June 17, 2019 Press Release

HHS' Friday News Dump... Azar Rolls Over for Anti-Choice Groups

New York, NY – Late Friday, news broke that Obria, a controversial anti-abortion center, dropped its lawsuit against HHS after the agency agreed to allow the group to put its ideological beliefs ahead of the services it provides. Obria claimed in its suit that fulfilling the terms of the HHS Title X grant it received would go against its moral beliefs.

If you’re writing on this development, below please find a statement from Michelle Kuppersmith, director of Equity Forward:

“This isn’t rocket science – if a contractor can’t fulfill the terms of the contract it applied for, it shouldn’t be awarded the contract. This is a troubling precedent that allows government contractors to put their beliefs ahead of what’s best for the public. It’s not only dangerous, it’s a waste of taxpayer resources.”

Earlier this year, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar changed the longstanding rules governing Title X and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program to allow groups like Obria, which lack expertise and proven track records, to compete for federal funds. Not only does Obria not have the experience necessary to administer the grant it was awarded, it peddles dangerous, medically unproven “services” like so-called “abortion reversal.”

For additional background on Obria and its controversial record, please visit Pro-Lies.org/obria.

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