Planned Parenthood Applauds Defeat of Nelson/Hatch Amendment

Anti-Choice Amendment Would Have Restricted Women’s Health Care Access

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) today applauded the defeat of the Nelson/Hatch amendment in the U.S. Senate. The Nelson/Hatch amendment mirrors the Stupak amendment to the House health care reform bill. The amendment would have placed a new restriction on women’s access to abortion coverage in the private health insurance market, effectively undermining the ability of millions of women to purchase private health insurance plans that cover abortion care, even if they pay for all of the premium with their own money.

“Planned Parenthood applauds members of the Senate for standing up for women’s health and women’s rights by defeating the Nelson/Hatch amendment,” said PPFA President Cecile Richards. “It’s clear that the Nelson/Hatch amendment would have gone far beyond the Hyde Amendment, and that’s why the Senate rejected it.  Ever since the Stupak abortion coverage ban was approved by the House, there has been growing outrage across the country.  Today’s vote makes it clear that the Nelson/Hatch amendment goes far beyond Hyde and would have restricted women’s access to health care.”

The current Senate bill contains compromise language on abortion that prohibits federal funding for abortion, while ensuring that women can use their own money to purchase private insurance that covers comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion.

“This vote is a positive step towards ensuring health care reform legislation moves forward without making women worse off after this process,” said Richards.

The U.S. Senate held a procedural vote, called a motion to table, on the Nelson/Hatch amendment. The motion to table passed 54–45, thus cutting off debate on the Nelson/Hatch amendment and defeating it.

Planned Parenthood will continue to work with its allies in Congress to pass health care reform and ensure that the final health reform legislation does not take benefits away from women.

Last week, Planned Parenthood and 60 other organizations, representing the Coalition to Pass Health Care Reform and Stop Stupak!, organized a DC Lobby Day attended by more than 1,000 supporters who traveled to DC to meet with their members of Congress and urge them to oppose Stupak-like language that would restrict women’s health care access.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.