[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 59 (Wednesday, May 4, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H3013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ABORTION COVERAGE

  (Mr. PETERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. PETERS. The people in Michigan are clear: Our number one priority 
is jobs. And yet the Republican majority here in Washington is once 
again ignoring the economy and pushing a bill that raises taxes and 
attacks women's health care choices. Current law already prohibits 
Federal funds from covering abortion services, and it has for 30 years. 
Now Republicans want to stop private insurers from offering coverage, 
and they want to ban women from purchasing a comprehensive health care 
plan with their own money.
  H.R. 3 is not about taxpayer funding, and it's certainly not about 
reducing the deficit. It is an extreme plan that will raise taxes on 
any person or business that buys insurance that includes abortion 
coverage. That's right, if a small business wants to treat women 
equally and guarantee them access to legal health care services--paid 
for with their own money--that business will pay higher taxes.
  Do not be fooled by the talk about taxpayer funding. This bill is 
harmful to women's health. It undermines the right to choose, and I 
urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill later today.

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