Oppose the Republican Budget

Floor Speech

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I'm troubled by the Republican budget's effect on health care, specifically the provisions that would eliminate the Affordable Care Act. Passing the Republican budget would be detrimental to the health of citizens across the United States, but it's particularly harmful to women.

As we mark the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, we can measure its successes by the benefits that women have already realized: preventive care is guaranteed, gender rating will soon be gone, and access to contraceptives has expanded. This expansion is important for all women, not just those women who use contraceptives for birth control.

My colleagues will share stories of women who have been put at risk by this budget. I would like to share the story of Julie, an Oregonian whose contraceptives are important to her health on a daily basis to treat endometriosis. Without contraceptives, Julie would suffer from extreme pain and the risk of infertility. Under the Republican budget, her access to this medication could be in jeopardy.

It is unconscionable to deny women access to treatments that can improve the quality of their lives, and I urge my colleagues to stand up for women and oppose the Republican budget.

Source