Rep. Karen Bass (D-Culver City) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this week in opposition to H.R. 3, a bill she described as “anti-woman and anti-choice that places unprecedented restrictions on women’s access to health care.”
According OpenCongress, a non-partisan nonprofit organization, “The bill would make permanent and expand the Hyde amendment restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortions. It seeks to prohibit even indirect funding streams that may potentially come in contact with abortion services. For example, it would deny tax credits to companies that offer health plans that cover abortions and it would block anybody with insurance that covers abortions from receiving federal subsidies or medical cost tax deductions, even if the abortion portion is paid separately with personal funds. Women who use tax-free Medical Savings Accounts would have to pay taxes on the costs of abortions.”
“I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3,” Bass said. “After voting last month to end Medicare as we know it for seniors, today the [Republican] majority is attacking women’s reproductive freedom. For the last three months we have watched as the majority party has consistently attacked the right of women to receive comprehensive health care and today is no different.
“H.R. 3 has outrageous provisions that would end comprehensive private health insurance coverage and reduce women’s access to abortion care in many ways.
“H.R. 3 manipulates the tax code to restrict access to comprehensive care. The bill raises taxes on individuals and small businesses with insurance plans that cover abortion, forcing them to drop their health insurance plans.
“H.R. 3 is an unprecedented attempt to deny access to full reproductive care. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this radical anti-choice bill.”
A pro-choice group estimated that 13.5 million women who receive health coverage through Medicaid and other government-sponsored programs would permanently lose access to abortion coverage if the measure passes.
On Wednesday, every House Republican and 16 Democrats voted to pass the bill, which will now go to the Senate for a vote.
