Americans United for Life: Rep. Ellsworth's Proposal Does Not Prevent Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform

Americans United for Life: Rep. Ellsworth's Proposal Does Not Prevent Abortion
Funding in Health Care Reform

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the House Rules
Committee announced that the "rule" for considering the sweeping health care
legislation will encompass the language put forward by Rep. Brad Ellsworth,
D-Ind. that the House leadership is falsely describing as pro-life. By
allowing the Ellsworth language, House Democratic leaders hope to address the
reluctance of pro-life Democrats to vote for the health bill.

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO of Americans United for Life said, "The
Ellsworth Amendment will explicitly authorize federally funded abortions in
the public option. Putting a pro-life label on the amendment doesn't change
that fact. The only way to ensure that health care reform does not mandate
abortion funding and coverage is to include explicit language similar to the
Hyde Amendment, such as the Stupak-Pitts Amendment."

The Ellsworth proposal does not alter the provisions in H.R. 3962 that
explicitly allow federal funding of abortion through the public option, and
permit federal subsidies to go to private insurance plans that cover abortion.
The Ellsworth language simply provides details for how funds will be
segregated, and that they will be distributed by an independent contractor.

Americans United for Life's legal analysis of H.R. 3962 is explained in detail
here.

Americans United for Life is the first national pro-life organization in
America. In 1980, AUL successfully defended the Hyde Amendment before the U.S.
Supreme Court in Harris v. McRae. Visit AUL Action's
RealHealthCareRespectsLife.com, for background from our legal team about the
current health care reform bills threat to the right to life and rights of
conscience.

SOURCE Americans United for Life

Heather Smith of Americans United for Life, +1-202-741-4902, +1-202-270-9962,
Heather.Smith@aul.org