Dismemberment Abortion Ban 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.