Bill Severely Undermines Women’s Access to Care

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 358, a dangerous bill that undermines women’s access to care, including eliminating protections for women seeking care in emergency situations.    

“This bill is a collection of dangerous ideas that will undermine women’s health,” said Cecile Richards, president of PPFA.  “Most devastating, the bill eliminates protections for patients seeking care in emergency circumstances, and would allow a hospital to deny lifesaving abortion care to a woman, even if a doctor deems it necessary.” 

H.R. 358 is an attempt by House leaders to force consideration of policies that would drastically erode women’s health and reduce access to basic health care services and information.   

The Obama administration has issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) opposing H.R. 358, indicating President Obama would veto H.R. 358 if it passes Congress.

Read the SAP here. 

The bill’s several anti-women’s health provisions include:

• taking comprehensive health care coverage away from women
• eliminating existing protections for women who need an abortion to save their lives
• further expanding current refusal laws that undermine women’s health
• creating loopholes that states and insurance companies could exploit to undermine the requirement that insurance companies provide birth control with no co-pays

Rep Dan Lipinski (D-IL-3) spoke in favor of HR 358.

We commend our very own Judy Biggert (R-IL-13), Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9) who spoke out against H.R. 358 on the House floor. 

However, we're deeply disappointed that Illinois' Dan Lipinski (D-IL-3) spoke out in favor of voted for this dangerous bill.

We encourage you to thank your supportive legislators and express your disappointment to Dan Lipinski and other legislators who voted in favor of the bill. Here is a link to the roll call. 

Although H.R. 358 has passed the House, we will remain vigilant in our efforts to stop the bill from passing in the Senate. Thanks to everyone who has already helped by making calls, sending letters and letting legislators know that women's health care MATTERS! 

Technorati tags: Planned Parenthood, Abortion