FRC Urges Congress to Move Forward with the 'Protect Life Act,' Remove Abortion Funding Scheme from Health Care Law

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Feb 09, 2011, 04:03 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing today on the "Protect Life Act" (HR 358) sponsored by U.S. Reps. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL). The "Protect Life Act" ensures that no taxpayer dollars are used to pay for elective abortion.

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Family Research Council President Tony Perkins responded with the following comments:

"We applaud U.S. Reps. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) for their efforts to advance the 'Protect Life Act' which would remove any taxpayer funding of abortion within the Obama health care law and also codify conscience protections for health care workers who object to abortion. Otherwise taxpayers will fund abortions, including those conducted by groups like Planned Parenthood.

"This bill would insure that taxpayers are protected from having to pay for abortion. It does so by preventing federal money from subsidizing health plans that cover abortion, while allowing people to use their own money to purchase plans that cover abortion if they so choose.

"Recently, former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel admitted that the President's Executive Order purportedly prohibiting federal abortion funding does 'not exist by law.' The new pro-life majority in the House of Representatives now has an opportunity to stop this abortion-funding gravy train by enacting the 'Protect Life Act.' On this issue of taxpayer funding of abortion, the overwhelmingly majority of the American people agree. Forcing taxpayers to pay for abortion is wrong.

"This bill is a necessary step as Congress moves forward to protect all taxpayers by repealing the oppressive 2010 health care law," concluded Perkins.

SOURCE Family Research Council