Representative Mike Kelly Sends Letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Seeking Suspension of Controversial Contraceptive Mandate

Representative Mike Kelly Sends Letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Seeking Suspension of Controversial Contraceptive Mandate

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) was among a group of 154 pro-life Members of Congress who sent a letter today to Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), seeking suspension of  the controversial federal mandate requiring that all plans within the individual and group health insurance market offer coverage for sterilization, contraceptives, and abortifacients, including FDA-approved drugs such as Plan B and Ella.

The letter (link provided below) also asks Secretary Sebelius to explain how the more than 200,000 comments submitted to HHS during the new mandate’s 60-day public comment period were reviewed and evaluated.

“There has been considerable public outcry over this controversial mandate, but it appears to have fallen on deaf ears as far as the Obama Administration is concerned,” said Rep. Kelly. “This mandate infringes upon the Constitutional and conscience rights of all Americans who, despite their moral opposition to abortion in any form, will soon be forced to either provide or accept health insurance coverage for procedures that go against everything they believe is right and just, or pay a severe financial penalty that will force many religiously-affiliated organizations out of business. I join them in their outrage, and will continue to fight to get this rule taken off the books.”

This is the second letter Rep. Kelly has sent to Secretary Sebelius demanding that the Obama Administration rescind this mandate. The first was sent on September 27, 2011, and can be found here.

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