House Committee Approves Attacks on Abortion Access in Financial Services Appropriations Bill
For Immediate Release: June 14, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday evening, the House Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill that includes provisions designed to block access to safe and legal abortion. The FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill would ban abortion coverage from multi-state insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act and prohibit federal employees from receiving abortion insurance coverage. The bill also includes a measure to block women with low incomes from receiving abortion coverage through District of Columbia health plans and essentially end protections for employees in the District from discrimination based on their reproductive health care decisions by their employer.
Statement from Dana Singiser, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
Every woman deserves access to basic health care, including abortion, no matter where she lives or how much money she makes. Under the bill passed by the House Appropriations Committee, millions of women could lose insurance coverage for abortion. And it would also continue a number of discriminatory policies that make it harder for women who already face the highest barriers to care in D.C. to access abortion and for DC residents to be protected from bosses in their health care decisions. Our elected representatives should focus on expanding access to reproductive health care, not taking it away.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.