Pro-life leaders from across the country sent a letter Friday to House Speaker John Boehner urging him to take a stand for the conscience rights of all Americans.
Signed into law in March 2010, the so-called Affordable Care Act requires larger companies to offer health insurance to those who work 30 or more hours a week. The law's implementation will also mean taxpayers will be forced to contribute to an "abortion surcharge."
Mallory Quigley, communications director for Susan B. Anthony List, said Obamacare is the largest expansion of abortion on demand since Roe v. Wade.
"From the beginning of this health care debate, pro-lifers have had great cause for concern," Quigley explained. "Not only does Obamacare force taxpayers to subsidize health care plans that cover abortion on demand, there are not sufficient provisions to protect the rights of employers, health care workers, and other individuals."
Life advocates, representing more than 40 groups, asked the lawmaker to protect people from being forced pay for abortions — specifically, in any deals he makes with the White House regarding funding the government. They urge Boehner to include provisions of the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (HCCRA). Rep. Diane Black of Tennessee spearheaded the introduction of H.R. 940 in March.
Without the provisions in H.R. 940, the letter states, millions of Americans will be "unknowingly enrolled in health care plans that include elective abortion coverage"; these plans with charge enrollees an "abortion surcharge" of at least $1 a month.
"Regulations further contain a 'secrecy clause' to conceal the existence of the 'abortion surcharge' until the moment of enrollment," the letter continues. "This surcharge is only disclosed in the fine print, without itemization in the monthly premium, and is never disclosed again."
Advocates also mention the dangers of the Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate, a provision of the health care law. The mandate requires most businesses and nonprofits to offer potential abortion-inducing drugs in their employee health plans.
"Without relief," the letter continues, "these organizations will face up to millions of dollars in fines for conscientiously refusing to pay for coverage of abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, and sterilization."
More than 70 lawsuits against the mandate are in play.
HCCRA will protect Americans' most basic rights, said Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a Nebraska lawmaker, who introduced the bill with Black and Rep. John Fleming, M.D., of Louisiana.
"The bill simply restores the basic rights in health care that were widely accepted before the new health care law."
Contact: Bethany Monk, CitizenLink
