Chairman Becerra: House Republicans Bring Yet Another Poison Pill To The Floor, Choose To Cut Critical Care

Statement

Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, released the following statement on H.R. 3495, a bill that puts critical care for women at risk:

"In bringing yet another poison pill to the House floor for a vote today -- H.R. 3495  --  my Republican colleagues have demonstrated again that they will stop at nothing to rip away funding for women's health.  They chose to cut critical care today by a vote of 236 to 193.

"We're one day away from the September 30 deadline to keep our government running, yet Republicans are wasting time trying to slash critical funding that saves the lives of women in America.

"Under H.R. 3945, states would be allowed to deny Medicaid reimbursements for non-abortion related care. Planned Parenthood provides nearly 3,000 cancer screenings to women every day -- women who could be our mothers, sisters or daughter.

"A 39-year-old woman from Los Angeles recently said that if it weren't for Planned Parenthood, she wouldn't have been able to detect her cervical cancer. Thanks to Planned Parenthood, she said, "I've had colposcopies, biopsies… and I am currently cancer-free." Every mother should be able to see her child go to bed at night, go off to college and get married.

"House Republicans could put a stop to all of this. But rather than sit down for bipartisan budget negotiations to keep our government open and running, they're allowing votes on legislation that risks women's lives."

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