Quigley Says He Won't Support Final Health Care Bill If It Contains Stupak Language

CHICAGO Today, Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) released the following statement, announcing that he will vote against a final health care reform bill if it contains the Stupak-Pitts amendment language and erodes a woman's right to reproductive health care. A member of the House pro-choice caucus, Quigley was one of only two men to speak out against the Stupak-Pitts amendment during this past weekend's debate.

"On Saturday, we entered the final stretch of a 100-year march toward extending health care coverage to the millions of Americans who currently live without. I'm proud that we were able to move historically forward on health care reform, but was very disappointed with the inclusion of the anti-choice language in the bill. As we continue to refine the bill, we must make sure that this progress does not come at the expense of the more than 150 million women in America.

The goal of overhauling the heath care system is equality - to give every American access to comprehensive coverage and make it affordable. The Stupak amendment disrupts that very equality and does exactly the opposite. It says only women who can afford insurance deserve access to reproductive health care and marks an unprecedented restriction on people who pay for their own insurance. It directly and unfairly attacks the rights of lower and middle class women.

I will continue to fight to remove this discriminatory language before a final bill reaches the President's desk and ensure that women do not become sacrificial lambs on the path to health care reform. I will not vote in favor of a final bill that contains language to restrict a woman's rights any further than current law. If choice is out, so am I."

Since federal funds are already prohibited from funding abortion under the Hyde amendment, the Stupak amendment would effectively ban abortion coverage in all plans on the insurance exchange, both public and private.

Quigley has also signed his name to letters that are being sent to the President and the Speaker further solidifying his strong position.