Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement on his co-sponsorship of the Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act, aka the Not My Boss’ Business Act:
“As a cosponsor of S. 2578, the Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act, I was disappointed that the Senate voted against the measure. The bill is a common-sense step to ensure that for-profit CEOs cannot interfere in their employees’ decisions about contraception and other health services.
It is an important protection that will help ensure that women working for for-profit corporations can make health care decisions based on their own consciences and religious beliefs, not those of their CEOs.
This is consistent with my long-standing strong support for greater access to contraceptives.
The bill affects for-profit employers but maintains the pre-Hobby Lobby accommodation for religiously-affiliated, non-profit organizations – an accommodation that I aggressively pushed the Administration to include - by specifically stating that the regulation continues to be in effect for plans affected by the bill.
As Justice Ginsburg stated in her dissent: ‘The First Amendment's free exercise protections, the Court has indeed recognized, shelter churches and other nonprofit religion-based organizations. The Court's “special solicitude to the rights of religious organizations”…however, is just that.’
The assertion by five of the justices on the Court that a for-profit corporation is a ‘person’ for the purposes of religious objection is simply a bridge too far. The ruling essentially empowers CEOs of for-profit corporations to deny vital health benefits to women based on their own religious beliefs.
As Justice Ginsburg stated ‘until today, religious exemptions had never been extended to any entity operating in the commercial, profit-making world.’
For-profit companies receive significant benefits that come with incorporation, including certain tax advantages and limited liability for owners. In turn, they are subject to a number of federal regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII, and the Fair Labor Standards Act, which are enacted to preserve the health, safety and welfare of employees.
Thirty million women have gained access to contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. This is an important health service and has critical implications for economic security. The data shows us that access to contraceptives reduces the number of abortions. A recent study demonstrated that providing no-cost contraception can decrease abortion rates by up to 78 percent.
I will continue to work to protect religious liberty for the American people while fighting to ensure that more women have access to affordable contraceptives.”
Senator Casey’s record on family planning can be found here: link.
