Official Bill Info

• Latest Action: Oct 17, 2011 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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• Committee Assignment: House Energy and Commerce

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce committee.
• Committee Assignment: House Energy and Commerce - Health

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce - Health committee.
• Committee Assignment: House Ways and Means

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Ways and Means committee.
• Committee Assignment: Senate Finance

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  This bill has been assigned to the Senate Finance committee.
This bill's most-recent vote occurred on October 13, 2011, with a roll call of 251 ayes, 172 nays, and 10 not voting.
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This bill's most-recent vote occurred on October 13, 2011, with a roll call of 251 ayes, 172 nays, and 10 not voting.

Bill Statistics on OpenCongress

Contribution Data

OpenCongress Bill Summary

• Amends the new health care law so that no federal money could be applied to health insurance plans that cover elective abortions, even if the abortion coverage is paid for entirely with private funds. It also states that a federal agency can not force a health care provider that accepts Medicare or Medicaid to provide abortion services, even in cases when the mother's life is endangered.

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  Here's a summary from OpenCongress.org: Amends the new health care law so that no federal money could be applied to health insurance plans that cover elective abortions, even if the abortion coverage is paid for entirely with private funds. It also states that a federal agency can not force a health care provider that accepts Medicare or Medicaid to provide abortion services, even in cases when the mother's life is endangered.

Supporting Organizations

• National Right to Life Committee

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• Family Research Council

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• Heritage Foundation

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• National Committee for a Human Life Amendment

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• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

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Opposing Organizations

• American Civil Liberties Union

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• Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

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• Jewish Council for Public Affairs

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• National Women's Law Center

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• NARAL Pro-Choice America

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• National Council of Jewish Women

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• Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

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• American Jewish World Service

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• Women of Reform Judaism

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• Union for Reform Judaism

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• National Organization for Women

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• United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

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• Rabbinical Assembly

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• Jewish Women International

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• Catholics for Choice

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• Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

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• National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association

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• Center for Reproductive Rights

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• B’nai Brith International

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• Central Conference of American Rabbis

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• Clergy Advisory Board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America

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• Concerned Clergy for Choice

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• Episcopal Women’s Caucus

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• Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc.

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• Institute for Welcoming Resources of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

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• Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

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• Keshet

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• Men of Reform Judaism

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• Muslims for Progressive Values

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• North American Federation of Temple Youth

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• Religious Institute

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• Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association

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• Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual

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• Women’s Rabbinic Network

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Most-commented sections of the bill text

• ‘(1) IN GENERAL- No funds authorized or appropriated by this Act (or an amendment made by this Act), including credits applied toward qualified health plans under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or cost-sharing reductions under section 1402 of this Act, may be used to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, except-- (3 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "‘(1) IN GENERAL- No funds authorized or appropriated by this Act (or an amendment made by this Act), including credits applied toward qualified health plans under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or cost-sharing reductions under section 1402 of this Act, may be used to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, except--",
• ‘(2) OPTION TO PURCHASE SEPARATE COVERAGE OR PLAN- Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as prohibiting any non-Federal entity (including an individual or a State or local government) from purchasing separate coverage for abortions for which funding is prohibited under this subsection, or a qualified health plan that includes such abortions, so long as-- (1 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "‘(2) OPTION TO PURCHASE SEPARATE COVERAGE OR PLAN- Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as prohibiting any non-Federal entity (including an individual or a State or local government) from purchasing separate coverage for abortions for which funding is prohibited under this subsection, or a qualified health plan that includes such abortions, so long as--",

Highest Rated User Comments

• On March 06, 2011, by spalmer8 - I believe life begins at conception, I am a Christian, I am a mom and yes I am Pro-Choice! The woman's life and the life of the fetus are combined and this type of legislation opens a bad can of worms. Why do Republicans and Tea Party Members think they can control a woman's body and yet make the claim against the Health Care bill saying governement is too intrusive? You can't have it both ways. Republicans want to eliminate almost all education, nutritional and health care programs to women and children and then want to force women to carry out pregnancies even if it is detrimental to the women's health or the woman is unable to care for the child. They don't offer any solutions to ensure a quality life for these children they are forcing into the world. Absolutely no forethought here. Woman will be forced back into the dark ages. Shoot this bill down!

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  As noted by spalmer8, a user on OpenCongress.org, on March 06, 2011, "I believe life begins at conception, I am a Christian, I am a mom and yes I am Pro-Choice! The woman's life and the life of the fetus are combined and this type of legislation opens a bad can of worms. Why do Republicans and Tea Party Members think they can control a woman's body and yet make the claim against the Health Care bill saying governement is too intrusive? You can't have it both ways. Republicans want to eliminate almost all education, nutritional and health care programs to women and children and then want to force women to carry out pregnancies even if it is detrimental to the women's health or the woman is unable to care for the child. They don't offer any solutions to ensure a quality life for these children they are forcing into the world. Absolutely no forethought here. Woman will be forced back into the dark ages. Shoot this bill down!"
• On April 08, 2011, by flash8898 - Love the fetus, hate the child... The repug's mantra as evidence by bills submitted. I don't get this hypocrisy, as well as it is not being very Christian. Thank you "spalmer8" for your comments. Very well put.

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  As noted by flash8898, a user on OpenCongress.org, on April 08, 2011, "Love the fetus, hate the child... The repug's mantra as evidence by bills submitted. I don't get this hypocrisy, as well as it is not being very Christian. Thank you "spalmer8" for your comments. Very well put."
• On October 13, 2011, by rhian116 - So, does the mother not also have a right to life if the fetus is threatening hers? What if it's a her life vs. the baby's life scenario? What if the mother is single, and the child would go into foster care should the mother die? What if the scenario is an ectopic pregnancy where BOTH lives would be lost? This bill is a joke because people with extreme beliefs, be they religious or otherwise, see no shades of gray- it's all black or white. People against abortion never consider if the one needing the abortion is a 12 year old that was impregnated by her father, or a 25 yr old impregnated by a rapist. What right do any of us have to further violate anyone's body, their life, by forcing a pregnancy they never wanted, asked for, or caused by any other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

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  As noted by rhian116, a user on OpenCongress.org, on October 13, 2011, "So, does the mother not also have a right to life if the fetus is threatening hers? What if it's a her life vs. the baby's life scenario? What if the mother is single, and the child would go into foster care should the mother die? What if the scenario is an ectopic pregnancy where BOTH lives would be lost? This bill is a joke because people with extreme beliefs, be they religious or otherwise, see no shades of gray- it's all black or white. People against abortion never consider if the one needing the abortion is a 12 year old that was impregnated by her father, or a 25 yr old impregnated by a rapist. What right do any of us have to further violate anyone's body, their life, by forcing a pregnancy they never wanted, asked for, or caused by any other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time? "

Highly Rated Blog Articles

• Autonomy Now! Part 1: The Progressive Dehumanization of Women - July 23, 2012 by Claire Rush - Some measures against abortion are so extreme, like Pennsylvania Republican Senator Joe Pitts' bill, H.R. 358, which pardons hospitals and medical professionals from legal responsibility if they refuse to perform an abortion ...

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  As noted by Claire Rush on July 23, 2012, "Some measures against abortion are so extreme, like Pennsylvania Republican Senator Joe Pitts' bill, H.R. 358, which pardons hospitals and medical professionals from legal responsibility if they refuse to perform an abortion ..." (/url?q=http://www.freedomwriters.ca/2012/07/23/autonomy-now-part-1-the-progressive-dehumanization-of-women/&sa=U&ei=8_gOUP2DCoaC2gW4wIGQDA&ved=0CEAQmAEwBw&usg=AFQjCNFwGgsQy0YWoLrVOM5wPIkUJwYQmA)
• NRLC Letter to Congress on the Repeal of Obamacare Act - July 11, 2012 by The Illinois Federation for Right to Life - More detailed discussion of the pro-abortion provisions of Obamacare can be found in NRLC's 2011 testimony in support of the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358): http://www.nrlc.org/AHC/ProtectLifeActDouglasJohnsonTestimony.pdf ...

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  As noted by The Illinois Federation for Right to Life on July 11, 2012, "More detailed discussion of the pro-abortion provisions of Obamacare can be found in NRLC's 2011 testimony in support of the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358): http://www.nrlc.org/AHC/ProtectLifeActDouglasJohnsonTestimony.pdf ..." (/url?q=http://ifrl-blog.blogspot.com/2012/07/nrlc-letter-to-congress-on-repeal-of.html&sa=U&ei=Kf4CUObOMfTW2wXpvojdAw&ved=0CEgQmAEwCQ&usg=AFQjCNGFkVARY4E0fjeVvhpwiYrOLv870Q)
• NRLC Letter to Congress on the Repeal of Obamacare Act - July 11, 2012 by The Illinois Federation for Right to Life - More detailed discussion of the pro-abortion provisions of Obamacare can be found in NRLC's 2011 testimony in support of the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358): http://www.nrlc.org/AHC/ProtectLifeActDouglasJohnsonTestimony.pdf ...

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  As noted by The Illinois Federation for Right to Life on July 11, 2012, "More detailed discussion of the pro-abortion provisions of Obamacare can be found in NRLC's 2011 testimony in support of the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358): http://www.nrlc.org/AHC/ProtectLifeActDouglasJohnsonTestimony.pdf ..." (/url?q=http://ifrl-blog.blogspot.com/2012/07/nrlc-letter-to-congress-on-repeal-of.html&sa=U&ei=EQ3_T4fIHIro2QW0kvXoBA&ved=0CCwQmAEwAw&usg=AFQjCNHTQ7DdQ95LsuMy2w1Krb7oxvKvrQ)

Highly Rated News Articles

• “New Life” Trumps “Existing Life” in the Modern Republican Party - August 23, 2012 by Reproductive Health: Reality Check - ...the Weyrich legacy of indifference to real women’s lives has recently reappeared is the Orwellian-named “Protect Life Act,” (H.R.358) passed by Congress in fall 2011 by a vote of 251-272, including 15 Democrats who voted with the majority. This bi

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  As noted by Reproductive Health: Reality Check on August 23, 2012, "...the Weyrich legacy of indifference to real women’s lives has recently reappeared is the Orwellian-named “Protect Life Act,” (H.R.358) passed by Congress in fall 2011 by a vote of 251-272, including 15 Democrats who voted with the majority. This bi" (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rhrealitycheck/~3/uM_JfsvERAo/%E2%80%9Cnew-life%E2%80%9D-trumps-%E2%80%9Cexisting-life%E2%80%9D-in-modern-republican-party)
• After Obamacare Court Ruling Lots of Pro-Life Work To Do - July 06, 2012 by LifeNews.com - Corrective legislation—the “Respect for Rights of Conscience Act” (H.R. 1179, S. 1467) and the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358, S. 877)—has already been introduced in Congress, and H.R. 358 has already passed in the House. Learn more about ...

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  As noted by LifeNews.com on July 06, 2012, "Corrective legislation—the “Respect for Rights of Conscience Act” (H.R. 1179, S. 1467) and the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358, S. 877)—has already been introduced in Congress, and H.R. 358 has already passed in the House. Learn more about ..." (http://www.lifenews.com/2012/07/06/after-obamacare-court-ruling-lots-of-pro-life-work-to-do/)
• Supreme Court Overturning Obamacare Would be Big Pro-Life Win - June 12, 2012 by LifeNews.com - They are: The “Protect Life Act.” H.R. 358 /S. 877 modifies the ACA to comprehensively prohibit both funding for abortion and insurance coverage for abortion through the law.  The Protect Life Act also strengthens the conscience protections ...

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  As noted by LifeNews.com on June 12, 2012, "They are: The “Protect Life Act.” H.R. 358 /S. 877 modifies the ACA to comprehensively prohibit both funding for abortion and insurance coverage for abortion through the law.  The Protect Life Act also strengthens the conscience protections ..." (http://www.lifenews.com/2012/06/12/supreme-court-overturning-obamacare-would-be-big-pro-life-win/)