Statement by Americans United for Life Action President & CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest:
"Today, Congress ignored the explicit wishes of the American people by voting to establish taxpayer-funded abortion. This reversal of long-standing federal policy will not stand. Furthermore, the assurance by the White House to address the problem of abortion funding in the health care bill through use of an executive order is an open acknowledgement that the bill just passed is pro-abortion legislation.
The AUL legal team has concluded that an executive order is not an adequate fix to mitigate this legislation's establishment of taxpayer-funded abortion. An executive order, for example, cannot prevent insurance companies that pay for abortions in the exchanges from receiving federal subsidies.
We will work to dismantle taxpayer-funded abortion at the federal level and begin an aggressive, state-by-state campaign to help states opt out of subsidizing plans that cover abortions through their exchanges. We will also seek every opportunity to litigate this matter in the courts. Given that seven out of ten voters agree that no public funds should pay for abortion, I am confident that with hard work we will succeed."
Do policies on access to contraceptives in the U.S. reflect individual preferences and right to self-determination?