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Americans United for Life
AbbreviationAUL
Formation1971
PurposePro-Life advocacy
Location
  • Washington D.C.
Region served
United States
President & CEO
Charmaine Yoest
Budget
$4 million
WebsiteAmericans United for Life

Americans United for Life (AUL) is an American pro-life public interest law firm and advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1971, the group advocates protection of human life at all stages of life, from conception to death, and is involved in related issues of health and biotechnology.[1] The organization has led campaigns and been involved in judicial actions to prevent the passage and implementation of legislation that permits abortion, or may increase prevalence of abortion, including successfully defending the Hyde Amendment in the U.S. Supreme Court. It also works to create and support legal protections for unborn children, including protections from criminal violence, for which it has drafted model legislation. AUL's other interests include bioethics, particularly regarding human cloning, embryo research and assisted reproductive technologies, and end-of-life issues including euthanasia and palliative care.[1] Americans United for Life has campaigned for freedom of conscience in healthcare, through bans on provision in healthcare acts for funding of abortion.

Background

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Americans United for Life was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1971, two years prior to the nationwide legalization of abortion following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade.[2] The organization's first chairman of the board was a Unitarian minister and then-Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School, George Huntson Williams.[2] Initially the group was involved in the intellectual debate surrounding abortion, but in 1975 the founders reorganized it into a legal organization. One of the group's early areas of focus was on building a case to persuade the Supreme Court to overturn its 1973 ruling. In 1987 the group outlined their plan to overturn Roe v. Wade in a book titled Abortion and the Constitution: Reversing Roe v. Wade Through the Courts.[3] Americans United for Life was inspired by efforts of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in its strategy to impact legislation.[4] The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization and public-interest law firm, with a specific interest in pro-life legislation. Americans United for Life's areas of legal interest include abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, stem cell research, and human cloning.[5]

Americans United for Life is led by president and CEO Charmaine Yoest, who joined the organization in 2008. Prior to this she worked as vice president of communications at the Family Research Council and as an adviser to Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign. Yoest holds a Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Virginia.[6][7] Clarke Forsythe serves as senior counsel, and is a 25-year AUL veteran who has previously held the roles of general counsel and president of the organization.[3]

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Americans United for Life has supported bills to reduce the prevalence of abortion in the United States, including the Pregnant Women Support Act by United States Representative Lincoln Davis, which was introduced in 2006.[8] In 1980, AUL played a key role in the Harris v. McRae decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld the Hyde Amendment restricting federal funding of Medicaid abortions only to cases of life endangerment (and, since 1994, rape or incest) and determined that states participating in Medicaid were not required to fund medically necessary abortions for which federal reimbursement was unavailable as a result of the Hyde Amendment. Professor Victor Rosenblum, a board member of Americans United for Life, argued the case before the Supreme Court[9] and the Americans United for Life Legal Defense Fund represented the amendment's chief sponsor Rep. Henry Hyde and others.[10]

The group has also been involved in legislative and judicial actions to prevent late-term abortions. Between 1997 and 2000, Americans United for Life worked with state attorneys general across the U.S. on partial birth abortion legislation.[2] The group supported the passage of legislation in Virginia, banning a late-term abortion procedure.[3] In 2006, the organization supported legislation that was proposed in 21 states, which aimed to require that doctors who perform late-term abortions inform their patients that the fetus might feel pain during the procedure. AUL vice president Daniel McConchie stated that the aim of the proposals was "humanizing the unborn".[11] In 2007, the organization was involved in a Supreme Court case in which it helped to uphold the 2003 federal ban on partial-birth abortions.[12]

Model legislation

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Americans United for Life writes model legislation every year and makes it available on the web for state legislators and others involved in the policy process. The model legislation is also included in the organization's annual guidebook, Defending Life, which is provided to state legislators.[7] The organization developed model legislation for state laws requiring that either a parent or doctor be informed before a minor's pregnancy is terminated.[5][3] In addition, the organization developed language for state laws requiring doctors to advise patients about the health risks from abortions.[3] Americans United for Life has also drafted model legislation for states to ban assisted suicide, human cloning and specific kinds of stem cell research,[3] and an opt-out provision for states objecting to the "abortion mandate" in the 2009 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[13]

In 2008, Americans United for Life produced the Pregnant Woman's Protection Act, a piece of model legislation aimed at providing greater rights to pregnant women to defend their unborn children from criminal assaults.[14] In 2011, Mother Jones published a report on Nebraska's Legislative Bill 232, a bill based on the Pregnant Women's Protection Act, that was critical of both the bill's wording and Americans United for Life's campaign to introduce the legislation. The report claimed that the bill's wording strongly advocates 'justifiable force', including homicide, against anyone that would be performing or seeking to perform legal abortion services.[15] The organization responded with a blog post that explained that the language of their model legislation had specified that only a pregnant woman should be given protections allowing them to use force to protect their unborn child. According to the post, its language did not include third parties and could not be used to justify criminal violence against abortion providers or anyone else.[16] A pro-choice activist and writer, Robin Marty, wrote about the legislation and Americans United for Life, noting that its original wording is clear in referring only to a situation involving a pregnant woman, however that the Nebraska bill had been amended to include potential third parties. She also argued that the wording of the amendment showed that Americans United for Life were not attempting to push a legal redefinition that would place abortion providers at risk.[17] Mother Jones was also critical of similar bills, also based in part on the Americans United for Life model legislation for the Pregnant Woman's Protection Act, that were introduced in South Dakota[18] and Iowa.[19]

Other initiatives

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Opposition to drugs and gender testing

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Americans United for Life has argued against the use of certain drugs including contraceptives that can be used to induce abortion, and also early-pregnancy gender detection tests. In 1995 the group filed a petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that demanded the agency apply the strictest possible standards when reviewing a drug used to induce abortions, RU-486.[20] Later, in 2009 and 2010, the organization opposed the FDA approval of the contraceptive drug Ulipristal acetate (also known under the brand name ella). It argued that the pill caused abortions and campaigned for the FDA to not approve the drug for use in the U.S.[21] The group has also voiced opposition towards an early-pregnancy gender detection kit called the Baby Gender Mentor. It stated that learning the gender at such an early point may lead some parents to terminate the pregnancy if they were hoping for a baby of the opposite sex to that indicated by the test. Americans United for Life claims that some women disappointed by the result of their test would find it easier to have an abortion if they get the results early.[22]

Obama health care bill

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During the 2009 debate over President Barack Obama's health care proposals, the organization's president, Charmaine Yoest, met with representatives of the Obama administration to discuss "conscience protection" and the absence of "explicit language banning abortion funding and coverage" in the bill.[23] AUL later came out in opposition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,[24] and its affiliated legislative action group launched a targeted campaign in congressional districts of House members who supported the bill.[25] In the two op-eds for the Wall Street Journal, Yoest argued that the health care bill would allow for federal funding of abortions and does not protect the rights of health care providers to not provide abortion services.[26][27]

Supreme Court Justice appointments

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The organization has voiced opposition against Supreme Court justice appointments for judges who support abortion rights, including Ruth Bader Ginsberg[28] and Stephen Breyer.[29] In 2009, the organization was vocal in opposition of the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor,[2] arguing that she had a record of pro-abortion activism.[30] Yoest provided testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Congressional hearings to decide whether Sotomayor should be confirmed, as well as for then-Solicitor General Elena Kagan.[31][32][33]

Online campaigns

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Americans United for Life has produced online campaigns to engage Americans in the pro-life movement. In 2008, the organization created a website and online petition as part of a campaign against the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). As of September 2011, the petition had been signed by over 700,000 people.[34][35][36] Other campaigns have included a "Virtual March for Life" of around 85,000 people,[2] which it organized for members of the pro-life community unable to travel to Washington on the 37th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. The virtual march aimed to provide individuals with a way to be involved in anti-abortion protests without traveling to Washington D.C., where the annual "March for Life" was taking place.[37] The organization also created a Facebook page named "Support Tebow's Super Bowl Ad", to raise support for Tim Tebow's pro-life Super Bowl television commercial.[38]

Actions against Planned Parenthood

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In 2011, Americans United for Life's 501(c)(4) organization, AUL Action, formed a partnership with other organizations, Expose Planned Parenthood, to campaign for Congress to end federal funding of Planned Parenthood.[39] In an article in The Washington Times, the organization's counsel, Anna Franzonello, argued that the federal funding of Planned Parenthood effectively means that U.S. taxpayers are funding abortion procedures. She also voiced criticism of Planned Parenthood's advisory role to the government, particularly with regard to health care reform.[40] The organization released a report on Planned Parenthood in July 2011, based on a study of 20 years of its records and other evidence including law enforcement reports. Based on the findings of the report, Americans United for Life called for a congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood's activities.[41]

References

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  1. ^ a b "About AUL". Americans United for Life.org. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e "History". Americans United for Life.org. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Cummings, Jeanne (30 November 2005). "Targeting Roe". The Wall Street Journal. Cite error: The named reference "Cummings" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ Shipp, E.R. (2 April 1984). "Foes of Abortion Examine Strategies of N.A.A.C.P.". The New York Times.
  5. ^ a b "Americans United for Life's Model California Parental Notification Language Protects Parental Rights". PR Newswire. 18 November 2004. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  6. ^ Christianity Today; Nov2008, Vol. 52 Issue 11, p16-16, 1/3p accessed November 24, 2008
  7. ^ a b Skalka, Jennifer (13 August 2011). "Abortion opponents have a new voice". Christian Science Monitor. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  8. ^ Democrats for Life of America. (September 20, 2006). "Pro life Democrats endorse Lincoln Davis abortion reduction bill at press conference today." Retrieved January 19, 2007.
  9. ^ Long, Wendy (14 March 2006). "Victor G. Rosenblum and the Path to Victory Over Roe". The National Review. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  10. ^ George Weigel (11 August 2010). "An Anniversary of Consequence". First Things. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  11. ^ Biskupic, Joan (7 February 2006). "Abortion opponents going for 'fresh angle'". USA Today. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  12. ^ New York Times. Justices Back Ban on Abortion Method. Linda Greenhouse. April 19, 2007. Accessed November 24, 2008.
  13. ^ "States Opt Out". aul.org. Americans United for Life. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  14. ^ Pregnant Woman's Protection Act for the 2011 Legislative Year
  15. ^ http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/americans-united-life-justifiable-homicide-bills
  16. ^ http://www.aul.org/2011/02/aul-notes-media-wrong-again-on-life-model-legislation-protects-women-children-from-abuse/
  17. ^ http://www.care2.com/causes/womens-rights/blog/americans-united-for-life-the-kill-the-abortion-provider-people/
  18. ^ Mother Jones. (February 15, 2011). "South Dakota Moves To Legalize Killing Abortion Providers." Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  19. ^ Mother Jones. (February 24, 2011). "Iowa Bills Could Also Allow for "Justifiable Homicide" Defense Against Abortion Docs." Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  20. ^ New York Times. Phillip J. Hilts.March 1, 1995 Abortion Pill Issue Creates a Clash for Some Republicans. Accessed November 24, 2008.
  21. ^ Pecquet, Julian (14 August 2010). "Anti-abortion group blasts FDA approval of new emergency contraceptive". The Hill. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  22. ^ Langton, James. (October 7, 2005). "Revolutionary foetus sex test raises eugenics fears." London Telegraph. Retrieved January 19, 2006.
  23. ^ "Leading Pro-Life Group Outraged by the Defeat of Pro-Life Amendments in Senate Finance Committee" (Press release). U.S. Newswire. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  24. ^ Robin Abcarian (11 September 2009). "Abortion foes set against overhaul". Los Angeles Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  25. ^ David M. Herszenhorn (15 March 2010). "Anti-Abortion Group Targets House Democrats". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  26. ^ Yoest, Charmaine (4 March 2010). "Abortion and the Health Bill". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  27. ^ Yoest, Charmaine (15 October 2009). "Tax Dollars Shouldn't Fund Abortion". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  28. ^ Anderson, David E. (19 June 1993). "Sizing up the new nominee". St. Petersburg Times.
  29. ^ Elsasser, Glen (16 July 1994). "On the final day, praise mixed with criticism for Brayer". Chicago Tribune.
  30. ^ Dunham, Richard S. (6 August 2008). "What to watch for at Sotomayor hearing". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  31. ^ "Diverse Witness List for Upcoming Sotomayor Hearing". Fox News. 10 July 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  32. ^ "Hatch Stunned by Kagan Abortion Record". HumanEvents.com. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  33. ^ Charmaine Yoest (2 July 2010). "Kagan Displays 'A Real Hostility to Commonsense Abortion Regulations'". National Review Online. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  34. ^ "Fight FOCA". fightfoca.com. AUL Action. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  35. ^ Bedard, Paul (14 November 2008). "Abortion Foes Mobilize Against Obama". US News. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  36. ^ Foust, Michael (12 December 2008). "Obama could set pro-life movement back decades". Baptist Press. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  37. ^ Bazar, Emily (22 January 2010). "Health care the hot topic in abortion debate". USA Today. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  38. ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (28 January 2010). "Tim Tebow Super Bowl Facebook page". Mashable. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  39. ^ Russell, Nicole (17 February 2011). "Social Conservatives in the Age of Red Ink". The American Spectator. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  40. ^ Franzonello, Anna (28 January 2011). "Obama and Planned Parenthood make everyone pay for abortion". The Washington Times. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  41. ^ Bohon, Dave (10 July 2011). "Report on Planned Parenthood calls for Congressional investigation". The New American. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
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Category:American pro-life organizations Category:Organizations established in 1971

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