Cecile Richards Calls The Health Care Fight "Far From Over" After Vote Delay

After Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Tuesday that the Senate will delay its vote on the controversial GOP health care bill, Planned Parenthood urged its supporters to continue fighting against the Better Care Reconciliation Act, warning that the "fight is far from over."

"It's no wonder they're struggling to get the votes," Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said in a statement. "This is the worst bill for women's health in a generation, and would devastate millions of people."

The Senate will now vote on the effort to repeal and replace Obamacare after the weeklong July 4 Senate recess, a decision that was made after at least four Republican senators announced that they would not support the current version of the bill, making it impossible for the measure to pass if all Democrats vote against it as well.

The proposed health care act, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates could cause 22 million individuals to become uninsured in the next decade, would also defund Planned Parenthood for a full year. This substantial cut in funding would mean that many low-income women who rely on Medicaid to pay for health services would find it difficult to turn to the organization for contraception, STD testing, and reproductive health care services.

While many Planned Parenthood advocates and supporters of the Affordable Care Act may have found reason to celebrate after Tuesday's announcement, it's important to remember that a delayed vote doesn't necessarily mean that the health care bill is doomed. In fact, Richards argues that PP supporters should fight even harder to ensure that the bill fails.

You can read her full statement about the delayed vote below.

To all of our supporters: thank you. It’s because of our supporters’ hard work — organizing in communities, calling senators, and rallying in the streets — that Senator McConnell is delaying the vote on Trumpcare.

It's no wonder they are struggling to get the votes: this is the worst bill for women's health in a generation, and would devastate millions of people. But make no mistake: this fight is far from over.

Senator McConnell will push for a vote in two weeks. That's why it's now more important than ever for people to make their voices heard. Republican leadership needs to hear over and over that the people of America will not stand to see health care stripped from millions, and they will not stand to see Planned Parenthood's patients lose their access to health care. Your hard work is working. Now, as senators go home for recess next week, it's time to send the message that we need to stop this harmful bill once and for all.

The GOP plans to make changes to the health care bill, receive a new CBO score, and vote on the measure in the coming weeks. Until then, the fight continues.