Today, Congresswomen Suzanne Bonamici, Barbara Lee (CA-13), and Diana DeGette (CO-01) introduced H.R.3652, the 21st Century Women’s Health Act. The bill is companion legislation to S. 674, introduced by Senator Patty Murray earlier this year. This comprehensive bill will break down outdated barriers and provide affordable, accessible reproductive health care to women of all economic backgrounds.
The 21st Century Women’s Health Act will: increase access to preventive health services, including contraceptive care, for low-income women; expand the primary care workforce; provide survivors of sexual assault with compassionate care, including free emergency contraception; and examine the effects of efforts to limit access to care on women’s overall health and security.
“Women have the right to make their own health care decisions, and they need to have access to a full range of reproductive health care services,” Congresswoman Bonamici said. “While the House of Representatives attempts to defund Planned Parenthood and roll back women’s rights, I’m proud to introduce the 21st Century Women’s Health Act to increase access to vital, compassionate health care services. We must move forward, not backward, for Oregonians and Americans.”
“This critical legislation builds upon the Affordable Care Act and expands comprehensive health care to all women – no matter how they are insured or where they live,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “In the face of unprecedented attacks on women’s healthcare access, we need comprehensive legislation to ensure care equity for all. By providing full access to contraceptive coverage, improving access to maternity coverage, ensuring survivors of sexual assault have compassionate care, and studying the effects of new anti-choice laws, the 21st Century Women’s Health Act would modernize and strengthen health care for women and families across the country.”
“Women in this country deserve better than another wave of right wing attacks on their access to health care,” said Congresswoman DeGette. “I am proud to join with my colleagues and fight to ensure women of all income levels and means of insurance can receive the care they need. It is time Republican extremists in the House stop their war on reproductive health care and work with us toward a healthier future for all women.”
“As Republicans double down on their record of trying to turn back the clock on women’s health and rights, it’s more important than ever that those of us who want to see women’s health move forward keep fighting for progress,” said Senator Murray. “The 21stCentury Women’s Health Act lays out important ways we can and should move forward on women’s health, from maternity care, to preventive health services, to continuing to expand access to birth control, to ensuring survivors of rape have access to emergency contraception in every hospital. I’m proud to partner with Congresswomen Bonamici, Lee, and DeGette to continue fighting for the 21st Century Women’s Health Act and the rights of women across the country.”
“We applaud Rep. Bonamici for the introduction of the 21st Century Women’s Health Act in Congress today. It is refreshing to see pro-women's health leaders offer a bill that not only brings women into the 21st century — it launches us forward,” said Cecile Richards, president, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “At Planned Parenthood, we’ve seen the progress that comes when women can make their own health care decisions, without politicians standing in the way. Together, through this bill and other efforts, we will keep working to ensure that women across the country have the information and access they need to make decisions about their health care and their futures.”
“This badly needed legislation would expand women’s access to preventive care and help ensure that more women can control their reproductive health and make their own health care decisions,” said Debra L. Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “At this time when women’s health is under relentless attack, the 21st Century Women’s Health Act would expand access to reproductive health care, improve maternal safety and the quality of care, enhance services for survivors of rape, help women report inappropriate charges for health services, and increase awareness about women’s preventive services. We thank Congresswoman Bonamici for championing this vitally important bill.”
“It is time for Congress to strengthen – not obstruct – women’s access to health care, and the 21st Century Women’s Health Act does just that. The bill takes a number of important steps to advance women’s health and wellbeing. Access to health care, including reproductive health care, is critical to the health and economic security of women and their families,” said Gretchen Borchelt, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights at the National Women’s Law Center.
Congresswoman Bonamici’s remarks on the introduction of the bill can be viewed here and a summary of the legislation can be found here.
