Ultrasound Informed Consent Act

Contacts with House and Senate in opposition to the "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA), a bill to invalidate virtually all state and federal laws and policies that in any way limit access to abortion, the reintroduction of which is anticipated sometime during the 111th Congress. Contacts to House in support of signatures to letter originated by Rep. John Boehner to President Obama urging withdrawal of previous commitment to sign the FOCA (Jan. 21 2009). (continued) Contacts to House in support of Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA) (H.R. 634). Consultations with Senate staff regarding possible re-introduction of the Child Custody Protection Act. Contacts in support of S. 85 and H.R. 614, legislation to exclude certain abortion providers from funding under Title X of the Public Health Service Act. Contacts in opposition to 74 FR 10207, DHHS rulemaking proposal to rescind a final rule (73 FR 78072) providing certain protections to health care providers who do not wish to participate in providing abortions. (NRLC supports the rule and opposes the recission.) Contacts to support signatures on letter sent to President Obama on April 3, 2009, by Reps. Fleming, Davis (Tn.), and others, opposing recission of the regulation. Contacts in opposition to H.R. 570, a bill to nullify the conscience-protection regulation. Contacts in support of S. 96, Abortion Nondiscrimination Act. Contacts in support of Coburn Amendment No. 828 to S. Con. Res. 13, the budget resolution, expressing support for the conscience rights of health care providers, failed 41-56 on April 2, 2009. Contacts in support of H.R. 636, the Positive Alternatives Act, sponsored by Rep. Michele Bachmann. Contacts to House advisory with respect to certain issues pertaining to repeat abortions; no legislation introduced. Contacts generally supportive of certain titles of S. 270 and H.R. 605, Pregnant Women and Family Support Act, while not taking a position on the overall omnibus legislation at this time. Contacts expressing objections to certain components of S. 21 and H.R. 463. Contacts in support of H.R. 649, the Ultrasound Informed Consent Act; H.R. 213, the Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act; and H.R. 195, the Informed Choice Act (aid for ultrasound machines for certain centers). NRLC co-signed multi-group letter to Senator Patrick Leahy and other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressing concerns regarding the records of David Ogden (nominated to be deputy attorney general), Dawn Johnsen (nominated to be assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel), and Thomas Perrelli (nominated to be associate attorney general), sent early February 2009. Subsequent contacts in opposition to the confirmation of Dawn Johnsen, including NRLC letter to Senate sent March 27, 2009.

Client expense: $107,516 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

S.21 & H.R.463, Prevention First Act; H.R.398, Prevention Through Affordable Access Act; S.351, Title X Family-Planning Act; H.R.195, Informed Consent Act; S.96, Abortion Non-Discrimination Act; Health and Human Services R.I.N. 0991-AB48 (entire regulation); H.R.649, Ultrasound Informed Consent Act; H.R.1236, Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act; selected executive appointments (Dawn Johnsen, appointee to the U.S. Department of Justice; David Odgen, appointee to the U.S. Department of Justice; Kathleen Sebelius, appointee to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services); selected judicial nominations (David Hamilton, nominee to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals); H.R.1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (parental notification for birth control, medical records privacy, Medicaid family planning); H.R.911, Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act (parental consent provisions); H.R.1105, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (S.Amdt.607, abstinence-only funding, birth-control pricing fix, Title X family-planning program, international family-planning funding, Federal Refusal Clause, Hyde amendment, women in prison, abortion-litigation ban, federal employees health insurance ban, DC funding restriction); H.R.2, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (S.Amdt.80, S.Amdt.65); S.277 & H.R.1388, Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act (S.Amdt.709, S.Amdt.715); H.Con.Res.85 & S.Con.Res.13, F.Y. '10 budget resolution (abstinence-only funding, S.Amdt.828); F.R. Doc. E9-1293, Mexico City Policy and Assistance for Voluntary Population Planning.

Client expense: $30,000 · Firm income: Not reported