Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today delivered the following remarks on the House floor, voicing her opposition to legislation that would create sweeping restrictions on reproductive health services for women across the country. The vote on H.R. 7 comes the same week as the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and just days after millions marched to tell lawmakers to protect and respect women’s rights. DelBene’s speech, as prepared for delivery, is below:

“This weekend, millions of women marched across the country to send a clear signal to Congress and President Trump: Hear our voices. Protect our rights. Yet here we are, just two days later, voting on the same extremist policies that House leaders have been pushing for years.

“Women will not be fooled. We know H.R. 7 is another direct attack on our health and our families. It creates sweeping new restrictions on abortion care for women who purchase coverage under the Affordable Care Act, with are no meaningful exceptions to protect a woman’s health. That means women like Stephanie from my District, who faced heartbreaking complications during her wanted pregnancy, would be left without coverage for the doctor-recommended care she needs.

“It’s horrifying. We should not be injecting ideology into a woman’s personal medical decisions. This bill is an insult to the millions of women who marched this weekend, and I urge my colleagues to vote no.”

Video of the floor speech can be found HERE.

H.R. 7 would deny tax credits to women if health insurance they purchase through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes abortion coverage — despite existing requirements that such coverage be financed with non-federal funds. It would also create burdensome new regulatory requirements that could lead insurers to drop abortion coverage from plans altogether. This is the fourth time the Republican-controlled House has voted on the measure.

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