ACLJ Calls on Congress to Remove Abortion Services from National Health Care Legislation

“Abortion must never become a mandated ‘health benefit’ in our country.” - Jay Sekulow, ACLJ chief counsel

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2009—As congress continues its work on national health care legislation, the nation's leading conservative public interest law firm is urging legislators to act responsibly when defining "health benefits."  The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) today called on Congress to remove abortion as a mandatory health benefit provided in government and private insurance plans as Congress works on national health care legislation.

"Abortion must never become a mandated ‘health benefit' in our country," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ.  "The President Obama-backed health care package is certain to result in a disturbing change that will make abortion part of the mandatory health care services to be covered by both government and private insurance plans.  That's why it's so important for Congress to take the action required to keep abortion out of the category of mandated health benefits.  Congress must act to explicitly exclude abortion from any government mandated coverage or taxpayer funded health plan.  This open door must be closed.  We're confident the American people will understand the grave dangers of this legislation and demand that Congress exclude abortion from any mandated health coverage."
 

The ACLJ's analysis of the issue can be reviewed at:
www.aclj.org/media/pdf/HealthCareBill_and_AbortionMemo.pdf
www.aclj.org/media/pdf/HealthCareBill_and_AbortionPrivateMandateMemo.pdf
 

At the same time, the ACLJ is launching a national petition campaign urging Congress to approve an exclusion to prevent abortion services from becoming part of the mandated benefits provided under health care legislation. 
 

The petition is posted online at www.ACLJ.org.
 

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C.  The ACLJ is online at www.ACLJ.org.  The ACLJ's online newsroom - which includes high-resolution, downloadable graphics, principal bios and ACLJ fact sheets - can be accessed at www.DeMossNews.com/ACLJ.

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