DeLauro Praises Defeat Of Nelson Amendment

Statement

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) today released the following statement in response to the defeat of Senator Ben Nelson's amendment to the Senate's version of the health reform bill.

The Nelson amendment, which was similar to the Stupak amendment included in the House of Representatives' version of health reform legislation, would have restricted private insurers from covering abortion services in insurance plans receiving government subsidies in the proposed health insurance Exchange.

Congresswoman DeLauro said, "I commend my colleagues in the Senate for preventing the Nelson amendment from becoming part of the health reform legislation. The language presented by Senator Nelson mirrored Representative Stupak's amendment in the House of Representatives, and would have effectively banned coverage of abortion and denied women the right to buy abortion coverage even with their own money.

"We have sought to find a middle ground on the contentious issue of abortion, and the Senate's actions today move towards that. In the House Energy & Commerce Committee, we had compromise language that ensured no federal funding would be used to cover abortion care while still allowing for coverage that would be paid for with an individual's own funds. It addressed the issue in a very fair and balanced way, and maintained current law. The Nelson amendment would have, as the Stupak amendment does, gone far beyond that.

"I look forward to resolving the differences between the House and Senate versions of health reform, and am certain we will be able to achieve satisfactory resolution."

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