Congressional, Religious Leaders Discuss Groundbreaking Abortion Initiative
**TELECONFERENCE TODAY AT 1:30 PM**
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Washington – On Thursday, November 8, Third Way, along with Common Good Strategies and Faith in Public Life, will host a conference call for reporters on the topic of a new abortion initiative approved yesterday by House and Senate negotiators. The call will be headlined by Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Tim Ryan (D-OH), along with Rev. Dr. Joel C. Hunter, pastor of Northland Church and one-time President-Elect of the Christian Coalition, Rev. Jim Wallis, Founder and CEO of Sojourners, and Sr. Simone Campbell, Executive Director of NETWORK.
The speakers on the call will discuss the inclusion of a “reducing the need for abortions” initiative in the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill Conference Report, which was made public yesterday. This abortion reduction package contains many of the core provisions of the Reducing the Need for Abortions and Supporting Parents Act (H.R. 1074), sponsored by Representatives Ryan and DeLauro.
The congressional speakers, both of whom were conferees, will note that this signals a major change in direction for the Democratic Congress on abortion, in three principle ways:
-- It explicitly highlights “the need for reducing abortions in America.”
-- It emphasizes both prevention of unintended pregnancies and support for pregnant women and new families.
-- It talks about new money to “encourage women to carry their pregnancies to term, and provide support for new parents who have economic difficulties.”
The Evangelical leaders will offer their support for this groundbreaking new direction.
WHAT: Press conference call on new congressional abortion initiative
WHO:
Rachel Laser, Third Way
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
Congressman Tim Ryan
Rev. Dr. Joel Hunter, Northland Church
Rev. Jim Wallis, Sojourners
Rev. Jennifer Butler, Faith in Public Life
WHEN: Thursday, November 8, 2007
1:30 p.m.
CALL-IN #: 888-245-4141
Pin: #948978
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CONTACT: Jill Pike, Third Way (202) 775-3768 x217 or Katie Barge, Faith in Public Life, (202) 243-8289
