“Today marks a new low for the US Senate. The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is dismayed by the vote to proceed on a health care repeal measure that no one has seen or reviewed. Such irresponsible actions are an outrage and an insult to the millions of people at risk of losing their health care.

“The so-called “skinny bill” expected on the Senate floor next week is intended to be a stripped down version of the measures already rejected by the Senate. It has not been seen by any except those who wrote it. We expect it is just as harmful to Americans as the first draft, disproportionately affecting women, people of color, those struggling to make ends meet, LGBTQ individuals, the elderly, and more. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office has analyzed 5 different Republican attempts at health care repeal and all have shown similar results: at least 22 million Americans would lose coverage, premiums would increase at least 20 percent, and Medicaid would cut by nearly $1 trillion —all to give huge tax cuts to the wealthy and to corporations.

“NCJW will continue to protect the many advances we have advocated for and that were made a reality by passage of the Affordable Care Act. And, we are not alone in this fight — the American people, including Republican voters, are overwhelmingly clear that they want Congress to stop attempting to dismantle health care. It’s time for Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) and his senate to do the right thing and work for real solutions: reforms that improve the affordability, quality, and accessibility of health care.”