As we forge ahead to November, it's important to remember why we put so much emphasis on elections: when a pro-life majority takes back Congress, we will be able stop anti-Life laws in their tracks, and pass legislation to truly protect the unborn.
While we work to elect more pro-life representatives, we must continue to support the wonderful pro-life Members of Congress currently serving, who work every day to protect Life. Here are some of the pro-life laws these stalwarts have been working on:
The Protect Life Act (H.R. 5111)—Rep. Joe Pitts (PA-16)
- Because so called "pro-life" Democrats gave in to President Obama's ineffective executive order in the last hours of the health care debate, this bill is necessary to make sure no federal funds or subsidies go toward abortion.
- This bill would ensure that no federal funds go toward elective abortion, prevent any federal agency from mandating abortion, and protect the consciences of healthcare workers in the health care bill.
- Currently this bill has 108 bi-partisan co-sponsors.
Codification of the Hyde Amendment—It is essential that pro-life legislators work to make the Hyde Amendment, and similar pro-life riders, permanent law.
- The current pro-abortion Administration and Congress are trying to chip away at pro-life provisions while they still have power. This was made clear during the health care debate.
- Because they must be renewed each year, pro-life appropriations riders such as the Hyde Amendment, can easily be removed from legislation.
- If these riders are made permanent law, it will take a lot more effort to get rid of them.
- Making the Hyde Amendment permanent law is one of Susan B. Anthony List's top priorities.
The Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2010 (H.R. 5276)—Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04)
- The bill ensures that women who are seeking an abortion are made aware that a child may be able to feel pain at 20 weeks of gestation and allows a woman to choose anesthesia for the baby if they decide to go through with the procedure.
- A Fetal Pain bill recently became law in Nebraska drawing attention to this important issue.
It is essential for pro-life voters to stay engaged through November and beyond, when we will have a real chance to accomplish all the goals outlined above. In the meantime, here's a look at two of the most time sensitive issues facing the pro-life movement right now:
Elena Kagan's Supreme Court confirmation hearings—The Senate Judiciary Committee is preparing for Elena Kagan's confirmation hearings. Ms. Kagan has made many concerning statements in the past regarding abortion.
- She publicly criticized a 1991 Supreme Court ruling, Rust v. Sullivan that upheld the right of the Department of Health and Human Services to restrict funding from groups that performed or promoted abortion.
- While clerking for avidly pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, she suggested the Supreme Court not review a case regarding taxpayer funding of prisoners' abortions even though she thought the case had some legal flaws because "this case is likely to become the vehicle that this Court uses to create some very bad law on abortion."
- She advised President Clinton to support the Daschle Amendment to the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act in order to give the President cover when he rejected the overall bill.
- Senators on the Judiciary Committee must ask Kagan tough questions to get at the heart of her judicial philosophy.
Department of Defense Authorization bill—The Senate will soon vote on this authorization bill, which contains a provision to allow elective abortion to be performed on domestic and international military bases.
- This is a drastic change from current military protocol
- If elective abortion is permitted on military bases, your tax dollars will be used to pay abortion practitioners, purchase abortion equipment, and fund facilities where abortions are performed.
- We do not want military hospitals to become abortion mills domestically or abroad.
- Medical facilities on military bases are meant to be places of healing not destruction and death.
In order to protect the most unborn lives we must elect pro-life leaders and then stay engaged to ensure genuine, pro-life legislation is passed. John, please take action now by using the Susan B. Anthony List action center to contact your Representative and Senators. The lives of countless unborn children are depending on us.
| With you in this fight for Life, | |||
 | |||
| |||
| | |||
| Marjorie Dannenfelser President, Susan B. Anthony List www.sba-list.org |
