(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement in response to the final Strategic Plan for 2018-2022 published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“The Trump-Pence Administration has finalized an extreme, ideological roadmap that undermines access to quality care for patients and families nationwide-especially women, the LGBTQ community, and vulnerable communities. From emphasizing ideology over science and evidence, to removing any mention of LGBTQ health needs, to doubling down on health care sabotage and political attacks on women’s health-this plan is completely counter to the Department’s mission in fundamental ways."
The mission of HHS is to "enhance the health and well-being of Americans," but the final version of the Department’s Strategic Plan suggests that HHS is no longer protecting the health of women, LGBTQ individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable populations:
