Today, on an overwhelming and bipartisan basis, the House passed the Conscience Protection Act of 2016 (S. 304). This bill seeks to end discrimination against people, plans and providers who choose not to be involved in abortion.

A full explanation of the bill can be found in Smith’s statement. (click here)

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus said on the passage:

“The Obama Administration’s refusal to enforce the civil right of conscience is not only unfair and unjustified—it grossly violates the rule of law. It makes a mockery of President Obama’s 2009 Notre Dame speech in which he said ‘Let’s honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion.’ But he has not.

“In an unconscionable abuse of power, for almost two years the state of California has forced all insurance plans under its purview—and the people and institutions that pay the premiums—to subsidize abortion on demand.

“The Weldon federal conscience law authored by Congressman Dave Weldon of Florida and continuously in effect for over a decade—makes it explicit and comprehensively clear that California’s action is illegal.

“Enforcement however is vested in the HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and that’s the Achilles heel that needs to be fixed —and will be fixed by the Conscience Protection Act.”

“The House vote today is about protecting those who have been ordered to violate their deeply held convictions and pay for, or participate in, abortion—the killing of unborn children by hideous dismemberment procedures, toxic compounds or chemical poisoning.”

The bill the House passed today says that the Federal Government or any state or local government that receives federal assistance may not penalize, retaliate against or otherwise discriminate against those who do not perform, refer for, pay for or otherwise participate in abortion. Additionally, the Conscience Protection Act protects providers from being forced to participate in abortion by providing a private right of action in the courts.

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