DeGette Objects To New Reproductive Health Rule

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), ViceChair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today offered thefollowing statement regarding a proposed regulation making federal aidconditional upon new reproductive health criteria proposed by the BushAdministration:

"This proposed rule is not only ludicrous, but entirely unnecessary –it is just the latest example of how the Bush Administration continuesto meddle in women's reproductive health. Federal law already protectsindividuals who prefer not to participate in reproductive health care,and many states have refusal clauses for either individuals orinstitutions that object to providing or participating in suchservices.

"Furthermore, this proposed rule could have grave implications forwomen's access to health services, including birth control because itgoes significantly farther than current law by defining abortion sobroadly that it would include many types of birth control, includingoral contraception and emergency contraception."

U.S. Rep. DeGette is also co-chair of the House Pro-Choice Caucus.