July 21, 2009
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500-0004
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing today on behalf of Americans United for Life Action to request a meeting with you to discuss our deep concerns over the major health-care reform proposals moving through the United States Congress. Abortion is not health care and does not belong in health-care reform. We will oppose any bill that (1) fails to explicitly exclude both abortion funding and mandatory abortion coverage, and (2) fails to protect the rights of conscience for all Americans.
Both H.R. 3200 and the Senate HELP Committee “Affordable Health Choices Act” would delegate to bureaucratic committees the role of determining the minimum benefits that any private or public healthcare plan must offer. Courts have broadly interpreted the “mandatory categories of care” within Medicaid – such as “family planning,” “outpatient services,” “inpatient services,” and “physician services” — to include abortion. Therefore, there is little doubt that courts will also include abortion within such categories in any healthcare reform bill unless abortion is expressly excluded. Your White House Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag stated on July 19, 2009 that he was “not prepared to rule [taxpayer-funded abortion] out.” Furthermore, amendments that would have ensured that abortion was not included have been defeated in Congressional committees in the past week, buttressing our belief that the bills are intended to include abortion.
Additionally, any health-care reform bill that moves forward must expressly protect the rights of conscience for all Americans, whether or not they are health-care providers. No health-care provider should under any circumstances be forced to participate in abortion or subjected to discrimination for choosing not to perform abortions. Furthermore, no private insurer should under any circumstances be forced to pay for abortion. Nor should the American taxpayer who is conscientiously opposed to the killing of unborn life be forced to fund abortions.
The majority of Americans are pro-life, and over 70% oppose taxpayer-funded abortion. While Americans face economic uncertainty on a daily basis, it is unconscionable to force them to pay for abortion under the guise of health care. We respectfully ask to meet with you to discuss these concerns.
Sincerely,
Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Americans United for Life Action
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
All the way behind you on this issue… with the rest of the 70% of Americans. Thank you for doing what you do.
Thank you for helping me to get the information on Facebook, it’s easy when you have the Facebook link. I posted about 7 anti-abortion articles today.
God Bless you all
Dear Ms. Yoest,
Your comments to Pres. Obama echo my sentiments exactly. I am completely behind you concerning this issue. Pres. Obama and the Democratic Party must be stopped from implementing this draconian “Health-Care Reform Bill.”
The inhumane and barbaric practice of Abortion and, in particular, Partial Birth Abortion must be stopped. Human life begins at Conception. It’s not a carrot growing in the womb, it is a HUMAN BEING!!
Thank you so much for standing up on the level that you are able to for all of those that can’t. I have trouble understanding why it’s even come to the point it has in the government when it’s clearly written that every American is guaranteed the rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. How does a person’s right to anything come above a child’s right to life?
Please know how oppossed to the inclusion of money for Planned Parenthood in the health care bill. Celia Stoneking.
I agree. thank you all for you work.
Dear President Obama,
First, you took over the Banks, then the Auto Industry and now you want to control our Health Care. When I went to the doctors I was told if this health care plan goes through then the doctors will not take Medicare. To rationing of serior and giving free health care for illegal, free abortion. This bill will also force private health care out of business. Employers will also cut benefits. I do not want congress to review my health for approvals, nor do I want to tell them if I have a WILL or TRUST. Government needs to mind there own business. They are doing a BAD job already. Stop the spending of money.
we are totally opposed to any legislation which will fund abortion. the fetus is a human like not some word to soften the reality of what takes place when someone has an abortion! It is a murder. Claire and Patrick Bonner
I toldly agree that we need to stop killing are children. Thank-you for writting this letter.
As a Christian, I am totally against abortion due to the fact that life is a blessing given to us by God. The word of God specifically states that God “knew us when we were in the womb and that we are fearfully and wonderfully made”. Again, please do not fund abortions! There are millions of women still suffering from making decisions to abort their child.
Charmaine,
You are an outstanding individual. I want to thank you for leading the charge in defending the rights of the unborn! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
President Obama stop the lies!
Stephanie Megois
We have all this ablility to prevent pregnancy. Why don’t we send more time on educating girl and women about these products instead of just letting them feel like there is a quick fix if you don’t want your baby that you have because you were not responsible. I do feel like there are reason to have abortions if it is dangerous for the mother, she has been raped, or her father/brother/uncle abused her, etc.
Amen! I am firmly stand behind taxpayer-funded abortion. The killing of babies needs to be stopped, not supported and encouraged!
Thank you for standing in the gap and facing those in the White House. I wholeheartedly support you. I agree with the fact the killing of babies need to be stopped, & not supported and encouraged. Those in authority are not listening to the American people and what they want they are speaking for themselves and forgetting who put them in the office they hold. We have to stop them.
You are in my prayers today!
AGREED……..
AGREED
Dear Mr. President
All life is precious and we need to protect all life from conception to a natural death, this is the way God’s want us to treat his precious children at all stages of life. We will all answer to God. Amen
If you think it’s not a baby yet, do you think maybe God intended it to be one?
Dear Ms. Yoest,
Thank you for the magnificent work you do on behalf of the unborn and the weak. You speak for many who cannot speak for themselves. You are to be commended.
Dear President Obama,
It is clear that you wish to have abortion federally funded. 70% of us DO NOT want our money spent in that way. And speaking of money, please stop the spending frenzy already. We have all tightened our belts….why can’t you?
Dear Elected Representatives in Washington,
Do you know you were elected to REPRESENT the people of this country?????
Suzanne
Dear Mr.President
i’m from the phillipines,i have some question Mr.President regarding from my father whom become one of your WWII veterans.he past away 12 years ago and my concern was is he has a previledge,benefits about the one time compensation fund?even though he go back to her native country without knowing.permision to the U.S veterans affaire that he wil leave your country for a while.one thing Mr.President regarding to my status as a petition,do i have a chance to re-apply my petition even the petitioner was already dead (Primitivo Cafe) my father?more power and good health Mr.President..
sincerely
Rogelio S. Cafe