Sen. Franken Disappointed after "Hobby Lobby" Legislative Fix Fails in Senate

Press Release

Today, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said he is disappointed that Senate Republicans blocked a vote on legislation to fix the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. The bill would have ensured that women in Minnesota and across the country can continue to receive contraceptive coverage through their employer-sponsored health insurance plan.

At the end of June, the Supreme Court ruled that an employer can refuse to offer a health plan that covers a woman's contraceptive services. Sen. Franken has been fighting to make sure that the more than 500,000 women in Minnesota who have benefited from preventive health care services--including contraception--continue to receive them free of charge.

"The Supreme Court made a terrible decision when it decided that a woman's boss can make health care decisions for her," said Sen. Franken. "Those choices should be between a woman and her doctor, plain and simple. The Court's ruling denies women access to the health care services they need, and that's why I'm so disappointed that my Republican colleagues in the Senate blocked this critical legislative fix.

"Ninety-nine percent of women use birth control at some point in their lives, and more than half a million women in Minnesota have benefited from the requirement that insurance companies provide preventive health services free of charge--including contraception. I will continue to fight for women in Minnesota and across the country, making sure that they can access the important health services they need."

The Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act, led by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.), failed to clear a key procedural hurdle today in the Senate.

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