Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) released the following statement on the need to protect religious freedom while also preserving a woman's ability to make contraceptive decisions for herself:
"The Constitution and current federal law protect religious freedoms that are at the core of our nation's values. Obamacare's contraception mandate forced people to choose between operating their businesses and violating their religious beliefs, and because of that, I believe the Supreme Court was right that the mandate violated the bipartisan Religious Freedom Protection Act. We can and should do more to promote easier and more affordable access to contraceptives and healthcare in general without trampling on religious freedoms. Unfortunately, the Democrats' measure today was more of a political statement, aimed at scoring election year points rather than achieving that balance. That is why I supported a commonsense alternative that would expand access to contraceptives and ensure that employers cannot prevent their employees from obtaining contraception, while also avoiding government entanglement with Americans' religious beliefs."
Yesterday, Portman co-sponsored the Preserving Religious Freedom and a Woman's Access to Contraception Act which affirms that employers cannot prohibit a woman from accessing contraception or any other FDA-approved drug or medical device; requests that the Food and Drug Administration study whether prescription contraceptives could be made available safely to adults without a prescription; and lifts the Obamacare cap on Flexible Spending Accounts and restores the use of Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts to cover over-the-counter medication -- giving women and families more purchasing power.
Highlights of the Preserving Religious Freedom and a Woman's Access to Contraception Act:
Clarifies the Law -- The legislation reaffirms that the Supreme Court's decision in Hobby Lobby did nothing to change a woman's ability to access birth control and other contraception. If a woman chooses, she is free to purchase contraception regardless of the views of her employer.
Safe Access -- The legislation includes a Sense of the Senate that the Food and Drug Administration should study whether contraceptives can be made available safely without a prescription to adults, ensuring a scientific evaluation of available evidence around the safety and efficacy of contraception.
Increases Affordability -- The legislation would repeal the Obamacare mandate which limits the use of Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts to medications that require a prescription, giving women more freedom to purchase over-the-counter medications. The bill also lifts the $2,500 cap on Flexible Spending Accounts, providing women and their families with more purchasing power.
The Preserving Religious Freedom and a Woman's Access to Contraception Act was introduced by U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) and cosponsored by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Mike Johanns (R-NE), John McCain (R-AZ), Jim Risch (R-ID), John Thune (R-SD), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).