For immediate release: January 24, 2020
For more information: Laura Echevarria Office: 202.626.8825 mediarelations@nrlc.org
National Right to Life Committee Praises the Trump Administration for Protecting Conscience Rights
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced action to address California's violations of the Weldon Amendment in which the state has forced employers and health care providers to pay for abortions in health care plans.
"We thank the Trump Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services for protecting the rights of Californians who do not want to pay for or participate in health care plans that pay for abortions," said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. "It is morally abhorrent that the state of California forces its citizens to participate in plans that pay for abortions."
The Weldon Amendment states that funds may not be "made available to a Federal agency or program, or to a State or local government, if such agency, program, or government subjects any institutional or individual health care entity to discrimination on the basis that the health care entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions."
"Health care is designed to save lives and protect our health," Tobias continued. "The state of California's coercive policies have meant that nearly every health insurance plan, no matter if an individual works for a business, a church or religious school, is required to pay for an elective abortion."
Nothing in the Weldon Amendment prevents individuals from purchasing health insurance or health insurance riders that cover abortion. The amendment only prevents federal funds from being distributed to those entities that would force abortion coverage and thereby violate conscience rights.
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