Americans United for Life Urges HHS to Retain Conscience Rule

CHICAGO, April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans United for Life (AUL)
today filed comments with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
supporting the retention of a December 2008 rule providing a much-needed
enforcement mechanism for federal laws protecting healthcare freedom of
conscience.

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, AUL President & CEO stated, "Congress has a 36-year
history of passing laws to protect healthcare freedom of conscience. This
rule simply provides HHS and the Administration with the means to fulfill
their sworn constitutional duty to properly enforce these laws."

On March 10, 2009, HHS announced its intention to rescind the rule enacted in
the final months of the Bush Administration. The rule is opposed by
pro-abortion groups, who included a demand for its repeal in a 55-page
memorandum to the Obama Transition Team in December 2008--arguing it limits
access to the full range of reproductive healthcare.

AUL Vice President of Legal Affairs Denise Burke remarked, "Comprehensive
conscience protections and proper enforcement of existing federal laws will
help ensure access to quality medical care for all Americans."

Burke continued, "While the majority of federal conscience laws are intended
to protect those who decline to participate in abortions, some also protect
those who choose to perform them. It is, therefore, incredibly short-sighted
for abortion advocates to actively lobby against the enforcement of these
protections."

AUL's comments urging the retention of the HHS conscience rule are available
at: http://www.aul.org/HHS_Comments

About Americans United for Life
Americans United for Life (AUL) is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy
organization whose vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life
and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America,
AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial,
legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels
since 1971. The Wall Street Journal has profiled AUL, and PBS' Frontline
program chronicled AUL's successful efforts in Mississippi.

SOURCE Americans United For Life

Matthew Eppinette of Americans United For Life, +1-202-289-1479,
matthew.eppinette@aul.org