Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene sharply criticized a Republican-led bill that would take away premium tax credits from millions of hard-working, middle class Americans if their plan covers comprehensive women’s health, including abortion services. 

During a House Ways and Means Committee markup, DelBene offered an amendment to strike down language prohibiting premium tax credits for health plans that cover abortion services. Her amendment is in response to H.R. 6311, introduced by Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL). DelBene’s remarks can be viewed here.

“In Washington state, all health plans are required to cover comprehensive women’s health services – including abortion. Because of the way this bill is written, no one in my state would be eligible for premium tax credits. 116,000 people in Washington state would have their premium subsidies taken away. New York, California and Oregon residents would all lose premium tax credits if this bill becomes law.”

DelBene added, “The premier committee of the House of Representatives, is again wasting its time on partisan, ideological attacks on women’s health. It is sad how far House Republicans are willing to go – making health insurance more expensive for millions of middle class families – just to get between a woman and her doctor.” 

DelBene was an appointed member of Republicans’ Select Panel to Attack Women’s Health, which was established to investigate Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers after doctored videos were released from a group of anti-choice extremists. In her role on the Select Panel, DelBene fought to protect women’s access to healthcare and safeguard the privacy and safety of doctors, patients, researchers and medical students across the country.