Court Blocks Trump Administration Rule That Threatened Insurance Coverage for Abortion”. From the press release: In a major victory for abortion access, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland today blocked a Trump administration rule designed to make insurance companies stop offering coverage for abortion. This ruling comes after Planned Parenthood of Maryland, Inc., and several individual consumers, on behalf of a nationwide class, filed a lawsuit in February challenging the rule.In December 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new rule that, if implemented, would have forced insurance companies that sell plans in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual marketplaces to send two separate bills to customers – one for the coverage of abortion, and another for coverage of other health care. Insurers would have had to instruct their customers to pay the bills using two checks, two money orders, or two electronic transactions every month.The court found today that this separate-billing requirement creates an unreasonable barrier for patients seeking medical care and is at odds with the ACA. It also held that the rule was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. It explained that the rule did nothing to “ensur government funds are not spent on unauthorized purposes,” and that the rule ignored the ACA’s purpose to “increase the number of Americans covered by health insurance and decrease the cost of health care.”Had the rule been implemented, more than 3 million consumers would have been affected by the rule’s onerous restrictions, including the individual plaintiffs in the lawsuit from Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and Maine. The rule would also have affected one-third of the individual-market exchange plans nationwide, including every individual plan offered on the marketplace in Maryland.“Abortion opponents are waging everything they’ve got as part of their massive war on our access to health care,” said Karen Nelson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Maryland, Inc. “The attacks and deceptions continue, but here’s the truth: abortion care is health care, and it should not be separated, ‘carved out,’ or treated differently from any other medical service. We will always fight to eliminate barriers and protect access to safe, legal abortion and we will continue to provide people with the health care they need.” “Today is a huge victory for the people who need and deserve access to safe, legal abortion,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Abortion is essential health care, and this rule was an obvious attempt by the Trump administration to put it out of reach for millions of people in the country. Planned Parenthood Federation of America was proud to stand with Planned Parenthood of Maryland, the ACLU and these brave consumers to fight back against this harmful rule. As always, we will never stop fighting for our patients, or for the right of all people to access sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion, without shame or needless hurdles.”……As the administration acknowledged in finalizing the rule, the extensive administrative burdens would have led to higher premiums for consumers and would have caused some insurers to drop insruance coverage for abortion altogether. As the administration also acknowledged, confusion about these new requirements would have caused some people to miss payments and risk losing their health insurance coverage entirely. A fact sheet on the impact of the rule can be found here…. July 10, 2020: Center for Reproductive Rights posted a statement titled: “STATEMENT: Center for Reproductive Rights Condems the United States’ Withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO)”. From the statement: Statement of Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, in response to the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO):“The Center for Reproductive Rights condemns the Trump administration’s unjustified and harmful withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). The United States’ termination of its relationship with WHO will exacerbate the devastating impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, further disrupting and restricting essential sexual and reproductive health services precisely at the time when they are needed the most. It is undermining of global efforts to respond to the pandemic, with real harm to those who are already at risk, and especially marginalized populations, threatening their rights to life, health, and gender equality in fundamental ways.“WHO provides important human rights-based guidance for reproductive healthcare, which can be life-saving. This guidance is relied upon by governments and health care institutions across the globe, including in the United States, to develop and implement policies and practices that are central to ensuring women’s health and guaranteeing their human rights. “WHO has issued critical guidance during the pandemic on caring for pregnant women, infants, and mothers with COVID-19, as well as information on intrapartum care and breastfeeding, and on access to abortion and contraception during the COVID-19 response. Years of evidence and direct experience have clearly demonstrated the acute need for sexual and reproductive health services in times of crisis and conflict. “The United States’ withdrawal of support for WHO will harm us all at this time, when the need has never been greater for a coordinated global response to a global pandemic.” July 13, 2020: Planned Parenthood posted a press release titled: “Federal Court Blocks Medically Unnecessary Barriers to Abortion During COVID-19”. From the press release: Today, a federal court ruled that the U.S. Food and Drug Administation (FDA) must temporarily suspend enforcement of the in-person requirements on the medication mifepristone, which unnecessarily subject patients to COVID-19 risks in order to access abortion during the pandemic. The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of the American College of Obstetricions and Gynecologists. (ACOG), SisterSong WOmen of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, and other leading medical organizations and reproductive health, rights, and justice advocates.The Court issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking part of the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) restrictions on mifepristone when it is used for medication abortion, yet failed to suspend the restrictions when the medication is used for managing an early miscarriage. The temporary easing of the in-person requirements allow mifepristone to be mailed from the health center to the patient where state law permits. The injunction will last for the duration of the litigation, or until the Trump administration end the federal public emergency declaration……Mifepristone is safe, effective, and has been used by more than four million people since the FDA approved it twenty years ago. Leading medical associations have maintained that the FDA’s REMS restrictions on the distribution of mifepristone are not based on evidence and do not benefit patients. Research has repeatedly shown that mifepristone is safe and effective when prescribed through telehealth and self-administered at home. July 13, 2020: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) posted a statement titled: “ACOG Statement on Court’s Order Lifting Burdensome FDA Restriction”. From the statement: The following is a statement from Eva Chalas, MD, FACOG, FACS, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, on today’s decision from the United States District Court for the District of Maryland:Today’s ruling represents a victory for patients, who should not have to face the additional burden of increased COVID-19 exposure as a condition of receiving their prescribed mifepristone. It also represents a victory for the dedicated clinicians who are working to provide needed care without unnecessary exposure of patients, their families and the members of the healthcare team, to the novel coronavirus.“ACOG undertook this legal challenge because we believe strongly in our position, which is founded on clear science and the consensus of the medical community. Mifepristone is a safe medication and FDA’s in-person dispensing requirements provide no medical benefit to patients. There is no basis for FDA’s decision to treat mifepristone differently than other medications. During the COVID-19 pandemic – which is likely to impact the U.S. for many months to come – requiring in-person dispensing of mifepristone needlessly threatens both patients and clinicians, and we are relieved to see that our members and their patients will no longer face this additional burden when it comes to abortion care.“Nonetheless, we are disappointed that the injunction issued by the Court does not apply to women experiencing miscarriage and the clinicians treating them, putting these individuals at risk for needless COVID-19 exposure and increased potential harm during what is already a painful time for these patients. This decision particularly adversely affects women in states with rising rates of COVID-19 infection with resulting limitation of access to surgical procedures, which may be required to complete the miscarriage in the absence of access to mifepristone. As always, ACOG feels strongly that access to women’s health care should not be singled out and burdened with regulation that renders patient care less accessible or, in this case, potentially dangerous, and we will continue our advocacy to seek removal of these restrictions during the pandemic.“The FDA’s burdensome in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone has had a disproportionate effect on communities hit hardest by the pandemic, including communities of color who already face existing inequities and structural barriers to care. Suspending the REMS requirement for mifepristone for early pregnancy termination represents a necessary step forward in our collective work toward health equity during this unprecedented time of pandemic.” July 13, 2020: Planned Parenthood posted an article titled: “BREAKING: Tennessee Abortion Ban Blocked by Federal Court Minutes After Being Signed into Law”. From the press release: Today, a federal district court in Tennessee issued a temporary restraining order, blocking a law signed by Gov. Bill Lee earlier today that bans abortion at nearly every stage of pregnancy and for reasons related to race, gender, or fetal diagnosis. The emergency restraining order was granted at the request of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the ACLU of Tennessee; they filed a lawsuit to block the law immediately after it passed the state legislature on June 19. The ban was in effect for less than an hour today before being blocked by the court.Part of the law blocked today prohibits patients from obtaining an abortion based on their reason for seeking the procedure, including the potential for a Down syndrome diagnosis or the sex or race of the fetus. These “reason bans” inflict harm by peddling stigma around abortions and stereotypes of Black and Brown communities, Asian Americans, and people with disabilities. Abortion patients – like all patients – should have the right to make private medical decisions with their families and their doctors, without interference from politicians.The restraining order comes just weeks after the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law in June Medical Services v. Russo, which would have devastated abortion access in that state and could have affected abortion across the country.Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:“Today’s ruling ensures that for now, people in Tennessee can continue accessing safe, legal abortion in their home state. But while we can enjoy a moment of relief today, we can’t forget that legislators passed this dangerous abortion ban in the dead of night without public input. While the country rises up against racism, it’s important to recognize that these laws are inherently discriminatory. Abortion bans are part of a larger public health care system that targets people of color through barriers to care, and systematically erases their freedoms and bodily autonomy. Enough is enough. Banning abortion is illegal, full stop. Planned Parenthood won’t back down in the face of any attacks on our rights and freedoms. Not today, not ever.”Statement from Ashley Coffield, president & CEO, Planned Parenthood Tennessee and Mississippi: “This is a victory for patients in Tennessee, but the fight is far from over. This sweeping abortion ban is part of a multi-layered effort to target people who already face systemic barriers to care because of racist and discriminatory policies. If the law sounds familiar, its because Gov. Lee already tried banning abortion earlier this year using fear around the pandemic as an excuse to carry out his dangerous political agenda. As we continue to fight for all of our patients, we’re glad that today’s ruling will allow Tennesseans to continue to seek the health care they choose in their home state… July 13, 2020: Planned Parenthood posted a press release titled: “Federal Court Strikes Down Georgia’s 2019 Abortion Ban”. From the press release: A federal court permanently struck down Georgia’s 2019 six-week abortion ban in SisterSong v. Kemp. It is the second federal ruling today blocking a state abortion ban, coming just hours after a Tennessee ban was blocked.The lawsuit was filed by the ACLU, the ACLU of Georgia, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America in June 2019, after Georgia was one of nine states last year to pass six-week abortion bans, banning abortion from the earliest weeks of pregnancy, before many even know they are pregnant. In October 2019, the federal district court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the ban from taking effect.The bill, which passed by two votes, sparked widespread opposition from business leaders, the film and entertainment industry, and activists across all parts of Georgia. Nearly 200 Georgia business leaders spoke out publicly against the ban. The $9 billion Georgia film and entertainment industry published letters, threatening to stop working in Atlanta if the ban was enacted.The law was in clear violation of Roe v. Wade and nearly a half century of Supreme Court precedent. Every ban passed in 2019 remains blocked, despite continued attacks – including efforts from several states across the South and Midwest to restrict access to abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, abortion is still legal in all 50 states; though politically motivated, medically unnecessary restrictions still make access a challenge for too many.Statement by Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:“Georgia politicians and Governor Kemp, our message to you is clear: Banning abortion is illegal and unconstitutional. Not only that, the reality is that abortion bans are another barrier in a health care infrastructure built on systemic racism, putting basic rights out of reach for Black and Brown Georgians and pushing their freedoms out of reach. While today is a victory for Georgia patients, we are committed to fighting back against all policies – overt or subtle, that make access to basic health care dependent on who you are or where you live.”Statement by Staci Fox, president and CEO Planned Parenthood Southeast:“We said it from the start: Abortion bans like Georgia’s are blatantly unconstitutional, and the courts reaffirmed that fact today. While people across this state and around the country are literally dying from COVID-19 and systemic racism, our leaders should be focused on expanding access to health care – not restricting it. We celebrate this victory, but we know the fight is far from over. We will not back down until access to health care – including safe, legal abortion – is recognized as a basic human right.”… July 13, 2020: NARAL Pro-Choice America posted a press release titled: “NARAL Pro-Choice America Condemns Tennessee Abortion Ban that Effectively Bans All Abortion in the State”. From the press release: Today anti-choice, anti-freedom Governor Bill Lee signed into law a cruel and sweeping measure (SB 2196/HB 2263) that effectively outlaws abortion in the state of Tennessee. In addition to banning abortion before many people even know they’re pregnant, the law includes an exhaustive list of provisions meant to chip away at and ultimately end the right to abortion. The ACLU, Center for Reproductive Rights, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America have filed litigation and abortion bans found in the new law have already been temporarily blocked in federal court.Among the law’s provisions are bans on abortion at almost every stage of pregnancy; a forced ultrasound mandate; a ban that requires interrogating women about why they’re ending a pregnancy; and criminalizing doctors who provide abortion care. The law carries no exceptions for rape or incest. The timing of the legislation serves as a stunning display of Lee’s misplaced priorities — and his commitment to an extreme ideological agenda — in the midst of a dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases that may force the state’s largest county to roll back reopening efforts. Lee’s signing of the bill follows anti-choice politicians’ efforts to ram this legislation through overnight on the eve of Juneteenth. NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue release the following statement in response:“Anti-choice, anti-freedom lawmakers in Tennessee’s state legislature pushed a bill effectively banning abortion under the cover of darkness, while the entire country grapples with an unprecedented pandemic and overdue uprising against entrenched white supremacy. And now, Governor Lee is joining these extremist lawmakers in ignoring the cries of constituents in order to prioritize banning the right to access abortion. In a time of crisis, they remained laser-focused on removing the right of Tennesseans to make decisions about their own health, lives, and families. The hypocrisy and cruelty could not be more clear. But it’s not surprising: Governor Lee and his fellow anti-choice extremists have proven time and again that they’re more than willing to trade our fundamental freedoms in furtherance of their out-of-touch ideological agenda. NARAL’s members in Tennessee will never stop fighting to protect these freedoms. NARAL stands in solidarity with the litigating organizations fighting this legislation in the courtroom and will continue to work to expose the true agenda of the anti-choice movement, whose priorities stand in stark contrast with the values of the 77% of Americans who support the legal right to abortion.” NARAL recently released a new report, “Accurate and Unbiased? A deep dive into how the media covers abortion in the US,” conducted by Global Strategy Group, that includes key findings on how major US news outlets cover abortion and illuminates best practices when covering abortion (such as avoiding using medically inaccurate or inflammatory language such as “heartbeat” bill without context or explanation.) Anti-choice, anti-freedom politicians who introduced this legislation specifically said their goal was to give the state “multiple shots” at ending Roe v. Wade. Their objectives are clear: control women and restrict their freedom to make their own decisions about pregnancy, effectively outlawing abortion and threatening doctors who provide abortion care with criminal punishment.Tennessee legislators jammed through this extreme bill late at night in June, with the hastily-scheduled vote taking place after midnight. Anti-choice lawmakers in the state have a track record of going out of their way to attack reproductive freedom — last summer they called a special hearing on a bill that would ban abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest. Reproductive freedom is under attack in the United States like never before. While the recent Supreme Court decision in the June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo case was a reprieve for now, the threats to reproductive freedom loom large. Anti-choice extremists have shown time and again that they will stop at nothing to advance their dangerous ideological agenda, and in the June v. Russo ruling, Roberts has made it clear that the Court is still looking for ways to help them get their way.The anti-choice movement has spent decades working overtime to decimate access to abortion, state by state, law by law. Since 2011, anti-choice politicians have pushed nearly 450 laws restricting reproductive freedom through state legislatures, despite the fact that American public overwhelmingly believes decisions about pregnancy should be made by women rather than politicians — including 94% of Democrats, 79% of Independents, and 59% of Republicans. July 14, 2020: Senator Kamala Harris (Democrat – California) posted a press release titled: “Harris, Durbin Lead 33 Senators Demanding Administration Comply With Supreme Court Decision on DACA”. From the press release: U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), member of the United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee and author of the Dream Act, on Tuesday led a letter from 33 Senators to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf calling on the Trump Administration to immediately comply with the Supreme Court’s decision rejecting the Administration’s rescission of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and requiring the Administration to reopen DACA for new applicants.The Supreme Court announced its decision on June 18, with Chief Justice John Roberts calling the Administration’s effort to repeal deportation protections for Dreamers—young immigrants who came to the United States as children—“arbitrary and capricious.” Yesterday, 25 days after the Court’s decision, was the deadline for the Administration to file a petition for rehearing.“There is no indication that your agency has taken any steps to fully reinstate DACA protections, as the Court’s decision unequivocally requires,” the senators wrote. “We have not located a single statement by you or any other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official notifying the public that your agency is complying with the Supreme Court’s decision. To the contrary, on June 19, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its website to falsely claim that the Supreme Court’s decision has ‘no basis in law’ and attack DACA recipients.”They continued, “Congress and the American people have not received any information regarding your agency’s compliance with the Court’s holding. It is unclear what steps, if any, USCIS has taken to implement the Supreme Court decision, including receiving and processing initial DACA applications, DACA renewal applications, and requests for advance parole as well as publication of information regarding DACA for new applicants and current recipients.”“The Roberts decision requires your immediate compliance. We await your prompt assurance that you will respect the Court’s decision and reopen DACA for all eligible applicants,” the senators concluded.More than 800,000 Dreamers have come forward and received DACA. Dreamers have contributed to our country as soldiers, nurses, teachers, and small business owners. Even as their own fates remained uncertain due to the Trump Administration’s rescission of DACA, more than 200,000 DACA recipients have served as essential workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by teaching children; growing, packaging, cooking, and shipping food; stocking the shelves at grocery stores; and providing healthcare services to those who fall sick. The letter was also signed by Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Thomas Carper (D-DE), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Bernard Sanders (D-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Robert Casey (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tom Udall (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV). Full text of the letter is available HERE July 14, 2020: Representative Ayanna Pressley (Democrat – Massachusetts) posted a press release titled: “Pressley, Warren, Question Trump Administration’s Failure to Follow the Law and Publicly Release Plans to Address Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care”. From the press release: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking for HHS’s report on the Administration’s efforts to address racial disparities in health care access and outcomes, as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).The lawmakers requested answers on why the Trump Administration has failed to provide Congress and the public with this legally required information. In the letter, the lawmakers highlighted the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color and the need to address systemic racism and racial disparities in health care to mitigate and control the COVID-19 pandemic.“The unjust reality that Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities have been disproportionately infected and killed by COVID-19 underscores that racism, discrimination, and bias are public health problems that the federal government must prioritize,” the lawmakers wrote. “The Department of Health and Human Services is required by law to report biannually to Congress on its progress to address health disparities, but these reports appear to have stopped under the Trump Administration. Without successfully addressing these racial disparities in health outcomes and health care access, we will not be able to mitigate and fully control the COVID-19 pandemic. You have, to date, failed to do so, with tragic consequences.”In 2010, Congress recognized racial disparities as an urgent health crisis and as part of the ACA, elevated the HHS Office of Minority Health to “lead and coordinate activities that improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations and reduce health disparities.” The ACA also required the Office of Minority Health to report to Congress on its activities every two years. However, the Trump Administration has not publicly produced reports as mandated by Congress for 2017 and 2019.Recent data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected communities of color. The data reveals that Black and Latinx individuals are at higher risk of contracting the virus because of systemic injustices that create in disparities in chronic health conditions and impede access to quality health care.The lawmakers asked HHS to respond to their inquiry by no later than July 28, 2020.The letter is part of the lawmakers’ efforts to press the Trump Administration to respond effectively to this crisis and address existing racial disparities in the United States. Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Warren have introduced bicameral legislation to require the federal government to collect and report coronavirus demographic data–including race and ethnicity. In March, the lawmakers urged HHS to collect racial and ethnic demographic data on testing and treatment for COVID-19 to identify and address racial disparities. The lawmakers also sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) calling on the agency to immediately release racial and ethnic data of Medicare beneficiaries who are tested or hospitalized for COVID-19. July 15, 2020: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) posted a news release titled: “Women’s Health Organizations Urge Continued U.S. Leadership in WHO”. From the news release: The following is a statement from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), joined by AAGL, the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG), the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS), the Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology (CUCOG), the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (NASPAG), the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO), the Society of Family Planning (SFP), and the Society for Maternal–Fetal Medicine (SMFM):“The recent actions of the administration to withdraw from the WHO require adamant opposition from leaders and health care professionals worldwide. We are in the midst of a historic global health crisis, and now is not the time for the United States to relinquish our role as a steadfast leader in global health by terminating our partnership with this essential organization.“The COVID-19 pandemic is not the only crisis facing the world, or the United States. The WHO works to eliminate gender-based disparities that leave women around the world subject to disproportionate illness, violence, and suffering. Our country’s participation as a member state in the WHO can help maintain advances in the efforts to improve lives of women around the world.“We strongly urge the administration to rescind the effort to terminate the United States’ relationship with the WHO and to work to reestablish the United States’ constructive participation by in the effort to find worldwide solutions to the grave global health problems of our times.” July 15, 2020: Senator Cory Booker (Democrat – New Jersey) posted a press release titled: “Booker, Menendez Urge DHS to Comply with Supreme Court Decision on DACA”. From the press release: U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-N.J.) joined a group of colleagues in calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately comply with the Supreme Court’s decision rejecting the Administration’s rescission of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and requiring the Administration to reopen DACA for new applicants. The Supreme Court announced its decision on June 18, with Chief Justice John Roberts calling the Administration’s effort to repeal deportation protections for Dreamers—young immigrants who came to the United States as children—“arbitrary and capricious.” Almost a month after the Court’s decision the Trump Administration has not reinstated DACA protections.“There is no indication that your agency has taken any steps to fully reinstate DACA protections, as the Court’s decision unequivocally requires,” the Senators wrote to DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf. “We have not located a single statement by you or any other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official notifying the public that your agency is complying with the Supreme Court’s decision. To the contrary, on June 19, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its website to falsely claim that the Supreme Court’s decision has ‘no basis in law’ and attack DACA recipients.”“Congress and the American people have not received any information regarding your agency’s compliance with the Court’s holding. It is unclear what steps, if any, USCIS has taken to implement the Supreme Court decision, including receiving and processing initial DACA applications, DACA renewal applications, and requests for advance parole as well as publication of information regarding DACA for new applicants and current recipients,” the senators added. “The Roberts decision requires your immediate compliance. We await your prompt assurance that you will respect the Court’s decision and reopen DACA for all eligible applicants.”More than 800,000 Dreamers have come forward and received DACA. Dreamers have contributed to our country as soldiers, nurses, teachers, and small business owners. Even as their own fates remained uncertain due to the Trump Administration’s rescission of DACA, more than 200,000 DACA recipients have served as essential workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by teaching children; growing, packaging, cooking, and shipping food; stocking the shelves at grocery stores; and providing healthcare services to those who fall sick.As New Jersey battled the second highest number of COVID-19 cases in the nation earlier this year, 5,000 DACA recipients in the state were working in health care, education, and food-related occupations.The letter was also signed by Sens. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey Jr. (D-Penn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Angus King (I-Maine), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).A full copy of the letter can be found … below.Dear Acting Secretary Wolf:We call on you to immediately comply with the Supreme Court’s decision rejecting the Trump Administration’s rescission of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and requiring the Administration to reopen DACA for new applicants.On June 18, in an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Court held that the Administration’s effort to repeal deportation protections for Dreamers, young immigrants who came to the United States as children, was “arbitrary and capricious.” Yesterday, 25 days after the Court’s decision, was the deadline for the Administration to file a petition for rehearing. And last Friday, President Trump said, “I’m going to do a big executive order. I have the power to do it as president and I’m going to make DACA a part of it.”However, there is no indication that your agency has taken any steps to fully reinstate DACA protections, as the Court’s decision unequivocally requires. We have not located a single statement by you or any other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official notifying the public that your agency is complying with the Supreme Court’s decision. To the contrary, on June 19, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its website to falsely claim that the Supreme Court’s decision has “no basis in law” and attack DACA recipients. As of today, the USCIS webpage titled “Consideration for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)” appears to have last been updated on February 14, 2018, and the USCIS “Frequently Asked Questions” page regarding DACA appears to have last been updated on March 8, 2018.Your agency has had ample opportunity to prepare for the recent Supreme Court decision. On March 4, 2020, at a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) hearing, you committed to provide Congress with your agency’s plans in preparation for the Supreme Court decision. On March 20, 2020, 36 Senators and 87 Representatives sent you a letter requesting those plans.However, to date, Congress and the American people have not received any information regarding your agency’s compliance with the Court’s holding. It is unclear what steps, if any, USCIS has taken to implement the Supreme Court decision, including receiving and processing initial DACA applications, DACA renewal applications, and requests for advance parole as well as publication of information regarding DACA for new applicants and current recipients.The stakes are high. More than 800,000 Dreamers have come forward and received DACA. DACA has allowed Dreamers to contribute to our country as soldiers, nurses, teachers, and small business owners. Even as their own fates remained uncertain due to the Trump Administration’s rescission of DACA, over 200,000 DACA recipients have served as essential workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by teaching children; growing, packaging, cooking, and shipping food; stocking the shelves at grocery stores; and providing healthcare services to those who fall sick.Since the Trump Administration rescinded DACA on September 5, 2017, USCIS has not accepted initial DACA applications from Dreamers who are eligible for DACA but have never received this protection. For example, children who have turned 15, the youngest age at which someone can receive DACA, have been blocked from applying since the DACA rescission. The Center for American Progress estimates that approximately 300,000 Dreamers who have never received DACA are now eligible to apply for the program, including 55,500 young people who have turned 15 since September 5, 2017.Now that 25 days have passed, the Roberts decision requires your immediate compliance. We await your prompt assurance that you will respect the Court’s decision and reopen DACA for all eligible applicants. July 15, 2020: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi posted a press release titled: “Pelosi Statement on Amicus Brief in District Court LGBTQ Health Care Discrimination Case”. Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the House of Representatives filed an amicus brief in the case of Whitman-Walker Clinic v. HHS in the District of Columbia, opposing the Trump Administration’s rule undermining the Affordable Care Act’s protections for LGBTQ patients:“The Affordable Care Act is a pillar of health and financial security for millions of Americans, designed to ensure that all Americans, regardless of who you are or whom you love, can access the quality, affordable health care they and their families need. In the midst of the unprecedented coronavirus crisis, this landmark law is more vital than ever. Yet, President Trump and Republicans continue their relentless campaign to eliminate Americans’ health care, fan the flames of hatred and division and undermine the rule of law.“Despite last month’s Supreme Court decision unequivocally affirming that discrimination ‘on the basis of sex’ applied to sexual orientation and gender identity, the Administration blatantly ignored the law to continue advancing its shameful, politically-motivated assault on the LGBTQ community. The Administration’s rule is a gross violation of the rights of LGBTQ Americans and fails to honor the Administration’s responsibility to faithfully execute the law. LGBTQ individuals, particularly transgender Americans, have suffered a long history of fear and inequality in accessing health care, leaving them and their families open to discrimination and potentially dangerous health risks. Bigotry is not a permissible excuse to prohibit any American from accessing the health care that is their right. “House Democrats remain committed to upholding the rights and dignity of all Americans and will continue to oppose the Administration’s outrageous efforts to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and its life-saving protections. In the courts and in Congress, we will never stop fighting to ensure that health care remains a right, not a privilege for all.” July 16, 2020: Center for Reproductive Rights posted a statement titled: “STATEMENT: Trump Administration Releases Draft Report of the Commission on Unalienable Rights”. From the statement: Statement from Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights:“Today, the Trump Administration rolled out a draft report by the Commission on Unalienable Rights, seeking once again to erase reproductive rights from the global discourse. Rather than reaffirming our nation’s commitment to advancing the full spectrum of human rights protections, including reproductive rights, the Commission’s report reveals how the Administration plans to pick and choose which rights the United States will recognize and prioritize, and which it will abandon. “Contrary to well-established human rights principles, the report suggests that abortion is a ‘contestable political preference’ and not a basic right, and ominously warns against any so-called ‘prodigious expansion of human rights.’ “This report is yet another attempt by this Administration to roll back human rights protections for women, LGBTQI people, and other vulnerable, marginalized communities in the U.S. and around the world by manufacturing confusion and stoking controversy, while simultaneously and hypocritically claiming the mantle of global exemplar.” July 16, 2020: Representative Ayanna Pressley (Democrat – Massachusetts) posted a press release titled: “Reps. Pressley, Garcia Introduce Lead Abatement for Families Act to Remove Lead Pipes from Public and Subsidized Housing”. From the press release: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) introduced the Lead Abatement for Families Act, a bill to require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to identify and remove lead pipes in public and subsidized housing and provide grants to public housing authorities and property owners to remove them.As many as ten million homes in the U.S. get their water from lead pipes, and residents of federally assisted housing are disproportionately impacted. Lead poisoning is especially serious for children: A 2015 study determined that by the third grade, children in Chicago with even small amounts of lead in their blood were more than 32% more likely to fail standardized tests.“We must center racial and economic justice in all of our policymaking, and housing is no exception,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “For far too long, our government has allowed families living in public and federally-assisted housing to be exposed to lead poisoning—resulting in disproportionately worse health, economic and educational outcomes for Black, brown, and low-income communities. This legislation would correct these historic injustices and ensure that public housing in the Massachusetts 7th and beyond is safe, healthy and lead pipe-free. Our families do not deserve less, simply because they cannot afford more.”“It is a national scandal that millions of homes across the country still get water from lead pipes, and unfortunately lead poisoning is especially prevalent in black and brown communities like the ones I represent in Chicago’s 4th District. I’m proud to introduce the Lead Abatement for Families Act with Representative Pressley to get lead pipes out of public and federally subsidized housing,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García. “Affordable housing should never jeopardize the health of its residents, and Congress must act immediately to prevent our children and communities from exposure to lead in their drinking water.” July 17, 2020: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra posted a press release titled: “Attorney General Becerra Conditionally Approves Sale of St. Francis Medical Center”. From the press release: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued a letter conditionally approving the sale of St. Francis Medical Center, a Verity Health System (Verity) medical facility in Los Angeles County, to Prime Healthcare, Inc (Prime). Under California law (Corporations Code section 5914 et seq., and California Code of Regulations, title 11, section 999.5), any proposed sale of a non-profit health facility to a for-profit corporation must secure the approval of the state Attorney General, whose statutory charge is to consider the factors set forth in the law, including whether the transaction is in the public interest and whether the transaction affects the availability or accessibility of healthcare services to the affected community. The Attorney General’s conditional consent represented in today’s letter seeks to protect access to care for the Los Angeles communities served by the hospital. If Verity and Prime close on the sale with the conditions outlined in the letter, they are consenting to comply with the conditions. The transaction must still be approved in Court where Verity has filed for bankruptcy.“The California Department of Justice has a responsibility to the families who live around and rely on St Francis Medical Center. The COVID-19 public health crisis has brought home the importance of having access to lifesaving hospital care nearby in our communities,” said Attorney General Becerra. “The conditions we have attached to the proposed sale of St. Francis focus on maintaini