Sara Jacobs: “I thank Ranking Member Pallone for his leadership on this issue and for yielding me time. Vaccinating healthcare workers…”

“I thank Ranking Member Pallone for his leadership on this issue and for yielding me time. Vaccinating healthcare workers against COVID-19 is a simple and effective way to save lives. It helped protect our healthcare workers and the most vulnerable from serious illness, hospitalization, and death. It has prevented our healthcare workforce shortage from getting worse by keeping our workers healthy and able to continue their essential work. H.R. 497 is nonsense and would expose patients to unnecessary risk, all because Republicans are trying to score political points. That is why my motion to recommit would strike this bill and insert the Women's Health Protection Act, legislation that would actually keep the American people safe and healthy. Since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion access, 24 States have banned abortion or are likely to do so. Without Roe, Americans are now facing a confusing patchwork of State laws dictating who can make decisions about their healthcare and when. Without Roe, State governments are forcing pregnancy on people. Maternal and infant healthcare outcomes are worsening. It is harder for people to access medications to treat arthritis, cancer, lupus, and more, all because they are also used for medical abortion. This is deeply personal for me. As a 33-year-old woman, reproductive healthcare is my healthcare, as it is for millions of Americans.…”