Nita Lowey: “I want to commend Chairman Istook and Ranking Member Hoyer for their hard work on this bill. I also want to thank…”

“I want to commend Chairman Istook and Ranking Member Hoyer for their hard work on this bill. I also want to thank members of the Appropriations Committee for supporting the reinstatement of my provision to provide contraceptive coverage to America's federal employees. This is a very important provision, and I am grateful that the vote to sustain this coverage was both bipartisan and strong. I am very proud to say that this provision, which gives 1.2 million federal employees of reproductive age access to contraception in their health plans, has been very, very successful. Since the provision's enactment, there have been no problems with implementation and no complaints received by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Let me repeat that--no plan, no provider, no beneficiary has contacted OPM with a concern or complaint about the contraceptive coverage provision. Before my provision was enacted, 81% of all FEHB plans did not cover the most commonly used types of prescription contraception. A full 10% covered no prescription contraception at all. Today, federal employees can choose the type of contraception best medically suited for them. My colleagues, let's remember why this is so very important. Contraception is a family issue, and it is basic health care for women. Although abortion rates are falling, today--still--nearly half of all pregnancies in America are unintended and half of those will end in abortion.”