Senators Call on HHS to Restore LGBT Questions to Key Older Americans and Youth Surveys
Washington, D.C. – In an effort to ensure that important federal programs meet the needs of the LGBT community, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), joined by over 20 of his colleagues, penned a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging HHS to continue to include sexual orientation and gender identity questions on data collection instruments used to evaluate the effectiveness of programs serving older Americans and children in the foster care system.
“Time and time again, this Administration has demonstrated a willingness to turn its back on LGBT individuals—both youth and older Americans,” wrote the Senators. “Choosing not to collect essential data on the unique needs of these communities is tantamount to a choice not to serve them. We refuse to allow the Administration to walk away from the LGBT population. We once again call on HHS to reverse course and ensure federal programs are meeting the needs of all LGBT Americans.”
U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Tina Smith (D-NV) joined Casey in this effort.
A full copy the letter can be found here.
This letter is part of a series of letters led by Casey to ensure that protections for kids, people with disabilities and older Americans remain in place. Previous letters were sent to HHS in April 2017 and November 2017.
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