Politics & Government

House Resolution on Contraceptive Issue Introduced

Bettencourt, O'Brien co-sponsors of resolution asking federal government to reverse its stance on requiring contraceptives, sterilizations in health plans.

A resolution asking the federal government to rescind its stance on requiring health plans to include contraceptives and sterilizations has been introduced in the N.H. House of Representatives.

According to House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem,) House Resolution 29 was introduced today and will have a public hearing in Concord on Thursday.

Bettencourt is one of the co-sponsors of the resolution, along with House Speaker William O'Brien (R-Mont Vernon), Rep. Alfred Baldasaro (R-Londonderry) and Rep. Jordan Ulery (R-Hudson).

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In full, the resolution reads as follows:

A RESOLUTION urging the United States Department of Health and Human Services to rescind its rule requiring health plans to provide sterilizations and contraceptives.

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Whereas, the right to the free exercise of religion is a natural right and is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Part 1, Article 5 of the New Hampshire constitution; and

Whereas, the deprivation by government of this most fundamental natural right is an action which is not consonant with governance in a free republic; and

Whereas, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has promulgated an administrative rule which forces American citizens and religious organizations to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, in their health plans, even where this violates the religious beliefs of these citizens and organizations; and

Whereas, the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ action is an unconstitutional use of the power of the federal government designed to compel people of faith to violate their religious beliefs; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the New Hampshire house of representatives hereby calls upon the United States Department of Health and Human Services to cease its unconstitutional course of action, and to rescind this rule immediately; and

That the house of representatives further calls upon the members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to undertake whatever actions are necessary to ensure that this goal is promptly achieved; and

That copies of this resolution be forwarded by the house clerk to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and the members of the New Hampshire congressional delegation.


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