U.S. CONGRESSMAN JOHN C. FLEMING, M.D.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Fleming released the following statement after the 9^th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld California’s “Reproductive FACT Act” forcing pro-life pregnancy resource centers in California to advertise abortions in their clinics.

“More and more we are seeing First Amendment rights absolutely stomped on within the courts. This recent federal court decision to uphold a California law forces dedicated centers of life to contradict their very existence and actively promote abortions. This is a blatant violation of core constitutional principles. It is sickening that California would enact a law designed to specifically target clinics that care for the welfare of both mother and baby, and it is beyond the pale that the federal court would evade the First Amendment to make these pro-life clinics the mouthpieces for Planned Parenthood.  

“Now more than ever our country is in need of legislation I’ve been working on since 2011, the Conscience Protection Act, to ensure no one is forced to participate in an abortion in anyway and for any reason – including offering information on where to get one done. The House passed my bill in July; it’s time we put the Conscience Protection Act on the President’s desk.”