House Values Leaders Meet with Secretary Price on Conscience Protections

Statement

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), Chairman Diane Black (TN-06), and Representatives Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Andy Harris (MD-01), Stephen Knight (CA-25), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Peter Roskam (IL-06), and Chris Smith (NJ-04) released the following statement after meeting with Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tom Price on how the California abortion mandate violates the Weldon Amendment and other ways federal conscience protections were undermined by the previous Administration:

"The Weldon Amendment protects health care entities--from hospitals to insurance providers--from being discriminated against by the government if they don't provide or cover abortions, especially if doing so violates their consciences. The last Administration ignored this fact and refused to enforce the law, including in California, where health insurance providers are being forced to offer abortion coverage.

"After our meeting with Secretary Price, we are fully confident that the Trump Administration is willing to take a fresh look at the California abortion mandate controversy and other conscience violations, addressing them in a way that respects people's rights and fully conforms with the congressional intent of the Weldon Amendment. Ultimately, the government has no right to force Americans to participate in a practice that takes the lives of unborn children. We thank Secretary Price for his attention to this important matter."