Waxman Stands Up for Women: "This bill is shameless."

October 13, 2011 -

"Mr. Speaker: It is an absolute disgrace that this bill is on the Floor today. Of all the legislation we could be considering -- with the country in economic crisis, with poverty rates at record levels, with urgent needs for our schools, and with America still too dependent on imported energy -- what does the Republican leadership choose to do? Bring up yet another bill to limit women's access to reproductive health services.

Pure and simple: The purpose of H.R. 358 is to destroy one of the most hard-fought but delicately balanced sections of the Affordable Care Act -- that on abortion.

This set of provisions -- authored by Senator Nelson, whose pro-life record speaks for itself -- clearly and unequivocally:

Prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion.

Keeps state and federal abortion-related law in place.

Ensures that those whose conscience dictates against abortion are protected and not discriminated against.

H.R. 358 goes far beyond this. By restricting insurance plans' flexibility regarding abortion coverage, the Pitts bill will result in a virtual shut-down of private coverage of this service.

The legislation also takes away the Affordable Care Act's limited anti-discrimination protection for those providers whose conscience dictates that women should have access to abortion -- a legal and medically appropriate service.

And, among its most disturbing provisions, the Pitts bill would upend the Affordable Care Act's requirement that health care providers remain obligated to provide emergency services as required under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, commonly known as EMTALA.

Taken as a whole, H.R. 358 is a full-throttled assault on a women's health and women's right to choose.

Just like H.R. 3, the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" that has already passed the House -- and includes the Affordable Care Act -- this legislation will not become law. Our Republican colleagues know that. It is not what the American people want.

It is not what they voted for last November.

What the American people want and what we should be focusing our full attention on are jobs, economic growth, and the numerous pressing and important challenges we face as a nation. Instead, we spend our time today debating a highly divisive issue that was put to rest nearly two years ago; duplicating legislation that the House voted on just a few months ago; and once again, eroding the rights of choice that are protected by the Constitution.

This is shameless. Just shameless. I urge a no vote on H.R. 35"

-- Rep. Henry Waxman

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