House Passes Pro-Life Bill

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a controversial anti-abortion bill known as the Protect Life Act, which was introduced by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) to bar federal money from going to health-care plans that cover abortion. The bill prohibits women from buying any health insurance plan under the Affordable Care Act that covers abortions, even though most health insurance plans cover abortion. It also makes it legal for hospitals to deny abortions that are needed to save a woman’s life if the hospital is morally opposed to abortion. The bill was passed after a day of impassioned testimony on Capitol Hill, including Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) who said she personally faced a situation where abortion was necessary to save her life.