Congress is considering health care reform legislation. On November 7, the House passed its bill, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), having first adopted the Stupak–Pitts Amendment that maintains longstanding policy against federal funding of abortion. Senate leadership is still preparing a bill for floor consideration. Debate could begin as early as the week of November 16. None of the Senate committee bills has acceptable provisions prohibiting abortion funding or mandates for abortion coverage, and none fully protects conscience rights in health care. These serious defects in the Senate bills must be corrected.
