Dannenfelser: "Congress has been sent clear marching orders from the American people to defund abortion now and the appointment of Rep. Joe Pitts as Health Subcommittee Chair is an encouraging start."

Contact: Kerry Brown, Susan B. Anthony List, 703-470-1926, kbrown@sba-list.org

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2010 /Standard Newswire/ -- Today, the Susan B. Anthony List congratulated pro-life Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) on his appointment to Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said:

"Appointment of pro-life champion Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA) as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health is a major pro-life victory, as it is the gateway for legislation that embodies almost every pro-life protection America has consistently affirmed in polls and elections. We look forward to working with Rep. Joe Pitts, newly-elected Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, and the rest of the committee to pass meaningful laws that save lives and protect the conscience of taxpayers in the next Congress.

"This goal can be accomplished by pushing through committee the two centerpieces of our Stop Abortion Funding campaign, the 'No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,' sponsored by Reps. Chris Smith and Dan Lipinski, and the 'Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act' sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence.

"Taxpayer funding of abortion in the health care bill played a major role in races across the country, resulting in a net gain of over 50 pro-life votes in the House and a 70 percent increase in the number of pro-life women. Congress has been sent clear marching orders from the American people to defund abortion now. The appointment of Rep. Joe Pitts as Health Subcommittee Chair is an encouraging start."

The "Stop Abortion Funding" online petition, launched shortly after the November election, surpassed 35,000 signatures in its first month. The campaign includes efforts to mobilize the SBA List's ever-growing grassroots network and an online petition (www.StopAbortionFunding.com) encouraging Congress to pass legislation prohibiting taxpayer funding of abortion.

The Susan B. Anthony List spent $11 million during the 2010 midterm election cycle. Overall, the SBA List was involved in 90 races including 62 wins and 28 losses. Successes included: defeating 15 of 20 so-called "pro-life" Democrats who voted for abortion funding in the health care reform bill; increasing the number of pro-life women in the House by 70 percent; filling the void of pro-life women in the U.S. Senate and increasing the number of pro-life women governors from one to four.

For further information, please contact Kerry Brown at (703) 470-1926 or kbrown@sba-list.org.