Monday, September 28, 2015

Politics in Action: H.R. 3495 & Senate Amendment 2689 to H.R. 719

 
STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
H.R. 3495 – Women’s Public Health and Safety Act
(Rep. Duffy, R-WI, and 16 cosponsors)

The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 3495 because it would restrict women's health and reproductive choices.

H.R. 3495 would permit a State Medicaid program to stop paying for any covered benefits provided to eligible individuals by qualified health care providers solely because those providers were involved in abortions.  Longstanding Federal policy already prohibits the use of Federal funds for abortions, except in cases of rape or incest or when the life of the woman would be endangered.  By permitting the withholding of Federal Medicaid funding for such providers, clinics, or hospitals, H.R. 3495 likely would limit access to both critical women's health services and health care throughout local communities across the Nation, and would have a disproportionate impact on women and low‑income individuals.  Moreover, it would undermine a woman's right, upheld by the Supreme Court, to make her own choices about her body and her health care.

If the President were presented with H.R. 3495, he would veto the bill.


Senate Amendment 2689 to H.R. 719 – Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016
(Sen. Cochran, R-MS) 

The Administration supports Senate passage of Senate Amendment 2689 to H.R. 719, making continuing appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2016, and for other purposes.  The Amendment allows critical Government functions to operate without interruption, providing a short-term bridge to give the Congress time to pass a budget for the remainder of the fiscal year.

The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress on FY 2016 appropriations legislation for the full year that reverses sequestration, preserves funding for critical national priorities, protects national security, and makes investments to maintain economic growth and job creation for years to come.

Source: The Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget

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