Protect Life Act By Gina Nadaya and Daniel Begazo Per. 3

Background Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, does not contain anti- mandate provisions with respect to abortion for qualified health benefits plans, nor does it prohibit other methods of mandating abortion coverage. PPACA establishes “allocation accounts” to segregate federal funds from premium funds that can be used for abortion coverage. PPACA requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to ensure that one multi- State plan does not cover elective abortion, while allowing all others to offer plans that do cover abortion.

What is it? Amends the PPACA. Prohibits federal funds from being to used to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion services. Requires 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. Prohibits government agencies from "discriminating" against health care providers who refuse to undergo, require, provide, or refer for training to perform abortions. The exceptions would be in cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother's life

Major Congressional Actions 1/20/2011 Introduced in House by Rep. Joseph Pitts 3/17/2011 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept , Part I. 9/12/2011 Committee on Ways and Means discharged. 10/13/2011 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 789). 10/17/201 Referred to Senate committee: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Public Opinion on Abortion

Public Opinion (contd.)

Controversy Critics say bill puts politics ahead of women's health Abortion-rights advocates allege the bill would allow hospitals that have a religious opposition to deny women the procedure even if the women's lives are at stake. "They're calling it the Protect Life Act. We're calling it the Women Will Die Act," Sari Stevens, executive director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, said. President Obama has said he would veto the bill, claiming it "intrudes on women's reproductive freedom and access to health care and unnecessarily restricts the private insurance choices that women and their families have today."

Interest group reaction Supporting InterestsOpposing Interests Republican/Conservative Christian Conservative Abortion policy/Pro Life Democratic/Liberal Women’s issues Minority/Ethnic Groups Gay & lesbian rights & issues Abortion policy/ Pro Choice Churches, clergy & Religious organizations

Bibliography bill-targets-abortion.htmlhttp://lancasteronline.com/article/local/477605_Pitts- bill-targets-abortion.html n&s=&p=1&b=Searchhttp:// n&s=&p=1&b=Search