The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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~ THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ONE ASHBURTON PLACE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02108 MARTHA COAKLEY (617) 727-2200 www.mass.gov/ago ATTORNEY GENERAL November 24,2008 The Honorable Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions 428 Senate Dirksen Offce Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Re: Senate 20, "The Protecting Patients and Health Care Act" Dear Senator Kennedy: As you are aware, last week Senator Hilary Rodham Clinton and Senator Patt Murray introduced Senate 20, A Bil to Prohibit the Implementation or Enforcement of Certain Regulations. I am writing to express my strong support for Senate 20, referred to as the "Protecting Patients and Health Care Act," and my continued opposition to the United States Department of Health and Human Services' proposed "provider conscience" regulations. The bil was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on November 20,2008. Senate 20 prevents the Secretary of Health and Human Services from finalizing, enforcing, implementing, or taking other action in furtherance of the proposed regulations, which are available at 73 Fed. Reg. 50274 (August 26,2008), section 245 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 238n), and section 508(d) of division G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-161). Attached for your reference please find a copy of the September 19, 2008 letter I submitted to Secretary Leavitt in opposition to the proposed regulations. Senate 20 is timely and critical to protecting patients' access to basic reproductive health care services and information. Accordingly, I ask the Committee to report the Protecting Patients and Health Care Act to the entire Senate for passage. As always, I am available to discuss this matter further at your request. artha Coakley Attorney General Commonwealth of Massachusetts Cc: The Honorable John F. Kerry The Honorable Hilary Rodham Clinton The Honorable Patt Murray o The Honorable Michael Capuano The Honorable Wiliam Delahunt The Honorable Barney Frank The Honorable Stephen Lynch The Honorable Edward Markey The Honorable James McGovern The Honorable Richard Neal The Honorable John Olver The Honorable John Tierney The Honorable Niki Tsongas.