Congress Blocks D.C. Abortion Ban in Spending Bill
For Immediate Release: July 8, 2019
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives voted 224-196 to pass a spending bill that survived Republican efforts to include a provision to block District of Columbia residents with low incomes from accessing safe, legal abortion. The provision has been included in previous spending bills and in current law, and the fact that the House FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill expands access to safe, legal abortion is in part due to the historic number of reproductive health champions in Congress. Unfortunately, the bill retains language in current law that prohibits federal employees and their dependents from purchasing insurance plans that cover abortion services.
Statement of Dr. Leana Wen, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
Our reproductive health care champions in the House of Representatives reaffirmed that reproductive health care is a fundamental human right for all people. Every person in every community has the right to access the health care they need including safe, legal, abortion care. Planned Parenthood looks forward to continuing to work alongside partners in Congress to promote policies that expand access to reproductive health care for all people—no matter where they live or how much money they make.
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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 600 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.