Dems ask to meet with Ivanka Trump on women’s healthcare issues

Female Democratic lawmakers are asking to meet with Ivanka Trump this month to talk about women’s health issues, such as access to contraception and maternity care.

Trump, who works on women’s issues in her father’s administration, has been silent during the passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which President Trump supports, the lawmakers said in a letter Thursday. 

“Given your stated passion about women’s issues and empowerment, we found your silence during the House passage of (the AHCA) surprising,” California Reps. Judy Chu, Barbara Lee, Jackie Speier and Reps. Diana DeGette (Colo.), Louise Slaughter (N.Y.) and Suzan DelBene (Wash.) wrote in a letter. 

The AHCA would threaten access to pregnancy care, maternal and newborn services, breast cancer screenings and contraception, the lawmakers said. 

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Under the bill, states would have the option of waiving out of ObamaCare’s essential health benefits, which mandate what services insurers must cover. 

The lawmakers also cited Trump’s signing of a law that rolled back former President Obama’s rule banning states from defunding Planned Parenthood for political reasons. 

“Again, we were disappointed that you did not voice concerns about this step in the wrong direction for women,” they wrote. 

They also said an executive order signed by Trump earlier this month could impact access to contraception. 

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price said the religious freedom order would allow him to “re-examine” ObamaCare’s contraception mandate, which requires insurers cover birth control with no co-pay. 

“The looming threat to contraception access created by the recent executive order presents another chance for you to make your voice heard on this critical issue,” the lawmakers said. 

“As a busy mother of three, you understand the importance of a woman’s ability to plan for herself and her family.”