Anti-women amendment a non-starter for health care bill in Senate

CHICAGO – Cheryle Jackson said today that an amendment to restrict insurance coverage for essential reproductive health care must be defeated if health care reform is to meet the promise of access to quality care for all Americans.

Jackson said that final health reform legislation in the U. S. Congress must protect access to essential health care for all women, including reproductive care regardless of income.

Senator Ben Nelson (D., Neb.) is expected to introduce an amendment to the Senate health care bill today that mirrors the restrictive anti-abortion Stupak-Pitts amendment in the House bill. The amendment would prevent the public insurance plan from covering reproductive care. The amendment also prohibits the use of tax credits to secure reproductive health services.

“We must pass meaningful health reform with a strong public option, but we must do it without compromising women’s access to reproductive care. The Stupak-Pitts amendment recently passed in the House and the anticipated Nelson amendment in the Senate would cut abortion coverage that women in Illinois and across the nation currently have. It would even prohibit women from using their own private money for such coverage. The choice between affordable health care and protecting women’s reproductive rights is a false one. Frankly, it is outrageous that conservatives are trying to hijack health care reform to legislate this major restriction on reproductive rights," said Jackson.

“I am also opposed to language that supports current law under the Hyde amendment to ban use of federal funds for reproductive health procedures. We must not cut out poor women from access to needed care as we reform and expand health care coverage,” said Jackson.

A George Washington University analysis found that this amendment would end up eliminating all abortion coverage for all women.



The health reform bill unveiled in the U.S. Senate would require each state to have a least one insurance option that covers abortion. Reproductive care coverage would be allowed under a public option, but no federal funds could be used.

“The Senate bill is a step in the right direction for comprehensive health care reform that protects women’s access to essential health care services. But the Nelson amendment takes women’s rights to essential care backwards. All Americans must have access to the health care they need if we are to claim true reform and universal access. We must ensure that the final bill out of the conference committee provides full access to care for all women,” said Jackson.

Jackson said that as a U. S. Senator she would fight to achieve health care reform and to protect women’s rights.

“If we had more progressive women in the Senate, this might not even be a debate. We need more than a vote for women in the U. S. Senate – we need a voice,” said Jackson.