Policy & Advocacy
Health Care Updated Bulletin Insert, PDF
Health Care Updated Bulletin Insert, PDF
Urgent USCCB action alert urging Catholics to stop abortion funding in health care reform, protect conscience rights, ensure affordable coverage, and allow immigrants to buy private insurance.
Key policy positions
- Protect life and dignity by preventing federal funds from subsidizing elective abortion or plans that include it.
- Ensure strong conscience protections for providers, plans, employers, and individuals.
- Secure affordable, quality health coverage for all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
- Allow immigrants to purchase private health insurance and protect their access to care.
Context on House and Senate bills
- House bill (passed November 7): maintains longstanding prohibition on federal funding of elective abortion and includes positive measures on affordability and immigrants.
- Senate bill (passed December 24): removed the explicit funding prohibition and would allow federal subsidies for plans that cover elective abortion; requires separate payments by purchasers of such plans to fund abortions; affordability provisions for very low‑income families are judged inadequate.
- Neither bill provides adequate conscience protections outside the abortion issue.
USCCB call to action
- Contact Representatives and Senators immediately by email, phone, or fax to oppose any final bill that does not: (1) bar federal funding of elective abortion, (2) include full conscience protections, and (3) ensure accessible, affordable health care for all.
- Suggested messages for House and Senate emphasize upholding the House protections, restoring them where the Senate bill falls short, and insisting no final bill pass until criteria are met.