The health care cuts in Donald Trump and Republicans’ Big Ugly Law are taking a toll on Californians, and now, they have shut down the government rather than work with Democrats to save Americans’ health care

Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) held a press conference at the Planned Parenthood San Bernardino Health Center about the damage Donald Trump and Republicans’ Big Ugly Law is doing to the organization’s primary care centers. Republican cuts to Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, will force Planned Parenthood to shutter the primary care arm of the organization, known as Melody Health, at all seven of its clinics in Orange and San Bernardino Counties. This will disrupt primary health care for more than 13,000 patients throughout the region and lay off 81 employees. 

Republicans have doubled down on their assault on health care by also refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that reduce the cost of health insurance for families across the country. Democrats are calling on Republicans to work with them to cancel the cuts to Medi-Cal, extend the tax credits that make health care more affordable and end the government shutdown. Republicans control the House, Senate and the Presidency; they could stop these health care cuts and take action to reduce the cost of health care at any time. 

“Donald Trump and Republicans have shown their true colors—they don’t care if Americans have access to quality, affordable health care,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “The Inland Empire already faces a shortage of doctors and nurses to care for our growing population, which will only be made worse once Melody Health closes its doors. When people can’t access affordable medical care in their own neighborhoods, they can get sicker as they wait longer and travel even farther to see a doctor. Republicans could end the health care crisis they created at any time. Instead of working with Democrats on a bipartisan solution to save Americans’ health care, they chose to shut down the government and put even more of the vital services people rely on at risk. I won’t stand for these cruel policies, and I will keep shining a light on the damage of these health care cuts on people in the Inland Empire.”

“Due to the Trump Administration unjustly defunding Planned Parenthood, PPOSBC was forced to close our primary care,” said Krista Hollinger, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. “This comprehensive, compassionate primary care provided people in our community with needed care like mental health counseling, wellness screening, and diabetes management – basic health care that everyone deserves. The Trump Administration and those in Congress who voted for the defunding provision continue to demonstrate that they don’t care about the health of our communities. At PPOSBC, we will always remain steadfast in our mission to provide high-quality, compassionate reproductive health care to our community.”