Quigley Statement on Republican Vote Attacking Women’s Health Care
Quigley Also Delivers Floor Remarks in Support of D.C.’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the Appropriations Committee and Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3354, an appropriations bill that will cut women's health care programs:
"Once again, Republicans have shown they are willing to put women's lives at risk to score ideological points," said Rep. Quigley. "Planned Parenthood provides essential health care services to more than 5 million women and men every year, often in areas where there are no other options to receive safe, affordable, and quality care. To make this vote even more reckless, the bill would eliminate funding for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, which has helped the U.S. reach a historic low in unintended pregnancies among young people. We should be expanding access to these successful, life-saving programs, not making it more difficult for women and families to get the care they need to lead happy, healthy lives. I will continue to fight these partisan attacks at every turn and work to ensure that women have the ability to make their own health care decisions."
H.R. 3354 defunds Planned Parenthood, eliminates funding for the Title X Family Planning program and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, drastically cuts funding for international family planning, and codifies the harmful global gag rule. Its proposed cuts to international family planning funding is projected to result in 6.37 million fewer women and couples receiving contraception, nearly two million more unintended pregnancies, 808,000 more abortions, and nearly 3,700 more maternal deaths. The ban on U.S. support to UNFPA cuts funding to their vital work in 150 countries, where they provide reproductive and maternal health services for the most vulnerable women, especially those who are living in conflict and humanitarian settings. The bill codifies the expanded global gag rule, which for the first time ever targets funding for international organizations who work on any U.S. funded global health program, including HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, and nutrition programs.
Earlier today, as Ranking Member of the Financial Services & General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Quigley also spoke on the need to protect women's health care for those living and working in Washington, D.C. Click here to watch his Floor remarks in support of an amendment allowing funds to continue being used to implement D.C.'s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act, which bans discrimination over employees' reproductive decisions.
As a Member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Rep. Quigley is a strong supporter of every woman's right to choose, as well as their access to quality, affordable health care. In order to address recent attacks on reproductive services, Rep. Quigley helped introduce the Women's Health Protection Act, pushed for passage of the EACH Woman Act, and joined his colleagues in calling for an end to the Hyde Amendment that prevents federal funding for abortion. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, he has also pushed for increased funding for the Title X program and Planned Parenthood, and defended the United Nations Population Fund from harmful and misguided funding cuts.