DeLauro Continues To Fight For Health Care For All Americans

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) attended an event held by the Coalition to Pass Health Care Reform and Stop Stupak!, two advocacy groups opposed to the inclusion of the Stupak amendment in the final health reform bill.

The Stupak amendment, which was included in the Affordable Health Care for America Act passed by the United States House of Representatives, would restrict private insurers from covering abortion services in insurance plans receiving government subsidies in the proposed health insurance Exchange.

Congresswoman DeLauro said, "It was never our intention to make abortion part of the health care debate. But sadly, the Conference of Catholic Bishops had other ideas. They chose to hold comprehensive health care reform hostage to the abortion issue. In doing so, they not only used a dubious rationale that puts even their own federal funding at risk. They failed their fundamental obligation to help the poor and heal the sick.

"We had compromise language that came out of the Energy & Commerce Committee ensuring that no federal funding may be used to cover abortion care while still allowing for coverage. It addressed the issue in a very balanced way and maintained current law. The Stupak amendment goes far beyond that and will have serious consequences."

Congresswoman DeLauro's full remarks are below.

(As Prepared for Delivery) After many months of work and a century of waiting, we are on the cusp of passing comprehensive health insurance reform that will finally stop insurance companies' many discriminatory practices against women. Our bill would ban the insidious practice of gender rating, whereby women are charged more than men for the same coverage. And it would mandate that maternity care be covered, which has been missing in four out of five women's individual market policies. In short, our bill will at long last put women on an equal footing in our health care system.

As we have worked to secure this groundbreaking legislation, it was never our intention to make abortion part of the health care debate. And, in fact, when the issue arose in the Energy and Commerce Committee, pro-choice and pro-life members came together around a compromise that ratified existing law.

But sadly, the Conference of Catholic Bishops had other ideas. They chose to hold comprehensive health care reform hostage to the abortion issue. In doing so, they not only used a dubious rationale that puts even their own federal funding at risk. They failed their fundamental obligation to help the poor and heal the sick.

Make no mistake: The Stupak amendment does not reaffirm existing law -- it goes way past it. It disallows private insurers who operate in the new Exchange from covering abortion services in plans receiving government subsidies. This effectively bans working women access to a legal medical procedure.

In other words, Stupak creates a class barrier to abortion services, and would eventually deny all but the wealthiest women in America any semblance of reproductive choice. As GW School of Public Health analysis concluded, "the Stupak/Pitts Amendment will have an industry-wide effect, eliminating coverage of medically indicated abortions over time for all women."

We must change this, without losing sight of our goal. Our reform bill will cover 96% of Americans, and drastically reduce the rising costs of health insurance for our families. In short, it will save lives. In fact, the Affordable Health Care for America Act was "pro-life" legislation well before the bishops got involved.

And, given the way it ends policies of systematic gender discrimination by the insurance industry, affordable health care for all is more important to women than anyone else. Women are more likely to use the health care system. We have particular reproductive health needs. We usually live 30 years beyond the onset of menopause and require more specialized care throughout our lives. And women's health research has historically not been a priority, so the most effective treatments are not always known.

So we all have a role to play in doing right by America's women and making sure comprehensive health insurance reform finally gets passed. We in the pro-choice community did not choose this fight -- in fact, many of us on both sides of the issue have worked diligently and in good faith to reach common ground. But, I am confident we will get there again, and that the Affordable Health Care for America Act will become the law of the land, without the stain of Stupak/Pitts.

In their bill, the Senate followed the compromise language we previously had in the House. In no small way, we owe this positive step to the pro-choice community. The reaction after the Stupak/Pitts amendment passed was immediate, effective and quite loud. And after speaking with my colleagues, I believe we have strength on the Senate side. We will have to beat back the amendments that are sure to come, but the real fight will come when we move to conference. We need all of your energy to get the message across, and to educate Members, Senators and the public about what is at stake.

So make your voices heard! Those Members who are pro-choice and who voted for Stupak should feel your wrath. Those who could not find their way clear to vote for health care, for whatever reason, should feel your wrath too.

And in the meantime let us all redouble our efforts -- to get this amendment struck down, and to finally get comprehensive and meaningful health insurance reform passed into law. America's families -- and America's women -- have waited far too long.

Source