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Pelosi Statement on Legislation Correcting Hobby Lobby Decision

July 9, 2014

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the House legislation, introduced by Pro-Choice Caucus co-Chairs Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), to prohibit for-profit employers from using religious beliefs to deny employees coverage of contraception or any other vital health service required under federal law:

"The Supreme Court's decision in Hobby Lobby was a gross assault on workers' rights and women's health that singled out women's health for discrimination. For-profit corporations must not be allowed to pick and choose which laws to obey or which essential health care services to insure.

"Health care decisions should be made by a woman in consultation with her family, her faith and her doctor – not by her boss, not by insurers, and not by Washington politicians. This legislation will ensure that no employee, man or woman, can be denied access to critical health services because of an employer's beliefs.

"Congress should act immediately to take up this legislation, and restore the right of workers not to have their health care limited by their bosses' beliefs. It's just not their bosses' business."

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Issues:Health Care