WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) sent letters to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Pennsylvania Insurance Department Commissioner Joel Ario requesting that they ensure and confirm that the Affordable Care Act, the new health care reform law, prevents the federal funding of abortion in all of the law's provisions, as is consistent with current law.  The legislation established a program to help states provide insurance coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions who are unable to otherwise buy insurance.  Pennsylvania recently submitted its application for these funds and HHS approved the application.  Recently, concerns have been raised that Pennsylvania's plan does not explicitly prohibit coverage of elective abortions. 

"While current law states that federal funds cannot be used for abortion, the language for Pennsylvania's program to cover those with pre-existing conditions is not clear on this issue," said Congressman Kanjorski.  "I have reached out to Secretary Sebelius and Commissioner Ario urging them to clarify this language and confirm the longstanding prohibition on federal funding of abortion, particularly for this program, which I strongly support.  Ensuring that no federal funds would be used to pay for abortions was among my many considerations when deciding to vote for the Affordable Care Act.  President Obama signed an executive order in March confirming this, and I have requested further verification of this from the appropriate regulators.  I do not want there to be any way to get around this issue."

The text of Congressman Kanjorski's letters to Secretary Sebelius and Commissioner Ario follow:

Dear Secretary Sebelius:

            The purpose of this letter is to raise concerns about Pennsylvania's application for funding to administer a high-risk insurance pool for individuals with pre-existing conditions and ensuring that no elective abortions are funded through the plan.  I appreciate your attention to this matter.

            As you may know, since being elected to Congress, I have regularly voted to protect the sanctity of human life.  More specifically, I have voted on many occasions to ensure that the Hyde Amendment is upheld and that no federal funds are used to pay for elective abortions.

            On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law.  In order to address the ongoing concerns about ensuring that no federal funds provided in the bill would be used for abortions, the President issued an executive order on March 24, 2010.  The executive order reaffirms that the language in the Affordable Care Act upholds the longstanding prohibition on federal funding of abortion, known as the Hyde Amendment, and ensures that no funds provided under the bill can be used for abortions.  Ensuring that no federal funds would be used to pay for abortions was among my many considerations when deciding to vote for the Affordable Care Act.

            Among the many provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the legislation established a program to help states provide insurance coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions who are unable to otherwise buy insurance.  Pennsylvania recently submitted its application for these funds and the Department of Health and Human Services approved the applications.

            Since the application was approved, concerns have been raised that Pennsylvania's plan does not explicitly prohibit coverage of elective abortions.  It is my understanding that although the plan states that no elective abortions will be covered, that the plan does not specifically define what situations will be considered "elective."  Rather, the plan refers to sections of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.  As a result, concerns have been raised that unless the plan specifically defines "elective abortions," it may result in situations where elective abortions will be covered.

            As a pro-life Member of Congress, I am extremely concerned about this possibility.  As a result, consistent with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, I urge you to work with Pennsylvania, and other states, to ensure that high-risk pools explicitly exclude coverage for all elective abortions and that no federal funds are used to pay for elective abortions.

            In closing, thank you for your attention to this matter.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Paul E. Kanjorski

Member of Congress

Dear Commissioner Ario:

            The purpose of this letter is to raise concerns about Pennsylvania's application for funding to administer a high-risk insurance pool for individuals with pre-existing conditions and ensuring that no elective abortions are funded through the plan.  I appreciate your attention to this matter.

            As you may know, since being elected to Congress, I have regularly voted to protect the sanctity of human life.  More specifically, I have voted on many occasions to ensure that the Hyde Amendment is upheld and that no federal funds are used to pay for elective abortions.

            On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law.  In order to address the ongoing concerns about ensuring that no federal funds provided in the bill would be used for abortions, the President issued an executive order on March 24, 2010.  The executive order reaffirms that the language in the Affordable Care Act upholds the longstanding prohibition on federal funding of abortion, known as the Hyde Amendment, and ensures that no funds provided under the bill can be used for abortions.  Ensuring that no federal funds would be used to pay for abortions was among my many considerations when deciding to vote for the Affordable Care Act.

            Among the many provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the legislation established a program to help states provide insurance coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions who are unable to otherwise buy insurance.  As you know, Pennsylvania recently submitted its application for these funds and the Department of Health and Human Services approved the applications.

            Since the application was approved, concerns have been raised that Pennsylvania's plan does not explicitly prohibit coverage of elective abortions.  It is my understanding that although the plan states that no elective abortions will be covered, the plan does not specifically define what situations will be considered "elective."  Rather, the plan refers to sections of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.  As a result, concerns have been raised that unless the plan specifically defines "elective abortions," it may result in situations where elective abortions will be covered.

            As a pro-life Member of Congress, I am extremely concerned about this possibility.  As a result, consistent with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, I urge you to work with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that Pennsylvania's plan explicitly excludes coverage for all elective abortions and that no federal funds are used to pay for elective abortions.

            In closing, thank you for your attention to this matter.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Paul E. Kanjorski

Member of Congress

###