On the recordJuly 10, 2015
I am proud to join Congresswoman Lee and Congresswoman Clarke in offering this amendment. Our amendment would strike the policy riders that were added to the 21st Century Cures Act after it passed unanimously the Energy and Commerce Committee, 51-0. {time} 0945 Most notably, our amendment would remove the unnecessary addition of the Hyde amendment. The Hyde amendment is a discriminatory policy that denies millions of women the full range of healthcare choices, and it has no business being included in this legislation. It is time for us to stop using these bills as a way to discriminate against women. Going forward, as far as I am concerned, I will not support any bill that adds such language. It is time for us to stop taking away health services from low-income women, from women serving in the military, from Federal employees, and from every woman who relies on the Federal Government for her health insurance. All women, regardless of their incomes and what insurance they have, deserve to make their own health choices. This harmful provision is unrelated to the goals of this otherwise bipartisan landmark legislation, and I ask that Members vote in favor of our amendment.
