Dr. Joyce Pushes HHS Secretary Becerra For Answers On Partial-Birth Abortion, Religious Liberty Concerns

Press Release

Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) today pushed U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra for answers on his ability to enforce the law as it relates to both the dignity of life and religious liberty.

During an Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing entitled "The Fiscal Year 2022 HHS Budget," Secretary Becerra refused to confirm that he would enforce 18 U.S. Code § 1531, which prohibits partial-birth abortion. Secretary Becerra blatantly refused to acknowledge that the term "partial-birth abortion" is a codified term in U.S. law.

"You incorrectly said that [partial-birth abortion] was not defined in statute. Section 1531 of Title 18, U.S. Code is literally titled "partial birth abortions prohibited.' The statue very clearly defines this inhumane procedure in section b, subsection 1," said Dr. Joyce. "…As a physician myself, Mr. Secretary, I clearly understand what a partial-birth abortion is."

Citing the lawsuit that then-California Attorney General Becerra brought against the Little Sisters of the Poor, Dr. Joyce also pressed the secretary to define which cases from which he plans to recuse himself. A landmark religious liberty case, California v. Little Sisters of the Poor sought to force Catholic nuns to fund contraception and abortion services against their conscience.

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