On the recordFebruary 28, 2012
as the majority leader is leaving the floor, I wish to say I am pleased he has decided to take us forward on this highway bill. So where do we stand? We are in a situation, here in the 21st century, where in order to move forward on a highway bill--a bill that funds our highways, our roads, our bridges, and our transit systems--in order to move forward on a jobs bill--where 2.8 million jobs are at stake in this great Nation--we have to have a vote on birth control. I want to say to my friends on the other side of the aisle, What are you thinking? But if this is what you want to do, fine. I want to make it clear to the people who are listening that the Blunt amendment would say that any insurance company and any employer for any reason could deny coverage to their employees. But it is not just about birth control; it is any service. Now, Mr. President, you serve proudly on the HELP Committee, and you were very instrumental in working through the essential services that are covered, the preventive services that are covered. It is very important that we note what those are. We have a list of the essential services and the preventive services, and what I am going to do is to read them. As I read them, I want people who are listening to this to think about whether these services are important, and to understand that under the Blunt amendment any one of these services can be denied by any employer, any insurance company, for any reason.…
