NEWS & LETTERS, December 2009
Down with Stupak/Pitts amendment!
Memphis, Tenn.--On Oct. 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act with the addition of the Stupak/Pitts amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds "to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion." This means that if the insurance company receives federal funds, a woman cannot buy insurance that covers abortion (which is currently covered by 85% of all insurance plans) even with her own money. Even if she has insurance that currently covers abortion, she will lose that abortion coverage if the insurance company makes the decision to receive federal funds.
As always, the majority who will be harmed are poor women who will not be able to pay for abortions out of pocket. Waiting to come up with the money will lead to more abortions performed later in pregnancy when it is more dangerous for the woman.
This amendment has no requirement for insurance plans to cover birth control or the components of a reproductive health exam such as sexually transmitted infection counseling, domestic violence counseling, pelvic exams or pap tests. Plans are also not required to cover maternity or newborn care, pediatric dental and vision services, or substance abuse counseling.
Loretta Ross, National Coordinator of Sistersong Reproductive Health Collective, stated, "Health care is not an option, not a privilege but a human right," and the Stupak/Pitts amendment legislates "a loss and injury to the human rights of women."
The religious right is celebrating the amendment as a potential "nail in the eventual coffin" of Roe v. Wade. The religious right has been grooming its followers to become political leaders who follow their ideology instead of listening to their constituents.
On the day the House voted on the amendment, Sistersong rallied hundreds of protesters in Washington, D.C., 70% of whom made advocacy visits to their representatives. Many are considering another March for Women's Lives in Washington D.C. like the one in 2004 in which over a million demonstrated.
--Adele
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