SBA List Responds to Judge’s Ruling Striking Down Enforcement of Conscience Protections

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2019
CONTACT: Mallory Quigley
[email protected] 202-223-8073

Washington, D.C. – Today the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) issued the following statement in response to a federal judge’s ruling striking down the Trump administration’s conscience protection rule:

“We are disappointed by this ruling. Abortion is not health care – it is the destruction of innocent human life and should never be mandated,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “In stark contrast to the previous administration’s failure to enforce federal conscience protections, President Trump pledged to protect pro-life institutions and health care workers like Cathy DeCarlo who have been forced to participate in abortion or lose their jobs. Clear enforcement of federal law is needed more urgently than ever as some states push to expand abortion on demand through birth.

“We thank President Trump and Secretary Azar for their leadership and encourage them to appeal this unjust decision. We also continue to urge Congress to enact a private right of action so victims can seek relief in court in the future regardless of who holds power in Washington.”

Earlier this year the Trump administration finalized new regulations to strengthen enforcement of federal laws protecting the conscience rights of health care personnel and other entities who do not want to participate in abortion. The regulations clarify what recourse is available to victims of discrimination under the law and what penalties the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Civil Rights may enforce for violations.

In addition, the Trump administration has proposed a new rule to clarify that the federal definition of sex discrimination under Obamacare (ACA) does not include abortion, and to bring ACA regulations into compliance with longstanding conscience protection laws.

SBA List is a network of more than 837,000 pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.

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