Statement from Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, on House Ways and Means Markup of H.R. 1232, the New Version of Chris Smith’s Anti-Choice Bill
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
Planned Parenthood strongly opposes H.R. 1232 and is deeply disappointed that it was passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee.
The markup of H.R. 1232 affirms that this bill would raise taxes on families and small businesses, undermine women’s access to health care, and possibly lead to the IRS auditing and questioning rape survivors about the veracity of their reports of rape.
“During the markup, the Joint Committee on Taxation testified that H.R. 1232 would result in a tax increase on individuals and small businesses if the private health insurance they purchase includes abortion coverage.
“In addition, the Joint Committee on Taxation testified that in the course of an IRS audit, rape survivors could be required to demonstrate that they in fact survived rape. They may be asked to offer proof of rape to show that they were eligible for the tax credit they claimed, which is allowable under H.R. 1232 only in cases of rape, incest, and when the woman’s life is in danger.
“Millions of women will likely lose the comprehensive private health insurance that they currently have as a result of H.R. 1232 becoming law.
“In a legislative sleight of hand, the House Ways and Means Committee designated this extreme anti-choice bill as H.R. 1232, essentially replacing the higher ranked H.R. 3. This is an indication that even supporters of this extreme bill are trying to minimize attention to it.
“We urge the House to focus on what the American people want — jobs and economic growth, not proposals that would impose tax hikes to take away the health insurance coverage women and families have today.”
Source
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Contact
Planned Parenthood Federation of America media office: 212-261-4433
Published
March 31, 2011