Sessions Votes for Conscience Protection Act

Statement

U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), chairman of the House Rules Committee, today issued the following statement after voting in favor of a bill that reaffirms the protections found in the Weldon amendment and opens the courts to discriminated individuals and entities to obtain necessary legal relief. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to stop the Federal Government, and any State or local government that receives Federal funds from penalizing, retaliating against, or otherwise discriminating against a health care provider on the basis that the provider does not participate in abortion:

"Today I voted to stand with the health care professionals who are unconstitutionally forced to violate their personal beliefs and provide abortions. A person's conscience dictates who they are, how they act and what they think is right and wrong, and the founding document of our country -- the Constitution -- has always provided a protection for Americans to act in line with the guiding principles they hold deeply in their hearts. The Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services has recently acted to prove that individuals have no legal recourse to protect their rights if they are forced to participate in an abortion. This bill would provide Americans with their day in court in the unfortunate circumstance they would need it. We must not lose respect for freedom and conscience protections in health care."

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