- February 25, 2021
Sen. Marshall: There is no way I can support HHS nominee Xavier Becerra
(Washington, D.C., February 25, 2021) – Today, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. spoke out against President Joe Biden’s nominee to be U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Xavier Becerra, for his radical views on abortion and for his lack of health care experience. You may click HERE or on the image below to view Senator Marshall’s remarks at this afternoon’s press conference.
Senator Marshall also spoke out against Mr. Becerra yesterday on FOX News saying, “He wouldn’t have made it through an interview process in the real world with these types of positions. He really has no experience in health care. He has a $1.2 trillion budget on healthcare and really has zero experience.” You may click HERE or on the image below to watch Senator Marshall’s interview.
Earlier this week, Senator Marshall pressed Mr. Becerra on his radical stance on abortion and in particular his efforts to increase access to chemical abortion drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Marshall in response fired back saying, “COVID is not an excuse for sloppy medicine.” You may click HERE or on the image below to watch the exchange.
Background:
Earlier this week, Senator Marshall joined several of his colleagues to introduce the Conscience Protection Act of 2021 to protect healthcare providers, including health insurance plans from government discrimination if they decline to participate in abortions. The Conscience Protection Act also provides a private right of action for victims of discrimination.
Currently, if a healthcare provider, including insurance plans, refuses to provide abortions, the only recourse is to file a complaint with HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR). In 2014 California required that health plans must cover abortions, which forced religious employers to offer plans that violate their religious beliefs. In December 2014 under the Obama Administration, HHS opened an investigation, and in spite of then-current laws protecting conscience rights, in June 2016, HHS declared that California could force all its health plans to cover elective abortions, which President Biden’s nominee for HHS Secretary has advocated for and enforced as Attorney General of California.
The bill is supported by the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, Concerned Women for America, Ethics and Public Policy Center, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Family Research Council, Freedom2Care, Heritage Action, March for Life, National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, and First Liberty.
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