WASHINGTON — The Democratic majority in the Pennsylvania House passed legislation yesterday to protect access to contraceptives. The legislation would require that health insurance programs provide coverage of birth control without burdening patients with deductibles or copays. This legislation is crucial as access to contraception has become the GOP’s latest target, with legislation undermining access to birth control and contraception cropping up in states across the country with alarming speed in 2024. Republicans will only feel more empowered to target contraceptives under a potential Trump administration given he has signaled decisions around birth control access will be left to the states.
While Republicans in the Senate are likely to block this proposal, this is the latest example of Democratic leadership in action in the House to protect fundamental freedoms. The DLCC has defended the one-seat Democratic House majority in six special elections which has been consequential for putting a stop to Republicans’ extreme agenda in the Senate. Returning the Democratic majority in the House and making gains in the Senate are top priorities for the DLCC in 2024 to ensure Pennsylvanians’ access to reproductive health care is safeguarded.
Amid an onslaught of Republican attacks on contraceptives, electing Democrats to state legislatures is the best path to ensuring the full spectrum of reproductive care is protected.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee National Press Secretary Sam Paisley issued the following statement:
“Pennsylvania Democrats have kept promises with their one-seat majority in the House to protect fundamental freedoms and move the Keystone State forward. Their push to protect contraceptive access is especially important given Republicans across the country have heightened their attacks on birth control. While Senate Republicans in Pennsylvania are likely to block this proposal, this legislation highlights the importance of defending the Democratic House majority and the need to build Democratic power in the Senate. The DLCC is all hands on deck to elect Democratic champions of reproductive health care who will combat MAGA attacks on the freedoms we hold dear.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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