Highlighting Three Concerns About The Health Care Reform Bill: Abortion, Seniors, And The Conscience Clause

Floor Speech

Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk today about some of the concerns I have with the current health care bill, specifically abortion, our seniors, and the conscience clause for medical professionals.

As this bill is drafted, it opens the door to the public funding of abortion. A majority of Americans are opposed to funding abortions. For decades the Federal funding of abortion has been prohibited by the Hyde amendment. Some will argue the Capps amendment does the same thing, but it does not. It allows for plans, specifically the public option, to have abortion coverage paid for with our tax dollars.

This bill also cuts more than $500 billion from Medicare, putting our Nation's seniors' health at risk. Almost $170 billion will be cut from the Medicare Advantage program alone. This will adversely affect 17,000 seniors in my district.

And, finally, it appears to erode the conscience clause protections for our medical professionals. No health care provider should ever have to choose between his or her morals, faith, and his or her job.

Health care reform should be about protecting lives, not jeopardizing them.

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