Friday, April 04, 2008 “House Approves Global AIDS Program” The House of Representatives has approved a version of PEPFAR anti-AIDS funding that is much improved from the original version which would have mandated abortion funding, drastically cut back abstinence and faithfulness education, and weakened anti-prostitution provisions.  Though significant improvements have been made to the bill, not all conservatives support the measure because of fiscal concerns over massive spending increases and concerns that there is insufficient accountability over how funds are spent.  The bill will now go to the U.S. Senate. Abortion | Abstinence | PEPFAR | Pro Life | Pro Morality | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Friday, April 04, 2008 7:03:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Tuesday, April 01, 2008 “Congressman Hopes to Stop Taxpayer-Funded Abortions in Indian Health Plan” LifeNews reports.  Excerpt: A leading pro-life member of Congress plans an amendment to a bill on health care for Native Americans that's similar to the language of an amendment the Senate approved last month. Rep. Joe Pitts wants to make sure the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1328) isn't used to fund abortions with public money. AdvanceUSA thanks Congressman Pitts for proposing this important pro-life amendment, and urges the rest of the Energy and Commerce Committee to support it.  CitizenLink also reports. You can look up members of the committee here, and find your representative’s contact information here (look them up by name or zip code). Graphic source: CitizenkLink Abortion | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:54:28 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Friday, March 28, 2008 Planned Parenthood Continues Feasting on Taxpayer Dollars, Performing More Abortions Planned Parenthood has released its annual report for 2008.  The following points are a few important and outrageous facts AdvanceUSA has been alerted to: An increase in the number of provided abortions from 264,943 in 2005 to 289,650 in 2006. A doubling of “excess of revenue over expenses” funds from $55.7 million in 2005 to $112 million in 2006. Acknowledge receipt of over $336 million in [local, state, and federal] government grants and contracts. With all the recent controversies regarding potential illegal activity by Planned Parenthood centers across the country, why is Planned Parenthood getting our tax dollars? To sign the Family Research Council’s petition to withhold federal Title X funding from Planned Parenthood click here. Abortion | Planned Parenthood | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 6:54:47 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Thursday, February 28, 2008 Virginia Senate Stands Up to Planned Parenthood The Virginia Senate has voted to prohibit funds for Planned Parenthood because they advocate for and perform abortions.  Let’s hope other states and the federal government begin to follow their example.  It is a travesty that the largest company in the abortion industry receives millions of dollars in tax dollars. Abortion | Planned Parenthood | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 9:20:51 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “House Committee Reworks International HIV/AIDS Bill to Remove Abortion Funding” LifeNews reports.  Furthermore, our friends in the House tell us that abstinence and faithfulness education will still be supported, and they are convinced that language allowing abortion promoting organizations to receive taxpayer dollars has been fully eliminated. Our thanks to all who made their voice heard on this issue.  Also, special thanks to Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Pro-Life Caucus, for his tireless efforts to address the pro-life and pro-family concerns with PEPFAR. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) Abortion | Abstinence | PEPFAR | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 9:07:02 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Rep. Scott Garrett “The Democrat’s PEPFAR Goes Too Far” Congressman Scott Garrett tells the truth about the problems with PEPFAR in his piece at Townhall.  Check back with AdvanceUSA to find out how today’s committee markup went. Abortion | Abstinence | PEPFAR | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 8:08:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Live Streaming Video of PEPFAR Hearings and Mark Up The bi-partisan PEFAR anti-AIDS funding legislation is being marked up right now.  To watch the hearings via live streaming check the website of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and click on the “Live Webcast” link in the lower right margin or click here. Listening in around 11:30 one could hear Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) give an excellent defense of abstinence and faithfulness education for combating the global spread of AIDS.  Let’s hope that no tax dollars will go to support abortions under this bill. Abortion | Abstinence | PEPFAR | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 4:41:16 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Vitter Amendment Passes! AdvanceUSA is happy to report that the Vitter amendment passed this morning by a vote of 52 - 42.  Now Americans can rest assured that their tax dollars will not be used to fund abortions under the Indian Health Services bill (click here for more information).  For full vote results and to see how your senators voted on this important pro-life amendment check the vote box below (or click here). AdvanceUSA thanks all those who called their senators concerning this pro-life matter.  The voice of ordinary Americans can make a powerful difference in Washington when people exercise their rights to petition their government and to express their political opinions. Also, AdvanceUSA thanks Senator David Vitter (R-LA) for proposing and defending this important legislation. UPDATE: LifeNews reports. Senate Vote on the Vitter Amendment (S.A. 3896) to codify the pro-life Hyde amendment in the Indian Health Services bill February 26, 2008 Full Results | News Story   Yeas Nays   PRES NV Republican 43   3   —   3 Democratic 9   38 —   3 Independent — 1 — — TOTALS 52 42 —   6 See other important Congressional vote results on the Congress Vote Watch page. Abortion | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 4:47:37 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Monday, February 25, 2008 Vote on Vitter Amendment Tomorrow Our friends in the Senate tell us that the pro-life Vitter amendment (# 3896) will be considered tomorrow.  The Vitter amendment would prevent taxpayer dollars from supporting abortions under the Indian Health Services bill. Call both your senators today and urge them to vote “Yes” on the pro-life Vitter amendment (# 3896)! Abortion | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Monday, February 25, 2008 9:41:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Vote on PEPFAR Abstinence and Abortion Funding Next Thursday The House Foreign Affairs Committee will vote on PEPFAR anti-AIDS funding reauthorization on Thursday, February 28.  Call your representative today (especially if they serve on this committee) and urge him or her to vote against the PEPFAR legislation unless pro-abortion code words like “family panning” and “reproductive health” are removed and abstinence education and anti-prostitution language is maintained.  LifeNews reports on the abortion funding aspect while the AP reports on President Bush’s statements urging lawmakers to preserve crucial abstinence and faithfulness funding. Click here for more information on PEPFAR or check the AdvanceUSA home page. Abortion | Abstinence | PEPFAR | Pro Life | Pro Morality | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:20:42 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      Vote on Vitter Amendment Monday or Tuesday AdvanceUSA has learned that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has filed cloture on the Indian Health Services bill, and a vote on the essential pro-life Vitter amendment is expected on Monday or Tuesday (25th or 26th).  Call both your senators and urge them to support the Vitter Amendment (# 3896) to the Indian Health Services bill! Click here for more information on the imporant Vitter amendment. Abortion | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:07:32 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Monday, February 11, 2008 “Bush Administration Opposes HIV/AIDS Bill Over Abortion Funding, Abstinence” LifeNews reports. Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion | PEPFAR posted on Monday, February 11, 2008 8:50:32 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Friday, February 08, 2008 “House Republicans Say Proposed Democratic Changes in Global AIDS program Would Spur Abortions” As the AP reports, proposed changes to PEPFAR funding would side-step the crucial Mexico City Policy allowing tax dollars to support overseas abortions.  The AP report also mentions that the Lantos bill would undermine ant-prostitution regulations and withhold funding from successful abstinence and faithfulness anti-AIDS education. The Foreign Affairs Committee will likely vote on PEPFAR on Thursday, February 14.  Be sure to contact members of this committee and urge them to preserve the crucial pro-life and pro-morality provisions PEPFAR. Abortion | Abstinence | PEPFAR | Pro Life | Pro Morality | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Friday, February 08, 2008 5:49:02 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Thursday, February 07, 2008 PEPFAR Vote Next Week: Important Abortion and Abstinence Concerns Remain The House Foreign Affairs Committee markup for PEPFAR originally scheduled today has been postponed to next week.  As currently written, the legislation undermines effective abstinence programs and mandates taxpayer support of overseas abortions.  FRC has provided a helpful list of committee members.  If your representative is in this list, be sure to encourage him or her to oppose any provisions which undermine the Mexico City Policy, allow tax dollars to support overseas abortion providers or proponents, undermine anti-prostitution regulations, or weakens support for successful abstinence and faithfulness education programs. If these concerns are not met, your representative should be encouraged to oppose the underlying bill.  For more information on this issue check the PEPFAR blurb. Liberals in Congress should stop endangering critical AIDS funding with attempts to advance their anti-life, liberal social agenda. Abortion | Abstinence | PEPFAR | Pro Life | Pro Morality | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Thursday, February 07, 2008 6:43:42 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)      “House Committee to Consider Bill Next Week Funding Intl Pro-Abortion Groups” LifeNews reports. Abortion | Abstinence | Pro Life | Pro Morality | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Thursday, February 07, 2008 6:24:49 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Friday, January 18, 2008 Title X Reform: Taxpayer Dollars and Abortion Providers The way Federal Title X (title ten) funds are spent in this country is in drastic need of reform.  Title X funds are supposed to support family planning services but are often given to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.  Under President Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush, federal regulations were clearly written to prevent recipients of Title X funds from referring for abortions or combining family planning services with abortion services (ex: working at the same location).  AdvanceUSA encourages the current Bush administration to issue Title X regulations which do two things:   reestablish prohibitions against family planning services co-locating with abortion providers rescind regulations for family planning services which require them to refer for abortions AdvanceUSA also supports legislation aimed at preventing taxpayers’ Title X funds from supporting groups like Planned Parenthood (especially since Planned Parenthood is under investigation for serious allegations of law-breaking and ethical malfeasance).  American’s tax dollars should not be used to support abortion, and we hope Congress and the President will act accordingly. Check the pro-life page for more pro-life news. Abortion | Planned Parenthood | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 10:59:57 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Tuesday, December 18, 2007 Congress Keeps Pro-Life Measure in Massive Spending Bill AdvanceUSA is happy to report that the crucial Mexico City Policy is safe for now (this policy prevents taxpayer dollars from supporting overseas abortions).  The massive omnibus spending bill facing Congress does not hinder or undermine this crucial pro-life policy.  LifeNews reports here. Also, our friends at Heritage Foundation have created an online blog resource that tracks all the spending, earmarks, and budget issues contained in the omnibus bill.  Check it out at www.Omnibusting.com. Abortion | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:46:20 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Thursday, December 13, 2007 Battle Over Mexico City Policy, Taxpayer Funds to Pro-Abortion International Groups, Continues LifeNews reports. Abortion | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Thursday, December 13, 2007 3:31:40 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Friday, December 07, 2007 “Grand Jury to Probe Abortion-Clinic Practices” The Washington Times reports on the latest Planned Parenthood scandal in Kansas.  A grand jury will investigate allegations that Planned Parenthood broke state law regarding the age of girls receiving abortions as well as alleged cover-ups of sexual abuse.  Excerpts: An unprecedented investigation into abortion-clinic practices will commence soon in Kansas now that the state Supreme Court has cleared the way for a grand jury with subpoena powers to be convened. And… Planned Parenthood receives millions of dollars in government funding each year. "They should have to answer these criminal charges before they get another dime of our tax dollars," she [Jennifer Giroux, director of Women Influencing the Nation, a Cincinnati group that is active in pro-life issues] said. This story provides more evidence for Rep. Mike Pence’s (R-IN) proposed amendment to prohibit tax-payer dollars from going to support organizations that promote or perform abortions, like Planned Parenthood. Abortion | Planned Parenthood | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Friday, December 07, 2007 2:38:51 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Monday, December 03, 2007 “Aborting the Truth: Deception Behind Taxpayer Funded-Abortion Clinics” An important pro-life, pro-women piece in the National Review Online.  Excerpt: A nationally recognized organization may be intentionally distributing false information while protecting rapists and child predators. And the federal government has given them $3.9 billion since 1987 in taxpayer funds. Planned Parenthood has been caught in a tangled web. The spotlight is finally being shed on this organization, which has failed to legally report the pregnancies of a 16-year-old who was raped by her father, of an 11-year-old girl who was impregnated by her stepfather, and of a 15-year-old who was sexually assaulted and impregnated by her stepfather’s friend.   Believe it or not, it gets worse. Abortion | Planned Parenthood | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 9:47:28 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Tuesday, November 13, 2007 “Senators Ask Democrats for Amendment Revoking Abortion Center Funding” LifeNews reports.  Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) is championing similar legislation in the House. Abortion | Planned Parenthood | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 5:27:51 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)       Thursday, November 01, 2007 Mexico City Policy Hearings Recap The House Foreign Affairs Committee held hearings yesterday on the Mexico City Policy which prohibits taxpayer dollars from going to international organizations that either provide or support abortions.  It appears likely that these hearings were called as an excuse to challenge the Mexico City Policy and provide justification for overturning it in stalled appropriations bills.  The policy is THE pro-life battle of this session of Congress! To see a video of yesterday’s hearings CLICK HERE or visit the Committee’s website, go to the “testimony & transcripts” section, and click on the video link for the hearings on October 31. AdvanceUSA monitored much of yesterday’s hearings.  Continue reading for some notes: Read more ... Abortion | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Thursday, November 01, 2007 7:53:59 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Wednesday, October 31, 2007 Watch the Mexico City Policy Hearings To watch this morning’s hearing on the important, pro-life Mexico City Policy (which prohibits taxpayer dollars from going to international organizations that either provide or support abortions) in the House Foreign Affairs Committee click here.  Then click on the “live WEBCAST” button in the lower right-hand corner.  The hearings are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Committee website: http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/ UPDATE (10:39 a.m.): The Committee has heard some excellent testimony from pro-life advocates.  It is now in recess until after some House votes take place. Abortion | Pro Life | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 1:19:39 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)       Tuesday, October 30, 2007 Mexico City Policy Target of Pro-Abortionists AdvanceUSA has learned that pro-abortion activists and politicians have the Mexico City Policy in their sites.  The Mexico City Policy (first instituted by Ronald Reagan) prohibits taxpayer dollars from going to international organizations that either provide or support abortions.  Hearings on this important pro-life policy will be held tomorrow morning in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.  AdvanceUSA Blog will work to provide you with the most up-to-date information on the efforts to preserve this crucial pro-life provision. Some important things to remember concerning the Mexico City Policy: Pro-abortionists are willing to sacrifice important foreign policy funds in an attempt to funnel more taxpayer dollars to radical pro-abortion organizations. Despite claims that abortion could improve health care in developing countries, it must be remembered that there is no such thing as a safe abortion (it hurts mothers in many ways and is always harmful for the unborn child). The Mexico City Policy currently draws a helpful distinction between “abortion” and “family planning.” The problem of maternal mortality (women dying because of childbirth) should be addressed through life-affirming health policies. CitizenLink reports on the upcoming Mexico City Policy hearings here.