The press thinks, and Democrats hope, the controversy surrounding President Obama’s contraception mandate issue has dissipated.
It hasn’t.
I wrote yesterday a vote is anticipated any time now in the Senate on Senator Roy Blunt’s measure, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act.
Meanwhile, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry has introduced similar legislation in the House.
Both bills have the bipartisan support of 220 Members of Congress and Senators.
Today Congressman Fortenberry and 49 House and Senate colleagues will hold a news conference at 1p EST to promote the legislation, “which would protect the religious liberty and conscience rights of every American who objects to being forced by the strong-arm of government to pay for drugs and procedures recently mandated by the Department of Health and Human Services.”
Here is the list of Members who plan to attend the press conference:
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, author of HR 1179, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act
Congresswoman Sandy Adams
Congressman Robert Aderholt, Chairman of Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security
Congressman Todd Akin, Chairman of Armed Services Subcommittee on Sea Power Projection
Congressman Steve Austria, House Appropriations Committee
Congressman Spencer Bachus, Chairman of House Financial Services Committee
Congressman Lou Barletta
Congressman Rick Berg
Congresswoman Diane Black, House Ways and Means Committee liaison to House Budget Committee
Congressman Charles Boustany, Chairman of House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight
Congressman Kevin Brady, top Republican on the Joint Economic Committee, senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee
Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle, Vice-Chairman of Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight, and Spending
Congressman Dan Burton, senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Congressman Francisco ‘Quico’ Canseco
Congressman Steve Chabot, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia
Congressman Sean Duffy
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, Chairman of House Subcommittee on Higher Education, member House Committees on Rules
Congressman Phil Gingrey, Chairman of GOP Doctors’ Caucus, Chairman of Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight
Congressman Louie Gohmert, Vice-Chair of Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Vice-Chairman of House Agriculture Committee
Congressman Gregg Harper, Chairman of Fragile X Caucus, Chairman of House Administration Subcommittee on Elections
Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler
Congressman Tim Huelskamp
Congressman Bill Huizenga
Congressman Randy Hultgren
Congressman Walter Jones
Congressman Jack Kingston, Chairman of Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration
Congressman Raul Labrador, Vice-Chairman of Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense, and Foreign Operations
Congressman Doug Lamborn, Chairman of House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
Congressman Jeff Landry
Congressman Bob Latta
Congressman Donald Manzullo, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Congressman Mick Mulvaney, Chairman of Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce
Congressman Patrick McHenry, Chairman of Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services, and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs
Congressman Jeff Miller, Chairman of House Committee on Veterans Affairs
Congressman Alan Nunnelee
Congressman Pete Roskam, Chief Deputy Whip for Republican House Caucus
Congressman David Schweikert
Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, Vice-Chairman of Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Congressman Steve Scalise, author of House letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius on the mandate
Congressman Bobby Schilling
Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, Chairwoman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture
Congressman Tim Scott, Deputy Whip, Elected Leadership Committee
Congressman Chris Smith, Co-Chairman of Pro-Life Caucus, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
Congressman Steve Southerland
Congressman Marlin Stutzman, Deputy Whip for Republican House Caucus
Congressman Lee Terry, Vice-Chairman on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Congressman Glenn Thompson, Chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, & Forestry
Congressman Robert Turner
Senator David Vitter
Reprinted with permission from JillStanek.com