As mentioned in previous blog posts, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization bills in the House and Senate are dangerous steps toward socialized medicine AND a problem for pro-lifers. In 2002 the Bush administration allowed states to cover “unborn children” under SCHIP. Liberals in Congress, apparently not wanting to allow any provisions that suggest the humanity of the unborn, have intentionally left out this provision and substituted language that does not allow states to cover costs for the unborn. The liberals are proposing that “pregnant women” rather than “unborn children” be eligible under SCHIP, and there are grave concerns that this substitute language could, in some cases, lead to taxpayer funding for abortions.
Thankfully, members of the House and Senate have proposed amendments to the SCHIP bills which would codify the 2002 guidelines and protect the unborn while highlighting their humanity.
- Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA) offered an amendment in the House which would have codified the Bush regulation and protected both unborn children and pregnant women. Rep. Pitts’ amendment was disallowed in the Energy & Commerce committee, and the House Rules Committee refused to allow it to be considered by the full House. The House is expected to vote on the SCHIP bill (H.R. 3162) today without this important amendment.
- Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) has proposed an amendment in the Senate which would codify the important regulation protecting the unborn under SCHIP. This amendment could be voted on by Thursday.
If not fixed through amendments, the underlying SCHIP bills should be opposed because they minimize the humanity of the unborn and are a dangerous step toward socialized medicine.
For more information on SCHIP check the AdvanceUSA home page or pro-life page.
UPDATE: Call both your senators today and urge them to vote “yes” on Sen. Wayne Allard’s Amendment (S.A. 2535) to protect unborn children under SCHIP!
UPDATE: Unfortunately the Senate voted down a pro-life amendment today proposed by Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) which would have codified important pro-life regulations into law protecting unborn children under SCHIP and removing a dangerous loophole that could lead to tax-payer funded abortions. Now that the Allard amendment has failed it is clear that the SCHIP bills present an unacceptable threat to unborn children and to the sanctity of human life (to say nothing of the many fiscal and limited-government issues with this legislation). Fortunately President Bush has promised to veto SCHIP legislation that does not protect the unborn or violates his spending guidelines (for his statement on the Senate version click here).
To see how your senators voted on this important pro-life amendment check the AdvanceUSA home page or pro-life page.
UPDATE: The House of Representatives recently passed similar SCHIP legislation that likewise has grave pro-life concerns.