Leader Pelosi on Bill Restricting Women's Access to Reproductive Health Care (H.R. 358)

Today, the House will consider H.R. 358, Restricting Women's Access to Reproductive Health Care Services (the so-called "Protect Life Act.") Supporters of this bill claim it is amending the Affordable Care Act to ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to fund abortions. However, the Affordable Care Act already prohibits the use of U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. Furthermore, H.R. 358 goes far beyond the Hyde Amendment. Its effect would be to restrict, for the first time, how women with private insurance can spend their own private dollars in purchasing health insurance.

Transcript: For a moment, I want to get back to what was asked about the issue on the floor today—that Mr. Hoyer addressed. He made a point, and I want to emphasize it. Under this bill—when the Republicans vote for this bill today, they will be voting to say that women can die on the floor and health care providers do not have to intervene if this bill is passed. It's just appalling. It falls right into their—it's a health issue. This is a health issue. And it falls right in there with a lot of other initiatives that they had coming up on the floor about clean air, clean water, mercury, you name it. America's families deserve better than this. And, again, today is another example of a wasted opportunity instead of taking up even an aspect of the President's jobs bill that could create jobs. I can't even describe to you the logic of what it is that they are doing. I just know that you'll see a large number of women on the floor today fighting for women's health issues as well as to point out how savage this is about withholding care for a woman because of this legislation.

• Category

  News & Politics

• License

  Standard YouTube License