Todd Tiahrt: “Madam Speaker, I want to rise today to support the rule and also to speak briefly about an amendment that I will offer…”

“Madam Speaker, I want to rise today to support the rule and also to speak briefly about an amendment that I will offer to strike an amendment that was brought up in the full Committee on Appropriations last week and passed by a very narrow margin, a 28-to-26 vote. The result of this amendment is that we are going to impose a Federal mandate on all insurance companies that contract with the Federal Employees Health Benefits. This Federal mandate that is now going to be imposed on health care coverage will cover all prescription contraceptive devices that are FDA approved. This coverage is already available as an option for health care coverage for government workers, but today this bill mandates coverage which includes the following FDA approved drugs and devices: The pill, diaphragm, IUDs, Norplant, Depo-Provera and the Morning-After abortion bill. And some day it could include the latest abortion pill, RU-486. Madam Speaker, it is important that Members understand that my amendment will not deny any Federal employee the opportunity to receive a full range of contraceptive devices currently allowed by the FDA. All my amendment will do is allow the Federal employees to continue the freedom that they now enjoy to choose the type of coverage that best meets their family's needs.”