S.Res. 60 — Introduced in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 60 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 27, 2013 Mrs. Boxer (for herself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Supporting women’s reproductive health. Whereas access to comprehensive reproductive health care is critical to improving the health and well-being of women and their families; Whereas access to affordable contraceptives and medically accurate information prevents unintended pregnancies, thereby improving the health of women, children, families, and society as a whole; Whereas title X of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300 et seq.) and the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) cover health care and family planning services for millions of women and men who do not have other insurance coverage, with the Medicaid program alone covering 71 percent of publicly funded family planning services and more than 40 percent of all births in the United States; Whereas women need access to comprehensive, affordable insurance that covers family planning services, prenatal and postnatal care, miscarriage management, labor and delivery services, and abortion; and Whereas the lack of adequate prenatal care increases the risks of infant and maternal mortality and preterm birth, which cost our health care system approximately $26,000,000,000 annually: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate supports efforts to— (1) ensure that women have access to contraception, other preventive services, and medically accurate information necessary to make health care decisions; (2) ensure that the millions of women who rely on title X of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300 et seq.), the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), and non-profit providers like Planned Parenthood continue to get cancer screenings, birth control, and other essential health care services; (3) ensure that women have access to affordable insurance coverage for all pregnancy-related health care needs; and (4) reduce health disparities between men and women and among women of different races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations.