BOSTON – Today,  in response to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and first lady Melania Trump’s visit to Boston Medical Center, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement:

The Massachusetts 7th is one of the most vibrant, diverse and unequal districts in the country. As the largest safety net hospital in New England, the Boston Medical Center plays a critical role in addressing the persistent inequities that have taken root in communities across the 7th, the Commonwealth, and the country. 

With each passing day, this administration, led be HHS Secretary Azar, continues to the undermine the efforts of the incredible staff at BMC and health centers across the nation by stoking fear, limiting access to maternity and reproductive health care, and allowing providers to refuse care to patients in need.  For the thousands of vulnerable patients – especially immigrants, people of color, and new moms and babies with serious health concerns – today’s visit is more than just a photo op. It’s a chance to remind and educate the Secretary and First Lady of the ways in which our medical centers work to eliminate disparities and ensure that all people, regardless of income and immigration status, have a fundamental human right to health care.

###