Americans United for Life
Abbreviation | AUL |
---|---|
Formation | 1971 |
Type | Nonprofit |
Purpose | To advance the human right to life in culture, law, and policy.[1] |
Headquarters | Washington, DC |
Region served | United States |
Interim President | Kevin Tordoff[2] |
Budget | $2.7 million |
Website | Americans United for Life |
Americans United for Life (AUL) is an American
The group has been influential in the spread of so-called "Heartbeat" legislation across a number of American states.[5]
Early history and mission
AUL was founded in
During the first half of the 1970s, Eugene Diamond of AUL argued that abortion was dangerous to women's health.[10] Charles Rice, a professor at Fordham Law School, who was active in the AUL argued that "birth control fever" had infected American society.[10] Early on, the organization did not oppose all forms of abortion.[10] Some within the organization also supported a legal right to contraceptives.[10] When the organization did not decide to condemn all forms of abortion, a number of member left and formed the United States Coalition for Life (USCL).[10]
Lobbying and litigation
AUL has supported bills to reduce the prevalence of abortion in the United States, including the
The group has also been involved in legislative and judicial actions to prevent late-term abortions. Between 1997 and 2000, AUL worked with state attorneys general across the U.S. on
Model legislation
AUL 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.
In 2008, AUL produced the Pregnant Woman's Protection Act, a piece of model legislation aimed at providing greater rights to pregnant women to defend themselves from physical attack, especially in regard to domestic violence.[18] In 2011, Mother Jones, a politically liberal magazine, 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 AUL'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.[19] Mother Jones was also critical of similar bills, also based in part on the AUL model legislation for the Pregnant Woman's Protection Act, that were introduced in South Dakota[20] and Iowa.[21]
Other issues
Abortion in cases of rape
On July 14, 2022, Catherine Glenn Foster, the organization's president, stated during U.S.
Opposition to RU-486, Ella and gender testing
AUL 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
Obamacare
AUL opposes the
Supreme Court appointments
The organization has voiced opposition against Supreme Court justice appointments for judges who support abortion rights, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg[35] and Stephen Breyer.[36] In 2009, the organization was vocal in opposition of the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor,[6] arguing that she had a record of pro-abortion activism.[37] AUL 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.[38][39][40]
Online campaigns
AUL has produced online campaigns to engage Americans in the
Actions against Planned Parenthood
In 2011, AUL's 501(c)(4) organization, AUL Action, formed a partnership with other organizations, Expose Planned Parenthood, to campaign for the United States Congress to end federal funding of Planned Parenthood.[46] 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.[47] The organization released a 174-page report on Planned Parenthood in July 2011, based on a study of 20 years detailing alleged abuses including misuse of federal funds and poor patient care. The report contributed to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's decision to begin investigating Planned Parenthood under Representative Cliff Stearns.[48]
Funding
In 2010, AUL received $45,000
References
- ^ "Americans United for Life Mission". Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ "Americans United for Life Board of Directors Announce Leadership Transition". March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ "IUD use attracts new opposition from anti-abortion groups". Reuters. December 1, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ Wenner, David (March 22, 2019). "Assisted dying: Aging of baby boomers coincides with increased support for enabling people to legally end their life". pennlive.com. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ "Surprised by all these abortion bans? Meet Americans United for Life — the most significant antiabortion group you've never heard of". The Washington Post. 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "History". Americans United for Life.org. April 23, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Cummings, Jeanne (November 30, 2005). "Targeting Roe". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Shipp, E.R. (April 2, 1984). "Foes of Abortion Examine Strategies of N.A.A.C.P.". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "Americans United for Life's Model California Parental Notification Language Protects Parental Rights". PR Newswire. November 18, 2004.
- ^ a b c d e Ziegler, Mary. After Roe: The Lost History of the Abortion Debate. Harvard University Press. pp. 34–36, 170. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Long, Wendy (March 14, 2006). "Victor G. Rosenblum and the Path to Victory Over Roe". The National Review. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
- ^ George Weigel (August 11, 2010). "An Anniversary of Consequence". First Things. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ Biskupic, Joan (February 7, 2006). "Abortion opponents going for 'fresh angle'". USA Today.
- ^ New York Times. Justices Back Ban on Abortion Method. Linda Greenhouse. April 19, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
- ^ Skalka, Jennifer (August 13, 2011). "Abortion opponents have a new voice". Christian Science Monitor.
- ^ "States Opt Out". aul.org. Americans United for Life. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
- ^ "Pregnant Woman's Protection Act for the 2011 Legislative Year" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 21, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- ^ "Revealed: The Group Behind the Bills that Could Legalize Killing Abortion Providers".
- ^ Mother Jones. (February 15, 2011). "South Dakota Moves To Legalize Killing Abortion Providers." Retrieved March 1, 2011.
- ^ Mother Jones. (February 24, 2011). "Iowa Bills Could Also Allow for "Justifiable Homicide" Defense Against Abortion Docs." Retrieved March 1, 2011.
- ^ Kupas, Paige (July 14, 2022). "Swalwell presses anti-abortion activist on whether 10-year-olds should carry babies". The Hill. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Johnson, Chuck (July 14, 2022). "A man was charged in the rape of a 10-year-old who traveled to Indiana for an abortion". CNN. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ Woodward, Alex (July 14, 2022). "Anti-abortion activist claims 10-year-old's abortion was not an abortion in bizarre House committee testimony". The Independent. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ New York Times. Phillip J. Hilts.March 1, 1995 Abortion Pill Issue Creates a Clash for Some Republicans. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
- ^ Pecquet, Julian (August 14, 2010). "Anti-abortion group blasts FDA approval of new emergency contraceptive". The Hill. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ Langton, James. (October 7, 2005). "Revolutionary foetus sex test raises eugenics fears." London Telegraph. Retrieved January 19, 2006.
- ^ "Anti-Abortion Groups Are Still Fighting Birth Control Coverage In Court". Huffington Post. July 10, 2014.
- ^ Smith, Mailee R. (February 19, 2013). "Amicus Curiae Brief of Association of American Physicians & Surgeons, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Christian Medical Association, Catholic Medical Association, National Catholic Bioethics Center, Physicians for Life, and National Association of Pro Life Nurses" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Americans United for Life. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
- ^ "Americans United for Life files brief against HHS contraceptive mandate". Catholic News Service/Catholic Philly. November 16, 2012.
- ^ Robin Abcarian (September 11, 2009). "Abortion foes set against overhaul". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ David M. Herszenhorn (March 15, 2010). "Anti-Abortion Group Targets House Democrats". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ Yoest, Charmaine (March 4, 2010). "Abortion and the Health Bill". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
- ^ Yoest, Charmaine (October 15, 2009). "Tax Dollars Shouldn't Fund Abortion". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
- ^ Anderson, David E. (June 19, 1993). "Sizing up the new nominee". St. Petersburg Times.
- ^ Elsasser, Glen (July 16, 1994). "On the final day, praise mixed with criticism for Brayer". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Dunham, Richard S. (August 6, 2008). "What to watch for at Sotomayor hearing". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
- ^ "Diverse Witness List for Upcoming Sotomayor Hearing". Fox News. July 10, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ "Hatch Stunned by Kagan Abortion Record". HumanEvents.com. July 1, 2010. Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ Charmaine Yoest (July 2, 2010). "Kagan Displays 'A Real Hostility to Commonsense Abortion Regulations'". National Review Online. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ "Fight FOCA". fightfoca.com. AUL Action. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
- ^ Bedard, Paul (November 14, 2008). "Abortion Foes Mobilize Against Obama". US News. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
- ^ Foust, Michael (December 12, 2008). "Obama could set pro-life movement back decades". Baptist Press. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
- ^ Bazar, Emily (January 22, 2010). "Health care the hot topic in abortion debate". USA Today. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Ehrlich, Brenna (January 28, 2010). "Tim Tebow Super Bowl Facebook page". Mashable. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
- ^ Russell, Nicole (February 17, 2011). "Social Conservatives in the Age of Red Ink". The American Spectator. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ^ Franzonello, Anna (January 28, 2011). "Obama and Planned Parenthood make everyone pay for abortion". The Washington Times. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
- ^ Sheppard, Kate (August 2012). "Wham, Bam, Sonogram! Meet the Ladies Setting the New Pro-Life Agenda". Mother Jones.
- ^ a b Novak, Viveca & Maguire, Robert. (May 18, 2012). "Mystery Health Care Group Funneled Millions to Conservative Nonprofits" OpenSecretsblog. Retrieved March 26, 2014.