Protect Life: Tell the House to vote NO on H.R. 3162
This week -- probably on Wednesday or Thursday -- the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a bill (H.R. 3162) to reauthorize the federal government's State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover health care insurance for children in families with moderately low-incomes. The 1997 SCHIP program authorized $40 billion over 10 years. The House bill would expand this program and cost over $200 billion over the next 10 years. In 2002 the President's Administration issued a regulation that defined a "child" as being from conception to 18 years of age, a regulation that is known as the "unborn child rule." This regulation allowed States the option of covering the health care of the unborn child and has the benefit of covering the pregnant woman's health care as well.
Unfortunately, pro-abortion forces oppose any reference to unborn children, and as they did during the battle over the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, they prefer instead to refer to "pregnant women." The new House bill changes the SCHIP program to cover health insurance for a "pregnant woman," rather than cover the child in the womb. This would undermine the "unborn child rule" and could possibly allow funding for abortions in those States that include abortion as part of their Medicaid health coverage for pregnant women. Also, Medicaid has allowed States the flexibility to exclude controversial procedures like abortion or sterilization from the taxpayer funded program. The House bill contains language that actually forces States to cover "family planning" services as part of their Medicaid programs, which could be a huge financial boon to Planned Parenthood. To add insult to injury, the bill contains a provision to gut the Title V abstinence-only education program.
Please contact your Representatives and let them know that you strongly oppose H.R. 3162. Call right away at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Representative's office.
Thank you and God bless you.
Sincerely,
Tony Perkins, President
Family Research Council
