This is a congressional alert from the National Right to Life Committee in Washington, D.C., issued September 16, 2002. Immediate action is required, because the U.S. House probably will vote on the pro-life legislation described below on September 25 or 26.

On or about September 25 or September 26, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to consider a critical bill to protect the right of hospitals, doctors, nurses, insurers, and other "health care entities" from being coerced into participation in abortion. The Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA), H.R. 4691, sponsored by Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-Fl.) is necessary to clarify and strengthen a law enacted in 1996 (the Coats-Snowe law, 42 U.S.C. 238n) to protect the conscience rights of those who choose not to cover, pay for, or otherwise participate in the killing of innocent, unborn children.

Since Congress' enactment of the 1996 law, pro-abortion groups have been actively engaged in a concerted campaign to coerce hospitals and other health care providers, both religiously affiliated and secular, to provide, facilitate, or pay for abortions. Although the 1996 law was passed to prevent any "health care entity" from being forced to perform, train, or refer for abortion, it has been attacked by pro-abortion activist groups and narrowly construed by the courts.

Stronger conscience protection is urgently needed. For example,the Alaska Supreme Court has demanded that a private, non-sectarian hospital perform elective late second-trimester abortions, despite the hospital's policy against performing elective abortions. At the behest of abortion rights groups, the New Hampshire attorney general derailed a hospital merger when it became clear that the hospital would no longer perform elective abortions. Pressured by a pro-abortion group, the Connecticut state government refused a certificate of need to a proposed outpatient surgery center because it declined to perform abortions.

Before the House of Representatives can debate and vote on the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, Members must first pass the "rule" for the bill. (The "rule" determines which amendments may be considered by the House.) A "closed rule" is desirable because it would protect the bill from deceptively worded amendments intended to nullify its effect.

After the House passes the "rule" for ANDA, pro-abortion lawmakers will offer a "motion to recommit," which will be some sort of amendment to gut the bill. A vote to support the "motion to recommit" would be a vote to deny conscience protection for health care workers.

Pro-life citizens should urge House members to vote to protect the bill by (1) voting for the "rule", and (2) voting to defeat the hostile "motion to recommit." A short way to say it: "Please support the bill on all procedural votes, and on final passage."

Action Required

Grassroots pro-life citizens can use the "Legislative Action Center" at the NRLC website (www.nrlc.org) to send an e-mail to any U.S. Representative, urging him or her to support the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act on procedural votes and on final passage. Please include a mailing address and make it clear that you are a constituent.

For Further Information

See also the NRLC letter to House members.

Virginia representatives who are co-sponsoring this bill are Jo Ann Davis (R-1), Ed Schrock (R-2), Randy Forbes (R-4), Virgil Goode (R-5), Eric Cantor (R-7), and Tom Davis (R-11). Please thank them for their sponsorship of this bill. Ask the other Virginia representatives to be sure to support the bill.

To see a list of other cosponsors of ANDA and to follow the progress of the bill, go to the NRLC website at www.nrlc.org within the "Legislative Action Center," under "Issues and Legislation" (www.capwiz.com/nrlc/issues/bills/?bill=208506).

If you obtain feedback from any congressional office on a House member's position on ANDA, please forward it to the NRLC Federal Legislative Department at e-mail: Legfederal@aol.com, fax (202) 347-3668, or phone (202) 626-8820.

VSHL is the Virginia affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.