[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 142 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               H.R. 3495

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2015

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I voted against H.R. 3495, the so-called 
``Women's Public Health and Safety Act,'' which is just the latest 
attack on Planned Parenthood, an essential health service provider for 
70,000 women annually in Oregon and over 2.7 million women nationally.
  In my community, Planned Parenthood has provided compassionate and 
critical care for over 50 years and is a necessary part of our health 
care system. Planned Parenthood centers serve a greater share of 
safety-net contraceptive clients than any other type of safety-net 
providers. These clinics are more likely to make reproductive care 
accessible, and in a timely manner, to the women who need it most
  H.R. 3495 would not only deny critical health services for low-income 
women, but it would undermine the entire Medicaid program. The language 
is so broad and vague that it could result in whole hospital systems 
being denied Medicaid participation--further eroding low-income 
individuals' access to care.
  Under this bill, a state could remove any health professional that 
ever worked in a health care practice of any kind that at one point was 
involved in providing abortion. This assault on Medicaid will result in 
fewer providers to serve the 72 million low-income men, women, and 
children covered by the program.
  These attacks are appalling--they are built on misinformation and 
rhetoric and need to stop.

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