"YES" on Disapproval Resolution of DC's Abortion Bill
"YES" on Disapproval Resolution of DC's Abortion Bill
This week, the House is supposed to vote on a disapproval resolution (H.J. Res. 43) related to the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014, which was passed by the District of Columbia Council in January. Introduced by Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.), the resolution would ensure pro-life individuals and organizations in the District of Columbia would not be forced to violate their religious beliefs or organizational missions.
The Heritage Foundation's Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D., and Sarah Torre explain the euphemistically named Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act "could force employers in the nation's capital to cover elective, surgical abortions in their health plans and require pro-life organizations to hire individuals who advocate for abortion."
Anderson and Torre continue:
The threat against conscience rights is serious for many organizations in D.C. like Americans United for Life, March for Life, Family Research Council and the Archdiocese of Washington, among others. Organizations whose mission is to empower women facing unplanned pregnancies with physical and emotional support or who advocate for policies that affirm the dignity and value of both mother and child in law could be forced to provide health insurance for the life-ending procedure they oppose.
Last year, California required religious organizations, religious schools and churches offering health insurance to include coverage of elective abortions. While Congress could not play a direct role in that egregious violation of religious liberty, the 1973 Home Rules Act gives it the authority to override bad policies enacted by the D.C. government.
Preventing the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment (RHNDA) from going into effect and restoring pro-life conscience by passing H.J. Res. 43 is important. Unfortunately the House is unwilling to fight to restore religious liberty protections in the District by passing H.J. Res. 44, which would block the implementation of DC's unconstitutional Human Rights Amendment Act.
Heritage Action supports H.J. Res. 43 and will include it as a key vote on our legislative scorecard.
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"YES" on Disapproval Resolution of DC's Abortion Bill