Pelosi Remarks at Press Event on ‘Not My Boss’s Business Act’
Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks today at a press event today on legislation to correct the Supreme Court’s assault on workers’ rights and women’s health in the Hobby Lobby decision. Leader Pelosi called on the House of Representatives to act immediately to take up the legislation introduced by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) to restore the right of workers not to have their health care limited by their bosses’ beliefs. Below are the Leader’s remarks:
“Thank you, Louise Slaughter – she brings so much experience, such institutional memory, such enthusiasm for this issue. And she has been working on it for decades. I join her in thanking you all for being here. I’m especially pleased that so many very young women and men are here today, because this is…
[Applause]
“You are the group that we have to reach out to, to understand what is at stake here. I thank Senator Murray – I chatted with her in the hall as she was leaving and I was coming. She said: ‘I’m going over to get votes for this. I commend her for her ongoing, steady, constant and effective leadership on this subject. Congresswoman DeGette and Congresswoman Slaughter, as leaders of our Pro-Choice Caucus, and Congressman Nadler on the Judiciary Committee; I’m pleased that we’re joined by Congresswoman Grisham, who is here, and Mike Quigley from Illinois; and of course, Jan Schakowsky, who has been active in so many arenas, and certainly in this one, as well. And Ilyse Hogue: thank you for your leadership of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
“This has probably been said, but let me just briefly associate myself with some of what has been said already. First, and fundamentally, this is a women’s health issue. Issues like contraception and family planning choices are not just about family planning. They’re about the health of women. Louise Slaughter probably said before I came in that many women take these medications for their health, in addition to spacing their family. And some of them take them beyond their child-bearing years, because it has something to do with things that we won’t go into right here – but clearly, something the five guys on the Supreme Court have no idea about.
“So it’s really as personal as it gets. I wish they could have had a conversation with their mother, with their wives, with their daughter, with their sisters, with anybody else who had any knowledge of the ramifications of public policy on the personal lives of women. I wish they had a feel for the respect that Congresswoman Schakowsky always talks about. This is about respect for women and their judgment.
“And so, when they decided, in the Hobby Lobby case, what they did, it was a gross assault on workers’ rights, women’s health and respect for women – singling out women’s health for discrimination; women’s health – not just family planning, women’s health. For-profit corporations must not be allowed to pick and choose – you’ve heard that today – which of these laws to obey, or which essential health care services to insure.
“Although they restrict their ruling to closely-held companies, this ruling affects millions of women across our country. Over 90 percent of America’s businesses are closely-held, including such large employers as Koch Industries. Women should not be forced to jump through extra hoops to secure the fundamental health care that they need – in addition to the family planning. Health care decisions, as we know, should be made by women, in consultation with her faith, her family, her doctor – not politicians in Washington, not the insurer, and certainly not by her boss.
“The legislation that Senator Murray and my colleagues gathered here today introduced will ensure that no employee – man or woman – can be denied access to critical health services because of an employer’s belief. This just opens the door to so much more. Congress should act immediately: pass this legislation and restore the rights of workers not to have their healthcare limited by their bosses’ beliefs. No employer should have the right to limit the health choices of its employees – male or female.
“It’s not the boss’s business. Alright? It’s not the boss’s business. I’m now pleased to yield the floor to the distinguished Member of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman Nadler of New York.”
[Applause]