[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 15 (Monday, January 30, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E103-E104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




NO TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR ABORTION AND ABORTION INSURANCE FULL DISCLOSURE 
                              ACT OF 2017

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 24, 2017

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 7, a 
bill that makes it harder for women to access comprehensive 
reproductive health care, including safe and legal abortion. It is 
outrageous that, in 2017, women still have to fight for our right to 
make basic health care decisions.
  Under the Hyde and Helms Amendments, no federal dollars fund 
abortion. H.R. 7 would codify these unjust limitations and in fact goes 
much further by restricting women's access to comprehensive health care 
even when no federal funding is involved.
  Most egregiously, H.R. 7 provides no exception for abortion in cases 
where a woman's health is at risk. By providing no ``health of the 
mother'' exception, this legislation callously disregards the well-
being of American women.
  H.R. 7 makes it impossible for women, especially low and moderate-
income women, to access comprehensive health care on Healthcare.gov or 
state insurance exchanges.

[[Page E104]]

This would deny access to safe and legal abortion to American women.
  This legislation prevents women serving our country in the military 
from receiving comprehensive health care through their military or 
veterans' health care.
  H.R. 7 punishes small business owners who offer comprehensive health 
care to their female employees, even when it comes entirely from 
private funds.
  Finally, this legislation directly attacks the rights of women in the 
District of Columbia by making it harder for them to access safe and 
legal abortion.
  Every woman should be able to make her own decision about her health 
care without interference from either the government or her employer. 
Regardless of her income or her insurance policy, each woman should be 
able to access quality health care services that are right for her and 
her family.
  Instead of restricting access to critical health services and 
threatening the health and economic security of women and families, 
President Trump and Congressional Republicans should be supporting 
affordable, quality health care as a basic right for all Americans.
  This past weekend, I stood with millions of women across the United 
States, including 100,000 in Minnesota, marching to demand our voices 
be heard and our health care be protected. My constituents can count on 
me to keep standing up and speaking out against President Trump and 
Republicans' attacks on women's rights and women's health.

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