Stupak Update from Barbara Boxer

12/23

Dear Linda,

Thank you so much for signing our petition, urging the Senate to defeat the Stupak Amendment and defend women's health.

Thanks to your support and the support of hundreds of thousands of other people across the country, we were able to defeat the Stupak Amendment in the Senate. As you know, this dangerous amendment would have prohibited women from using their own private funds to purchase health care policies covering abortion through the new insurance exchanges.

Fortunately, the Senate rejected the Stupak Amendment, and in order to move health care reform forward, agreed instead to an accounting procedure detailing how federal funds would be separated from private funds for plans that cover abortion. A firewall separating federal and private funds was already established in the underlying bill. This accounting procedure would be in place for everyone in the plan.

To craft a solid health care bill that could pass the Senate, it was crucial to resolve this vexing issue, and with your support, so far we have done it.

Over the coming days and weeks, I will continue to vigorously defend women's health and choice in the final health care reform bill that is sent to President Obama's desk. I hope you'll continue to speak out and stand with us in this fight.

With deepest thanks for your concern,

Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator