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Heartbeat Voices Opposition to Healthcare Reform Legislation

9.10.09—Heartbeat International joined U.S. Representatives Chris Smith and Joe Pitts along with eight other national pro-life organizations to voice opposition to H.R. 3200’s abortion mandate during a press conference in Washington, D.C. today.

Even though the president denies his plan will fund abortion, every single amendment to explicitly exclude abortion funding has been voted down. The Washington Post reported the president is “not being completely forthright about how health care reform, as currently proposed, would provide taxpayers funding for abortion.”

Heartbeat International President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D. issued the following statement:

“If Congress does not explicitly exclude abortion from the health care reform legislation, then Americans will be forced to pay for the taking of innocent human life. Abortion is an assault on the dignity of the human person. Abortion attacks the mother-child relationship, violating this precious bond. Abortion does not improve anyone’s health.

“In May, President Obama pledged to “reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term.

“I ask President Obama and Congress to acknowledge that government funding will increase the number of abortions. Federal funding for abortion could increase the number of abortions by 30% according to the Guttmacher Institute, the research arm of the abortion industry. This increase means that more than 300,000 additional babies will die each year. This also means more women will suffer the effects of abortion related trauma.

“A government that pays for aborting babies loses sight of the importance of providing alternatives to abortion. Heartbeat International was founded in 1971 to provide alternatives to abortion on the principle that no woman should feel forced or pressured to abort her child.

“Today we are pleased to stand with Congressman Chris Smith, Congressman Joe Pitts, and eight other national organizations to work together to void the abortion mandate so that each woman receives the care and support she needs to welcome her child into the world.

“Heartbeat International, the first pregnancy center network in the U.S., provides options and resources for pregnant women who are not satisfied with the choice to abort a child. Heartbeat’s network of 1,100 pregnancy centers provides true reproductive health care that reduces the number of abortions while protecting the mother-child bond at no cost to the taxpayer. Our life-affirming network that works to strengthen the American family is firmly opposed to government funding for abortion."

Representing the Stop the Abortion Mandate Coalition, Heartbeat International joined with Susan B. Anthony List, Students for Life of America, National Black Pro-Life Union, 40 Days for Life, National Right to Life, Concerned Women for America, Americans United for Life, and Democrats for Life to launch the VOID THE ABORTION MANDATE virtual rally and grassroots campaign dedicated to educating President Obama and Members of Congress about how current healthcare legislation funds abortion.

Make no mistake about it - abortion will be funded by the government through the new healthcare plan. Every amendment offered to explicitly exclude government funding of abortion was voted down. Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry lobby have been waiting for this day when abortion will be included as part of comprehensive healthcare reform. If Obama’s healthcare legislation passes, abortion providers will get their wish and the government will pay for abortions across the country.

President Obama and every single Member of Congress must continue to hear from YOU, their constituents telling them that you are opposed to government funded abortion in any healthcare legislation. Your voice IS getting through! The media has covered town hall meetings all across the country for the entire month of August and several questions have been asked about whether or not abortion is funded by the government through the current proposals.

Please use every virtual tool at your disposal to help get the message out. Click here for what you can do today.