FRC Praises Health Subcommittee's Approval of the 'Protect Life Act'

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Research Council praised today the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for passing H.R. 358, the Protect Life Act, sponsored by Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA). This bill removes abortion funding from President Obama's 2010 health care law, the so-called Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This bill is the equivalent of the Pitts-Stupak amendment to the 2010 law, which would have kept government dollars from paying for abortion, but was stripped from the bill by the U.S. Senate.

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Of the subcommittee vote, FRC President Tony Perkins said:

"The 'Protect Life Act' will do what President Obama's executive order cannot: strip the health care law of every single abortion cent. The legislation also creates a safe haven for health care workers who have moral objections to abortion by adding conscience protections to Obamacare.

"This legislation reflects the broad consensus of the American people who strongly oppose federal tax dollars paying for abortions. Those on both sides of the issue can agree that the government should not subsidize abortion. The bill allows people to use their own money to purchase plans that cover abortion if they so choose.  

"Ultimately, however, the only way the American people can truly be protected from Obamacare is by full repeal of the law.

"We at the Family Research Council thank Rep. Joe Pitts and Rep. Fred Upton for their leadership and applaud the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for approving this common ground legislation," concluded Perkins.

SOURCE Family Research Council