Senator Sherrod Brown from Ohio has quietly removed terms like “women” and “woman” from a legislative bill concerning insurance enrollment for expectant individuals.
The Evolution of the Healthy Maternity Act
The initial version of Brown’s Healthy Maternity and Obstetric Medicine Act was launched in 2015, during which the term “women” appeared a total of 22 times, with “maternity” mentioned 19 times and “woman” appearing twice.
Significant Changes in Recent Years
By the time the legislation re-emerged last year, it had been significantly altered to exclude any mention of women altogether. The latest iteration from 2023 only referenced “maternity” four times compared to previous versions.
Background of the Legislation
This proposed legislation aims to create a dedicated health insurance enrollment window specifically for pregnant individuals by modifying existing provisions within the Public Health Service Act.
A Historical Perspective on Legislative References
This bill has undergone several introductions since its inception in 2015—including attempts in 2019, 2021, and this year—each revising key phrasings along the way. For instance, early drafts contained substantial references to women: notably, “Findings and Purpose” sections cited “women” frequently.
The Contextual Importance of Pregnancy Acknowledgment
A prior segment emphasized that pregnancy is a major life event affecting millions across America annually.
The Disappearance of Gender-Specific Language
Despite his previous assertions about addressing discrimination based on sex—including an acknowledgment that differential treatment regarding pregnancy constitutes such discrimination—Brown’s recent proposals have inexplicably shifted terminology away from gendered language entirely. Current texts use terms like “pregnant person” rather than explicitly recognizing women as unique bearers of children.
An Ongoing Political Debate
Lack of clarification came when Fox News Digital reached out for comments regarding these modifications but received no response from either Brown’s office or campaign staff concerning their rationale behind excluding references to women in relation to pregnancy care services.
Navigating Political Backlash Ahead Of Elections
Bernie Moreno—a Republican candidate supported by former President Trump—is vying against Brown come November elections while asserting that eliminating mentions related strictly towards females insinuates broader implications about women’s rights within reproductive healthcare discussions throughout America.
“By removing ‘women’ specifically out-of-scope here serves proof he disregards biological aspects surrounding pregnancies,” stated spokesperson Reagan McCarthy on behalf Moreno’s campaign outreach efforts revealing perceived extremism inherent among Democrat lawmakers today.”
“This speaks volumes about how far they venture beyond compromising moral frameworks.””
