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Indian American Health Care

Senator to Ensure Indian American Health Care Bill Doesn't Fund Abortions

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Senate will take up the Indian health care reauthorization bill Tuesday and, when it does, a pro-life senator plans an amendment to make sure none of the funds pay for abortions. The amendment from Sen. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican considered a leader on stopping funding of abortions, comes on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The Vitter Amendment would codify a longstanding policy against funding of abortions with federal Indian Health Service (IHS) funds. Its language follows that of the Hyde amendment, which prohibits direct funding of abortion under Medicaid except in very rare cases when the mother is a victim of rape or incest or when the pregnancy threatens her life. According to Douglas Johnson, the director of legislation for the National Right to Life Committee, the IHS is funded through the separate Interior appropriations bill. As a result, it has never carried the Hyde amendment and the bill funded abortions well after the Hyde amendment was first enacted in 1976. ACTION: Contact your two U.S. senators and urge strong support for the Vitter amendment.
Ref. https://www.lifenews.com/nat3629.html

Care Health American Indian

I thought life was considered sacred among these people, why would this even be a consideration?

Indian American Health Care History & Civil Business Politics

Life was traditionally considered sacred, and by many natives, it still is. However, just like every other race of people out there, we all feel differently on the subject of abortion. It seems that people really like to lump natives all into one group and think that we all hold the same views and stuff. But that is simply not true. We are all varied, and oftentimes disagree with one another. Not all white people or black people feel the same way about abortions, and the same is true for natives.

So abortion does come up with native girls and women. I definitely don't think the government should pay for abortions, not for natives, not for anyone.

Care Health American Indian

Congressman Hopes to Stop Taxpayer-Funded Abortions in Indian Health Plan

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life member of Congress plans an amendment to a bill on health care for Native Americans that's similar to the language of an amendment the Senate approved last month. Rep. Joe Pitts wants to make sure the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1328) isn't used to fund abortions with public money. In late February, the Senate approved an amendment from Sen. David Vitter that would permanently prevent abortion funding at Indian health care service facilities. It codifies longstanding policy against funding of abortions with federal Indian Health Service (IHS) funds. The language of the Vitter amendment follows the Hyde amendment, which prohibits direct funding of abortion under Medicaid except in very rare cases when the mother is a victim of rape or incest or when the pregnancy threatens her life. The IHS bill has never carried the Hyde amendment and the bill funded abortions well after the Hyde amendment was first enacted in 1976. The Senate voted 52 to 42 for the Vitter amendment and Pitts wants the House to approve similar language so the final bill sent to President Bush will contain the permanent abortion funding ban. ACTION: Contact the members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and urge strong support for the Pitts amendment to stop taxpayer-funded abortions in the IHS bill.
Ref. https://www.lifenews.com/nat3825.html