[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26532]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1300
    HIGHLIGHTING THREE CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL: 
              ABORTION, SENIORS, AND THE CONSCIENCE CLAUSE

  (Mrs. SCHMIDT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  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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