Action Alert: Thank Speaker Pelosi for Her Leadership on Healthcare Reform

Kelly Castagnaro — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:49:01 +0000

Three years ago, Nancy Pelosi made history when she was elected the first female speaker of the House. On Sunday night, the highest-ranking woman in Congress made history again by helping to negotiate the passage of health care overhaul legislation.

While abortion remained a contentious—and compromised—health care issue throughout the debate, this vote was a good step in the right direction: health care access will eventually be extended to more than 30 million Americans currently without quality, affordable health care, many of whom are women.

With women representing only 17% of Congress, Speaker Pelosi’s achievements as a legislator and a leader are noteworthy, and should pave the way for ensuring that more women are included in the political process. Her leadership was essential in moving Congress to move forward on an issue that has been stuck in the quagmire for decades. Click here to send a note to Speaker Pelosi thanking her for her persistence in pushing for health care reform. Use the text below or write your own message.

Dear Speaker Pelosi,

Thank you for your leadership and tenacity in pushing for health care reform. While the legislation does not contain all the provisions necessary for American women, it takes us forward towards quality, comprehensive coverage for all.

As the first female speaker of the House, you have made history both as a leader and a legislator. Your success in the political arena will surely pave the way for other young women aspiring to careers in politics.

Sincerely,

XXXX

Abortion Access Dealt Major Blow in Health Insurance Reform Bill

Ellen Marshall — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:31:23 +0000

In an unprecedented and devastating blow to abortion access in the United States, the House soundly approved (240-194) an amendment to the health care insurance reform bill that basically ensures that all women obtaining insurance through the new insurance exchange will not have coverage for an abortion procedure. The impact of the provision lobbied for by the Catholic Bishops goes far beyond the long-standing (and harmful) Hyde amendment which denies federal funding for most abortions since 1976, effectively eliminating the possibility of abortion coverage in an insurance policy. This vile provision starts with blocking any women who receive a subsidy to help purchase insurance from buying an insurance plan that would provide abortion services if she needed that care. The ripple effect is that plans which previously did cover abortion services would not do so, so that they still have the potential of gaining the new customers that are receiving the new subsidy. But further, that means that anyone who previously privately paid for that plan will find that it no longer covers abortion services. This amendment – spearheaded by anti-choice Democrat Bart Stupak – is the most far reaching limitation on abortion access to occur in a generation.

While there are many more steps in the health care insurance reform debate in the Congress – especially since the final bill only had a 5 vote margin of victory in the House and the Senate is struggling through various proposals – it will be an uphill climb to pass anything by both houses that does not include the damaging Stupak amendment.

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Action Alert: Thank Speaker Pelosi for Her Leadership on Healthcare Reform

Abortion Access Dealt Major Blow in Health Insurance Reform Bill