Abstract

PIP: On the 20th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision and 2 days after being sworn in (January 20, 1993), President Clinton signed memoranda which reversed years of antiabortion policies. These actions began workings to repeal the gag rule, reversed the Mexico city policy, allowed privately paid abortions in military hospitals, permitted fetal tissue transplantation research, and directed the US Food and Drug Administration to review the scientific basis for the import ban on RU-486 and US Department of Health and Human Services to follow efforts to promote the testing, licensing, and manufacturing of RU-486 or other antiprogestins in the US. President Clinton noted that US policy strives to protect the right to choose and at the same time to reduce the number of abortions. They did not stir up much debate either in Congress or the press, however. In fact, Republican leaders have distanced themselves from the abortion debate. Yet, anti-abortion groups moved quickly. For example, Operation Rescue blockaded several abortion clinics in Washington, D.C. the same day. The group claimed that the recent Supreme Court ruling (Bray v. Alexandria Women's Health Clinic) sanctioned their actions. This ruling was a backlash for pro-choice groups and members of Congress who planned on passing a federal law to prevent these blockades. Nevertheless, the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime introduced the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (HR 796) to the House on February 3, 1993. This bill specified that it does not restrict freedom of speech. Senator Kennedy intended to introduce a companion bill soon after February 3. A sheriff in Corpus Christi, Texas, refused to protect access to abortion clinics because he submitted to God's law not that of human's. This inaction has illustrated the need for a federal law. In conclusion, any standard benefits package under national health care reform should include a full range of reproductive health services, including abortion.