Disapproving a rule submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Compliance with Title X Requirements by Project Recipients in Selecting Subrecipients".

H.J. Res. 43, Congressional Disapproval of HHS rule; H.J. Res. 39, Resolution Disapproving HHS Rule Favoring Abortion Facilities; S.J. Res. 13, Resolution Disapproving HHS Mandate; H.R. 1628, American Health Care Act; H.R. 1203, Safe RESEARCH Act; H.R. 1895, Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2017; H.R. 644 and S. 301, Conscience Protection Act.

Client expense: $200,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), SENATE, State, Dept of (DOS), White House Office

For activity pertaining to abortion-related components of reconciliation legislation, see BUD (Budget/Appropriations) page. For activity pertaining to other health-care reform ("Obamacare replacement") legislation, see HCR (Health Issues) page. Contacts in support of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36), to protect pain-capable unborn children beginning at 20 weeks fetal age. Contacts in support of the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act (H.R. 1192, Smith) to prohibit a physician from knowingly performing a dismemberment abortion. Contacts in support of the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act or PRENDA (H.R.147), to prohibit discrimination against the unborn on the basis of sex or race. Contacts in support of Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 37, S. 220),to require any health care practitioner who is present when a child is born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion to exercise the same degree of care as reasonably provided to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and ensure that such child is immediately admitted to a hospital. Contacts in support of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7, S. 184), including letter to House dated January 19, 2017, to codify government-wide policy against funding abortion (passed House January 24, 2017). Contacts in support of Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA)(H.R.692, S. 224), to require an abortionist to notify a parent before performing an abortion on a minor from a different state, with certain exceptions. Contacts in support of actions by Members of Congress to call attention to refusal of DHHS, under the Obama Administration, to enforce the Weldon Amendment (prohibiting any level of government that receives DHHS funds from forcing participating in abortion) in the face of California's 2014 abortion-coverage mandate and other violations of the federal law. Contacts in support of the Conscience Protection Act (H.R. 664, S. 301), to enhance federal remedies for health-care providers who face government-based discrimination for non-participation in abortion. Contacts in support of H.J. Res. 43 (Black)(including letter to House dated February 10, 2017 and letter to Senate dated March 28, 2017), utilizing mechanism of Congressional Review Act to nullify 2016 DHHS regulation curbing ability of states to redirect funds under Title X of the Public Health Service Act. H.J. Res. 43 passed House Feb 16, 2017; passed Senate March 30, 2017; signed into law April 13, 2017. Contacts in support of companion bill S.J. Res. 13 (Ernst), and similar legislation H.J. Res. 39 (Messer). Contacts in support of the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act (H.R.217), to prohibit funds under the federal Title X family planning program from going to entities (other than hospitals) that perform abortions (except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest). Contacts regarding Defund Planned Parenthood Act (H.R.853) to prohibit federal funding to entities that do not certify the entities will not perform, or provide any funding to any other entity that performs, an abortion, with certain exceptions. Contacts in support of the Defund Planned Parenthood Act (H.R. 354, S.241), to deny for one year the availability of federal funds to Planned Parenthood affiliates or clinics that provide elective abortion. Activity on budget reconciliation bill pertaining to Planned Parenthood reported on BUD (Budget/Appropriations)page. Contacts in support of Women's Public Health and Safety Act (H.R. 656), to allow a state to exclude certain abortion providers from participation in the state's Medicaid program. Consultations regarding various bills intended to tighten federal limitations on trafficking in tissue from induced abortions (including H.R. 524, H.R. 1203, H.R. 1895, and other draft bills not introduced); no specific legislation endorsed during this quarter. Contacts in support of The Protecting the Dignity of Unborn Children Act (H.R. 718), to make it a federal crime to dispose of non-cremated "fetal remains" (from abortions) in a landfill or navigable waterway. Contacts in support of the Every Child is a Blessing Act (H.R. 684), to eliminate wrongful birth and wrongful life" lawsuits, when they arise under federal law or from claims involving health care services affecting interstate or foreign commerce. Contacts regarding the Heartbeat Bill (H.R. 490) to prohibit abortions if a fetal heartbeat is detectable; no position taken this quarter. Contacts expressing support for addition of language to prevent subsidies for abortion and other pro-life components in proposed legislation to revise laws dealing with health benefits for Peace Corps volunteers (draft legislation in House and Senate). Contacts in opposition to "Women's Health Protection Act" (H.R. 1322, S. 510), a proposed federal statute to invalidate virtually all state and federal regulations pertaining to abortion. Contacts in opposition to "EACH Woman Act" (H.R. 771), a bill to mandate coverage of abortion without limitation in Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and other federally funded health insurance program, to nullify the laws in effect in about half of the states that restrict coverage of abortion in health plans sold on the Obamacare exchanges, and to nullify all other state laws or policies that "inhibit insurance coverage of abortion by private health plans."