EXCLUSIVE: Republican Rep. to introduce 'Britney Spears' bill to stop healthcare providers from aiding conservators in forcing contraception on individuals without their consent
Republican Congressman Jason Smith is introducing legislation on Wednesday to stop healthcare providers from aiding conservators in forcing contraception on individuals without their consent, a bill tied to Britney Spears.
Among the many stunning allegations Spears revealed in her trial last month was that her team of conservators, led by her father, prevented her from having her IUD removed because the team did not want her to have more children.
Called the 'CIRCUS' Act, Smith's bill specifically targets healthcare providers and would prevent them from participating in the numerous federal health programs - such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Tricare - if they deny removal of an intrauterine device or other contraceptive device without the approval of an individual’s conservator or knowingly prescribe contraception to an individual subject to a conservatorship without the written consent of such individual.
The legislation would not affect Obamacare participants as the exchanges are not directly administered by the federal government.
Smith, the ranking member on the House Budget Committee, also worked on healthcare issues related to the challenges faced by people living in rural areas. His congressional district is made up heavily of farm land.
Britney Spears revealed in her trial last month was that her team of conservators, led by her father, prevented her from having her IUD removed
Spears' conservatorship is, ironically, an issue that has brought Republicans and Democrats together, particularly on the subject of birth control.
Female lawmakers from both political parties expressed their horror with Spear's contraceptive situation after she discussed it in her June 23 trial.
'Everyone deserves control over their own body. Period. #FreeBritney,' wrote Katherine Clark, a Democratic state lawmaker in Massachusetts, on Twitter.
Rep. Jason Smith is introducing legislation to stop healthcare providers from aiding conservators in forcing contraception on individuals
And Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of tweeted: 'It's insane you can force a woman to basically sterilize herself under the guise of protection. If this is happening to Britney Spears, how many other women across the country are silently suffering?'
Republicans see the matter as pro-life issue and freedom of religion issue while Democrats see it as a matter of personal choice tied to a woman's right to choose.
Spears' legal battle returns to court Wednesday in Los Angeles. It is not known if the singer will address the court directly this time as she did in her previous, emotional, 20 minute testimony.
That testimony ramped up worldwide interest in her case and reignited the #FreeBritney movement.
That movement is holding a rally at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.
The singer's supporters will be in Congress' back yard as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have rallied around Spears.
Britney Spears' conservatorship is, ironically, an issue that has brought Republicans and Democrats together; above a pic of her and Sam Asghari from her Instagram account
Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Attorney General Merrick Garland, requesting more data on the U.S. conservatorship system.
And Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, along with three other GOP lawmakers, invited Spears to testify before Congress.
Gaetz' Florida district consists heavily of retirees, an age group that is often the subject of conservatorships.
Meanwhile, the 39-year-old singer is seeking to end her conservatorship, which has been in place since early 2008. Wednesday's hearing involves a host of parties and issues to deal with the subsequent legal filings in the case.