Sex Education

FRC: Ryan Bill Increases Abortion While Claiming to 'Reduce Need' for Abortion

"You don't reduce something by subsidizing it," said Perkins. "The Ryan bill reminds me of an old saying from the Viet Nam era: 'We will pacify the village by destroying it.' You can't say you'll 'reduce the need' for abortion by underwriting its costs. When someone offers to pay your way with no strings attached, you'll take the trip. The same principle applies here."

The Ryan bill contains no provisions preventing recipients from promoting or referring patients for abortion. Since Planned Parenthood - the nation's largest and most profitable abortion provider - is funded under the Ryan measure, inevitably the group will use the funds it receives to encourage the very procedure the bill says it wants to make more rare.

The Ryan bill also increases support for so-called "emergency contraception"-better known as Plan B. This pill is troubling because Plan B-a double dose of normal birth control--can function as an abortifacient as is indicated on its FDA label.

"Increasing the usage of Plan B will increase, not decrease, abortion," Perkins noted. "In fact, several studies show that increased access to Plan B in Sweden and the United Kingdom has not reduced abortion. The opposite is true, as increased 'emergency contraception' has encouraged risky sexual behavior, which has led to higher STD rates and abortions.

The Ryan bill also would mandate that Plan B be distributed, with no conscience protections for faith-based or other groups who have moral objections to giving out Plan B," Perkins continued. "And the bill also vastly increases funding for 'comprehensive sex-education' programs without any provision for parents to opt their children out of such programs.

"This misbegotten measure contains no funding for abstinence programs nor anything to encourage teens and young adults to refrain from risky sexual behavior. Nothing in the bill would strengthen parental involvement in the decision of minors to have abortion, which is a bipartisan way to reduce abortion among teens. Parental notice laws have been shown to reduce abortion but nothing in this bill would protect parents rights regarding abortion.

"Perhaps most telling is the fact that the Ryan bill is supported by such pro-abortion advocacy groups as Third Way and Planned Parenthood despite Rep. Ryan's claim that his plan is a moderate bill. No pro-life groups support this legislation, which seems designed to give some Democrats in politically challenging congressional districts the cover they need against charges they support abortion-on-demand.

"Whatever Rep. Ryan's intent, his proposal is fraught with funding for abortion providers and provisions that further encourage promiscuous sex and discourage parental involvement," Perkins concluded.

Keywords: Family Research Council, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Levonorgestrel, Plan B, Pharmaceuticals, Drugs, Therapy, Treatment, Contraception.

This article was prepared by Drug Law Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Drug Law Weekly via NewsRx.com.