Pelosi Statement on Blunt Amendment

Statement

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate voted to table the Blunt Amendment by a vote of 51 to 48:

"Once again, Republicans have proposed a sweeping overreach into the lives, and health, of America's women. Today, the Senate tabled an extreme amendment to a completely unrelated bill that would allow an employer or insurance company to claim a vague "moral conviction' as an excuse to deny women health care coverage. Democrats have worked to expand coverage for basic health care; this amendment is about cutting coverage for basic health care services for women, including such preventive care as contraceptives, mammograms, prenatal screenings, cervical cancer screenings, and much more.

"It's not ironic, but, rather, tragic, that on the day we kick off Women's History Month, the Senate debates this devastating legislation to put at risk health care for millions of women, including the 20 million women already benefiting from preventive health services guaranteed under health reform. But it's just the latest ploy in the Republican agenda of disrespecting the health of American women.

"I thank my colleagues in the Senate who are working to strengthen women's health, rather than diminish it, by tabling this extreme legislation."

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