Courtney statement on new Administration rule regarding contraceptive coverage | Congressman Joe Courtney
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Courtney statement on new Administration rule regarding contraceptive coverage

February 10, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today released the following statement after the White House announced a new policy regarding contraceptive coverage. Under the new policy, women will have free preventive care that includes contraceptive services no matter where she works, while also ensuring that if a woman works for religious employers with objections to providing contraceptive services as part of its health plan, the religious employer will not be required to provide contraception coverage. Instead, the woman's insurance company will be required to offer contraceptive care free of charge.

"I applaud the Administration's new rule, which balances First Amendment religious concerns with women's rights and women's health. The prior rule imposed a financial and legal obligation on faith-affiliated institutions that would have potentially disrupted employee coverage and ensnared the health care law in years of litigation.

"The fact that the rule announced today has already won endorsements from a diverse group, including Planned Parenthood and Sister Carol Keehan, the president of the Catholic Health Association - a trade group representing Catholic hospitals - demonstrates that a true middle ground has been reached."


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