ST. LOUIS, MO. (05-01-12) – Americans United for Life Action President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest joined Missouri Rep. Todd Akin for a news conference at the Robert A. Young Federal Building, asking members of Congress to pass H.R. 4971, the “Stop Abortion Funding in Multi-State Exchange Plan Act,” or the “SAFE Act.”

“The healthcare law signed by President Obama in 2010 marked the largest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade,” said Dr. Yoest. “But it is not too late to change course and prevent damage that the law will cause.”

Dr. Yoest made the following statement:

“Ensuring taxpayers are not forced to fund abortion is a bipartisan effort. Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Akin who introduced the SAFE Act—and the 61 original co-sponsors—Congress can begin to right the wrong of the healthcare law that expands both abortion and taxpayer funding of abortion.

“We all remember the day in March 2010 when House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told Americans ‘We have to pass the [healthcare] bill so that you can find out what is in it.’ What we have found in the law is a massive expansion of the taxpayers’ involvement with the abortion industry.

“Even eleventh hour maneuvers to modify the healthcare law did not fool pro-life Americans—we recognized that the abortion-related provisions in the bill remained deeply flawed, and that President Obama’s Executive Order did little more than re-state those provisions.

“That is why we need the SAFE Act.  The SAFE Act will make the multi-state plan provision of the healthcare law consistent with existing law—the Hyde Amendment and, notably, the Smith Amendment to the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program.  The Hyde Amendment and the federal employee program prohibit federal subsidies from supporting insurance plans that cover abortions, regardless of whether the federal dollars are used to directly pay for abortions.

“We know that 7 out of 10 Americans do not want to see their tax dollars going to fund the abortion industry. AULA calls on Congress to pass the “SAFE Act” and protect the majority of Americans who—whether pro-life or pro-abortion—do not want to be entangled with abortion in the healthcare law.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. (3-20-12) – Americans United for Life Action put a radio ad buy in the field this week opposing Bob Kerrey’s candidacy for Senate from Nebraska. At issue are the extremely pro-abortion positions taken by the former Senator, including his support for the highly unpopular partial-birth abortion procedure.

“Bob Kerrey’s unwavering support for even the most distasteful abortion practices are out of line with the values of Nebraskans,” said AULA President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest. “And Kerrey consistently supported putting pro-abortion judges on the bench, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the most unabashed supporters of abortion-on-demand in all nine months of pregnancy. This ad is a reminder of Kerrey’s record, which is more important than rhetoric.”

The radio spot begins by noting that Kerrey is poised to leave his home in New York City to seek the Nebraska seat where his record against life is extreme. Kerrey voted 5 times against banning partial birth abortion, a procedure that even former President Bill Clinton opposed. And Kerrey consistently supported putting pro-abortion judges on the bench.

To hear the ad, listen below or click here to download a MP3.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (03-14-12) – With the help and consultation of Americans United for Life, the New Hampshire House continued to advance the pro-life cause by passing two pro-life bills today. Key was HB 1659, the Women’s Right to Know Act, which is based on AUL model legislation.

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, AUL Action’s President and CEO stated, “Informed consent is a bedrock of medical practice. But for too long, abortion providers have hidden certain information from women seeking abortion—information such as the risks abortion carries, and even the name of the physician who is going to perform the abortion.  Women in New Hampshire deserve to be given vital information before making an abortion decision so they can make a truly informed ‘choice.’”

HB 1659, sponsored by Rep. Jeanine Notter, will protect women seeking abortion by providing basic informed consent rights. At least 24 hours before the abortion, abortion providers must give women information on the physical and psychological risks of abortion as well as the probable gestational age and characteristics of her child. Women are also to be given state-prepared materials containing objective information about abortion and potential services available.

In addition to this bill, the New Hampshire House approved HB 1679, sponsored by Rep. Ross Terrio, which bans partial-birth abortion.

AUL Action calls on the New Hampshire Senate to pass these bills.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (03-01-12) — Americans United for Life Action President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest praised the Virginia House legislators for passing HB 462, a life-saving ultrasound bill.  “I want to thank the legislators for doing the right thing for Virginia women despite the outright lies spread by abortion advocates about the legislation. This bill ensures women’s health is protected by requiring abortion providers to perform a life-saving ultrasound test prior to abortion. And it allows women the option of viewing her unborn child. Women deserve to have all the best medical information prior to making a life-altering decision by allowing them to be fully informed about their choice. And ultrasounds are the gold standard of medical care for determining such important factors as whether a woman is experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.”

“AULA joins other concerned Virginians in asking Governor McDonnell to sign this life-saving legislation, and thanks him for pressing forward with the measure despite the deceptive and politically-driven media campaign against the bill,” said Dr. Yoest.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (03-01-12) – Americans United for Life Action President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest called the U.S. Senate’s vote to block the Blunt Amendment today “a travesty” and a failure to protect Americans’ First Amendment Right of Conscience. The vote today is a continuation of the unprecedented attack by the Obama Administration on this fundamental right. “The Senate has failed in its duty to provide a balance of power against the Obama Administration’s outrageous power grab that violates Americans’ freedom of conscience.  Americans should be able to make healthcare coverage choices that are consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions,” said Dr. Yoest. “Across the country, outrage over forcing Americans to pay for an abortion-inducing drug mandate is growing.  We will remember in November.”

Dr. Yoest said that today’s vote was further evidence that AUL’s newly-launched Freedom of Conscience educational website and video are vital to the continuing debate. The campaign includes a video showing how the Obama Administration is putting “The Con” in contraception.

“AUL launched an educational website today to help people understand the manipulative policies in the healthcare law that are forcing both an abortion coverage mandate and an abortion-inducing drug mandate on all Americans — regardless of their personal beliefs. ” she said.

“The Senators who voted to block the Amendment today revealed their determination to push an abortion agenda on all Americans,” Yoest noted.

To learn more about the issues surrounding the First Amendment Freedom of Conscience at risk under President Obama’s healthcare law, click here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (02-10-12) – Americans United for Life Action President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to end his blockage and allow a vote on Amendment #1520 to protect Americans’ freedom of conscience in the midst of fatal flaws in President Obama’s pending healthcare law. In a letter to the Senate and to House leadership, Dr. Yoest asked Senators to support Amendment #1520 to S. 1813, the Surface Transportation bill “to protect the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in healthcare coverage that is consistent with one’s religious beliefs and moral convictions.”

“Protecting the conscience rights of Americans in the law has been a top AUL priority since 1975, noted Dr. Yoest.

“The current controversy over the abortion-inducing drug mandate in President Obama’s healthcare law reveals that without better legal protections people will be vulnerable to the whims of any administration,” said Dr. Yoest.

In her letter, Dr. Yoest noted Amendment #1520 would: “ensure that the broad mandate authorities in the (healthcare law) cannot be used to force health plan issuers or healthcare providers to furnish insurance coverage for drugs, devices, and services contrary to their religious beliefs or moral convictions.”

To read the entire letter, click here.