Rep. Quigley Issues Statement on Partisan Legislation Attacking Reproductive Rights

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, issued the following statement in opposition to the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act (H.R. 7):

"Once again, Republican leaders are showing how out of touch they are with the American people. Two days after the 44th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, three days after millions of women joined around the world in support of reproductive rights, and just four days after President Trump was sworn into office, my colleagues across the aisle have chosen to focus their attention on attacking abortion access.

"H.R.7 is dangerous, all-encompassing legislation that punishes women by making abortion coverage bans permanent law. I will continue to challenge these partisan actions to ensure women are free from government interference and have the right to make the private health and family planning decisions that work best for them."

The deceptively named No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017 codifies the Hyde Amendment, the Helms Amendment and the D.C. abortion ban; places a permanent ban on abortion coverage for federal employees; restricts abortion care on the ACA exchanges; and bans abortion coverage for military women overseas. H.R. 7 also goes so far as to deny marketplace insurance tax credits to small businesses for private plans that provide abortion coverage in an unprecedented move to jeopardize women's constitutional right to choice.

As a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Rep. Quigley was proud to stand alongside advocates for choice as the Supreme Court heard arguments in 2016's Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, arguably the most important abortion case in decades. As attacks on abortion and reproductive services have seen sharp increases in recent years, Rep. Quigley has helped introduce the Women's Health Protection Act, pushed for passage of the EACH Woman Act, and joined his colleagues in calling for an end to the Hyde Amendment that prevents federal funding for abortion. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, he also pushed for increased funding for the Title X program and Planned Parenthood, and defended the United Nations Population Fund from harmful and misguided funding cuts.

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