Press Release
January 6, 2011
Contact: Aaron Hunter 202-225-2040
Congresswoman Susan Davis Fights to Protect Women from Health Care Repeal Effort
Amendment would block repeal if provisions protecting women are ended
Washington – When the new health care reform law was enacted last year, women benefitted significantly. It not only stopped women from being denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, the law prohibits insurance companies from charging women more for simply being a woman.
As the new Republican majority tries to repeal the health care law, Congresswoman Susan Davis offered an amendment to the repeal bill that would maintain protections for women. However, in the Rules Committee, Republicans denied Davis a House debate and a vote on her amendment.
“Women had the most to gain in the passage of the health reform law, and they now stand to lose the most,” said Davis. “Health care bills should make unfair and inappropriate health care practices a thing of the past, not encourage them.”
The amendment guarantees that repeal cannot go forward unless the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Congressional Budget Office, certifies that repeal will not take away these key protections for women.
If the OMB reports back that repeal will result in women being denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions such as breast or cervical cancer, or will be charged more because they have children and live longer, this amendment would stop repeal from taking effect.
Davis joined Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA) and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) in offering the amendment.
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