The Alliance has developed bipartisan federal civil rights legislation, The Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2011 (HR 361), to better protect the health care ministry in California from state discrimination on the basis that it does not provide, pay for or cover abortions. The legislation seeks to strengthen existing conscience protections, such as the Weldon Amendment, by making them permanent under statute rather than a rider to an annual appropriations bill. It also includes a "private right of action" that would strengthen the enforcement of federal conscience-rights statutes. This effort was done in collaboration with the California Catholic Conference and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Alliance has prepared a Bill Fact Sheet on HR 361, which gives backgound information and a summary of the bill. The Alliance's press announcement articulates our strong support for the legislation.