On May 3, the House approved, 238-183, H.R. 1213, a bill to repeal mandatory funding provided in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (P.L. 111-148) to establish state health insurance exchanges. The exchanges would provide small businesses with subsidies to pay for health insurance coverage and help individuals without employer-provided coverage purchase health insurance. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the legislation on April 5 (see The Source, 4/8/11).

During consideration of the measure, the House rejected several amendments, including the following:

• An amendment by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to post a notice of rescission and the total amount of unused funds rescinded on the HHS website, 177-239;
• An amendment by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) to require HHS to submit to Congress a report that analyzes which states are expected to have difficulty establishing such an exchange without federal assistance, 178-242; and
• An amendment by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) to require HHS to report to Congress on possible delays and insurance enrollment reductions that may result from the bill’s enactment, 180-242.

Bills Introduced:

Reproductive Health

H.R. 1724----Rep. Steven Rothman (D-NJ)/Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means (5/4/11)---A bill to provide for the provision by hospitals receiving federal funds through the Medicare Program or Medicaid Program of emergency contraceptives to women who are survivors of sexual assault.

H.R. 1774----Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)/Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform (5/5/11)---A bill to provide for an evidence-based strategy for voluntary screening for HIV/AIDS and other common sexually transmitted infections, and for other purposes.

Violence Against Women

H.R. 1678----Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)/Judiciary (5/2/11)---A bill to encourage states to expand the protections offered to victims of sex offenses who are not in a familiar or dating relationship with the perpetrators of such offenses.

Abortion

S. 877----Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)/Finance (5/4/11)---A bill to prevent taxpayer-funded elective abortions by applying the longstanding policy of the Hyde amendment to the new health care law.

S. 906----Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)/Finance (5/5/11)---A bill to prohibit taxpayer-funded abortions and to provide for conscience protections, and for other purposes.

Child Protection

H.R. 1711----Rep. André Carson (D-IN)/Education and the Workforce (5/4/11)---A bill to require criminal background checks, inspections, and training of child care providers.

H.R. 1726----Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-MD)/Education and the Workforce (5/4/11)---A bill to require criminal background checks for child care providers.

Military

H.R. 1679----Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-MA)/Armed Services (5/2/11)---A bill to direct the secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive review of the health care services available for female members of the armed forces.

H.R. 1709----Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY)/Armed Services (5/4/11)---A bill to prevent and end the occurrence of sexual assaults involving members of the armed forces.

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