HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

Washington, Feb 27 - House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today issued the following statement in reaction to reports that the Obama Administration plans to rescind a federal rule that protects medical providers who, for religious or moral reasons, decline to perform abortions:

“This is the third action taken by Washington Democrats in the past 38 days to weaken American rules that are meant to safeguard the sanctity of human life.  It is an action that will hurt faith-based health providers and hospitals throughout our nation who are committed to caring for Americans at this critical time.  It will also inevitably result in more abortions being performed nationwide. 

“On January 21, I and 114 other Republican Members of Congress sent a letter to President Obama urging him to drop his pledge to enact the so-called ‘Freedom of Choice Act’ [FOCA], which would overturn virtually all pro-life laws at the state and national level.  To the dismay of millions of Americans, it is beginning to look like the Administration is intent on enacting FOCA incrementally – step by tragic step – through low-key legislative maneuvers and executive orders.”

NOTE: In the past 38 days, the Administration has repealed the Mexico City Policy that prevents taxpayer dollars from being used to fund overseas abortions; blocked pro-life amendments from being included in the massive “omnibus” spending bill; and is now reportedly rescinding a federal rule that protects medical providers who decline to provide abortions for moral reasons. 

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