House Republicans say a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that requires most health insurers to provide free birth-control is religious bigotry — one congressman has even compared the birth-control mandate to Pearl Harbor and 9/11, according to a Hill report.
Aug. 1 marked the first day that the birth-control mandate, and other preventative services for women included in the 2010 healthcare law, officially kicked in. By law, most health plans are now required to provide birth control to women free-of-charge.
At a press conference on Aug. 1, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) harkened back to two dark days in American history to make a point about the mandate.
"I know in your mind you can think of the times America was attacked," Rep. Kelly said. "One is Dec. 7 — that is Pearl Harbor Day. Another was Sept. 11 — that was the day of the terrorist attack."
Rep. Kelly added: "I want you to remember Aug. 1, 2012 — the attack on our religious freedom. That is the day that will live in infamy, along with those other dates."
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) also sounded off about the new birth-control mandate. In a statement he said lawmakers need to "renew our determination to reverse the mandate and restore religious liberty that has been demolished by the Obama Administration's actions."
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Aug. 1 marked the first day that the birth-control mandate, and other preventative services for women included in the 2010 healthcare law, officially kicked in. By law, most health plans are now required to provide birth control to women free-of-charge.
At a press conference on Aug. 1, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) harkened back to two dark days in American history to make a point about the mandate.
"I know in your mind you can think of the times America was attacked," Rep. Kelly said. "One is Dec. 7 — that is Pearl Harbor Day. Another was Sept. 11 — that was the day of the terrorist attack."
Rep. Kelly added: "I want you to remember Aug. 1, 2012 — the attack on our religious freedom. That is the day that will live in infamy, along with those other dates."
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) also sounded off about the new birth-control mandate. In a statement he said lawmakers need to "renew our determination to reverse the mandate and restore religious liberty that has been demolished by the Obama Administration's actions."
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