Senators Propose Medicare Changes
On June 28, Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) introduced a new plan that would adjust Medicare’s eligibility and payment structure. The bill’s sponsors say the proposal would reduce Medicare spending by $600 billion over the next 10 years.
As introduced the bill would:
- Raise the eligibility age from 65 to 67. This increase would occur in two month increments starting with people turning 65 in 2014 until the threshold reaches 67 in 2025. Doing so is projected to save $124 billion over 10 years.
- Increase Part B premiums for individuals making more than $150K a year o couples making more than $300K a year. Under the plan, they would have to pay 100 percent of the costs of their Part B coverage, which covers non-hospital doctor’s care. Currently, premiums are now covered at 25 percent. The projected savings would be between $5-10 billion over 10 years.
- Establish a combined annual deductible of $550 for both Part A and Part B Services and restructure Medigap Coverage that picks up costs not covered by Medicare. Out-of-pocket expenses would be capped at $7,500 a year. For individuals with incomes between $160,000-213,000, expenses would be capped at $22,500. The projected savings would be $130 million over 10 years.
- Phase out Medicare payments for bad hospital debt. Currently, Medicare reimburses hospitals and providers for unpaid deductibles and copayments. Eliminating this reimbursement is expected to save $23 billion over 10 years.
- Increase Part B premiums for Medicare beneficiaries by 2 percent over 5 years, including a “hold harmless” provision that would prevent an increase in the Part B premium in the event if it would be larger than the Social Security annual cost-of-living adjustment. The projected cost savings is $241 billion over 10 years.
While the proposal is said to be too controversial to pass as a whole package, elements of the proposal could be included in debt negotiations or longer term discussions on Medicare.
Debt Limit Update
With an August 2nd deadline approaching, President Obama and Congress remain at odds in their negotiations to avoid forcing the first Federal government default on debt obligations in U.S. history. Congress, which has the authority to raise the debt limit, is responsible for making sure the Treasury department is able to cover the government’s financial obligations through 2012.
For the Republicans in the House, they are adamant that any debt limit deal must include no tax increases. Democrats, led by President Obama, take the position that any budget reductions must include tax increases requiring the nation’s top earners to pay their “fair share.” “We need to take on spending in domestic programs, in defense programs, in entitlement programs, and we need to take on spending in the tax code, spending on certain tax breaks and deductions for the wealthiest of Americans,” Obama said. “This will require both parties to get out of our comfort zones and both parties to agree on real compromise.”
Republican leaders have vowed to oppose any tax increases, while leaving open a small possibility of increasing revenue through ending some tax loopholes or raising user fees. The bottom line for the Republicans is that any effort to raise the debt limit must be accompanied by spending cuts of an equal amount. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) warned that any plan to increase taxes “cannot pass the House, as I have stated repeatedly…I’m happy to discuss these issues at the White House, but such discussions will be fruitless until the President recognizes economic and legislative reality.”
President Obama has invited the top Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate to a meeting at the White House on Thursday, July 7th, 2011 for a summit to attempt to hammer out a deal that all parties can agree on and avoid a default on the nation’s debt.
Senate Committee holds DREAM Act Hearing
On June 28, the U.S. Senate Judiciary committee held the first-ever hearing on the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. The legislation addresses the plight of immigrant children who grew up in the U.S. and graduated from high school, but cannot attend college because of current immigration laws.
Witnesses at the hearing included:
- Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, who testified to the importance of the DREAM Act for our country, the benefits to our economy and the armed forces
- Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, who testified to his Department’s support for the legislation and its importance for our country’s global competitiveness
- Clifford Stanley, Undersecretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), who discussed the DREAM Act and its impact on our Armed Forces.
- Ola Kaso, an immigrant student, who shared her experience as a child coming into the U.S. legally thirteen years ago and excelling in her education, but who now faces deportation in less than a year.
If enacted by Congress, the DREAM Act would put children of undocumented immigrants on a path to legal permanent residence and eventual citizenship if they attend college or join the military for two years. The Act would apply to those children who entered the U.S. prior to age 16, have lived in the United States for at least five years, and have graduated from high school. In addition, the proposal would allow students to attend college at in-state tuition rates.
It is unlikely that the bill will receive consideration in the House. As previously reported, Majority Leader Harry Reid suggested that the measure could be attached to a web-based employment proposal expected to be introduced in the House of Representatives. In addition, the Congressional Quarterly reported that expanding the E-Verify system is a top priority of House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX), who is expected to introduce such legislation later this year.
To view testimony and/or the webcast from the DREAM Act Hearing, please visit the following link: http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=3d9031b47812de2592c3baeba604d881
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House took “decisive step” toward protecting life
‘No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act’ reflects will of the people
Conscience protection essential for access to life-saving health care
USCCB WELCOMES HOUSE PASSAGE OF ‘NO TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR ABORTION ACT’
WASHINGTON—The Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) welcomed passage of the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” (H.R. 3) by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill codifies a permanent, government-wide policy against taxpayer subsidies for abortion and abortion coverage, improves federal conscience protection for health care providers and entities, and closes various loopholes that give tax-preferred status to abortion. Co-sponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL), the pro-life bill passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 251-175 on May 4.
“By passing the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, the House has taken a decisive step toward protecting human life, reflecting the will of the American people,” Deirdre McQuade, assistant director for policy and communications of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, said. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, had written to Congress on January 21 urging support for H.R. 3, saying that it will “write into permanent law a policy on which there has been strong popular and congressional agreement for over 35 years: The federal government should not use taxpayers’ money to support and promote elective abortion. … While Congress’s policy has been remarkably consistent for decades, implementation of that policy in practice has been piecemeal, confusing and sometimes sadly inadequate.”
“H.R. 3 also protects the civil rights of health care providers who conscientiously object to involvement in abortion,” McQuade said. The bill updates and codifies the Weldon conscience protection amendment to Labor/HHS appropriations bills approved by Congress every year since 2004, ensuring that federal agencies and state and local governments receiving federal funds do not discriminate against health care providers that do not perform or provide abortions.
“Robust protection of conscience rights is essential for Americans’ access to life-saving health care,” McQuade said. “The great majority of doctors, nurses and hospitals do not perform elective abortions; Catholic health care, the largest and highest quality nonprofit health care network in the country, rejects all direct abortions. To penalize these providers or push them out of the system would cause great harm to patients most in need.”
Cardinal DiNardo’s letter may be found at www.usccb.org/prolife/DiNardo-HR3.pdf, and USCCB testimony supporting H.R. 3 on February 8 is available at: www.usccb.org/prolife/HR3-testimony-2011-02-08.pdf.
________
Keywords: USCCB, Cardinal DiNardo, H.R. 3, No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act, Hyde amendment, Weldon amendment, abortion funding, federal, appropriations, conscience protection, U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL)
Protect our Poor and Vulnerable Brothers and Sisters
In the coming weeks, Congress will debate deep spending cuts in the federal government’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget. Fiscal responsibility is important, and it requires shared sacrifice and a priority concern for poor persons at home and abroad in our budget choices.
Unfortunately, the voices of poor and vulnerable people are not being heard in the debate, and they are being forced to bear the brunt of the proposed cuts. The vast majority of the cuts come from the non-defense, discretionary portion of the budget (only about 12% of the total budget)--which includes the majority of social welfare, education, and other anti-poverty funding. Some of the largest proposed funding cuts include:
$2.3 billion from job training programs
$1.08 billion from Head Start
$100 million from Emergency Food and Shelter
$875 million from International Disaster Assistance
$800 million from International Food Aid
$2.5 billion from affordable housing
$1 billion from Community Health Centers
$904 million from migrants and refugees
Unfortunately, very few advocate the priority claim of poor and vulnerable people, which makes our voices so much more important and prophetic.
Recently Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, as well as Bishop Howard J. Hubbard and Ken Hackett, President of CRS, sent letters to the US Senate expressing their concern with some of the cuts and calling for more attention to the needs of poor and vulnerable people.
What You Can Do
1. Call your Senators and tell them:
a. Current proposals fail the moral criteria of Catholic teaching to protect the poor and advance the common good and the Constitutional requirement to promote the general welfare.
b. Poor and vulnerable people didn’t cause our budget deficit. They should not bear the greatest burdens in overcoming them. Don’t make them pay for it.
c. Shared sacrifice should guide budget cuts, not disproportionate cuts in programs that serve poor persons at home or abroad.
2. Write to your Senator with the above message, telling them, specifically, how these cuts will hurt your diocese/parish/community in efforts to serve the poor and vulnerable people. You can use the bishops’ letters as an example.
3. Help your diocese, parish, community organizations, and families understand the consequences of these deficit-reduction proposals on poor and vulnerable people. See these documents for details.
For more information visit the Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development.
In the Catholic tradition, government has a positive role because of its responsibility to serve the common good, provide a safety net for the vulnerable, and help overcome discrimination and ensure equal opportunity for all. Government has inescapable responsibilities toward those who are poor and vulnerable, to ensure their rights and defend their dignity. Government action is necessary to help overcome structures of injustice and misuse of power and to address problems beyond the reach of individual and community efforts. Government must act when these other institutions fall short in defending the weak and protecting human life and human rights.
---U.S. Catholic Bishops, A Place at the Table (2002)
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Dept. of Justice, Peace and Human Development | US Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th St. NE, Washington, DC 20017-1194
(202) 541-3191 | JPHDmail@usccb.org | www.usccb.org/jphd
March 3, 2011
Dear Representative:
As representatives of the undersigned organizations, we urge you to support H.R. 3, the No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act, and to oppose all amendments that would weaken H.R. 3 in the Judiciary Committee’s full Committee markup on Thursday.
The No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act, introduced by Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) in January, establishes a permanent government-wide prohibition on taxpayer funding for abortion and insurance coverage that includes abortion.
Importantly, H.R. 3 also codifies the Hyde-Weldon amendment to protect health care providers, health care institutions, and health insurance providers against discrimination by the government on the basis that they do not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions. H.R. 3 prevents government discrimination by ensuring that health care entities are not forced to violate their conscience. Moreover, H.R. 3 safeguards the many men and women who seek, for themselves or their children, health care providers, hospitals, and insurance plans that do not support abortion.
H.R. 3 also contains a private right of action for health care providers whose conscience rights have been violated or threatened. Without a private right of action, health care providers are dependent on the government to pursue their case. The recent weakening of federal regulations designed to protect conscience rights underscores the necessity for Congressional action in this regard; health care providers must have an effective means to enforce their rights written in the law. The protection of the basic civil right to provide care without participating in life- destructive activities must not be dependent on the whims of an Administration that has made expanding abortion central to its mission.
The principle that nobody should be forced to participate in an abortion is common-sense, but attacks on conscience are commonplace. The abortion industry has made it clear that its agenda includes targeting the constitutional rights of those who disagree with them by seeking to compel healthcare professionals, Catholic hospitals, and other unwilling groups and individuals to participate in abortions regardless of their religious, moral, or ethical convictions against the practice.
To ensure that health care providers’ rights of conscience are protected, and to ensure that Americans are not forced to support abortion and subsidize the abortion industry with their tax dollars, we ask that you support H.R. 3.
Sincerely,
Charmaine Yoest, Ph.D. President & CEO
Samuel B. Casey
Managing Director & General Counsel
LAW OF LIFE PROJECT
David Stevens, MD, MA (Ethics), CEO CHRISTIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Penny Nance, CEO Concerned Women for America
Sister Renee Mirkes, OSF, PhD Ethics Director Center for NaProEthics The Ethics Division of the Pope Paul VI Institute
Mike O’Dea, Executive Director Christus Medicus Foundation
Mary Davenport, M.D. President
ProLifeOB|GYNS AAPLOG
American Association of Pro-Life
Obstetricians & Gynecologists
Tom McClusky, Senior Vice President Family Research Council Action
Dr. Richard Land President The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Southern Baptist Convention
Marie T. Hilliard, JCL, PhD, RN Director of Bioethics and Public Policy The National Catholic Bioethics Center
Fred Potter, Esq. Executive Director & CEO Christian Legal Society
Dr. Jean Golden-Tevard, President The American Academy of Fertility Care Professionals
Jan R. Hemstad, M.D., President Catholic Medical Association
DATE: February 18, 2011
FROM: Don Clemmer
O: 202-541-3206
M: 260-580-1137
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USCCB Finds Weakening of Health Care Conscience Rule a 'Disappointment,' Affirms Some Positive Elements
WASHINGTON-The Obama administration's final rule rescinding important elements of a federal regulation protecting the conscience rights of health care providers is a disappointment, but there are also reasons for hope, said Deirdre McQuade of the Pro-Life Secretariat of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
"The Administration's action today is cause for disappointment, but also offers reasons for hope regarding an emerging consensus in Washington on the need for clear conscience protections for health care providers," said McQuade.
"It is very disappointing that the Administration has chosen to eliminate much of the existing regulation on conscience issued in December 2008. Among other things, the final rule issued today eliminates important clarifications that would have helped in interpreting and enforcing longstanding federal statutes protecting the conscience rights of health care providers. It also eliminates a regulatory requirement that recipients of federal funds certify compliance with those statutes.
"However, it is welcome news that the Administration says it will take initiative to increase awareness of the conscience statutes, work to ensure compliance with them, and require that government grants make clear that compliance is required. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to ensure that these endeavors are carried out, so providers receive the full conscience protection they are due.
"We also hope that the Administration will place its full support behind efforts in Congress to clarify conscience protections and make them more secure, by endorsing such initiatives as the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358), the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 3), and the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 361)."
For past USCCB letters supporting the Bush administration regulation, and opposing efforts to rescind it, see: www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/abortion/andaindex.shtml#testimony.
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Keywords: conscience protection, health care providers, abortion, Obama administration, Bush administration, HHS, Pro-Life Activities, USCCB, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Deirdre McQuade, Health and Human Services, conscience rights, U.S. bishops, ANDA
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11-036
Sec,DD,CNS,RNS,Crux
DATE: February 17, 2011
FROM: Mar Munoz-Visoso
O: 202-541-3202
M: 301-646-8616
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BISHOPS' PRO-LIFE OFFICE HAILS HOUSE COMMITTEE MOVE TO PROTECT LIFE
WASHINGTON-The Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) welcomed the approval in committee of the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358). Sponsored by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA) and Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and 123 co-sponsors, the Protect Life Act would apply longstanding federal policies on abortion funding, and conscience rights on abortion, to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) passed last March. On February 15, the full House Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 358 in a bi-partisan vote (33 to 19), and rejected three amendments that would have weakened the bill.
"The committee's action is an important step toward authentic health care reform that respects the dignity of all, from conception onward," Deirdre McQuade, USCCB pro-life spokeswoman, said.
As Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, chairman of the bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said in his January 20 letter to Congress (www.usccb.org/healthcare/cardinal-dinardo-HR358-ltr.pdf), the Protect Life Act "will bring PPACA into line with policies on abortion and conscience rights that have long prevailed in other federal health programs."
"I now urge all Representatives to support the Protect Life Act and oppose all weakening amendments when it comes before them," McQuade said.
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Keywords: USCCB, Catholic bishops, Protect Life Act, health care reform, Patient Protection and Care Act (PPACA), abortion, Rep. Joseph Pitts, Rep. Dan Lipinski
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11-035
SEC,DioNewspaper,DD,CNS,RNS,Crux
On January 20, three new bills on important pro-life issues were introduced into Congress: The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 3), the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358), and the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 361). An Action Alert has been made available concerning these proposals.
See:
http://nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=286
http://nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=287
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-021.shtml
Senate Fails to Bring DREAM Act to the Floor for Debate and Vote
On December 18, the U.S. Senate Democratic Leadership’s attempt to advance the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act was rejected. The measure, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on December 8, failed to reach the sixty votes needed to limit debate and move the bill forward. The vote to limit debate for the DREAM Act was 55-41.
While three Republican Senators voted in favor of the cloture motion, five Democrats voted against the procedural motion. To see how your member voted, please click here http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR05281.
The DREAM Act would give young adults who were brought into the U.S. as children an opportunity to earn legal permanent status and put them on a 10-year path to citizenship provided they attend college or join the military. In addition, applicants would have to meet certain requirements and pay a fee.
President Obama and Democratic leaders have pledged not to give up on the DREAM Act, though the proposal is likely to face an uphill battle in the next Congress. Catholic Charities USA continues to work in collaboration with USCCB and other Justice for Immigrants partners for just and fair comprehensive immigration reform.
DREAM Act Passes the House
On December 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, by a vote of 216-198, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM). The vote on the DREAM act previously scheduled in the Senate was postponed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) due to Senate Republican’s threats to stall all Senate activity until an agreement is reached on the the tax extensions. The DREAM Act is now expected to come to a vote on the Senate floor sometime this week.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation estimate that enacting the bill would reduce the deficit by about $1.4 billion over the period from 2011-2020. According to the CBO report,
the eventual conversion of some of the conditional nonimmigrant to legal permanent resident (LPR) status after 2020 could lead to significant increases in spending for the federal health insurance exchanges, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). A summary of the report is available at http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/120xx/doc12019/s3817.pdf.
The DREAM Act would provide a path to conditional legal permanent residency and eventually U.S. citizenship for undocumented students. Under the legislation, certain students would be eligible for conditional permanent residency provided they: entered the U.S. before age 16; lived in the U.S. for at least five continuous years immediately before the bill becomes effective; graduate from high school or gain admission into an institute of higher education; and are of “good moral character" and not committed certain crimes.
In addition, students must also demonstrate that they have not been under a final order for deportation. After a six year period of conditional permanent residency, these individuals could apply for citizenship if they continue to demonstrate "good moral character," continued to live in the U.S., and completed at least two years of higher education or served at least two years in the military.
Catholic Charities USA continues to work in collaboration with USCCB and other members of the Justice for Immigrants campaign to support passage of the DREAM Act. Therefore, it is critical that pro-immigrant
advocates keep up the momentum with calls and letters to Congressional offices in support of the bill.
Congress Approves Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Reauthorization
On December 10, the U.S. Senate approved the “Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) of 2010” (S. 3817). The proposal reauthorizes CAPTA through fiscal year 2015 and makes changes to:
- The national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse;
- The child abuse prevention and treatment advisory board;
- Research and assistance activities;
- Data reporting; and
- The distribution of grants to states, Indian trbes or tribal organizations, and public or private agencies and organizations, including community-based grants.
The legislation also authorizes funding for The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act. These funds will provide for formula grants to states and tribes, the national domestic violence hotline, and other programs to increase awareness of family violence.
Earlier in the week the House approved the measure with some minor changes from a version that cleared the Senate earlier. The changes included new data reporting and efforts to enhance the sharing of information across jurisdictions. These actions required the bill to be returned to the Senate for final passage.
The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature.
More information on the legislation is available at http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/120xx/doc12019/s3817.pdf
Our brothers and sisters in Haiti need help by being a voice for them in the halls of Congress. The Haiti Empowerment, Assistance and Rebuilding (HEAR) Act is stuck in Congress and the window of opportunity for its passage is closing quickly.
From now until next Tuesday, Nov 16th, we are asking those in Tennessee to call the Washington DC office of Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) regarding the HEAR Act. Senator Corker is key to this legislation.
Here are the three simple steps you can take:
1. Call Senator Corker’s Washington D.C. office (202-224-3344) and ask to speak with (or leave a message for) the legislative director, Paul Palagyi or his assistant Stacie Oliver.
2. Emphasize that
a. Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere before the devastating earthquake, is struggling to recover from this catastrophe due to capacity, human, resource, and infrastructure constraints. Our Haitian brothers and sisters need our assistance now so that they can rebuild their children’s future.
b. The HEAR Act, S.3317, provides an effective policy framework for long-term recovery and development efforts in Haiti.
c. Urge Senator Corker to support passage of S.3317 this Congress so that the lives and human dignity of our Haitian sisters and brothers is upheld and so that the United States demonstrates its solidarity with the Haitian people as they seek to rebuild their devastated communities.
Insurers can no longer cancel your policy when you get sick
No more rescissions!
As of yesterday, Tennesseans with health insurance have added security that the coverage and benefits they've paid for will be there if they face a catastrophic illness or injury. Starting September 23, 2010 health insurance companies can no longer drop your policy or retroactively cancel it if you get sick. The term for this practice is rescission and it's now a thing of the past!
Before the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law, insurers could use loopholes or inadvertent omissions in people's paperwork to justify rescinding their policy when they actually tried to use the benefits they paid for. This unfair practice usually happened when a policyholder needed expensive care.
Before health reform, your insurance company could find and use very common paperwork mistakes (like forgetting to list on your application a prescription you took 10 years ago) to cancel your insurance and demand that you pay back money for medical bills they covered in the past.
Rescissions blindside patients, often leaving them in the terrible position of being uninsured, uninsurable (due to what would often be labeled a pre-existing medical condition by other insurers) and facing medical debt for bills they thought would be paid by the insurance company that dropped them. Starting yesterday, the new health reform law prohibits insurers of new and renewing plans from rescinding coverage except in cases of intentional fraud. Also, insurers seeking to rescind coverage must provide at least 30 days advance notice to give patients time to appeal.
Life Issues Forum
September 17, 2010
For Immediate Release
“Preventive Services” that Carry a High Human Cost
By Susan E. Wills
Planned Parenthood is organizing a national effort to have contraceptives included among the free “preventive services” under the new health care reform law (Press Release, 7-14-10).
Normally preventive services mean vaccines, tests, screenings, etc. that are given with minimal risk to patients in order to prevent—or at least detect and provide an early warning of—serious illness and
life-threatening conditions. Common examples: blood pressure and cholesterol screening for hypertension, mammograms for breast cancer, Pap tests for cervical cancer, and vaccines to prevent transmission of
communicable diseases.
But prescription contraceptives don’t prevent or screen for disease. Their purpose is to block the normal functioning of a healthy reproductive system to prevent a person from being conceived or, once conceived, to keep him or her from being born.
Contraceptives cannot be considered “preventive services.” Far from preventing diseases, contraceptive use has been associated with many harmful side effects and actually increases the risk of acquiring
certain diseases.
The World Health Organization lists estrogen as a carcinogen. Estrogen is used in combined oral contraceptives (e.g., the pill, the patch, the vaginal ring) and in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause. U.S. breast cancer rates soared as the number of women on HRT increased from the early 1980s to 2002, when the Women’s Health Initiative trial was halted after finding elevated risks of breast cancer and stroke. Between 2003 and 2006, when HRT use dropped significantly, the breast cancer rates in the U.S. plummeted 18 percent!
Cancer is not the only problem: Contraceptive Technology cites numerous studies in which estrogen in contraceptives has been associated with increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, and hypertension.
Progestin-only contraceptives—mini pills, injections, and implants—have been associated with risks of menstrual cycle disturbance, “excessive weight gain,” hair loss, and depression. The injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera has been found to significantly decrease bone mineral density.
Hormonal contraceptives offer no protection against sexually-transmitted infections and diseases (STDs). In the U.S. alone, there are over 19 million new cases of STDs annually (half among those aged 25 and under), and more than 60 million people are currently infected with STDs. The total keeps growing because viral STDs are incurable—like HIV/AIDS, genital herpes, and strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause genital warts, as well as other strains responsible for 99% of cases of cervical cancer.
Hormonal contraceptives also have been shown to increase a woman’s risk of becoming infected with HIV (doubling the risk of HIV in one 10-year study), Chlamydia, and other STDs due to their damaging effects on the cervix and lining of the womb.
Aside from being immoral to use and involving the above-mentioned health risks, it’s also worth mentioning that contraceptives don’t work very well. Fifty-four percent of U.S. women seeking abortion were using contraception the month they became pregnant, and the presumed efficacy of condom use in preventing STD transmission has been shown in studies to be completely offset by complacency and “risk compensation” (more casual partners, less care in use).
Planned Parenthood is fully aware of these increased risks, yet they want free contraception for all, perhaps so women can use their other services—emergency “contraception,” STD screening and treatment,
mammograms and Pap tests, pregnancy testing, and abortions. Is it not wiser and healthier to avoid these risks by respecting one’s own dignity and the dignity of marriage?
Susan Wills is Assistant Director for Education & Outreach, USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities. For more information on contraception, visit www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/contraception.
1 in 7 Americans Lives in Poverty
The Census Bureau released new poverty statistics for 2009. One of the most sobering was that 43.6 million people live below the poverty line, the largest number since the bureau began publishing data. This rate of 14.3 percent is up from 13.2 percent (or 3.7 million people) in 2008. More children fell into poverty in 2009 as well, 20.7 percent – the highest since 1995.
While there was no statistical variance in the Asian population, poverty rose for whites, blacks and Hispanics at disproportionate rates. The number of Hispanics in poverty increased from 23.2 percent to 25.3 percent; for blacks it increased from 24.7 percent to 25.8 percent. The number of whites in poverty rose from 8.6 percent to 9.4. While the poverty rate was expected to rise as a result of the economic recession, it did not rise as high as projected. The Census bureau shared a possible explanation — that more families are ‘doubling up’, living together and sharing expenses. The number of multifamily households rose to 11.6 percent, as did the number of individuals ages 25-34 moving back in with their parents, 5.5 million from 5.1 million, in the last two years. Another possible explanation for the lower-than-projected numbers was the impact of unemployment insurance and social security benefits.
The percentage of people without health insurance increased to 16.7 percent in 2009 from 15.4 percent in 2008. The number of uninsured people increased to 50.7 million in 2009 from 46.3 million in 2008. This is the highest number of uninsured since 1987, the first year the comparable health insurance data was collected.
Senate Expected to Debate the DREAM ACT
On September 14, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced plans to offer the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill, which is likely to be debated on the floor of the U.S. Senate as early as this week.
The proposal, sponsored by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), would put children of undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. prior to age 16, have lived in the United States for at least five years, and have
graduated from high school, on a path to legal permanent residence and eventual citizenship if they attend college or join the military for two years. In addition, the proposal would allow students to attend
their state colleges at in-state tuition rates.To overcome procedural hurdles as well as to win final passage, the amendment would need the support of 60 Senators. Republicans have vowed to fight the effort to attach it to the spending proposal. According to Congressional Quarterly, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), said adding elements unrelated to defense spending to the defense authorization bill would make it “needlessly controversial.” His deputy, Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ), said it would be a mistake to
attach the immigration measure to the defense bill.Catholic Charities USA supports principles of the DREAM ACT, and continues to work in collaboration with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and other members of Justice for Immigrants (JFI) for comprehensive immigration reform.
A Conference Call for Faith and Community Leaders with the President of the United States
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (WHO-FBNP) will host a conference call to discuss key new benefits under the
Affordable Care Act and to provide community leaders and congregations with the most up-to-date information and resources available. According to the announcement released by HHS and the WHO-FBNP, on September 23rd, the six month anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, several new health care benefits begin to apply: eligible young people up to age 26 can stay on their parents¿ health plan, key prevention benefits are covered without co-pays or deductibles in new plans, and insurance companies may no longer deny coverage to kids because of pre-existing conditions or drop someone from coverage because of a paperwork mistake.
The announcement also states that the President Obama will speak about how consumers and communities are already benefiting from the new law. HHS officials will provide an update on how the Affordable Care Act is being implemented, highlight new outreach resources, and answer questions from community and faith leaders. Community and faith leaders will also share their efforts to bring the benefits of health care reform home to communities.
Call details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Time: 4 PM Eastern, 3 PM Central, 2 PM Mountain, 1 PM Pacific
Dial in information:
For those with internet access, please join the call online at: http://hhs.granicus.com/live
For those without internet access, please dial: 1-888-455-6860 or 1-866-844-9416
Please note that you do not need to RSVP for this call. If you have questions, email partnerships@hhs.gov
For more information, contact Desmond Brown, Senior Director, Government Relations at dbrown@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
August 17, 2010
Urge your Representatives to Support H.R.6021, the Haiti Empowerment, Assistance and Rebuilding Act
Take Action Now! Please contact your Representatives today and urge their support for H.R. 6021 which provides a strategy and funding for long-term reconstruction and development in Haiti.
Send a message to your Representative now!
Why is action important now? The earthquake that devastated the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas in January 2010 killed more than 200,000 people and injured over 300,000. Houses and businesses were destroyed, leaving 2 million people displaced from their homes. Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere before the earthquake, is struggling to recover due to capacity, human,
resource, and infrastructure constraints. Recent legislation introduced by Representative Conyers (MI), H.R. 6021, the Haiti Emergency Assistance and Reconstruction (HEAR) Act, provides an effective policy
framework for long-term recovery and development efforts in Haiti and allocates generous funding over 5 years towards this goal.
What is the Church’s position? The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Catholic community’s international relief and development agency, believe that the recovery efforts in Haiti require adoption of a strategy for long-term recovery and sustainable development that coordinates different U.S. government agencies in a comprehensive approach while engaging faith-based organizations and other groups with expertise and experience in Haiti. In a letter of support for HR 6021, CRS and USCCB stated that this bill represents a serious effort to address the long-term recovery needs of the Haitian people.
What does the situation in Haiti have to do with my Catholic faith? Our Catholic faith calls on us to uphold the life and dignity of all human life and to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, especially poor and vulnerable people. The devastation in Haiti affects all of us because we are all part of the human family. As Catholics, we must take action to assist our brothers and sisters in Haiti who are struggling to recover.
How is the Catholic Church responding to the Haiti earthquake? In partnership with Caritas Haiti and other Catholic Church agencies, CRS has provided food, medical care, and shelter to affected populations and is helping to rebuild critical infrastructure such as water and sanitation facilities. CRS additionally supports child protection programming, which includes family tracing to reunite separated
children with their families, where possible, and the pursuit of durable solutions for orphaned children. CRS is also working throughout Haiti to assist the displaced located outside of the earthquake zone, and, through agriculture and microfinance programs, to help them find the means to remain in the countryside.
In a collection taken up after the earthquake, Catholics in the United States contributed $80 million to recovery efforts in Haiti, which is being used to provide assistance and to help restore Haiti’s infrastructure, including churches, schools, and clinics. CRS and the Secretariat for the Church in Latin America of the USCCB are administering the funds, in consultation with the bishops of Haiti. USCCB and CRS are actively advocating for U.S. government policies that assist Haitians in need and promote long-term reconstruction and development.
For more information, contact:
Rev. Juan Molina, OSST, PhD, Latin America/ Trade Policy Advisor,
Office of International Justice and Peace, USCCB: 202-541-3153,
jmolina@usccb.org
Tina Rodousakis, Grassroots Advocacy Manager, CRS: 410-951-7462,
trodousa@crs.org
Senate Approves State Aid Package
On August 5, the U.S. Senate approved legislation that will provide over $26 billion in aid to states. The “Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act of 2010,” (HR 1586) passed the Senate by a vote of 61 to 39. The package includes $10 billion to pay for education related jobs and $16.1billion for enhanced Medicaid payments to states for the next six months. While the bill included important provisions to save teacher jobs and could potentially improve access to health services for low-income individuals, it was paid for by reducing funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In order to keep the state aid package from adding to the federal deficit, Senators used $11.9 billion in revenues from SNAP.
Catholic Charities USA, along with a large coalition of nutrition advocates, urged members of the Senate not to take funds from SNAP to pay for the state aid package. In a letter to both the Senate and House, the coalition urged congressional leaders not to fund other federal programs at the expense of hungry families. They stressed that over 40 million vulnerable Americans depend on SNAP, and that during these challenging economic times it is critical to maintain a strong nutrition safety net.
In an unusual move, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called back members of the House of Representatives who had adjourned for summer recess to vote on the Senate-passed state aid package. It is expected that the House will reconvene later today and vote on a final package this week.
Senate Passes Child Nutrition Reauthorization Legislation
On August 5, before adjourning for the summer recess, the U.S. Senate passed the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010,” (S.3307), a bill to renew child nutrition programs. The bipartisan proposal would authorize
$4.5 billion over 10 years for improvements to child nutrition programs. This falls short of the President’s request for a $10 billion increase over 10 years. Catholic Charities USA has raised concerns with congressional leaders that the Senate package is being funded through cuts to SNAP. Programs authorized under the Senate bill include, the Child and Adult Food Care Program, the Summer Food Program, the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
As passed, the bill would:
- Provide an increase in the school meal reimbursement rate and allow the USDA to establish nutrition standards for food sold in the vending machines;
- Establish nutrition requirements and provide guidance and technical assistance for child care providers participating in the Child and Adult Food Program;
- Expand direct certification for free school meals to Medicaid recipients;
- Expand the Afterschool Meals Program, currently operating in 14 states, to all 50 states;
- Allow schools in high poverty areas to offer free school meals to all students;
- Provide automatic eligibility to foster children;
- Provide mandatory funding for innovative pilot projects that feed hungry children both during school and when school is out;
- Simplify program rules and reduce paperwork for the Child and Adult Care Food Program sponsors; and
- Implement electronic benefit transfer.
Now that the bill has passed the Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives will need to take action on its version of the child nutrition reauthorization. While the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act,” (HR 5504) that passed by the House Education and Labor Committee on July 15 is similar to the Senate-passed proposal, one major difference is that the House proposal would provide $8 billion in funding over 10 years. An additional issue of contention in the House package is the absence of offsets to pay for the increase in new funding. Catholic Charities USA is opposed to using funds from the SNAP as a way to fund other legislation.
Trafficking Bill Passes Senate Judiciary Committee
On August 5, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the “Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2009,” (S. 2925) which will now move to the full Senate for a vote. S. 2925 authorizes the Department
of Justice to award one-year block grants to up to six state or local governments in different regions of the United States that have considerable sex trafficking. S. 2925 requires grant funds to be used to provide shelter and services to victims of sex trafficking as well as for training for law enforcement and social service providers.
If passed, S. 2925 would amend Title IV of the Social Security Act to require states to adopt procedures for reporting missing children for entry into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. The
bill would also amend the Crime Control Act of 1990 by updating the record keeping in the NCIC database.
Trafficking legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives in June. The “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victim Support Act” (H.R. 5575), sponsored by Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D- NY) and Christopher Smith (R-NJ) would take a multi-disciplinary approach to shutting down child sex trafficking in the United States. This bill has been referred to the House Judiciary and the House Ways and Means Committees.
Federal Issues
Senate Continues Debate on Job Creation and Tax Extender Proposal
Last week, the U.S. Senate continued negotiations on "The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010" (H.R.4213). This legislation under consideration would:
- Provide $2.5 billion to extend the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund through fiscal year 2011
- Provide $1 billion to capitalize the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF). The NHTF was originally created in the "Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008" to provide much needed housing opportunities for those with the lowest incomes
- Provide $1 billion to support an estimated 300,000 jobs for youth through summer employment programs;
- Continue the poverty line hold harmless policy which would ensure that the current poverty line, for federal income-based programs,can be no lower than the poverty line of 2009
- Extend for one-year enhanced charitable deductions for contributions of food inventory, the tax-free distribution from individual retirement plans for charitable purposes, and an enhanced charitable deduction for corporate contributions of computer equipment for educational purposes.
The Senate package would restore a provision that was taken from the House passed bill to provide a six-month extension of extra federal Medicaid assistance to states. Several amendments were being considered including one by Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) to extend COBRA health insurance subsidies for jobless workers. The Senate is expected to move forward on the bill later this week.
House Committee Chair Introduces Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill
On January 10, the "Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act of 2010" was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bipartisan legislation sponsored by Representative George Miller
(D-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor and Carolyn McCarthy, chair of Education and Labor Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities would provide an increase of $8 billion over 10 years for improvements to child nutrition programs. The proposed funding is nearly double the $4.5 billion included in the proposal passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee and closer to the $10 billion recommended by the Obama Administration. Programs under the reauthorization include the Child and Adult Food Care Program, the Summer Food Program, the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
(WIC).
As introduced the bill would:
- Expand direct certification for free school meals to Medicaid recipients
- Promote the expansion of the School Breakfast program by offering competitive grants
- Reduce the area eligibility test for the Summer Food Program from 50 to 40 percent in rural areas
- Provide additional funding, to some states, for additional meals or snacks for children in child care for more than eight hours per day
- Create state pilots to allow community-based organizations to provide meals to children after school, on weekends, and holidays
- Allow schools in high poverty areas to offer free school meals to all students
- Simplify program rules and reduce paperwork for the Child and Adult Care Food program sponsors
- Establish nutrition requirements, provide guidance and technical assistance for child care providers participating in the Child and Adult Food program
While child nutrition legislation has received bipartisan support, an issue of contention in both the House and Senate proposals center on how to pay for the increase in funding. The controversy in the Senate is due to a $2 billion offset funded by a decrease in funding to the Environmental Quality Incentives program. The House continues to search for offsets and has not yet identified funding for the $8 billion increase. The Education and Labor Committee is expected to markup legislation in June. The version passed by Senate Agriculture Committee is awaiting consideration by the full Senate.
House Committee Holds Hearing on Barriers Faced by Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
On June 9th, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing to consider the collateral barriers faced by the formerly incarcerated when trying to re-enter society and the job market. The hearing featured six witnesses who outlined many of the challenges faced by individuals with prior convictions or arrests. The witnesses also provided a number of recommendations to help individuals with criminal records better re-enter their communities and the workforce.
Marc Mauer, Executive Director of The Sentencing Project, noted the wide variety of services and benefits those with convictions are barred from receiving, such as Pell Grants and food stamps. He argued that stripping benefits that are needed is counter-productive to allowing those with prior convictions to rejoin society and find employment.
- Maurice Emsellem, Policy Co-Director of the National Employment Law Project, detailed the current problems with FBI criminal records being out of date. He argued that in the TSA's screening of port workers, 96 percent of challenges to the records were successful. He also
emphasized the importance of applying EEOC rules for background checks.
- Calvin Moore, a Washington, DC native, presented his story as an example of the current barriers faced by those with criminal records. A conviction from his youth 30 years ago still creates great difficult to finding a job after being laid off in 2007. He added that after meeting with Catholic Charities in the District he is in the process of returning to school to become a Certified Addiction Counselor.
- Other witnesses on the panel included Richard Lewis, Fellow of ICF International, who spoke of the large number of children impacted by convictions within their families and the fragmenting that may occur from that; Pamela Lattimore, Principal Scientist of RTI International, discussed some of the results from a study of the Serious and Violent Offender Re-entry Initiative (SVORI; and Richard Cassidy, Chairman of the Drafting Committee on Uniform Collateral Consequences of Conviction Act from the Uniform Law Commission, discussed both the large number of collateral consequences and their long-term effects. He asserted that more must be done to inform people of the effects of a conviction and implement a relief program to allow people to clear their record and regain lost benefits over time.
Unemployment Rate Drops in May as Economy Continues to Improve
On June 4, the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the most recent unemployment numbers. In May, the national unemployment rate fell to 9.7 percent, down from to 9.9
percent in April. The nation added 431,000 jobs in the month of May, many of which can be attributed to hiring for the U.S. Census. Nationwide, 15 million persons remain unemployed. |
