(Washington, DC) - Later today, the House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee will meet to markup a disapproval resolution on the District’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act (RHNDA).
Ahead of the markup, Mayor Muriel Bowser released the following statement:
Members of Congress were sent to Washington to represent the interests of their constituents, not meddle in the District’s affairs.
The RHNDA simply prohibits employers from discriminating against employees and family members based on private reproductive health decisions, like taking birth control or in vitro fertilization. In the District of Columbia, choosing the health care option that is best for you is not a political issue; it is a human rights issue that is not up for debate.
Last week, the District celebrated Emancipation Day where we recommitted ourselves in the fight for full equality. Today’s action in the House is a reminder that tax-paying District residents deserve the same rights that residents in every state enjoy – the right to self-govern. While Congressional Republicans focus on undermining individuals’ health decisions, my Administration will lead by example and continue to create pathways to the middle class for all residents.