WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 – Today, Americans United for Life, the nation’s oldest national pro-life organization, launched its “Back to the Hill” campaign to educate lawmakers and Americans on the current health care proposals’ threats to the lives of the elderly, ill, and unborn.
AUL’s sister organization AUL Action (AULA) sent a letter today to Speaker Nancy Pelosi to protest recent disinformation on her Web site about abortion in health care. AULA is also meeting with the White House on September 17 to discuss the problem of taxpayer-funded abortion in the proposed health care reform.
Americans United for Life will be paying close attention to President Obama’s address this evening before a joint session of Congress. President Obama has stated that claims that abortion was in the health care proposals were a “fabrication,” and has claimed that he aims to reduce the “need” for abortions. However, on the campaign trail in 2007, Obama assured a Planned Parenthood Action Fund conference that abortion would be “at the center and the heart” of his health care reform, and the current health care proposals reflect that priority. AUL’s legal team has detailed the elements in the proposals that would mandate taxpayer-funded abortion coverage.
Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of AUL, said, “Tonight, President Obama needs to address the abortion mandate in the health care reform proposalscurrently before Congress. History has shown that where abortion is not explicitly excluded, courts will interpret legislative language to mandate it.”
William Saunders, AUL Sr. Vice President of Legal Affairs, added, “An explicit and permanent prohibition on abortion coverage and funding is essential to prevent Congress, or an activist court, from mandating coverage and taxpayer funding of all elective abortions under the guise of health care.”
AUL will be tweeting and liveblogging President Obama’s speech tonight.
AUL’s Health Care Information Hub:Real Health Care Respects Life.com:
- Back to the Hill Guide: What to Expect Next
- FAQ about Health Care Reform
- Talking Points
- Video: Obama on Abortion in Health Care
- Health Care Bills in Congress
- End-of-Life Issues in Bills
- Federal Courts on Abortion in Current Bills
- Federal Courts on Abortion and Medicaid Coverage
- Status of the Hyde Amendment
About Americans United for Life
Americans United for Life (AUL) is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization whose vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971. The Wall Street Journal has profiled AUL, and PBS’ Frontline program chronicled AUL’s successful efforts in Mississippi.
Media Contact
Heather Smith
202-270-9962
heather.smith@aul.org
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