NLIRH Opposes Anti-Choice, Anti-Women FDA Nominee



WASHINGTON, DC — The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health opposes the nomination of Scott Gottlieb to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Gottlieb’s potential role as head of the FDA threatens women’s access to abortion, birth control and other essential health services. Throughout his career, Gottlieb’s anti-choice and anti-women ideology informed his position for a “behind the counter” option for emergency contraception that would require women to present identification in order to receive the health services they need. An age restriction represents a sizable hurdle for members of our community – particularly immigrant women – who may or may not have the identification required in order to access life-saving healthcare. In addition, Gottlieb has opposed significant healthcare coverage gained under the Affordable Care Act, such as the contraceptive mandate. Without coverage, women of color will lose access to essential preventative services that combat pervasive health disparities in our communities.

Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, issued the following statement:

“We are troubled and concerned by Trump’s nomination of Scott Gottlieb as head of the FDA given his history of taking hostile positions that would push healthcare coverage out of reach for millions of women. Gottlieb’s anti-choice and anti-women agenda is specifically worrisome for women of color, whose health is most often jeopardized by added barriers to reproductive care. If Gottlieb is confirmed as head of the FDA, he would undermine the progress we have made towards women’s access to abortion, birth control and other essential health services. Trump’s FDA nominee has never stood behind women, and we will not stand behind him. Let’s keep politicians from interfering in women’s healthcare decisions. Let’s keep Gottlieb out of the FDA.”

For more information on NLIRH’s fight for health, dignity and justice, visit us at latinainstitute.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @NLIRH.

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The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is the only national reproductive justice organization dedicated to building Latina power to advance health, dignity, and justice for 28 million Latinas, their families, and communities in the United States through leadership development, community mobilization, policy advocacy, and strategic communications.

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