Frankel Fights for Federal Workers’ Access to Reproductive Health Care in Appropriations Debate

Frankel Fights for Federal Workers' Access to Reproductive Health Care in Appropriations Debate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - During this week's Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee markup, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) introduced an amendment to strike measures in the FY27 bill that restrict federal employees' access to abortion care and block the District of Columbia from using its own local funds to provide abortion services to Medicaid enrollees.

"These riders are not policy-they are punishment," said Rep. Frankel. "Punishment for federal employees who simply want the freedom to make their own private health care decisions. Punishment for low-income women in the District of Columbia who are denied care-even when D.C. is willing to pay for it with its own dollars."

Frankel emphasized that the provisions go beyond federal funding restrictions, calling them a clear example of federal overreach into local governance.

"We are not just restricting federal funds-we are reaching into D.C.'s own budget and saying, 'you don't get to decide,'" Frankel said. "That is federal overreach at its worst."

"These riders hit hardest on the women living paycheck to paycheck-those who can't travel and are forced into impossible choices about their health, their families, and their futures," she said.

Addressing the female staffers in attendance, Frankel added: "We trust you with so many decisions every day, we should trust you with your health care decisions, too."

The amendment was ultimately defeated by a vote of 33-26.

For Rep. Frankel's full remarks, click here.

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