Pro-Choice Leaders Slaughter and DeGette Slam Passage of Latest GOP Attack on Women’s Health
January 28, 2014
Bill Would Restrict Right to Use Private Funds for AbortionGOP Rep. Claimed Targeting Women's Health "Promotes Job Creation"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), co-chairs of the Pro-Choice Caucus in the House of Representatives, slammed the passage of another GOP bill attacking women's health. The fraudulently-titled "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" would actually place restrictions on how women can spend their own money in purchasing private health insurance plans."H.R. 7 is a reflection of a Majority that is out of touch with the American people, and struggling to understand fundamental truths about reproductive health – and we really mean struggle," Rep. Slaughter said on the Floor of the House. "This extreme legislation was originally sponsored by a man, originated from a subcommittee composed of 13 men, and was passed out of the Judiciary Committee with the votes of 21 Republican men. This has been the problem for a long time – men in blue suits and red ties determining what women can and should do when it comes to their own health.""There is no taxpayer funding for abortion and the Affordable Care Act does not change that," Rep. DeGette said. "This extreme legislation not only restricts comprehensive health care for women, it undermines a woman's right to make her own health care decisions under her insurance policy, with her own money."Contrary to the bill's title, current law already prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars for funding of abortion except in the cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. This bill would instead restrict the way women could use private dollars to obtain private insurance. Millions of women who work for small businesses receiving federal tax credits would lose their access to health insurance that covered abortion, despite the fact that 87 percent of employer-provided health insurance plans cover abortion procedures. The bill would also target middle-class and working women who purchase health coverage on the individual market through health exchanges, and would undermine the District of Columbia's ability to use their own funds to help women access comprehensive health services. Previous versions of this legislation contained shocking provisions that attempted to change the definition of rape, and would subject rape survivors to an IRS audit in some cases if they had used abortion services.Anti-choice legislation has drawn some extreme comments from Republican backers in the 113th Congress. Attempting to deflect criticism that the GOP has no plan to create jobs, Judiciary Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), claimed this bill attacking women's health "promotes job creation." This comes on the heels of Rep. Trent Franks' (R-AZ) comments that "the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low."While Republicans in Congress and state governments have launched an unprecedented attack on women's health, the country has moved in the opposite direction, becoming more pro-choice. Seventy percent of Americans agree that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned. For the first time in history, a majority of Americans – 54 percent – say that abortion "should be legal either always or most of the time." Sixty-four percent of Americans agree that "Decisions on abortion should be made by a woman and her doctor." Only 24 percent say "Government has a right and obligation to pass restrictions on abortion."Members of the Pro-Choice Caucus and pro-choice advocates will lead a protest tomorrow in the Capitol.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), co-chairs of the Pro-Choice Caucus in the House of Representatives, slammed the passage of another GOP bill attacking women's health. The fraudulently-titled "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" would actually place restrictions on how women can spend their own money in purchasing private health insurance plans.
"H.R. 7 is a reflection of a Majority that is out of touch with the American people, and struggling to understand fundamental truths about reproductive health – and we really mean struggle," Rep. Slaughter said on the Floor of the House. "This extreme legislation was originally sponsored by a man, originated from a subcommittee composed of 13 men, and was passed out of the Judiciary Committee with the votes of 21 Republican men. This has been the problem for a long time – men in blue suits and red ties determining what women can and should do when it comes to their own health."
"There is no taxpayer funding for abortion and the Affordable Care Act does not change that," Rep. DeGette said. "This extreme legislation not only restricts comprehensive health care for women, it undermines a woman's right to make her own health care decisions under her insurance policy, with her own money."
Contrary to the bill's title, current law already prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars for funding of abortion except in the cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. This bill would instead restrict the way women could use private dollars to obtain private insurance. Millions of women who work for small businesses receiving federal tax credits would lose their access to health insurance that covered abortion, despite the fact that 87 percent of employer-provided health insurance plans cover abortion procedures. The bill would also target middle-class and working women who purchase health coverage on the individual market through health exchanges, and would undermine the District of Columbia's ability to use their own funds to help women access comprehensive health services.
Previous versions of this legislation contained shocking provisions that attempted to change the definition of rape, and would subject rape survivors to an IRS audit in some cases if they had used abortion services.
Anti-choice legislation has drawn some extreme comments from Republican backers in the 113th Congress. Attempting to deflect criticism that the GOP has no plan to create jobs, Judiciary Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), claimed this bill attacking women's health "promotes job creation." This comes on the heels of Rep. Trent Franks' (R-AZ) comments that "the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low."
While Republicans in Congress and state governments have launched an unprecedented attack on women's health, the country has moved in the opposite direction, becoming more pro-choice. Seventy percent of Americans agree that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned. For the first time in history, a majority of Americans – 54 percent – say that abortion "should be legal either always or most of the time." Sixty-four percent of Americans agree that "Decisions on abortion should be made by a woman and her doctor." Only 24 percent say "Government has a right and obligation to pass restrictions on abortion."
Members of the Pro-Choice Caucus and pro-choice advocates will lead a protest tomorrow in the Capitol.