Right to Life of Michigan is working at both the federal and state levels to protect your rights of conscience in regards to health care. A recent mandate by President Obama's Administration has caused grave concern over conscience protection and religious freedom. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate will force all employers to provide the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives including those that may cause early abortions. In addition, the same provision could be used in the future to mandate abortion coverage.
Learn how Right to Life of Michigan is helping to protect your conscience rights at the federal and state levels. At the federal level, your help is needed to contact Senator Levin and Senator Stabenow.
Federal Level
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote soon on a vital prolife amendment offered by Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) to a highway bill that is pending on the Senate floor. The text of the Blunt Amendment consists of the language taken from a National Right to Life Committee endorsed bill, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (S. 1467, H.R. 1179). It would amend the national health care law to prevent the imposition of regulatory mandates that violate the religious or moral convictions of those who purchase or provide health insurance.
This debate is not limited to the specific parameters of the birth-control mandate. The exact same statutory authority could be used by the Administration -- as early as next year -- to mandate that all health plans pay for elective abortion on demand.
The most likely time frame for the vote now appears to be the week of February 27.
Action Item: Contact Senator Carl Levin and Senator Debbie Stabenow today. The simple message is: "Please protect my conscience rights by supporting the Blunt Amendment, No. 1520, to the highway bill, S. 1813."
Senator Carl Levin (D)
269 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6221
Web Site for online comment: https://www.levin.senate.gov/contact/email/
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D)
133 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4822
Web Site for online comment: http://www.stabenow.senate.gov/?p=contact
State Level
At the state level, law makers are addressing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate that assaults conscience rights and religious freedom. House Resolution 185 passed the House Government Operations Committee and the Michigan House of Representatives on February 15.
Right to Life of Michigan supported House Resolution 185 because it calls on the Obama Administration to rescind the HHS mandate and it urges Congress to pass the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act.
In addition to the House Resolution, Sen. John Moolenaar introduced legislation to protect conscience rights and religious freedom in Michigan.
Senate Bill 975 would establish the Religious Liberty and Conscience Protection Act in Michigan.
Right to Life of Michigan will continue to keep you up-to-date on federal and state legislative initiatives to protect innocent human life and rights of conscience.
