Roe Supports HHS Physician Conscience Rule

Press Release

Yesterday, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) spoke in support of Rep. Tom Cole's (R-Okla.) amendment to uphold the Department of Health and Human Services' conscience rule, which protects physicians and other health care professionals from having to provide procedures against their conscience.

Congressman Roe made the following remarks as delivered:

"Thank you Mister Speaker and thank you Mister Cole. Mister Speaker, I strongly support this amendment and the HHS conscience rule. As a staunch pro-life OB-GYN physician who practiced for over 31 years and delivered nearly 5000 babies, it sickens me to think we would force a health care provider to perform a procedure that violates their conscience or religious beliefs. Although it may come as a shock to some Democrats to learn that many providers are pro-life and forcing them to choose between their legitimate, sincerely-held beliefs and the law is wrong, removing this rule can't force me or other doctors to violate our conscience.

"This is a simple concept -- doctors should not be forced to perform abortions, assisted suicides or any other service that would violate their conscience.

"Opponents of the HHS rule will tell you that the rule is about denial of care. They will tell you that the rule is intended to allow discrimination. There can be nothing further from the truth. The HHS rule protects healthcare providers from discrimination if they choose to act according to their conscience. We have a First Amendment right to practice our religion in America, and the government forcing someone to act in a way that violates those beliefs is in direct opposition to the very foundation of our formation of the Constitution. This is not about forcing a medical provider's religious beliefs on anyone, this is about not forcing a medical provider to abandon their beliefs due to arbitrary government action.

"The HHS conscience rule is a moral rule, and I oppose efforts to block its implementation in this appropriations bill. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and I yield back the balance of my time."

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