Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement today after the White House announced a final rule that ensures every single woman in America will have access to basic preventive health care, including contraception medication, while re-affirming that church institutions will be able to adhere to their religious teachings:
“While I remain dumbfounded that in the year 2012 we still have to fight over birth control, I commend the White House for its final rule that adheres to a core principle that the power to decide whether or not each individual woman uses contraception should be with that woman – not with her boss. This common sense rule will ensure that every single woman in America has access to the full range of preventive health care while respecting the teachings of religious institutions.
“This debate has been just the latest political overreach by politicians to roll back access to birth control and undermine women’s health. It is a fight that continues today in the U.S. Senate with outrageous legislation by Senators Blunt and Rubio that would take away women’s rights by allowing any employer to refuse health care services on religious grounds. We will not stand for these attempts to undermine the ability of women to make their own decisions. If my Republican colleagues want to continue to take this issue head on, we stand ready to oppose any attacks launched against women’s rights and women’s health.”