Carolyn Maloney: “Thank you. I rise in support of the President's action and Secretary Sebelius' action in the Department of Health and…”

“Thank you. I rise in support of the President's action and Secretary Sebelius' action in the Department of Health and Human Services to allow the birth control benefit for working women across this country. This birth control benefit increases access to preventative health care while respecting religious freedom. This is accepted practice in 28 States--28 States that require insurers that cover prescription drugs to provide coverage of the full range of FDA-approved contraception drugs. Taking this benefit away would be devastating for millions of workers. Women's access to care is absolutely on the line, and they have turned it into a religious versus reproductive freedom debate. Birth control is medication prescribed for women's health, plain and simple. It is not radical. As I said, 28 States already supply it, and roughly 99 percent of women use birth control at some point in their lives; but the only way they can use it is if they can get it, so the right to choose is absolutely meaningless without the means and access to choice. The President's thoughtful decision allows insurance companies to cover contraceptives. It does not in any way interfere with one's religious beliefs or the beliefs of the church. It does not force anyone to use them, and it certainly does not require anyone--churches or anyone else--to cover them.…”