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Volume XIV, Number 43 / May 21, 1999
CONTACT MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
Urge them to co-sponsor the Equity in Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Equity (EPICC) bill.
CONTACT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE
Urge them to support contraceptive equity for federal workers. Also ask them to support military women and dependants, assuring that they have the same rights and access to services available to their counterparts in civilian life.
Important Dates
July 3-11
July 4th recess
Plan now to meet with members while they are home.
Legislative Highlights of the Week
Moving Toward the Responsible Choices Agenda
Goal: Increase services that prevent unintended pregnancy — by guaranteeing equity in insurance coverage for family planning.
Contraceptive Equity Wins Big In New England
Treasury/Postal Bill Delayed
Full Appropriations Committee consideration of the Treasury/Postal/General Government Appropriations bill was delayed over the issue of gun control. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), ranking member of the Treasury/Postal Service and General Government Subcommittee had said early in the week that he intended to attach gun control provisions to the bill. Then, on May 19, just before the full committee was set to mark up the bill, another school shooting took place, this time in Georgia. At that point, the House leadership decided to pull the bill until after the Memorial Day recess.
The bill contains last year’s language requiring insurance plans that participate in the Federal Employees’ Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) to provide coverage for contraceptive drugs and devices in the same manner that they cover other prescription drugs and devices. It also contains the provision prohibiting these insurance plans from covering abortions except in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest.
The delay provides an opportunity to continue contacting pro-family planning members of the House Appropriations Committee to encourage them to support the contraceptive coverage provision. Pro-choice members of the committee also should be urged to support an amendment that Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is expected to offer to remove the restriction on abortion coverage in FEHBP insurance plans.
House Armed Services Committee Rescinds Access To Abortion And Further Assaults Rape Victims
On May 19th the House Armed Services Committee voted 33-25 to reinstate the ban on abortions in overseas military medical facilities. Last week the Military Personnel Subcommittee had approved an amendment offered by Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) to lift the ban on military personnel and families stationed overseas obtaining abortions with their own funds at military facilities. Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) offered the amendment in full committee to reverse this decision.
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) then offered an amendment to reverse the subcommittee decision to allow military personnel to obtain abortions in cases of rape or incest. It failed by a vote of 25-29. In subcommittee, Rep. Steven Kuykendall successfully argued for the inclusion of the rape and incest exceptions so that military personnel and dependents would have the same rights as others who rely on public funds for abortion services. Bartlett said, "How in God’s earth can a woman’s access to reproductive health care be equated with killing babies."
During the debate, Bartlett produced a hand-written letter from Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) in which he encouraged Bartlett to push for the removal of the rape and incest protection. Hyde’s letter said that he had never wanted rape and incest to be included in the Hyde amendment in the first place.
"Dear Roscoe:
I have always opposed the `rape and incest’ exception
to the Hyde Amendment because it still kills an innocent life, despite the
criminal act of the agressor [sic].
We have had to accept this
broadened exception in the Hyde Amendment, but I do not support any
taxpayer funding of abortion except when the claim to life is equal, i.e.
to save the life of the mother.
Thanks for your
concern.
Henry Hyde"
During a heated debate on this amendment, it was determined that it would eliminate coverage of statutory rape, since, Buyer maintained, statutory rape could be consensual, and, therefore, wasn’t deserving of coverage. It was not determined during the debate whether or not the woman would have to provide written proof to the clinic that she had notified the police and how "forcible rape" differed from "rape."
During the debate, Rep. Vic Snyder (D-AR) told the committee to take note that all the women on the committee, regardless of their party, opposed limiting access to abortion. "As men," he said, "we can’t imagine what it would be like to be raped and pregnant. I’m a family doctor. I’ve seen many raped women who think they’re responsible for being raped. If a woman wants an abortion after being raped, what are we saying to her when we tell her that she’s … responsible for the bill because she didn’t go to the police?"
Rep. Ciro Rodriquez (D-TX) said, "I am offended by this amendment. The whole premise of the amendment is that people are liars and it displays an insensitivity to people who have already been victimized."
Among the members who spoke in support of women and their right to make decisions without their honesty being questioned were Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Tom Allen (D-ME), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Tillie Fowler (R-FL), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Steve Kuykendall (R-CA), James Maloney (D-CT), Mary Meehan (D-MA), Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Vic Snyder (D-AR), and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA). These members should be thanked for their support.
IN THE STATES - State Legislative Update
Contraceptive Equity Wins Big In New England
In Connecticut, the contraceptive equity bill passed the Senate by a vote of 32-3. Last week it passed overwhelmingly in the House and the governor is expected to sign it. A contraceptive equity bill also has been approved in Vermont and the governor is expected to sign it.
A bill also passed in the Maine legislature. It was approved in the House by a better than 2-1 margin and by unanimous acclimation by the Senate. Gov. Angus King (I), after first saying he was considering a veto, reversed himself and has announced that he is likely to sign the bill within the week.
Connecticut Defeats So-Called "Partial Birth" Abortion Ban
On May 20th, the Connecticut Senate voted 26-10 to defeat a ban on so-called "partial birth" abortions. According to Susan Yolen, director of public affairs of PP of Connecticut, the nine women senators took turns telling their male counterparts that they will never know the joys or tragedies of pregnancy, and thus should not have the right to curtail a woman’s choice or a doctor’s decision about a medical procedure. Other senators noted that the 1990 law banning post-viability abortions except in cases of life or health endangerment made this current proposal unnecessary.
Earlier, the House also convincingly defeated a so-called "partial birth" abortion ban, ending the debate for this year.
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