On the recordMarch 1, 2012
I want to, since he is on the floor, recognize the Senator from Utah and his extraordinary service in the U.S. Senate. We do not agree on this issue, but he has done a tremendous job for the people of Utah over many years. I rise to talk a little bit about the amendment we are considering that would allow all employers and insurers to deny coverage, particularly for women, on any health care procedure or service they object to--not the women, but the employers and the insurance companies--on moral or religious grounds. The first thing I want to do--and I have not been around here a long time, but I want to first observe in what context we are discussing and debating this amendment. We have devoted extensive floor time on this amendment about contraception and the lack of coverage for women's health care in the context of a job-creation bill, in the context of the Transportation bill. This is the bill I hold in my hand. This is the bill that is on the floor of the U.S. Senate right now. The title says: A bill (S. 1813) to reauthorize Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs, and for other purposes. I would have thought those ``other purposes'' would be related to transportation, transit, to job creation in the United States. I do not think the ``other purposes'' that are talked about in this bill have anything to do with contraception or women's health.…
