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, issued the following statement on Rep. Stupak’s blatantly discriminatory amendment – which would restrict women’s access to reproductive health care – to the Affordable Health Care for America Act:

“I rise to voice my continued opposition to the Stupak Amendment to the health insurance reform bill.

“The Stupak amendment does not simply extend the Hyde Amendment, as its supporters claim. It creates a new burden on women seeking access to legal health services. The Stupak amendment says to millions of women – if you think you might have an unintended pregnancy, you should purchase separate insurance. In effect, this amendment requires a woman to plan that she will have an unplanned pregnancy. This is absurd and completely defies logic.

“The Stupak Amendment has nothing to do with preserving current law. It has everything to do with derailing the health insurance reform efforts at the expense of women’s health.

“I applaud my colleagues in the Senate who last night beat back the Nelson Amendment, a virtual carbon copy of the Stupak Amendment.

“But our work is not done. We simply must stop using women’s health for political points and we must ensure that this dangerous provision is not included in the final health bill.”