Healthcare Prof:
5 (1 votes)
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who opposes abortion rights, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who supports abortion rights, as well as other House Democrats on Thursday at a press conference announced the introduction of legislation (HR 6067) that aims to decrease the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions, Copley/Canton Repository reports (Krawzak, Copley/Canton Repository, 9/15). The bill, known as the Reducing the Require for Abortions and Supporting Parents Act, would need states to cover contraceptives for females with incomes of up to 200% with the federal poverty level, the Chicago Tribune reports. The bill also would establish grants for sex education programs and would call for programs having a focus on abstinence to incorporate thorough instruction on contraceptives (Dorning, Chicago Tribune, 9/14). The bill, which consists of 20 initiatives, also would improve funding for wellness care for low-income females with youngsters, supply no-cost visits from nurses to teens and women who have given birth for the first time, expand a tax credit for adoption and fund child care services for parents in college, the Youngstown Vindicator reports.
Support, Opposition
“Solving problems often needs us to build new coalitions,” Ryan, a member with the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, stated, adding, “Democrats are united in our efforts to significantly lessen the number of abortions in America by broadening the stagnant political debate that too often accompanies this issue.” Based on Ryan Keating, a spokesperson for Ryan, no Republicans were asked to sponsor the bill. “It’s hard adequate to get Democrats on board with this,” Keating said (Skolnick, Youngstown Vindicator, 9/15). DeLauro said the 10 co-sponsors with the legislation, all of whom are Democrats, are “serious about addressing the problem of abortion head-on, although protecting the privacy of females and their families.” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the CPLC, stated the measure would “lead to much more abortions, not less” simply because the increased funding for contraception services would go to family planning clinics that offer abortion services at the same facility. In accordance with Copley/Repository, Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the Democratic co-chair of the CPLC, does not support the legislation. A spokesperson for Oberstar said the bill will not win the backing with the whole caucus, which consists of about 200 Republicans and 35 Democrats, simply because of the contraception provisions. Democrats for Life of America Executive Director Kristen Day said her group also doesn’t support the measure. Based on Day, the group helped develop the bill but withdrew its support due to the fact with the pregnancy prevention emphasis. “Our goal is to assist pregnant females,” Day said, adding that she thinks Ryan’s goal is “more prevention and contraception” (Copley/Canton Repository, 9/15). Day said that the group subsequent week will introduce its own bill that focuses far more on supporting ladies who are pregnant (Oravecz, Warren Tribune Chronicle, 9/15). According to CongressDaily, the co-sponsors with the bill at the news conference stated the bill is unlikely to reach the full House for a vote, but they hope to set up introduction of a similar bill subsequent year (CongresDaily, 9/14).
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