FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

House Continues Shameful War on Women

Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 31, 2012 — “The disconnect between the agendas of extremists in the House and the women of America has never been more evident than it was this evening.

On the very day the nation is celebrating the fact that the Affordable Care Act is making important preventive services available to women without co-pays, the House brought the so-called District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to a vote. This unconstitutional ban on abortion would undermine the health of women in the District and violate the city’s sovereignty. It should never have been considered in Committee or on the House floor.

While it is good news that the House failed to muster the 2/3 majority needed to pass this dangerous and unconstitutional measure, it is alarming that so many representatives voted for a measure that would endanger vulnerable D.C. women, impose criminal and civil penalties on their doctors, and trample on the rights of District residents to self-govern. It was especially shocking considering that the bill contains no exception to the abortion ban when a woman’s health is in grave danger.

We thank every representative who stood strong for women and voted ‘no’ on this outrageous bill. And we remind House leaders: It’s time to end the war on women.”

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The National Partnership is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group dedicated to promoting access to quality health care, fairness in the workplace, and policies that help women and men meet the dual demands of work and family.

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