Women's rights

“Without Proper Coverage, These Women Will Be Forced to Return to Dangerous Back Alley Providers”

November 16, 2009 -- New York, NY - With the U.S. Senate set to begin debate on health care reform this week, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was joined today by dozens of women leaders to protest Michigan Democratic Representative Bart Stupak's amendment which passed the House of Representatives this month and would deny millions of women access to reproductive care.    » read more »

On the heels of a last-minute anti-abortion provision inserted into the U.S. House of Representatives health reform bill, several U.S. Senators have expressed concern about the Stupak amendment.

Planned Parenthood strongly opposes the Stupak amendment. It is an unacceptable addition to the health care reform bill that, if enacted, would result in women losing health benefits they have today.    » read more »

There has been much discussion about what the “real-life” impact of the Stupak-Pitts amendment would be on women’s access to abortion care. The following is an explanation of what this provision will mean to women, if it is enacted. Essentially, the amendment violates the underlying principle of health care reform, as articulated by President Obama, that no one will lose the benefits they currently have.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- On the heels of a last-minute anti-abortion provision inserted into the U.S. House of Representatives health reform bill, newspaper editorials from across the country have echoed Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s opposition to the Stupak amendment and have called on the Senate to reject the Stupak amendment.

Planned Parenthood strongly opposes the Stupak amendment. It is an unacceptable addition to the health care reform bill that, if enacted, would result in women losing health benefits they have today.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC -- November 10, 2009 – Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, released the following statement committing herself to vote against health care reform that erodes a woman’s right to choose. As a co-chair of the Congressional Women’s Caucus and member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Rep. Schakowsky has fought to expand women’s rights and improve health care for all women. Rep. Schakowsky has added her name to letters that are being sent to the President and the Speaker, plainly establishing her position.    » read more »

Stupak-Pitts Amendment Effectively Bans Abortion Coverage in All Plans in the Exchange, including the Public Health Insurance Options and All Private Health Insurance Plans

10 November 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado and U.S. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, today sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting a meeting to discuss reproductive health in health care reform and ensure the rights of all women are protected. The letter is signed by a total of 90 Pro-Choice Members of Congress and seeks a meeting with President Obama at the earliest possible date.    » read more »

Lawmaker calls it “an outright assault on my constitutional rights”

November 7, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, issued the following statement decrying an anti-choice amendment to HR 3962 – the Affordable Health Care for America Act – offered by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI).

Harman’s statement follows below.

It is going to be very difficult for me to vote for a health care bill that contains the Stupak amendment on abortion.    » read more »

November 07, 2009 -- "Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Stupak/Pitts amendment which plainly discriminates against women, puts women’s health at risk, and marks an unprecedented restriction on people who pay for their own health insurance.    » read more »

Amendment Further Restricts Women's Access to Reproductive Healthcare

November 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) will take to the House floor to speak in strong opposition to the Stupak amendment which would restrict women’s access to abortion services. The Stupak amendment also significantly departs from the status quo of federal policy related to abortion coverage and undermines efforts to maintain the principle of abortion neutrality in comprehensive health insurance reform legislation.    » read more »

Sánchez Works to Make Similar Federal Law

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA), applauded California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing state legislation into law to end gender discrimination in health insurance premiums. The new law will prevent health insurers from charging men and women different rates for the same health insurance policies in the individual market.    » read more »

As Prepared

June 23, 2009 -- "I thank Senator Menendez and Senator Schumer for their outstanding statements to the Senate today. As I review Judge Sotomayor’s record in preparation for her confirmation hearing on July 13, I am struck by her extraordinary career and how she has excelled at everything she has done. I know how proud her mother Celina is of her accomplishments.    » read more »

"Senators were urged to eliminate references to reproductive health"

June 18, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) - Following the recent tragic shooting death of Dr. George Tiller, a reproductive health care provider in Kansas, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) authored a non-controversial resolution condemning the use of violence against providers of women's health care services.

The resolution faced objection by some colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and the Senators were urged to eliminate references to women's reproductive health care in order to unanimously pass the resolution. Shaheen, Boxer, and Klobuchar introduced their original resolution, which was co-sponsored by an additional 43 Senators.    » read more »

Senator Impressed with Judge's Personal and Professional Experience

June 10, 2009 -- Washington – Senator Kent Conrad left his meeting today with Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor saying he was impressed with the federal judge’s vast experience and background.

“I had a productive meeting with Judge Sotomayor and learned more about her background and how she would interpret the Constitution,” Senator Conrad said after the one-on-one meeting. “We need justices who will impartially interpret the law and the Constitution and also possess a record of sound judgment.”    » read more »

National Law Enforcement Organizations Endorse Judge Sonia Sotomayor For The United States Supreme Court

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Vice President Joe Biden was joined today by representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, who together announced their support for and endorsement of Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the United States Supreme Court.

With these endorsements, law enforcement organizations from around the country stand firmly behind Judge Sotomayor’s nomination. These groups know her record on crime: as a prosecutor and then on the federal bench, Judge Sotomayor has always been both fair and tough, and has followed the rule of law at every turn.    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen made the following statement today after meeting with Judge Sonia Sotomayor:

"In my meeting today with Judge Sonia Sotomayor, she told me that coming from New York, working as a prosecutor and later as a federal judge, you've got to be tough. And she showed that toughness today by keeping our meeting despite fracturing her foot this morning.

"Throughout the meeting, I was greatly impressed with Judge Sotomayor. I already knew that she was intelligent and independent. I now know that she is also warm and engaging, and I found her to be very down to earth.    » read more »