Protect Life Act
Encyclopedia
The Protect Life Act is a bill introduced to the 112th United States Congress
in the House of Representatives
by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA
). The bill has 121 co-sponsors, including 6 Democrats. It would make several amendments to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
.
The bill was initially referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health, of which Pitts is the ranking majority member. The committee approved it 33 to 19.
On October 13, 2011, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the bill; however, it was judged unlikely to pass the Democratic Senate, and President Obama stated that he would veto it if it reached his desk.
These provisions match those included in an amendment to the PPACA adopted by the House in 2009 but not included in the final language.
(D-CA
) described her experience of a miscarriage that necessitated a therapeutic abortion, saying "I was pregnant, I was miscarrying, I was bleeding...If I had to go from one hospital to the next trying to find one emergency room that would take me in, who knows if I would even be here today."
and the Family Research Council
praised the bill for its limitations on abortion. Pro-choice organizations including NARAL Pro-Choice America
, the National Abortion Federation
, and the Center for Reproductive Rights
stated that the bill would allow hospitals to deny women abortions necessary to save their lives in cases where continuing the pregnancy would kill them. Nancy Keenan
of NARAL and Nancy Northup
of the Center for Reproductive Rights both suggested that these provisions would overrule the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act
(EMTALA), which sets out a minimum standard of care for hospitals receiving patients in critical condition.
112th United States Congress
The One Hundred Twelfth United States Congress is the current meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011, and will end on January...
in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
). The bill has 121 co-sponsors, including 6 Democrats. It would make several amendments to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
.
The bill was initially referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health, of which Pitts is the ranking majority member. The committee approved it 33 to 19.
On October 13, 2011, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the bill; however, it was judged unlikely to pass the Democratic Senate, and President Obama stated that he would veto it if it reached his desk.
Provisions
- Ban the use of federal funds to cover any costs of any health care plan that covers abortions. (This would extend previous restrictions on abortion coverage, which currently ban the use of federal funds for abortionHyde AmendmentIn U.S. politics, the Hyde Amendment is a legislative provision barring the use of certain federal funds to pay for abortions. It is not a permanent law, rather it is a "rider" that, in various forms, has been routinely attached to annual appropriations bills since 1976...
and require federal funds and abortion-related funds to be kept separate.) Require the Office of Personnel ManagementOffice of Personnel ManagementThe United States Office of Personnel Management is an independent agency of the United States government that manages the civil service of the federal government. The current Director is John Berry.-History:...
director to make sure no health plans that fall under the Exchange cover abortions. - Require any entity offering, through a federal exchange, a health care plan that covers abortions to also offer an otherwise identical one that does not cover abortions.
- Prohibit government agencies from "discriminating"Conscience Clause (medical)Conscience clauses are clauses in laws in some parts of the United States which permit pharmacists, physicians, and other providers of health care not to provide certain medical services for reasons of religion or conscience. Those who choose not to provide services may not be disciplined or...
against health care providers who refuse to undergo, require, provide, or refer for training to perform abortions. - Allow remedies to be sought in court for violations of PPACA abortion provisions.
These provisions match those included in an amendment to the PPACA adopted by the House in 2009 but not included in the final language.
Floor debate
During the House of Representatives floor debate, Rep. Jackie SpeierJackie Speier
Karen Lorraine Jacqueline "Jackie" Speier is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2008. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County and the southwest quarter of San Francisco.She is also a former member of the California State...
(D-CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) described her experience of a miscarriage that necessitated a therapeutic abortion, saying "I was pregnant, I was miscarrying, I was bleeding...If I had to go from one hospital to the next trying to find one emergency room that would take me in, who knows if I would even be here today."
Reactions
The United States Conference of Catholic BishopsUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
and the Family Research Council
Family Research Council
The Family Research Council is a conservative or right-wing Christian group and lobbying organization formed in the United States in 1981 by James Dobson. It was fully incorporated in 1983...
praised the bill for its limitations on abortion. Pro-choice organizations including NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America , formerly the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, then National Abortion Rights Action League, and later National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, is an organization in the United States that engages in political action to oppose...
, the National Abortion Federation
National Abortion Federation
The National Abortion Federation is an organization of abortion providers. Though originally a U.S. group, NAF has expanded to include practitioners in Canada and Australia as well as many European countries and Mexico...
, and the Center for Reproductive Rights
The Center for Reproductive Rights
The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization that uses constitutional and international law to secure women's right to an abortion in over 45 countries....
stated that the bill would allow hospitals to deny women abortions necessary to save their lives in cases where continuing the pregnancy would kill them. Nancy Keenan
Nancy Keenan
Nancy Keenan is the current president of the United States-based reproductive/abortion rights organization NARAL Pro-Choice America....
of NARAL and Nancy Northup
Nancy Northup
Nancy Northup is the President of The Center for Reproductive Rights, in New York City. The Center is a reproductive rights organization that uses constitutional and international law to secure women's reproductive freedom including abortion rights in over 45 countries.-Personal:Ms. Northup was...
of the Center for Reproductive Rights both suggested that these provisions would overrule the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act is a U.S. Act of Congress passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act . It requires hospitals to provide care to anyone needing emergency healthcare treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to...
(EMTALA), which sets out a minimum standard of care for hospitals receiving patients in critical condition.