House GOP Targeting Abortion Access, Says Congresswoman Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement amid reports that House Republicans are demanding a provision in the continuing resolution that would withhold critical cost-sharing reductions funding from health insurance plans that cover abortion services.

"I am outraged, though not surprised, that House Republicans are bringing harmful, ideological policies into the year-end spending debate. It is clear that they are more than comfortable holding government funding hostage in order to advance their agenda to deny women access to abortion."

"This latest attempt to undermine women's fundamental rights is a dramatic expansion of the already devastating and discriminatory Hyde Amendment which already disproportionately affects low-income women and women of color. If successful, this rider would push abortion care out of reach for even more people who are accessing their insurance through the private market."

"With so much at stake this week -- including reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), protection for DACA recipients and funding for community health centers - it is simply unacceptable that House Republicans are yet again taking aim at women's reproductive rights instead of governing."

Funding for cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) to help lower-income people pay for health care may be included in the continuing resolution on which both houses of Congress must vote to keep the government operating.

Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees, Vice Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, former co-chair of the Progressive Caucus and a Senior Democratic Whip. She also serves as chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty.