Don't Be Deceived: Abortion Mandate NOT Removed from Health Care

There are reports circulating that the abortion mandate has been removed from the health care legislation. I want to be very clear; these reports are simply not accurate. While there was a flurry of activity in the House at the end of last week, I wanted to let you know that there's still very troubling abortion language in all of the versions of the bills being debated.

These erroneous reports stem from an amendment that was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday.  This amendment, authored by pro-abortion Representative Lois Capps (D-CA), is being billed as an abortion compromise, but it is nothing of the sort.  In, fact, it causes more problems than it fixes.  If enacted, it appears the amendment would help to preserve pro-life State laws, but that is where the good news ends. You can read more about this amendment in our memo posted here.

Not only would abortion services still be permitted under the amendment, but they would actually be required in many cases.  The amendment would mandate that the public health care plan include abortion, and that abortion coverage be available nationwide.  This is the most overt inclusion of an abortion mandate yet, and would undoubtedly result in taxpayer-subsidizing abortion.

Don't be deceived.  The national health care legislation under consideration still includes an abortion mandate.  In fact, its gone from a back-door approach to one the clearly states the mandate in the legislation.  The only fix is an explicit exemption of abortion services from the legislation.  And, that's why it is critical for you to stand with us - and put pressure on members of the House during this recess period. 

When your Representative returns home, let them know that an abortion mandate in health care is unacceptable.  And, if you haven't done so already, add your name to our petition demanding that Congress enact the legislative remedy needed to keep mandatory abortion coverage from becoming part of our national health care plan.