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PRESS STATEMENT: Reproductive Health Professionals Applaud the Senate for Defeating the Abortion-Restriction Language in Health Care Reform Bill
ARHP leaders call on Congress to focus on health care reform for all and keep abortion-restriction language out of the conference committee report
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC—The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), representing more than 12,000 reproductive health care providers, researchers, and educators, announced today its support of the Senate vote to table a health care reform bill amendment that would have further restricted access to abortion in the US. The 54-45 vote essentially defeated an unacceptable and inappropriate anti-choice amendment offered by Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT). The Nelson/Hatch amendment mirrored the Stupak/Pitts amendment, passed as part of the House of Representatives’ healthcare reform bill in early November.
"The passage of a health care reform package that provides coverage for all Americans is essential," said Wayne C. Shields, ARHP’s president and CEO. "We remain confident that Congress will focus on the health care needs of all Americans and ultimately pass health care legislation without the objectionable Stupak/Pitts language."
"The defeat of the Nelson/Hatch amendment is a small victory in a much larger fight," said Dr. Beth Jordan, medical director of ARHP. "We must now turn our focus to the House/Senate conference committee to ensure that health care reform benefits all Americans and does not further restrict access to abortion services."
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The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) is the leading
source for trusted medical education and information on reproductive and sexual
health. ARHP educates health care providers, informs consumers, and helps shape
public policy. ARHP is a non-profit membership association composed of highly
qualified and committed experts in reproductive health. ARHP members are health
professionals in clinical practice, education, research, and advocacy and they
include physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives,
researchers, educators, pharmacists, and other professionals in reproductive
health. To learn more, visit: http://www.arhp.org.
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