In January 2011, Republican members of the House of Representatives introduced three bills to the House floor that will directly affect the reproductive rights of all Americans. Last week, the House voted in favor of one of these bills and will begin debate on the other two bills in the coming weeks.
H.R. 217 or the “Pence Amendment”
H.R. 217 was introduced to the House by Representative Mike Pence (R-Ind). • The amendment seeks to deny any and all federal funding from going to organizations that provide abortion services.
Currently, under the Hyde Amendment, no federal funding is used for abortions. For example, any federal funding Planned Parenthood receives goes towards gynecological exams, STI and HIV/AIDs testing, cancer screenings, family planning services, and contraceptives.
On Friday February 18, 2011, the House voted in favor of the amendment. 10 Democrats voted in favor of the amendment and 7 Republicans voted against it.
If H.R. 217 is passed by the Senate and signed by President Obama it will stop approximately $363 million in subsidies for the reproductive health organization Planned Parenthood. The loss of this funding would lead the organization to shut down many of its nationwide locations for the short term and potentially lead to the closing of the organization entirely in the long term.
The defunding of Planned Parenthood would put the reproductive health of men, women and youth at risk as the organization provides low-cost or free screenings, treatment and contraceptives to millions of Americans across the country.
In July 2009, the House of Representatives voted against the Pence Amendment.
H.R. 3 or the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act”
H.R. 3 was introduced to the House by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ).
H.R. 3 would do the following:
It would deny tax credits to employers or other entities that pay for health plans that cover abortion. Likewise, it would deny tax credits to individuals or entities that pay for abortion care.
Disallow medical deductions for payments for any health plan that includes abortion coverage or for any medical expenses related to abortion careo Treat as income any amounts paid for an abortion from a tax-preferred trust or account, such as a health savings account,
Many small and medium sized businesses cannot afford to offer health insurance plans without the help of federal tax credits.
H.R. 3 implicitly places an unfair tax on women for their biological ability to reproduce and for their potential need to have an abortion.
The passage of H.R.3 would force female workers into one of the three following scenarios:
Women will have fewer job opportunities available to them if they need to work for a business that provides coverage for abortion services in their company’s health insurance policy.
Women who work for companies that do not offer insurance coverage that includes abortion services will be forced to purchase a more expensive private health insurance plan if they need abortion services covered by their health insurance.
Women who cannot/will not change their place of business will have to give up abortion coverage if their company is forced to switch to a health insurance plan that does not include abortion to obtain tax credits.
H.R. 358 or the “Let Women Die Amendment”
H.R. 358 was introduced by Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA).
H.R. 358 would allow states to deny insurance coverage for birth control.
Currently, federal law requires all hospitals receiving Medicaid or Medicare funding to provide emergency care to all individuals, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. If the hospital is unable to provide the necessary treatment, it must transfer the patient to a facility that can.
Under H.R. 358 hospitals and/or hospital workers who have a moral or religious opposition to abortion would not have to perform abortions nor would they have to transfer the pregnant woman to a facility that would provide her with an abortion. Additionally, the hospital would not be required to provide a woman in need of an abortion with information regarding a nearby facility that would provide the procedure.
H.R. 358 would also allow hospitals to deny abortion procedures and transport to a facility that would provide a woman with an abortion EVEN IF the woman would die without an abortion. This means that if a pregnant woman is diagnosed with a life threatening disease and cannot obtain treatment for said disease without first having an abortion goes to a health care facility for an emergency abortion the hospital or facility has the legal right deny her an abortion on moral or religious grounds. They also would not have to provide her with information about a hospital or healthcare facility that would.
Think what you want about abortion, but these amendments will directly strip women, men and youth of safe, affordable and accessible reproductive healthcare. Additionally, it infringes on a woman’s right to accessible, affordable and compassionate abortion services. Contact your state Congressional Representatives and tell them to vote “No” on H.R. 3, H.R. 217 and H.R. 358
