Wink-wink, nod-nod:The Obama administration's approach to enforcing laws they don't like

From Capitol Hill...

Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA) recently questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell regarding her agency’s failure to resolve the ongoing violation of federal conscience laws by California’s Department of Managed Care. Responding to Rep. Pitts’ question, Burwell acknowledged that the administration has not moved fast enough on this issue.  

Background

In August of 2014, the California Department of Managed Care (DMHC) issued a directive requiring all plans under the DMHC authority to immediately include coverage for all legal abortions even if the abortion-excluding plan had been previously approved by DMHC.
As a result abortion was immediately inserted into the plans of pro-life churches and schools without their consent.
This action was taken despite the Weldon amendment (to the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill) which clearly states that no funds may be made available to a state if the state subjects a health care entity (including insurance plans) to discrimination because it does not provide coverage of abortion.
The only recourse for victims of a violation of the Weldon amendment is to file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services.  Complaints were filed in the fall of 2014 by the California Catholic Conference and a group of evangelical churches.  An investigation was opened in December of 2014 after pro-life Members of Congress urged the Secretary to do so.
When Burwell appeared before Chairman Pitts in early 2015 she assured him the investigation would be expeditious.
As Chairman Pitts pointed out yesterday, it has been a year since she made that statement and still no corrective action has been taken. 

This article titled “Republicans accuse Obama of failing to enforce the law” provides additional information about the mandate and inaction by the administration. 

Obama health chief admits abortion law inquiry too slow

By Peter Sullivan - 02/24/16 01:12 PM EST
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell acknowledged Wednesday that the administration has not moved fast enough in investigating an alleged violation of abortion law.
Burwell was questioned at a congressional hearing Wednesday about a California state agency’s decision in 2014 to require all health insurance plans in the state to cover abortions, which Republicans say is a clear violation of the federal Weldon Amendment, protecting insurance plans from discrimination if they decline to cover abortions.
The HHS Office of Civil Rights, which has the responsibility of enforcing the Weldon Amendment, said in December 2014 it had opened an investigation into California’s actions. But the investigation is still not complete.
“I would like for it to have moved more quickly than it has moved, but the investigation is open, and until it is closed, I am not at a place to discuss in terms of what the investigation has yielded or will yield,” Burwell said.
Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) asked her for a time frame on when the investigation will be complete.
“I am not satisfied with our speed. We’ll continue to work on that issue, but I don’t feel I can give you a specific time frame because it is an investigation and I need it to run its ability and its course,” Burwell replied.
A collection of churches and other religious groups have argued that the rule has effectively forced them to violate their religious beliefs by offering insurance plans that cover abortions.
Congressional Republicans have been frustrated by the lack of results.
Pitts pointed to comments Burwell made last February when she was asked about the same issue at a hearing. She said then her department would move “expeditiously.”
Asked Wednesday if the process had in fact been expeditious, Burwell acknowledged that it could have moved faster.
Still, she said, “I take seriously the issues that you’ve raised.”

Actually, taking the issues seriously means enforcing the law. But this administration only enforces its ideology.

Baby parts investigation in Congress heats up

Rep. Marsha Blackburn

The lamestream media largely has moved on and returned to promoting rather exposing than Planned Parenthood--a billion-dollar "nonprofit" that rakes in a third of a billion in our tax dollars while performing a third of a million abortions every year.

Congress, however, remains focused on conducting a thorough and sweeping investigation of the dark and deadly industry, including Planned Parenthood, that traffics in baby body parts.

Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has announced that the Panel would be moving forward with an initial set of subpoenas. 

In this release, Chairman Blackburn announces that subpoenas have been issued to StemExpress, the University of New Mexico, and Southwestern Women’s Options. 

To read the subpoenas click on the following links: 

• StemExpress
• University of New Mexico
• Southwestern Women's Options

Rep. Blackburn also provided interview about the Select Panel available on her Facebook and Twitter pages.

Peeking behind the Planned Parenthood curtain: FRC's Arina Grossu unveils the truth about abortion, baby body parts mills

Arina Grossu

The Family Research Council's (FRC) Center for Human Dignity just published an enlightening paper by my good friend and colleague, Arina Grossu.

“Investigating Planned Parenthood and Research Using Aborted Babies” addresses the unconscionable abortion and fetal tissue harvesting business of Planned Parenthood. Here's a quick summary from FRC:

• Part I delineates how many facilities at Planned Parenthood perform medication and surgical abortion, then examines how many Planned Parenthood facilities perform surgical abortions up to a certain limit. 
• Part II shows state abortion limits.
• Part III examines Planned Parenthood’s twenty affiliates that have participated in harvesting programs in the past five years using aborted babies. Where available, primary source documents are linked that tie specific Planned Parenthood affiliates with biotech companies and end consumers.
• Part IV links to all of the short videos, press releases and the full footage of the Center for Medical Progress (CMP). 
• Part V lists the states where Planned Parenthood investigations have occurred and states where defunding efforts are taking place.
• Part VI lists all of the Congressional investigations of Planned Parenthood.

 Read the full paper here: “Investigating Planned Parenthood and Research Using Aborted Babies”

Congress inches toward sane sex education policy

Some good news below from my friend Valerie Huber of Ascend (formerly the National Abstinence Education Association). The majority GOP Congress has increased the amount of funding allocated to sexual risk avoidance (SRA) sex education. 

However, a huge federal funding gap remains between programs that teach teens how to save sex while protecting their hearts and programs that teach teens how to have sex while protecting their sexual organs. The sexual risk avoidance strategies regarding teen sex parallel similar strategies for risky behaviors such as smoking and substance abuse.

The House has released the long-awaited Omnibus spending bill for Fiscal Year 2016. Tucked within the many pages of the bill are several policy changes in the nation’s sex education priorities. Three improvements have a direct impact on Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) education, funded through the annual appropriations process:

1.    Funding. Funding for Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) education is doubled from $5 million to $10 million. The disparity is still great between SRA and so-called “comprehensive” sex education (or more accurately Sexual Risk Reduction [SRR] education), but this year’s omnibus is a step in the right direction. SRR education received funding at $90 million.

2.    New Language. Legislative language governing the SRA program ensures that students will receive clear and accurate information and skills to avoid sexual risk.  The new language is taken from the Healthy Relationships Act, introduced in the House by Rep. Randy Hultgren and Rep. Dan Lipinski, and in the Senate by Sen. Lindsey Graham.

3.    New Name. The term “sexual risk avoidance” more clearly describes the optimal health priorities of our programs. Congress replaced the term “abstinence education” for “sexual risk avoidance” to reflect the overriding health benefits teens experience when they forgo sexual activity. Consistent with how the public health community addresses other youth risks, the sexual risk avoidance approach offers a well-defined and consistent emphasis on information and skills that help youth avoid all sexual risk.

With the expected and quick passage of the Omnibus, these important improvements to federal sex education policy set a new precedent for teen health.

 “We are encouraged that Congress listened to the majority of Americans* who say that pregnancy-prevention-only programs are not enough for our youth.  They say that youth deserve all the skills to help them thrive – skills that are a part of SRA programs,” declared Valerie Huber, President/CEO of Ascend.

“We are encouraged that Congress is committed to reinforcing and amplifying the good decisions of the majority of youth. Most teens have not had sex – and that percentage has increased more than 15% over the past 20 years.** Finally, more sex education classes will help youth build healthy relationships, avoid all the consequences of teen sex, and ascend to brighter and healthier futures,” she continued.

“The legislative changes are important and the increased funding is one step closer to parity between SRA and SRR programs, a continuing goal for Ascend.”

Ascend applauds Congress for making important improvements to sex education funding and policy. The future of our youth trumps politics. The FY 2016 Omnibus sets a good precedent for that future.

*About 70% of Americans say students should learn how to avoid all the consequences of sex, rather than merely receive a pregnancy prevention message, according to the July 2015 Americans Speak Out Survey. Research conducted by the Barna Group. 

** The CDC reveals more than a 15% decrease in the percent of teens who have had sex from 1991-2013. Click here to see trends and further information.  

Ascend (formerly the National Abstinence Education Association) champions youth to make healthy decisions in relationships and life by promoting well being through a primary prevention strategy, and as a national membership and advocacy organization that serves, leads, represents and equips the Sexual Risk Avoidance field.

Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. Chris Smith expose China's coercive abortion policy at hearing Thursday

The following hearing of the Congressional Co-Executive Commission on China will be webcast at this link.

Representative Christopher Smith, Chairman and Senator Marco Rubio, Cochairman

announce a hearing

China’s New “Two-Child Policy” & the Continuation of Massive Crimes Against Women and Children

Thursday, December 3, 2015

1o:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.

HVC 210, Capitol Visitors Center

After 35 years of brutal enforcement of the one-child policy, the Chinese Communist Party announced in late October that a universal two-child policy will be adopted, allowing all married Chinese couples to have two children. 

The policy change was driven  by serious demographic concerns currently facing China—a rapidly aging population, a shrinking labor force, and a dramatic gender imbalance that drives regional human trafficking problems and potentially higher levels of crime and societal instability.  

Central authorities continue to insist that family planning will continue to be a “fundamental national policy” and many unanswered questions remain about implementation of the policy.  

• Why did China not completely abolish birth restrictions?  
• Will coercive implementation continue? 
• What will happen to China’s massive bureaucracy of family planning officials? 
• Will the two-child policy counter China’s massive demographic problems? 

This hearing will examine the potential demographic, economic, and social implications associated with China’s new “Two-Child Policy” and seek recommendations on how the international community can assist China to address them.

Witnesses:

1. Nicholas Eberstadt, Ph.D., Henry Wendt Scholar in Political Economy, American Enterprise Institute
2. Reggie Littlejohn, Founder and President, Women’s Rights Without Frontiers
3. Jennifer Li, Co-Founder, China Life Alliance
4. Sarah Huang,  Activist

 ***Additional witnesses may be added

This hearing will be webcast live here.

Click here to download a copy of the Commission's full 2015 Annual Report.

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China, established by the U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 as China prepared to enter the World Trade Organization, is mandated by law to monitor human rights, including worker rights, and the development of the rule of law in China. The Commission by mandate also maintains a database of information on political prisoners in China—individuals who have been imprisoned by the Chinese government for exercising their civil and political rights under China's Constitution and laws or under China's international human rights obligations. All of the Commission's reporting and its Political Prisoner Database are available to the public online via the Commission's Web site, http://www.cecc.gov