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Keep the Faith for Health Care Reform
Statement of Reverend Dr. Carlton W. Veazey, President and CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

March 22, 2010
The hard work of faithful advocates and many other people and groups has been rewarded – on March 21, the House of Representatives voted to send the President landmark legislation to reform our nation’s health care system. Although I am disappointed that the bill includes the unworkable Nelson restriction on abortion coverage, it is important that we have taken a major step forward in fixing our broken health care system. Once the bill is signed, RCRC and our supporters will insist that Congress take the necessary actions to reverse this anti-choice provision.

For now, we celebrate the bill's provisions for bringing more than 32 million Americans health care coverage that includes affordable family planning services and maternity care for women. This bill will do away with the discriminatory insurance industry practices that make health care more expensive for women and families. Improving women’s access to birth control and prenatal care and making reproductive health care more affordable is basic to RCRC’s mission “to give clear voice to the reproductive issues of people of color, those living in poverty, and other underserved populations.”

Despite the efforts of the U.S. Conference of Catholics Bishops to impose their anti-choice views on the nation through the Stupak abortion ban, the Catholic Health Association and 60 leaders of religious orders representing 59,000 Catholic nuns supported the legislation and said health care reform "is the real pro-life stance."

American families should have the opportunity to choose health coverage that reflects their own values and medical needs. RCRC will never back down on this principle. With our religious partners, RCRC will continue to be the interfaith voice in support of respecting diverse religious views on reproductive issues. 

The end is in sight, but we’re not there yet. The real victory for health care reform will come when the Senate passes reconciliation and the President signs this bill into law. We anticipate this will happen soon and are grateful that this long and difficult struggle is nearing completion. The voices of people of faith were essential in defeating the Stupak ban. Special thanks are due to the members of Congress who have fought valiantly for women’s health – Speaker Pelosi and the entire pro-choice leadership in the House and Senate. RCRC will work with our faith partners in urging the Senate to move forward quickly and the President to sign the bill and then fix its anti-choice provision.