Pro-Life Members of Congress Invite Witnesses to Discuss Post-Abortion Depression at Health Subcommittee Hearing
5/1/2007
Today the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee heard testimony on the important issue of post abortion depression.
The scheduled topic of the hearing was H.R. 20, the “Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act.” H.R. 20 establishes grants for expanded research and services for women with postpartum depression and their families.
Pro-Life Members of the subcommittee used this opportunity to publicize post abortion depression, which is widely unrecognized and untreated. They invited Michaelene Fredenberg, President of Life Perspectives, to share her personal experience with post abortion depression. She offered very compelling testimony about her personal struggles after abortion, which can be read here [PDF].
Additionally, Dr. Priscilla Coleman of Bowling Green State University offered a clinical perspective. She spoke about existing research on the prevalence and impact of post abortion depression. Her testimony can be accessed here [PDF], and a very helpful chart explaining current research on post abortion depression is posted here [PDF].
House Vote on Embryo-Destructive Research Expected Next Week
5/31/2007
The Associated Press reports that the House will take up legislation to fund embryo-destructive research next week, after Congress returns from the Memorial Day recess.
S.5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, will be considered. A similar measure, H.R. 3, passed the House earlier this year. Please contact your Representative today and urge opposition to any stem cell research which destroys human life!
House to Vote on Life-Destroying Embryonic Stem Cell Research This Week
6/4/2007
Tthe House will take up legislation to fund embryo-destructive research this week. S.5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, will be considered. A similar measure, H.R. 3, passed the House earlier this year. Please contact your Representative today and urge opposition to any stem cell research which destroys human life!
The House Passes S.5, Bill to allow Federal Funding for the Destruction of Human Embryos for Research
6/7/2007
The House of Representatives voted in favor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, S. 5, which proposes to expand the number of human embryonic stem cells eligible for federally-funded research. See how your representative voted here. The process of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) typically produces more embryos than are needed for fertility treatments. Approximately 400,000 frozen embryos are now stored in fertility clinics. S. 5 would enable these frozen embryos to be donated for embryonic stem cell research and be eligible for federal research funds.
Although many scientists report that current limitations established by the Bush Administration in August 2001 impede promising research, for the past 20 years, embryonic stem cell research has failed to produce a single cure or treatment. In fact, not only does embryonic stem cell research require extensive time and money, the results occurring in animal embryonic testing has produced abnormal cell growth resulting in cancer and worsening medical conditions. On the other hand, adult stem cell research has already produced treatments for over 70 diseases including sickle cell anemia, brain injuries, spina bifida, Parkinson's disease and has saved over 20,000 Americans.
Encourage your Congressman today to support federal funding of adult stem cell research, which has already produced successful and effective results, rather than research that destroys human life.
Bush Vetoes Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research
6/20/2007
President Bush vetoed a stem cell bill for the second time, asking scientists to pursue "ethically responsible" research in their field. The Senate bill he vetoed Wednesday would have allowed federal dollars to support embryonic stem cell research, as well as increased the number of frozen embryos available to scientists for research purposes.
Announcing his veto, Bush stated: "If this legislation became law, it would compel American taxpayers for the first time in our history to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos. I made it clear to Congress and to the American people that I will not allow our nation to cross this moral line." Click here to watch the President's speech.
President Bush’s executive order encourages scientists to work with the government to pursue other kinds of stem cell research eligible for federal funding – research that does not create, harm or destroy human embryos. President Bush noted: "Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical, and it is not the only option before us."
Read the President's letter to Congress and his new Executive Order here [pdf].
House Reverses Ban on Foreign Aid to Overseas Abortion Providers
6/21/2007
Pro-abortion leadership in the House succeeded in narrowly passing a measure today to supply contraceptive aids to international abortion-promoting organizations, an action previously banned by the pro-life Mexico City Policy. Under the Mexico City Policy, foreign organizations could only receive federal aid if they agreed to not promote or provide abortion as a method of family planning.
Pro-Life Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) sponsored an amendment to restore the pro-life Mexico City Policy and keep taxpayer dollars away from organizations like International Planned Parenthood. The amendment failed by a vote of 218-205. Click here to see how your representative voted.
President Bush strongly supports the Mexico City Policy and has promised to veto all attempts to alter pro-life measures in foreign aid policy.
Labor-HHS Provisions Attempt to Undermine Bush’s Veto
6/22/2007
Hoping to undermine the president’s veto of the embryonic stem cell research bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee added embryonic stem cell legislation to a must-pass appropriations bill for the Labor and Health and Human Services departments.
The provision, proposed by Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), allows taxpayer dollars to contribute to research on human embryonic stem cell lines derived before June 15, 2007. This date extends by almost six years the date President Bush implemented in 2001 for federal funding of embryonic research. The provision’s language opens about 400 cell lines to federally funded research.
Pro-Life Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) opposed the bill in committee after Harkin added the anti-life language. Now the bill heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Cord Blood Program Fully Funded by Smith/Davis Amendment
7/20/2007
Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Artur Davis (R-AL) proposed an amendment to the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill that passed by voice vote in the House on Wednesday. The Labor-HHS bill contains many pro-life provisions and this particular amendment increases funding from just under $4 million to $15 million for programs that collect life-saving cord blood stem cells.
In a little over a year, six cord blood banks across the county, the National Marrow Donor Program, and the Medical College of Wisconsin have worked together to establish the first ever national cord blood collection program. The program serves as an access center for patients and doctors to contract with cord blood banks to create an inventory large enough for the nation. The number of units collected and made available to patients directly depends on Congress appropriating these funds. Six cord banks received contracts in 2006 to collect, store, and provide cord blood units to doctors, patients, and researchers. These banks provide stem cells from umbilical cord blood, for example, providing ethical, non-controversial treatments for thousands of Americans.
Stem Cells are the building blocks of our blood and immune systems. They are found throughout the body, specifically in bone marrow, cord blood and peripheral blood. They are particularly powerful because they have the ability to treat, repair and/or replace damaged cells in the body. This exciting area of research holds great potential with reported breakthroughs in Type I diabetes, lung disease and injuries, heart attacks, leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and many other diseases. Studies involving cord blood stem cells, in particular, have demonstrated the ability to treat and mitigate the condition of over 70 diseases. (New York Blood Center) Furthermore, there have been approximately 8,000 successful cord blood stem cell transplants world wide in the last two years. (US News and World Report, May, 2007).
The Smith/Davis amendment passed by the House on Wednesday will enable the FY 08 authorized amounts to be met, thus providing greater funding for life-saving treatments and expansion of programs that research cord blood transplant therapy.
Rep. Schmidt Offers Amendment to Keep Taxpayer Dollars Away from Planned Parenthood Clinics that Cover Up Sexual Abuse
7/19/2007
This week the House considered amendments to the Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations bill, including an amendment proposed by Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) addressing the issue of abuse reporting and Title X clinics that were receiving federal funds. Unfortunately the amendment was ruled out of order, and no vote was taken.
Despite this outcome, the SBA List applauds Rep. Schmidt's efforts to draw attention to the growing problem of sexual abuse cover-ups at Planned Parenthood clinics. It's unfortunate that someone even has to raise the red flag on this one -- the ignorance of abuse of young girls is appalling, and stopping taxpayer funds from going toward clinics that break reporting laws should be a no-brainer.
Senators Brownback and Vitter Call for the Suspension of Federal Funding for Abortion
11/8/2007
In the wake of recent charges filed against Planned Parenthood, Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and David Vitter (R-LA) are taking a stand in Congress.
On November 6th, both senators sent a letter to Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations, and Rep. David Obey, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. In this letter, they urged for the removal of all federal funding given to abortion promoting groups, most notably Planned Parenthood.
The Senators reference recent examples of why these organizations should not receive taxpayer dollars, such as Planned Parenthood’s failure to comply with basic medical reporting requirements and its performance of illegal late-term abortions in some states. Click here to read more in the letter.
In October, a new amendment, S.A.3330 to H.R.3043, the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, was proposed addressing this same issue, but unfortunately it failed. However, because of recent developments and evidence regarding Planned Parenthood’s failure to comply with several state laws, Sen. Brownback and Sen. Vitter are urging that funding be suspended at the least while these accusations are more fully investigated.
Several senators joined Senators Brownback and Vitter in signing this letter. Those senators are Jim Bunning (R-KY), John Barrasso (R-WY), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), James Inhofe (R-OK), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Trent Lott (R-MS), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Pat Roberts (R-KS), and John Thune (R-SD).