After they were forced to scrap plans for a 20-week abortion ban, House Republican leaders decided late last night to instead ram through a vote today on a different extreme anti-abortion bill.
House Republicans are now pushing HR 7, a bill promoted as a ban on federal funding of abortion that would actually prevent women from using their own money to purchase health insurance that includes abortion care. The bill, introduced by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), would eliminate tax credits available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for women and families who purchase insurance plans through the ACA-created health insurance marketplaces that include abortion coverage.
“This outrageous ban would interfere with a woman purchasing the health insurance she wants,” said Feminist Majority President Eleanor Smeal. “Instead of respecting the right of women to buy comprehensive health care insurance, including abortion coverage, House Republican leaders are now going to tell people what they can buy and still receive a tax credit. In other words, they are blackmailing their constituents.”
After two Republican Congresswomen – Rene Ellmers (NC) and Jackie Walorski (IN) – abruptly and publicly withdrew their co-sponsorship of the 20-week abortion ban this week, Republican leaders realized that they no longer had enough votes to pass the unconstitutional Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36). Instead, HR 7 is slated to be put to a vote today.
“Make no mistake – this bill is an attack on women’s health and rights,” Smeal continued. “When will Republican leaders learn that they should stop playing politics with women’s health and lives?”
The White House has just announced that it “strongly opposes” H.R. 7. A statement just released by the Executive Office of the President Office of Management and Budget says, “The legislation would intrude on women’s reproductive freedom and access to health care; increase the financial burden on many Americans; unnecessarily restrict the private insurance choices that consumers have today; and restrict the District of Columbia’s use of local funds, which undermines home rule. …The Administration strongly opposes legislation that unnecessarily restricts women’s reproductive freedoms and consumers’ private insurance options.”
If Congress passes the legislation, White House senior advisers would recommend President Obama veto the act.
TAKE ACTION: Tell your Congressional representatives to stop attacking reproductive rights.
Media Resources: Feminist Newswire 1/8/15; MSNBC 1/22/15, 1/21/15
