The fight against our rights has taken a nasty turn since the the 112th Congress came into session.
There are three pieces of legislation in the committee stage
HR-3 No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
HR 217 Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act
HR 358 Protect Life Act
These three bills intend to make us mere bystanders in our own pregnancy, mere receptacles for the sacred sperm as it were; they also go much farther than that in that they all put our lives at risk.
Lets have a look at what these bills actually propose and who supports them, I'm using Open Congress as my main source.
This diary is meant to be a point of reference
HR-3
Official Summary
1/3/2011--Introduced.No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act - Prohibits the expenditure of funds authorized or appropriated by federal law or funds in any trust fund to which funds are authorized or appropriated by federal law (federal funds) for any abortion. Prohibits federal funds from being used for any health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. (Currently, federal funds cannot be used for abortion services and plans receiving federal funds must keep federal funds segregated from any funds for abortion services.) Disallows any tax benefits for amounts paid or incurred for an abortion or for a health benefits plan that includes coverage of abortion, including any medical deduction for such amounts or any credit for such an employer-sponsored plan. Prohibits the inclusion of abortion in any health care service furnished by a federal or District of Columbia health care facility or by any physician or other individual employed by the federal government or the District. Provides that such prohibitions shall not apply to an abortion if:
(1) the pregnancy is the result of forcible rape or, if the pregnant woman is a minor, incest; or
(2) the woman suffers from a physical disorder, injury, or illness, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, as certified by a physician. Makes such prohibitions applicable to District funds. Creates a cause of action for any violations of the abortion provisions of PPACA. Gives federal courts jurisdiction to prevent and redress actual or threatened violations of such provisions by issuing any form of legal or equitable relief, including an injunction or order preventing the disbursement of all or a portion of federal financial assistance until the prohibited conduct has ceased. Gives standing to institute an action to affected health care entities and the Attorney General. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive, investigate, and refer to the appropriate federal agency complaints alleging a violation of PPACA abortion provisions.
Those organizations supporting this legislation:
* American Family Association
* National Right to Life Committee
* Susan B. Anthony List
* Family Research Council
* Priests for Life
* United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
* Concerned Women for America
* Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles
Those organizations opposing this legislation
* National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
* Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
* Planned Parenthood Action
* NARAL Pro-Choice America
* National Council of Jewish Women
* Reproductive Health Technologies Project
* National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
* Catholics for Choice
* American Civil Liberties Union
HR-217
Official summary
1/7/2011--Introduced.Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Service (HHS) from providing any federal family planning assistance to an entity unless the entity certifies that, during the period of such assistance, the entity will not perform, and will not provide any funds to any other entity that performs, an abortion. Excludes an abortion where:
(1) the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or an act of incest against a minor; or
(2) a physician certifies that the woman suffered from a physical disorder, injury, or illness that would place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy. Excludes hospitals from such requirement so long as the hospital does not provide funds to any non-hospital entity that performs an abortion. Requires the Secretary to annually provide Congress:
(1) information on grantees who performed abortions under the exceptions; and
(2) a list of entities to which grant funds are made available.
Organizations Supporting this legislation
* Federalist Society
* National Right to Life Committee
* American Christian Lobbyist Association
Those organizations opposing this legislation
* Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism
* NARAL Pro-Choice America
* Engender Health
* People for the American Way
HR 358
Official Summary
1/20/2011--Introduced.Protect Life Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to prohibit federal funds from being to used to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion services. (Currently, federal funds cannot be used for abortion services and plans receiving federal funds must keep federal funds segregated from any funds for abortion services.) Requires any qualified health benefit plan offered through an Exchange that includes coverage for abortions to also offer a qualified health benefit plan through the Exchange that is identical in every respect except that it does not cover abortions. Prohibits a federal agency or program and any state or local government that receives federal financial assistance under PPACA from requiring any health plan created or regulated under PPACA to discriminate against any institutional or individual health care entity based on the entity's refusal to undergo training in the performance of induced abortions, require or provide such training, or refer for such training. Creates a cause of action for any violations of the abortion provisions of PPACA. Gives federal courts jurisdiction to prevent and redress actual or threatened violations of such provisions by issuing any form of legal or equitable relief, including injunctions and orders preventing the disbursement of all or a portion of federal financial assistance until the prohibited conduct has ceased. Gives standing to institute an action to affected health care entities and the Attorney General. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive and investigate complaints alleging a violation of PPACA abortion provisions. Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to ensure that no multistate qualified health plan offered in an Exchange provides coverage of abortion services.
So what do these proposed pieces of legislation actually propose?
HR-3
Intends to redefine rape and incest, the act of rape must reach a certain level of physical violence before an abortion can be the subject of state funding. There is no indication of just how beaten up you have to be to qualify. Incest involving adults is excluded there is no reference with respect to the history of the incest.
Who would be must vulnerable under HR-3?
Beyond the title’s hypocritical and not-so-subtle taxation, H.R. 3 would disadvantage an entire spectrum of women and families. From the brave women serving in our military overseas to federal employees and the poorest of our citizens, this bill directly aims to restrict access for those in need. Women in the military would be denied the right to privately pay for abortion procedures in military hospitals overseas.
HR 217
Is a blatant attack on our health care
The attack on Title X would do more than restrict abortion access, as Title X programs also offer family-planning services such as birth control and cancer screenings. Family planning services improve access to birth control, reducing rates of unintended pregnancy and reducing the need for abortion services. Attacks on family planning-services directly threaten women’s health by increasing their likelihood of having an unplanned pregnancy.
HR358
Designed to protect whose life? Certainly not ours.
H.R.358, named the "Protect Life Act" but increasingly dubbed by Pro-Choice bloggers the "Let Women Die Act" (or bill), would allow hospitals to let a pregnant woman die if saving her life meant terminating the pregnancy.
Here are some more proposals in the works:
S.314 - A bill to ensure that women seeking an abortion are fully informed regarding the pain experienced by their unborn child.
H.R.593 - To require States to report information on Medicaid payments to abortion providers.
S.121 - A bill to impose admitting privilege requirements with respect to physicians who perform abortions.
S.96 - A bill to amend title X of the Public Health Service Act to prohibit family planning grants from being awarded to any entity that performs abortions.
S.165 - A bill to amend the Public Health Services Act to prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in governmental activities.
S.167 - A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions.
Beginning to see a pattern, I sure am; they are trying anything they can to negate Roe v Wade and our health and safety are the least of their concerns.
These pieces of legislation put of lives and general health at risk and will allow care providers to let us die, this is the worst case of government interference in our lives in living memory. In fact it is a the worst case of patriarchal authoritarianism in generations.
Action
Help those organizations fighting this proposed legislation.
Support those members of congress fighting against them as well.
Write to those proposing putting our lives in danger and explain to them the reality of our lives no matter on which side of the aisle they lurk.