Congresswoman McCollum's Statement Opposing H.R. 358 and the Ongoing Republican War Against Women’s Health

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 358 and the on-going Republican war against women's health in America. This bill continues Congressional Republicans' extreme social agenda that jeopardizes women's health care.

This Congress has already debated similar legislation to prevent women from accessing their legal health care. H.R. 358 does nothing to create jobs, reduce our federal deficits, or make America safer. Instead, this legislation furthers a divisive agenda to impose unprecedented restrictions on a woman's ability to access and purchase health care for a legal medical procedure.

Contrary to what my colleagues have said today, H.R. 358 is not needed to ensure federal funding does not pay for abortions. Current federal law, including provisions included in the Affordable Care Act, already prohibits federal money from being used to pay for abortion services, except in the cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. Instead this bill is another attempt by the Republican majority to legislatively intimidate women with respect to their constitutional right to abortion services.

The unprecedented restrictions included in this bill would effectively end coverage of abortion-related services. Beginning in 2014, women and their families receiving federal subsidies would be prohibited from purchasing a health plan that includes abortion coverage within the Health Exchanges. This provision would leave millions of women without affordable health care options that meet all their health care needs.

Even more concerning is that this bill could jeopardize a woman's ability to receive emergency medical care as required under Emergency Medicare Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA; P.L. 99-272). This bill could allow a hospital to deny a woman abortion-care even when this legal medical procedure would save her life. H.R.358 does not protect life; rather it endangers the lives of America women.

Instead of this radical agenda, we should be focusing on policies that will improve the lives of women and girls, put Americans back to work, and advance our nation's economy. I encourage my colleagues to vote against this bill and keep safe, comprehensive reproductive care accessible to all Americans.

I yield back my time.