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Health Care Reform: Stupak AmendmentThe House passed HR 3962, a health care reform bill. It included a provision that dealt an outrageous blow to women's freedom and privacy. The amendment, offered by anti-choice Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), makes it virtually impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new system to offer abortion coverage. This would have the effect of denying certain women the right to use their own personal private funds to purchase an insurance plan with abortion coverage — a new and drastic limitation on a woman's right to choose. Presently, more than 85 percent of private-insurance plans cover abortion services.
“If enacted, this amendment will be the greatest restriction of a woman's right to choose to pass in our careers,” said Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). Rep. Rosa deLauro (D-CT) said the bill's original language barring the use of federal dollars to pay for abortions should have been sufficient for the opponents. “Abortion is a matter of conscience on both sides of the debate,” Ms. DeLauro said. “This amendment takes away that same freedom of conscience from America's women.”
Not wanting to kill health care reform, most pro-choice members of Congress voted to pass the bill anyway. But most have served notice that they intend to fight until Stupak is stripped from the final bill.
JAC is involved in this effort. Together we can help Congress achieve health care reform without sacrificing women and their health care needs.
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