AFSCME’s McEntee: Legislation Pits Women & Children’s Health Against Student Loans

Statement of AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee in response to the passage of H.R. 4628, a bill capping student loan rates by siphoning funds from health prevention

Washington, DC — “Congressional Republicans used the tactic of divide and conquer in putting forth HR 4628. They are shamefully trying to pit funding for cervical cancer screenings and children’s immunizations against affordable student loans. It is a political smoke screen designed to shield their big business buddies,” stated AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee.

“House Republican leaders could have paved the way for American students to access affordable education loans by closing tax loopholes for big oil companies. But instead of asking big oil to pay their share, they choose to put women and children’s health on the chopping block. Basic American values should guide us, it is wrong to play politics with important medical screenings for cervical cancer, newborn health and child immunizations,” added McEntee.

“There is too much at stake to waste time on political games, we need a real solution that includes asking big oil to pay their fair share,” McEntee concluded.

H.R 4628 would postpone federal student loan rates through elimination of funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings, child immunizations, newborn screenings and disease control.