Kirsten Gillibrand

Here’s video of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand yesterday on the Senate floor, critiquing the amendment to health care legislation that would extend current provisions against federal monies going to abortion to include not only people covered by the “public option,” but also by any private plans that receive federal subsidies.

The amendment is being put forward in the Senate by Ben Nelson of Nebraska after being introduced in the House by Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak. Both are Democrats. Stupak said yesterday that he’s convinced the amendment won’t survive the Senate debate on the amendment that’s slated to take place today.

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As you know, last week the U.S. Senate began debate on our version of the health insurance reform legislation. As I wrote a few weeks ago, the fact that we have gotten this far is monumental but the fight is not over. The debate has already been fierce and I'm extremely disappointed that one of my fellow Democratic colleagues is introducing a measure similar to the House's Stupak-Pitts amendment. I was proud that the bill brought to the Senate did not have this provision in it, but the opponents of choice are fighting hard to get it put back in and I am prepared to fight this effort.

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Too many veterans who served our country decades ago still suffer from horrible medical problems stemming from their time in the military. Time and again, the federal government has failed to provide them with the quality care they have earned.

Sometimes, it is bureaucracy that stands in the way. Other times, it is red tape or cost-cutting measures that prevent vets from getting the care they deserve. But for hundreds of thousands of Vietnam veterans, it is a shameful technicality in the law.

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