Life at Conception Act of 2016

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, as approved by the House of Representatives May 13, 2015, and the Senate companion bill, S. 1553. Contacts in support of No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7, S. 582), to codify government-wide policy against funding abortion (passed House January 22, 2015, 242-179). Contacts in support of Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA)(H.R. 803, S. 404) 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 Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act (H.R. 3515, Smith), including letter to House members dated February 12, 2016, encouraging cosponsorship. Contacts in support of Senate companion bill, S. 3306, introduced by Sen. Lankford on September 8, 2016, including letters to senators dated Sept. 13 and Sept. 22, 2016. Contacts expressing nonsupport for H.R. 426, H.R. 816, and S. 2464, based on lack of clarity and erroneous legal premises. Contacts in opposition to "Women's Health Protection Act" (H.R. 448, S. 217), a proposed federal statute to invalidate virtually all state and federal regulations pertaining to abortion. Contacts in opposition to "EACH Woman Act" (H.R. 2972), 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." Contacts in opposition to Murray Amendment to Military Construction/VA appropriations bill (S. 2806) to mandate funding by Veterans Administration of certain procedures destructive of human embryos, in the form adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee on April 14, 2016, subsequently modified in conference committee. Contacts regarding contours of Zika virus response package, ultimately incorporated with VA appropriations into H.R. 2577; no position on conference report on H.R. 2577. Contacts regarding contours of Zika-related provisions of successor legislation, H.R. 5325, a continuing resolution extending to December 9, 2016; no position on H.R. 5325 as passed by the Senate and House on Sept. 28, 2016, and signed into law on Sept. 29, 2016. Contacts in opposition to action on nominations of Mary Wakefield as DHHS deputy secretary and Karen DeSalvo as DHHS assistant secretary for health; the Senate acted on neither nomination during this reporting period. Contacts in support of Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 3504, Franks), passed by the House Sept. 18, 2015, and in support of Senate companion bill, S. 2066 (Sasse). Contacts in support of actions by Members of Congress to call attention to refusal of DHHS 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. Contacts related to objections by various members of Congress to June 21, 2016, letters issued by the DHHS Office of Civil Rights, amounting to refusal to enfore the Weldon Amendment. Contacts in support of the Conscience Protection Act(H.R. 4828, Fleming), to create a private cause of action for victims of government-based discrimination for non-participation in abortion, passed by the House within the shell of S. 304 on July 13, 2016, including letter to House dated July 11, 2016. Contacts in support of Senate companion bill, S. 2927 (Lankford). Contacts in opposition to rule proposed by DHHS (81 FR 61639) on Sept. 7, 2016, to further restrict the rights of states to direct funds under Title X of the Public Health Service Act. Communications in support of adding certain abortion-related pro-life provisions to FY 2017 appropriations bills, including prohibition on coverage of abortion in Obamacare multi-state plans in Financial Services appropriations bill (H.R. 5485) (Harris), conscience protections for health care providers and defunding of Planned Parenthood in HHS appropriations bill (H.R. 5926), limitations on funding of abortion-promoting groups in State/Foreign Operations appropriations bill (H.R. 5912), and prohibition on funding of elective abortions for ICE detainees on Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 5634) (Aderholt)(adopted by House Appropriations Committee on June 22, 2016). Contacts in support of original language of amendment to HHS appropriations bill (H.R. 5926) to restrict funding of embryo-destructive procedures (Harris); contacts expressing non-support for the language as adopted by House Appropriations Committee on July 13, 2016. Consultations regarding contemplated amendments dealing with restrictions on compensation for fetal tissue (not offered). Contacts in opposition to Grayson Amendment to the Financial Services appropriations bill(H.R. 5485), to remove limitation on inclusion of elective abortion coverage in FEHBP plans; amendment rejected by House on July 7, 2016. Contacts in support of Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (H.R. 4924), to provide certain criminal penalties and civil remedies to prevent sex-based and race-based abortions, subject of a hearing in House Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee, April 14, 2016. Contacts expressing qualified support for S. 217 (Casey), to codify Hyde Amendment.

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

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, as approved by the House of Representatives May 13, 2015, and the Senate companion bill, S. 1553. Contacts in support of No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7, S. 582), to codify government-wide policy against funding abortion (passed House January 22, 2015, 242-179). Contacts in support of Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA)(H.R. 803, S. 404) 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 Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act (H.R. 3515, Smith), including letter to House members dated February 12, 2016, encouraging cosponsorship, and contacts in support of possible Senate companion bill (not introduced during Second Quarter). Contacts expressing nonsupport for H.R. 426, H.R. 816, and S. 2464, based on lack of clarity and erroneous legal premises. Contacts in opposition to "Women's Health Protection Act" (H.R. 448, S. 217), a proposed federal statute to invalidate virtually all state and federal regulations pertaining to abortion. Contacts in opposition to "EACH Woman Act" (H.R. 2972), 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." Contacts in opposition to Murray Amendment to Military Construction/VA appropriations bill (S. 2806) to mandate funding by Veterans Administration of certain procedures destructive of human embryos, in the form adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee on April 14, 2016, subsequently modified in conference committee. Contacts regarding contours of Zika virus response package, ultimately incorporated with VA appropriations into H.R. 2577; no position on conference report. Contacts pertaining to alternative VA benefits bill, H.R. 4892 (Miller), no position. Contacts regarding nominations of Mary Wakefield as DHHS deputy secretary and Karen DeSalvo as DHHS assistant secretary for health; opposed to confirmation at this time. Contacts in support of Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 3504, Franks), passed by the House Sept. 18, 2015, and in support of Senate companion bill, S. 2066 (Sasse). Contacts offering advice on possible productive lines of investigation within the purview of the Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives (House Energy & Commerce Committee). Contacts in support of actions by Members of Congress to call attention to refusal of DHHS 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. Contacts related to objections by various members of Congress to June 21, 2016, letters issued by the DHHS Office of Civil Rights, amounting to refusal to enfore the Weldon Amendment. Contacts in support of the Conscience Protection Act(H.R. 4828, Fleming), to create a private cause of action for victims of government-based discrimination for non-participation in abortion, passed by the House within the shell of S. 304 on July 13, 2016. Contacts in support of Senate companion bill, S. 2927 (Lankford). Communications regarding S. 553 (Corker),"End Slavery Initiative." No position on draft legislation under consideration March 3, 2016; reserve right to support possible abortion-related floor amendments; reserve right to reassess non-position if substantial changes occur subsequent to text reviewed March 3, 2016. Communications in support of adding certain abortion-related pro-life provisions to FY 2017 appropriations bills, including prohibition on coverage of abortion in Obamacare multi-state plans in Financial Services appropriations bill (H.R. 5485) (Harris), conscience protections for health care providers and defunding of Planned Parenthood in HHS appropriations bill (unnumbered), limitations on funding of embryo-destructive procedures on HHS appropriations bill (Harris, adopted by House Appropriations Committee on July 13, 2016), limitations on funding of abortion-promoting groups in State/Foreign Operations appropriations bill (unnumbered), and prohibition on funding of elective abortions for ICE detainees on Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 5634) (Aderholt)(adopted by House Appropriations Committee on June 22, 2016). Contacts in support of Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (H.R. 4924), to provide certain criminal penalties and civil remedies to prevent sex-based and race-based abortions, subject of a hearing in House Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee, April 14, 2016. Contacts in opposition to Speier amendment to H.R. 4909, defense authorization bill, to repeal prohibition on use of U.S. military facilities for elective abortion (filed at House Rules Committee but not made in order).

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

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, as approved by the House of Representatives May 13, 2015, and the Senate companion bill, S. 1553. Contacts in support of No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7, S. 582), to codify government-wide policy against funding abortion (passed House January 22, 2015, 242-179). Contacts in support of Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA)(H.R. 803, S. 404) 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 Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act (H.R. 3515, Smith), including letter to House members dated February 12, 2016, encouraging cosponsorship, and contacts in support of possible Senate companion bill (not introduced during First Quarter). Contacts expressing nonsupport for H.R. 426, H.R. 816, and S. 2464, based on lack of clarity and erroneous legal premises. Contacts in opposition to "Women's Health Protection Act" (H.R. 448, S. 217), a proposed federal statute to invalidate virtually all state and federal regulations pertaining to abortion. Contacts in opposition to "EACH Woman Act" (H.R. 2972), 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." Contacts in opposition to H.R. 2257 (Rep. Jeff Miller) and S. 469 (Murray); in the forms introduced; these bills would require the Veterans Administration to provide certain services involving the creation, manipulation, and freezing of human embryos; contacts regarding possible revisions to the legislation. Contacts regarding nominations of Mary Wakefield as DHHS deputy secretary and Karen DeSalvo as DHHS assistant secretary for health; opposed to confirmation at this time. Contacts in support of Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 3504, Franks), passed by the House Sept. 18, 2015, and in support of Senate companion bill, S. 2066 (Sasse). Contacts offering advice on possible productive lines of investigation within the purview of the Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives (House Energy & Commerce Committee). Contacts in support of concurrence in Senate amendments to H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act (AKA "pro-life budget reconciliation bill"), based on provisions to defund Planned Parenthood and to repeal certain provisions of Obamacare, including the program that provides subsidies to about 1,000 private health plans that cover elective abortion. (House concurred Jan. 6, 2016, 240-181.) Contacts in support of attempt to override the President's veto (which attempt fell short of constitutionally required supermajority, 241-186, Feb. 2, 2016). Communication regarding S. 1438, "Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Consistent Contraception Act" (Ayotte) (no position). Communication regarding S. 2689 (Kirk) (companion H.R. 4762, Coffman), "REGROW Act" (no position). Contacts in support of H.R. 4536 (Tiberi), "Protecting the Dignity of Unborn Children Act" (creates federal crime for disposal of abortion victims in navigable waters or landfills). Contacts in support of actions by Members of Congress to call attention to refusal of DHHS 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. Contacts in support of H.R. 4828 (Fleming-Hartzler), "Conscience Protection Act," and S. 50, "Abortion Nondiscrimination Act," to strengthen federal protections for health-care providers who do not wish to participate in providing abortions. Communications regarding S. 553 (Corker),"End Slavery Initiative." No position on draft legislation under consideration March 3, 2016; reserve right to support possible abortion-related floor amendments; reserve right to reassess non-position if substantial changes occur subsequent to text reviewed March 3, 2016. Communications in support of abortion-related pro-life provisions to FY 2017 appropriations bills, including prohibition on coverage of abortion in Obamacare multi-state plans in Financial Services appropriations bill (Harris), conscience protections for health care providers and defunding of Planned Parenthood in HHS appropriations bill, and limitations on funding of abortion-promoting groups in Foreign Operations appropriations bill. Contacts in support of Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (H.R. 4924), to provide certain criminal penalties and civil remedies to prevent sex-based and race-based abortions.

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE