Successful inclusion of abortion ban spells success for health bill in US congress.
By Patricia Zapor
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON – The successful battle to include strict language prohibiting funding for abortions, led by pro-life congressional Democrats with the strong support of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, is what made the difference in the November 7 House vote to pass a sweeping health care reform bill.
In a rare Saturday night vote, the House approved the Affordable Health Care for America Act, 220-215, moving the legislation on to the Senate, which was expected to take up debate on its own health care bill later in November.
Assuming the Senate passes a version of the legislation, differences between the two bills will have to be reconciled separately. That legislation would go back to both Houses of Congress for final approval.
Key to passing the House bill was the approval of an amendment by Rep Bart Stupak, D-Mich, to prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for abortion, including barring abortion coverage from insurance plans which consumers purchase using government subsidies. The USCCB and other pro-life organisations had threatened to oppose any final bill that did not include such provisions.
The final bill fell short of another element pushed strongly by the Church in recent weeks. It would bar people who are in the country illegally from receiving any government assistance to get health coverage.
The US Bishops also had urged that the legislation allow all immigrants access to the health care system, regardless of legal status. What the bill does do is expand health insurance to an estimated 30 million people who currently lack coverage, meaning an estimated 96 percent of Americans would have access to more affordable health care.
Various news sources as well as people involved on the Hill reported on the critical role of last-minute, behind-the-scenes negotiations among House leaders, White House staff, Catholic Bishops and their staff. Also essential were talks with Stupak and others who were holding firm on withholding their votes pending acceptance of his amendment.
USCCB President, Chicago Cardinal Francis George, spoke with Pelosi on November 6, encouraging her to let Stupak’s amendment come for a vote. Other Bishops also weighed in by phone with various members of Congress, including by encouraging Republican leaders not to try to block progress that was being made in getting the abortion amendment passed.
When Stupak’s amendment was allowed to come to the floor, it was approved by a vote of 240-194, with the support of many Republicans who did not ultimately vote for the legislation itself.
Only one Republican voted for the overall bill, Republican Anh “Joseph” Cao of Louisiana, a Catholic and former Jesuit seminarian who was elected in December 2008 to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Democratic Rep William Jefferson, who was forced out of office in a bribery scandal. In a statement, Stupak, a Catholic who has spoken many times of his often lonely role as a pro-life Democrat in Congress, focused not on his successful abortion amendment, but on the overall bill, which he called the most significant reform to government and private health insurance programs since Medicare and Medicaid were created in 1965.
His statement noted that the bill includes reforms for both the uninsured and those who already have insurance. Medicare recipients will receive additional prescription drug coverage and be entitled to full coverage for preventative care.
Other components of the bill include:
l Insurance companies would be prohibited from discriminating against people with pre-existing medical conditions. They also would no longer be able to impose lifetime caps on benefits or cancel coverage for any excuse when policy-
holders become ill.
l It would give tax subsidies to small employers to help them provide insurance for their workers.
l It would create a health insurance exchange where people who are not currently covered through an employer-purchased plan, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs or other government insurance, could get coverage through private or federal providers.
In a November 8 press event in the White House Rose Garden, President Barack Obama said the legislation would “provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality, affordable options for those who don’t; and bring down the cost of health care for families, businesses and our government, while strengthening the financial health of Medicare. It is legislation that is fully paid for and it will reduce our long-term federal deficit.”
He voiced his gratitude, “given the heated and often misleading rhetoric surrounding this legislation,” for the “courageous vote” of many members of Congress.
Among those lauding the role of Stupak and his coalition in passing a bill with the abortion exclusion was Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life.
“The House of Representatives answered the call of history today when they passed health care reform,” Day said. “While it would be tempting to call this a Democratic win, the truth is the American people are the winners of this hard-fought victory.”
She applauded Pelosi for clearing the way for the amendment and called Stupak and Republican Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind, “heroic.” Patrick Whelan, president of Catholic Democrats, said the vote signalled “a day for celebration among Catholics and all who believe that life’s greatest test is how deeply we care for one another.”
He encouraged other Catholics who didn’t support the bill to follow Cao’s example. “This reform represents progress in helping our nation to realise the Gospel imperative of making health and healing available to all Americans.”
Whelan said: “Catholics have an innate understanding of the role universal health care coverage will play in promoting the common good. Now is the time to build on the success of the House bill and pass legislation that codifies our belief that health care is a fundamental human right.”