Press Release

December 8, 2009
CARDIN HAILS SENATE VOTE TO PRESERVE ABORTION NEUTRALITY IN THE HEALTH CARE REFORM LEGISLATION

Washington, DC – U
.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) praised the Senate today for defeating an amendment by Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) that would have undermined privacy and discriminated against women by restricting the use of private funds for abortion services or insurance coverage with abortion coverage.
 
“Today’s vote is a sign that the Senate is serious about health care reform. Families and small businesses today are being crushed by the ever-increasing burden of health care cost, making the status quo wholly unacceptable. By maintaining neutrality on access to and funding for abortion services in the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – upholding current law – we can now return our focus to our primary goal of ensuring every American has access to quality, affordable health care and health coverage.  
 
“We need choice and competition to rein in out-of-control health care costs and protect Americans from the abusive practices of health insurance companies. Comprehensive health care reform is directly connected to our efforts to save jobs and grow our economy.”
  
 
Senator Cardin’s floor statement in opposition of the Nelson-Hatch amendment is available at
http://cardin.senate.gov/news/testimonyrecord.cfm?id=320616.

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