Quigley Fights for Equal Access to Abortion Services in D.C

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, fought against efforts to restrict the right to choose for women living in the District of Columbia during the Appropriation Committee’s consideration of the Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Bill.

Rep. Quigley offered an amendment that would protect the rights of women living in D.C. by clarifying that the federal government could not restrict the District of Columbia from using its own, locally raised funds to provide abortion services for low-income women.

“For the fourth year in a row, we are having the same discussion about the autonomy of the District of Columbia,” said Rep. Quigley. “My amendment is very straightforward as it simply inserts the word ‘federal’ to clarify that local D.C. funds can be used as the elected officials of D.C. see fit. This amendment is not an issue of choice. It is an issue of whether members support local autonomy and a federalist system, as they claim. Regardless of how you may feel about abortion, those of us on Capitol Hill shouldn’t be allowed to deny a woman’s access to it or coverage for it just because of where she lives, works, or is insured. Every other state in the U.S. has the right to use its local funds as it sees fit – and so should the District of Columbia.”

Rep. Quigley offers an amendment that would protect the reproductive health rights of women living in D.C.

Rep. Quigley is a staunch advocate for comprehensive reproductive health care and an ardent supporter of a woman's right to choose. A member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, he has previously spoken out against Supreme Court cases that could turn back the clock on women’s right to choose, like Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, against efforts to ban abortions after 20 weeks and legislation that would make it harder for victims of rape and incest to receive abortion care. Rep. Quigley has been a vocal supporter of ending the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds to pay for an abortion, and has encouraged his colleagues to support the EACH Woman Act, which ensures health coverage of abortion services for every woman, no matter how much she earns, how she is insured, or where she lives. He also supports requiring employers to cover contraception in basic benefits packages.