Norton Says Changes by the Administration Can Still Save Contraception for Employees of Closely Held Corporations

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) today released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby contraception ruling:

"Today's Supreme Court decision narrows some women's access to birth control coverage by expanding, for the first time, the rights of some corporations to claim a religious exemption. As a result, many women and families will be unable to prevent unintended pregnancies. Unfortunately, those who are most likely to be affected are girls and young women who are not prepared to be parents."

"Despite today's decision, it is important to alert the great majority of American women whose health depends on contraception of the limits of today's decision. Most forms of contraception will continue to be covered by the Affordable Care Act's no co-pay provision for birth control. The decision applies only to "closely held corporations," which are owned by fewer than five people with more than 50 percent of the outstanding stock. The Court leaves open the possibility that even employees of such corporations could be covered by the Affordable Care Act's contraception provision if the federal government creates some distance between closely held corporations and the mode of payments for contraception, such as the accommodation already provided to protect nonprofit organizations that claim religious objections. I urge the Administration to make this accommodation available for employees of closely held corporations as soon as possible in order to prevent more litigation and interference with women's reproductive health. Every effort must now be made to take advantage of the five-man court majority's effort to cabin its decision and to stress its narrow reach."

So far in the 113th Congress there have been multiple attempts to undermine D.C.'s abortion laws, although the D.C. laws do not raise new issues:

Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) reintroduced a bill to make permanent law the annual abortion rider that prohibits the District from spending its local funds on abortion for low-income women, and redefine the D.C. government as part of the federal government for purposes of abortion;

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) reintroduced his bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks in the District, and filed an amendment that expressed the sense of the Senate that Congress should pass such a bill; and,

Representative Trent Franks (R-AZ) reintroduced his companion D.C. abortion ban bill, but has since expanded it to a nationwide ban.

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