Americans United for Life Action Endorses a Vote for the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment and Sends Score Letter to House Members

November 7, 2009

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans United for Life Action endorses a key vote today on the House floor of the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment, an Amendment that blocks any federal money from going to abortion in health care reform.

Americans United for Life Action's President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest said, "Americans United for Life Action strongly supports the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment to prohibit abortion mandates and funding in HR 3962. As currently drafted H.R. 3962 fails to adequately prevent abortion coverage and funding."

H.R. 3962 explicitly allows qualifying individuals to apply their affordability credits to private insurance plans that cover abortion. The bill also permits the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") to offer coverage for abortions in the Public Option. Furthermore, if the Hyde Amendment, which lapses if not renewed yearly, is ever eliminated from HHS Appropriations, the bill would mandate coverage of all abortions under the public plan. In addition, the bill also requires that at least one private plan in every premium rating area must provide coverage for all abortions.

Dr. Yoest added, "The passage of a health care reform bill with these provisions is unacceptable to pro-life Americans. We strongly encourage the U.S. House of Representatives to vote in favor of the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment when it comes to the floor for a vote."

AUL Action sent a letter this morning to members of the House of Representatives expressing our deep concern over life-related provisions in the bill.

The letter alerted House Members that AUL Action will score the vote on the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment.

AUL Action will also oppose the final passage of H.R. 3962 and record the roll call vote on the final passage in our annual scorecard.

AUL Action has also alerted our pro-life grassroots network that this vote is critical to the pro-life movement and urged them to immediately contact their Congressmen.

Americans United for Life's legal analysis of H.R. 3962 is explained in detail here.

Americans United for Life Action is the legislative arm of Americans United for Life, the first national pro-life organization in America. In 1980, AUL successfully defended the Hyde Amendment before the U.S. Supreme Court in Harris v. McRae. AUL Action met with the White House in September 2009 about abortion in health care. Visit AUL Action's RealHealthCareRespectsLife.com, for background from our legal team about the current health care reform bills threat to the right to life and rights of conscience.

SOURCE Americans United for Life Action