Jacqueline Ayers, Director of Legislative Affairs for Planned Parenthood, discusses 2017's historic year for women - from the women's marches that kicked off President Trump's inauguration to the #MeToo campaign.
Ayers discusses the Trump administration's policies, which have sparked the fight for women's rights. They include the executive order that allows schools and employers to deny women rights to birth control and the undermining of Title X, which was put in place in the 70s and allows low-income families and individuals access to healthcare, including birth control. Ayers notes that some religious universities have already announced that they are cutting access to contraceptives.
Ayers also weighs in on the repeal of the individual mandate and the long-term repercussions it could have on women's health.
In a statement Sunday, the Atlanta-based Fearless Fund said it would comply with the order but remained confident of prevailing in the lawsuit, which was brought by conservative activist Edward Blum’s American Alliance for Equal Rights.
Federal health advisers voted overwhelmingly against an experimental treatment for Lou Gehrig’s disease at a Wednesday meeting prompted by years of patient efforts seeking access to the unproven therapy.
