Political Quotes

“I oppose the DeWine amendment, which will curb the rights of women who work for the federal government to obtain abortion services through their health insurance. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment. Over one million women of reproductive age rely on the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for their medical coverage. This amendment will stop them from using their own insurance to exercise their right to choose an abortion. The exceptions in this ban are inadequate to protect the rights of women. Women who are employed by the Federal Government work hard. They pay for their health premiums out of their own pockets. They deserve the same, full range of reproductive health benefits as women who work in the private sector. The question is: Should female federal employees or their dependents be treated the same as other women in the work force, or should they be treated differently, singled out, with their rights taken away from them? In 1993 and 1994, Congress voted to permit federal employees to choose a health care plan that covered abortion. Unfortunately, this Republican Congress over-turned that right. This bill provides funding for the full range of health benefits through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. We should ensure that these benefits remain in the bill by opposing this amendment. Anti-choice forces are chipping away at the right of women in this country to obtain safe, legal abortions.”