This week the House will address federal funding of abortion in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act- more commonly known as ObamaCare. The Protect Life Act (H.R. 358), sponsored by pro-life stalwarts Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) would prohibit federal funds from going toward any health care plan that covers abortion. The measure would also provide conscience protection for providers who decline to participate in abortion.
House Speaker John Boehner vowed on Friday, while speaking at the Values Voters Summit, that Republicans will continue to press to make the provisions “the law of the land.” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had a different message for pro-abortion advocates at a NARAL fundraiser in Chicago, where she accused Republicans of wanting to roll back the clock in comprehensive health care. Said Sebelius, “We’ve come a long way in women’s health over the last few decades, but we are in war.”
As you may recall, ObamaCare was pushed through in 2010, despite vehement objections from the American people, without adequate restrictions on federal funding for abortion. A meaningless promise of an executive order was enough to convince some so-called pro-life members (such as Sen. Ben Nelson and Rep. Bart Stupak) to cave on life.
The Protect Life Act is so important because it will ensure that the American taxpayers are not paying for abortion through ObamaCare. Americans know what abortion is and know that abortion is NOT health care; no matter how many times Secretary Sebelius tries to tell us that it is. The American people need more than an executive order, a promise, or a handshake to believe that Life will be protected and that taxpayers will not be forced to be complicit in the abortion industry. America needs the Protect Life Act.
