Nadler’s Statement Opposing the Anti-Choice Stupak Amendment Share on Facebook Share on X Print this Page Share by Email Washington, DC, November 7, 2009 Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), a leading proponent of women’s reproductive rights and the Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, opposed the discriminatory Stupak Amendment to the Affordable Health Care for America Act.  The Stupak Amendment would limit access to reproductive health care. “The Stupak amendment requires women to plan for unplanned pregnancy,” said Nadler.  “This defies logic and is absurd,” continued Nadler. “This is a bill to extend health care to all Americans.  It should not be used as a political football to change existing law regarding abortion coverage.” The following is the text of Nadler’s floor statement: “Madam Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Stupak amendment.  “The bill before us is historic.  Not only will it bring health care coverage to millions of Americans, it contains critical provisions that support women’s health by ending domestic violence as a preexisting condition, eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for prevention services including mammograms, prohibiting plans from charging women more for health coverage than men, and guaranteeing coverage for maternity care. “Despite the significant efforts made by the underlying bill to level the playing field for women and ending discrimination against them in the health insurance market, this amendment seeks to add a new discriminatory measure against women seeking health insurance coverage.  Under the Stupak proposal, if a woman is of low- or moderate income and receives assistance to afford the premiums for a health plan she purchases through the Exchange, she cannot choose a plan that covers abortion services.  And if a woman chooses the public option, she cannot receive abortion coverage – even if she pays for the plan entirely by herself.  “The Stupak amendment says to women – if you think you might have an unintended pregnancy, you should purchase separate insurance.  Put another way, this amendment requires women to plan that they will encounter an unplanned pregnancy.  This defies logic and is absurd. “The compromise provision inserted in the underlying bill by my colleague, Rep. Capps, extends the Hyde Amendment in current law by ensuring that no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions.  It ensures that each woman can purchase the amount and type of coverage she believes is appropriate without discriminating against her because of her income level.  “This is a bill to extend health care to all Americans.  It should not be used as a political football to change existing law regarding abortion coverage.    “Madam Chairman, I reiterate my opposition to this discriminatory amendment and ask my colleagues to vote NO.”