No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2014

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 7, the deceivingly titled ``No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.'' Let's be clear, federal policy--including the Affordable Care Act--already prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions, except in the cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.

The bill on the floor today would dramatically restrict the freedom of women to use their own money to purchase health insurance that covers reproductive health services including abortion. Under the bill, women and families would be denied access to tax credits to purchase any health plan in the health insurance Marketplaces that includes abortion services even if they use their own money to pay for coverage for those services. Additionally, the bill would deny small business owners tax credits if they offer coverage that includes abortion to their employees even though large employers can still offer such tax exempt coverage. Under this bill, millions of American women would be denied access to comprehensive reproductive health care--whether they purchase insurance in the Marketplaces or receive it through their employers.

Madam Speaker, a woman's right to choose her own health care is fundamental and today's bill is a direct attack on that right. This bill was a mistake the first time it was proposed, and it remains a mistake today. I urge my colleagues to reject this assault on women and instead I urge House Republicans to focus on extending unemployment insurance for millions of Americans who are out of work through no fault of their own.

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