WASHINGTON, D.C. – Led by House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), more than 80 House Republican legislators today called on President Obama to withdraw his pledge to sign the so-called “Freedom of Choice” Act (FOCA), legislation that would overturn virtually all pro-life laws nationwide. The request by House GOP legislators comes on the eve of the 36th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
A letter signed by more than 80 members of the House Republican Conference – including Boehner, Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN), Policy Committee Chairman Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Conference Vice-Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and others – will be formally sent to the President later today.
“Americans from all walks of life have been touched by your pledge to govern from the center, and by your vow to be a president for all Americans,” the House GOP legislators said. “[We] respectfully urge you to build on this foundation by withdrawing your pledge to sign the so-named Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), which would in one tragic act overturn virtually all pro-life laws nationwide, and by refusing to support legislation that incrementally enacts the FOCA agenda by rescinding or weakening existing pro-life laws piece by piece.
“You have expressed a desire to be a president for all Americans, and to use your presidency to promote initiatives that bring Americans together, rather than drive them apart. We recognize it will not always be easy for you to do this. However, too much is at stake for this divisive and destructive legislation to move forward and life-saving laws to be rolled back. We respectfully urge you to withdraw your pledge to sign FOCA, and that you pledge not to sign legislation that incrementally enacts FOCA by rescinding existing pro-life laws and legal protections.”
Here is the full text of the letter, along with a list of signers.
January 21, 2009
Dear Mr. President,
Since the beginning of your presidential transition, Americans from all walks of life have been touched by your pledge to govern from the center, and by your vow to be a president for all Americans. We are writing to respectfully urge you to build on this foundation by withdrawing your pledge to sign the so-named Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), which would in one tragic act overturn virtually all pro-life laws nationwide, and by refusing to support legislation that incrementally enacts the FOCA agenda by rescinding or weakening existing pro-life laws piece by piece.
On January 22, our nation will mark the 36th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. Since Roe v. Wade, many laws – including laws to prevent federal taxpayer funding for abortion – have been enacted to mitigate the effects of the decision on unborn babies and their mothers. We hope that you would support the continuation of these laws and would oppose initiatives such as FOCA, which is more radical than the Roe v. Wade decision.
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, recently warned FOCA "would deprive the American people in all fifty states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry, [and] coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars." It would "have lethal consequences for prenatal human life [and] an equally destructive effect on the freedom of conscience of doctors, nurses and health care workers whose personal convictions do not permit them to cooperate in the private killing of unborn children," threatening health care institutions and charities throughout the country, he noted. Enacting FOCA or overturning existing policies would have the same effect. We ask that you reject this divisive agenda.
During the campaign you talked about reducing abortions. The Freedom of Choice Act would do the opposite. By overturning laws that require parental notification or consent before a minor girl obtains an abortion, the abortion rate will increase. A recent study by Dr. Michael J. New showed that when a state enacts a parental involvement law, the minor abortion rate falls by 19 to 31 percent.
Also, advocates on both sides of the abortion debate agree that longstanding provisions that restrict funding for abortions reduce the number of abortions dramatically. A recent study by Heather D. Boonstra appearing in the Guttmacher Policy Review showed that 18 to 35 percent of Medicaid patients who would have had an abortion carry their babies to term when Medicaid will not pay for their abortion. Restrictions on funding for abortion save lives and protect the consciences of millions of Americans who do not want their tax dollars to be used to destroy innocent human life.
You have expressed a desire to be a president for all Americans, and to use your presidency to promote initiatives that bring Americans together, rather than drive them apart. We recognize it will not always be easy for you to do this. However, too much is at stake for this divisive and destructive legislation to move forward and life-saving laws to be rolled back. We respectfully urge you to withdraw your pledge to sign FOCA, and that you pledge not to sign legislation that incrementally enacts FOCA by rescinding existing pro-life laws and legal protections.
Sincerely,
Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN)
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI)
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA)
Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)
Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO)
Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH)
Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-IL)
Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT)
Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA)
Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI)
Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)
Rep. Thomas Rooney (R-FL)
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)
Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN)
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC)
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)
Rep. Timothy V. Johnson (R-IL)
Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN)
Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS)
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL)
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL)
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX)
Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC)
Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL)
Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH)
Rep. David Roe (R-TN)
Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO)
Rep. Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC)
Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)
Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA)
Rep. Steve Austria (R-OH)
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA)
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX)
Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY)
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)
Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-OH)
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI)
Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)
Rep. Blaine Leutkemeyer (R-MO)
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA)
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS)
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC)
Rep. Robert Latta (R-OH)
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)
Rep. John Campbell (R-CA)
Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ)
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC)
Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI)
Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA)
Rep. John Kline (R-MN)
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA)
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO)
Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-LA)
Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA)
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL)
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL))
Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE)
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA)
Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN)
