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Affordable Health Care For America Act

Floor Speech

Date: Nov. 7, 2009
Location: Washington D.C.
Issues: Women Health and Health Care

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. This is a great moment in history because today we act to guarantee affordable health care for this and future generations. It is a great day for women. Our bill stops gender rating, preventing insurance companies from charging women 48 percent more than men for the same coverage.

We eliminate preexisting conditions. Being a breast cancer survivor or domestic violence victim will no longer prevent access to care. We require coverage of maternity and well-baby care. We ensure that older women not yet eligible for Medicare can buy affordable coverage.

We improve Medicare. Senior women will be able to afford preventive services like cancer screenings because we eliminate cost-sharing. We close the doughnut hole, so they can afford their medications.

Women need health care reform. They need H.R. 3962.

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. No matter how many times it is said, our health reform bill does not allow one Federal dollar for abortions.

This Stupak-Pitts amendment goes way beyond current law. It says a woman cannot purchase, using her own dollars, coverage that includes abortion services. Even middle class women who are using exclusively their own money will be prohibited from purchasing a plan including abortion coverage, and this is in every single public or private insurance plan in the new health care exchange. Her only option is to buy a separate insurance policy that covers an abortion, a ridiculous and unworkable approach since no woman plans an unplanned pregnancy.

This amendment is a radical departure from current law, and it will result in millions of women losing the coverage they already have. Our bill is about lowering health care costs for millions of women and their families. It is not about further marginalizing women by forcing them to pay more for their care.

This amendment is a disservice and an insult to millions of women throughout the country. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

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