Governor Kate Brown Speaks Out Against Federal Government on Health Care, Immigration

(Portland, OR) — Before Attorneys General from across the country, Governor Kate Brown today spoke out against the Trump Administration’s refusal to protect vulnerable Americans’ healthcare and immigrants’ rights.

In an address at the annual gathering of the National Association of Attorneys General, Brown underscored the importance of states’ action and leadership in standing up for their people:

“Recently, we’ve seen drastic and unprecedented policy changes from the White House that have taken our nation down a path that no one thought we would see in our lifetimes.

“This week, we have seen immigrant children taken from their families, and kept in warehouses, cages, and tents along the border. It’s appalling that these children are being used as political pawns by the White House. It’s abhorrent the President should then promote his executive order ending the practice of family separations as some sort of victory.

“In April, I made it clear that the Oregon National Guard would not be used for political purposes along the border, or to distract from the chaos and confusion of the Trump Administration.

“Today, Oregon stands along with 15 other states and the District of Columbia to defend the Affordable Care Act’s guarantee of health coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions.

“The dismaying decision by the Trump administration to abandon key elements of the law is a rejection of American voters’ voices. It destabilizes our states’ insurance markets while putting the health of tens of millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions — including as many as 17 million children — at risk.

“Here in Oregon, we are dedicated to expanding access to affordable care. We will not remain silent as Jeff Sessions and the Trump Administration threaten to rip away healthcare from those who need it most. Now, it is up to the states to fill the void of federal leadership on this issue and fighting to ensure these critical protections remain intact.”
LINK TO AUDIO