NCHLA Action Center

Congress is working on three main health care reform bills—one in the House, two in the Senate. None of the bills already reported from committee have acceptable provisions prohibiting abortion funding or mandates for abortion coverage.

House: On July 17, the Committees on Education and Labor and on Ways and Means favorably reported the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200), after rejecting amendments to exclude mandated coverage of abortion. On July 31, the Committee on Energy and Commerce favorably reported a bill that was amended to address some pro-life concerns, but still provides for federally mandated abortion coverage.

Senate: On July 15, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted out its bill, the Affordable Health Choices Act (not yet numbered). During markup the committee rejected amendments to exclude federal funding or mandated coverage for abortion and to maintain current state laws limiting and regulating abortion. On September 22, the Senate Finance Committee began to mark up its bill, America’s Healthy Future Act. Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Michael Enzi (R-WY) have submitted amendments on abortion and conscience rights.

On July 17, Bishop William Murphy, Chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, sent a letter to Congress saying: “The USCCB looks forward to working with you to reform health care successfully in a manner that offers accessible, affordable and quality health care that protects and respects the life and dignity of all people from conception until natural death.” Abortion must not be included as part of a national health care benefit. “No health care reform plan should compel us or others to pay for the destruction of human life, whether through government funding or mandatory coverage of abortion.” Bishop Murphy argued that any legislation should reflect longstanding policies “on abortion funding, mandates and conscience protections because they represent sound morality, wise policy and political reality.”

Underlining Bishop Murphy’s concern, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, wrote to the House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 29 saying that the bill must be amended so it will not expand federal abortion funding, mandate abortion coverage, preempt state laws on abortion, or endanger conscience rights of health care providers. For more information, see: www.usccb.org/healthcare and www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/healthcare/index.shtml.

The House and Senate are preparing for possible floor votes. Please contact your Representative and Senators today!

ACTION: Contact Members through e-mail, phone calls or FAX letters. E-mails can be sent through NCHLA’s Grassroots Action Center—please click here. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at: 202-224-3121, or call the local offices of your Representative and Senators. Full contact info can be found on Members’ web sites at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

MESSAGE: “A fair and just health care reform bill must exclude mandated coverage for abortion, incorporate longstanding policies that restrict abortion funding, and protect conscience rights.”

WHEN: Both House and Senate are preparing for possible floor votes. Act today! Thanks!

Updated 9/24/09