The fight has just begun for pro-choice advocates all over the nation. The House of Representatives has introduced two new bills that are a direct attack on women’s reproductive rights. Debate on these bills has already begun, it is up to us to make sure our opposition is known. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 3) and Protect Life Act (HR 358), were separately introduced by GOP leaders. Together, they paint a grim image of the anti-abortion agenda in the new House. Both of these bills will drastically impede affordable access to abortion leaving low-income Latino communities at a serious disadvantage.
Currently, the Hyde Amendment prevents the use of federal funding to directly provide for abortion services. HR 3 would take federal policy one step further by preventing indirect funds to abortion services going as far as to discourage private insurance companies from paying for services.
It would deny tax credits to companies that offer health plans that cover abortion and it would block anybody with insurance that covers abortions from receiving federal subsidies, even if the abortion portion is paid separately with personal funds.
Prohibit a federal agency or program[…] that received federal financial assistance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 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 theperformance of induced abortions, require or provide such training or refer for such training.
This bill is directly in conflict with Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA). Under EMTALA (1986) an emergency medical facility has to provide services to a patient regardless of their ability to pay. If they cannot stabilize the patient they are obligated to refer the patient to an institution that can. It places a woman’s life in danger and allows for undue subjectivity of health care providers.
These new anti-abortion bills go too far, and make obvious their goal of eliminating access to abortion all together. NLIRH urges you and your friends and family to take action and make your opposition to these draconian abortion bills known!
