U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison Calls Out Backdoor Abortion Ban in Republicans’ Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) joined Democratic leadership and fellow members of the Democratic Doctors Caucusfor a press conference on the Republicans' health care bill passed in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Morrison, an OBGYN for more than 20 years, called out that the Republicans' health care bill fails to address the impending health care crisis for millions of Americans set to see their health insurance premiums skyrocket or get priced out of coverage entirely at the end of this year. The bill included a provision that would force private insurance companies to drop abortion coverage putting women's lives and health in danger.

Rep. Morrison also called out Speaker Johnson's refusal to hold a vote on a bipartisan effort to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits and prevent tens of millions of Americans from seeing their health insurance premiums skyrocket or get priced out of coverage entirely. Rep. Morrison called on Speaker Mike Johnson to not send lawmakers home until the health care catastrophe is addressed.

Rep. Morrison is the first and only pro-choice OBGYN to ever serve in Congress.

Watch Rep. Morrison's remarks HERE:

Read Rep. Morrison's full remarks below:

Good morning, I'm Dr. Kelly Morrison - I represent Minnesota's Third District and I'm proud to be the first and only pro-choice OBGYN to ever serve in Congress.

In just two weeks, tens of millions of Americans will be forced to pay health insurance premiums that have skyrocketed, or get priced out of health insurance and lose coverage entirely.

And what is Republican leadership doing? In our final three days of session?

Using the precious little time that we have left to kick even more Americans off of their coverage - block the bipartisan effort to extend tax credits so that working families can afford health insurance - and shove through a backdoor ban on abortion.

As an OBGYN, I want to call out this latest attempt at a national abortion ban included in the Republicans' health care plan that we are voting on today.

Their plan would force private insurance companies to drop abortion coverage.

This means that even women who live in states where reproductive health care is protected would lose access to abortion care.

That they would double down on banning access to lifesaving care at a time when we are already seeing the consequences of the abortion bans that have been enacted since the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade is especially unconscionable.

Abortion bans literally put people's lives in danger.

I am so tired of having this conversation.

This is not a joke - we are talking about people's lives.

Abortion bans increase maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.

So this morning, I'm thinking about my patients and people across the country.

Who, under the Republicans' proposed health care plan, would have less access to care.

Less affordable care.

And more dangerous restrictions on women's health.

And, on top of that, will suffer from Republican leadership refusing to protect their access to health care.

Speaker Johnson could bring the bipartisan clean extension to the floor today, and I urge him to do so.

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