Planned Parenthood: Planned Parenthood Statement on House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill

The following article was published on July 18, 2013 by Planned Parenthood. The full article can be read here.

WASHINGTON - Planned Parenthood Federation of America released the following statement condemning language restricting women's access to reproductive health care in the FY 14 House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill and praising two pro-women's health amendments introduced at today's markup of the legislation in the House Appropriations Committee.

The first amendment, introduced by House Appropriations Ranking MemberNita Lowey (D-NY), would strip language from the bill imposing unprecedented restrictions on women's ability to purchase private health insurance that includes coverage for abortion. Federal law already prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion, except in the instances of rape, incest, or when the woman's life is threatened, a restriction Planned Parenthood strongly opposes.

The second, introduced by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL), would eliminate a dangerous provision that prevents low-income women in the District of Columbia from accessing abortion in cases of rape, incest, or when their life is in danger. Both amendments were rejected in committee.

"We praise Ranking Member Nita Lowey, Rep. Mike Quigley, and Rep.Barbara Lee for introducing amendments to promote access to a full-range of reproductive health services during committee markup today. The bottom line is: a woman, not politicians, should make decisions when it comes to her own pregnancy, in consultation with her doctor, her family, and her faith. We are disappointed that these efforts to protect women's health were rejected by the committee and look to the Senate to put a stop to these attacks. Opponents of women's health continue to use any opportunity to push their anti-women's health agenda."