Wouldn’t it be nice if, by some act of magic, a law that endangers unborn children could be transformed into a life-affirming statute? Unfortunately, such magic does not exist; in fact, not even an order written by the President can modify language passed by Congress and signed by the President. In an email written by […]
Hoosiers Act to Defund ALL Abortion Mills
On Tuesday, May 10th, Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana signed a bill containing numerous pro-life provisions. A survey of the headlines for most news stories about the bill, however, would lead one to conclude that the legislation’s sole purpose is to bankrupt Planned Parenthood. In reality, the first section of the bill ensures that tax […]
When “Maria Talks,” Teens Should Not Listen
How would you feel if you learned that your state government was promoting a medical procedure to your teenage daughter – one that carries risks of blood clots, infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, injury to her cervix (including cervical lacerations), injury to her other organs, future miscarriages and complicated pregnancies, infertility, hysterectomy, hemorrhage, depression, anxiety, increased […]
Idaho Becomes 6th State to Opt-Out of Taxpayer Subsidization of Abortion Coverage – 1st in 2011
On Friday, Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter signed Senate Bill 1115, which prohibits insurance plans from covering most abortions in the Idaho health insurance Exchange (scheduled to go into effect by 2014 pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)). The bill provides an exception for coverage of abortions when the life of […]
Problems with Health Care Reform
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) allows federal tax dollars to directly subsidize insurance plans that cover abortions. This contravenes existing law. The most well-known examples of the prohibition on the use of federal tax dollars to subsidize insurance plans that cover abortions are the Hyde Amendment which applies to programs funded through […]
Federal Funding for Embryo Destructive Research Continues while Advances in Life-Affirming Research are Celebrated
On Tuesday, September 28, 2010, a three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order extending their previous decision to allow federal funding for human embryo destructive research to continue. This “stay pending appeal,” like the panel’s previous decision, is temporary. The court will continue to consider the government’s appeal of U.S. […]
AUL files comments with HHS on PCIP
Friday, Americans United for Life submitted comments on the Department of Health and Human Services interim final rule to implement requirements in section 1101 of Title I (pertaining to the creation of the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan Program (PCIP program), or “high risk pools”) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Affordable […]
AUL comments on DHHS interim final rule for healthcare
Today, Americans United for Life submitted comments on the Department of Health and Human Services’ interim final rule for group health plans and health insurance issuers relating to coverage of preventive services under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Affordable Care Act). AUL’s comments focus on the guidelines currently under development by […]
Federal Legislation Watch Update
Congress is taking a break for the month of August. Upon their return in September, a major piece of legislation containing a provision that would provide federal resources for abortion is expected to receive consideration by the full Senate. Conversely, two pieces of legislation have been introduced in the House of Representatives that would prohibit […]
Congressional Research Service: Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Permitted under Health Care Reform Law
On July 23, 2010, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a memorandum addressing whether the new health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), prohibits states from using federal funds for abortions in new pre-existing condition insurance plans (high risk pools). The memorandum also addresses whether the President’s March 24, […]
Kagan Confirmation Process: A Timeline
United States Supreme Court Vacancy: A Timeline By Mary Harned Click here for a printable PDF President Obama is projected to announce his nomination to replace Justice John Paul Stevens on the United States Supreme Court next week. After the announcement, the confirmation process is expected to move quickly, because President Obama wants the new […]
Reproductive Justice for all Moms
The term “reproductive justice” took on a personal meaning for me in April of 2008, when I underwent an emergency C-Section. In spite of a flawless pregnancy and topnotch prenatal care, my labor completely stalled, my body simply could not do what it was supposed to do. Fortunately, there was no panic, no fear; in […]
Summary of Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment and Remaining Conscience Concerns
On Monday, Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Robert Casey (D-PA) offered an amendment to the Senate health care reform bill that would ensure that insurance plans are not forced by the government to cover abortions, and would prohibit federal funding for elective abortions and for insurance plans that cover elective abortions. This […]
The Murkowski vs. the Mikulski Amendment
At 11:45 today, the Senate will vote on two abortion-related amendments to the Senate health care bill: the Murkowski (R-Alaska) amendment and the Mikulski (D-Maryland) amendment. Both amendments will require 60 votes to pass. The Murkowski amendment Senator Murkowski’s amendment would ensure that abortion is not classified by the government as “preventive care” or as […]
Anti-life Senate health care reform bill clears major hurdle
Moments ago, the Senate voted 60-39, a party-line vote, to begin debate on Majority Leader Reid’s anti-life health care reform bill. The debate and amendment process will begin Monday, November 30th. Majority Leader Reid’s health care bill: Allows the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to require coverage of any and all abortions through […]
Wrap-up of Colloquy
Senator Johanns is emphasizing that the Stupak-Pitts language is NOT in the Senate bill. Therefore, it is not likely to be in the final bill (once the Senate version is reconciled with the House version). He said that there are not enough prolife senators to add this provision to the bill. Senator Johanns argues that […]
