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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0302

April 1, 1994

Mr . Michael Gregg
P.D. Box 301?0
Wilmington, DE 19305

Dear Dir. Gregg:

PM 

MINUS

Tha?E you for your-postcard on health care reform and
abortion services. You say in your postcard that most Americans
don't want to pay for abortion services and ask, "Please don't

force no to pay for abortions against my conscience
with you.






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53



I agree

At this time, with a number of health care reform proposals
on the table and a long debate ahead, there is no way to know the
form that the final legislation will take, or what amendments may
be offered. However, I will continue to abide by the same
principle that has guided no throughout my 21 years in the
Senate: those of us who are opposed to abortion should not be

compelled to pay for then. As you may know, I have

consistently -- on no fewer than 50 occasions voted against

federal funding of abortions.

The present debate over health care reform raises for the
first time the question of whether the tederal government should
decide for everyone that they must buy insurance that includes
abortion services, or whether individuals should have
not to. Just as the federal government should not be
business of telling people that they can no longer use their own
money to purchase such services, the government should not tell
those with strong convictions against abortion, such as you and

I, that We must pay for then.

the option
in the

Again, thank you for writing. It is important to me to know
your views as the debate on health care reform legislation

proceeds.


Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
United States Senator