Washington, DC – Today House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-CA), Rules Committee Chair Louise Slaughter (D-NY), State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) applauded news that President Obama would revisit the Bush Administration’s “right of conscience" rule that permitted health care workers to refuse to participate in any procedure they found morally objectionable, including family planning services.

 “I am very pleased to see that the Administration is taking another look at this rule,” said Rep. Waxman, Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.  “Many health organizations and professional societies expressed concern about the confusion and barriers the rule would create for patients, and President Obama listened.”

“After eight long years of the Bush Administration trouncing on women’s reproductive rights and playing politics with science, it is clear that we are now in a new era,” said Rep. Slaughter, Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus and Chairwoman of the House Rules Committee. “The Bush Administration’s sweeping rule went beyond a woman’s right to choose, beyond a woman’s right to contraception and put everyone’s access to health care at risk.  By revisiting this ill-considered rule, President Obama is standing up for improved health care access for all Americans.”

“What a difference an Administration makes,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee.  “This rule would have denied critical family planning services, including birth control, to women.  I am pleased President Obama plans to rescind the rule and understands that making birth control more – not less – accessible is the best way to prevent unintended pregnancies.”

“The Obama Administration is moving in the right direction by rescinding this rule that attempts to restrict Americans access to health care,” said U.S. Rep. DeGette, co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus and Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. “The refusal rule was written so broadly that is would allow anyone working in health care to refuse to provide legal health care services or medications to any patient – without regard to the needs of the patient. While we need to respect the religious beliefs of individuals, we also must protect patient’s right to receive health care. The state has a compelling interest in both providing access to health care and protecting patients’ rights to that care.”

BACKGROUND:

At the end of his Administration, President Bush proposed the “Refusal Clause” rule, which permits employees of health care providers receiving any federal funding to refuse to provide medical services based on personal beliefs. 

The refusal clause applies not only to abortion, but to any health care service, including all women’s health care services.  It enables health care workers to refuse to provide care, or even information or referrals, to patients. 

The rule went into effect on January 20, 2009. Today it was reported that the Obama Administration is set to announce that they will revisit the rule.