[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 1997

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, September 11, I 
missed the House vote applying the same the anti-choice Hyde amendment 
standard to health maintenance organizations as is currently applied to 
traditional fee-for-service arrangements between doctors and patients. 
Under the 20-year-old legislation, Medicaid money cannot pay for 
abortions except in cases of rape or incest or when the mother's life 
is at stake. The new language makes it clear that the ban also applies 
to Medicaid treatment through HMO's. During the time the vote was held, 
I was moderating a Congressional Black Caucus braintrust that I 
initiated on environmental justice. Let me be clear--had I been present 
on Thursday, I would have voted against this anti-choice amendment.

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