FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Equity Forward Looking Forward to an Administration that Listens to Experts Again
Science and evidence will once again be centered in decisions at our nation’s health department and beyond
11.11.20 – Equity Forward praises the first action of the Biden-Harris transition team in setting up a task force of experts to address the COVID-19 response. In appointing a team of respected medical and scientific experts, the President-elect has made it clear that evidence will once again drive decision making at the White House, not politics.
“What a refreshing and comforting moment to see leadership making health care decisions based in science, not in politics,” said Molly Bangs, Director Equity Forward. “For the last four years, we have endured decision after decision that undermined what is best for people’s health and well-being. From the Global Gag Rule on day one, to the destruction of Title X to the COVID-19 response, the impact of the Trump administration has been devastating. We look forward to a new administration not just reversing these decisions, but expanding access to health care here and around the world.”
Equity Forward has outlined a series of recommendations for the Biden-Harris administration to support the sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice movements, and implement science and evidence-based policymaking. Some recommendations include rescinding global and domestic gag rules on abortion and funding reproductive health care, protecting science and evidence-based policymaking, and ensuring civil and human rights for all.
The memo focuses largely on politics and personnel at the State Department and the Department of Health and Human Services, two agencies that Equity Forward has collected extensive research and information on over the last three years. Those databases are available at Global Spotlight and HHS Watch.
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Equity Forward is a watchdog project that seeks to ensure transparency and accountability among anti-reproductive health groups and individuals who are actively working to deny people access to services such as birth control and abortion.