“As a Catholic, I believe that health care is a human right, and that it is a requirement of justice that each and every member of our society has access to quality affordable care. Inspired by his own Catholic faith, Congressman Tom Perriello has worked hard to expand health insurance coverage to millions of Americans while easing the burdens of families and businesses, cutting wasteful health care spending, creating jobs, and providing special protections to pregnant women and young children.”

“I recognize that some may disagree with Congressman Perriello, and I thank God for the privilege to live in a nation that values free speech and open dialogue. This does not excuse using issues like abortion to score political points at the expense of the truth. The anti-health reform activists who gathered today to attack Congressman Perriello have charged that the new health reform law allows elective abortions to be funded through state high-risk pools. The evidence proves otherwise.”

“Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued clear directives prohibiting abortion funding in high-risk pools. These regulations were welcomed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning media fact-check organization Politifact concluded that the abortion funding allegations are not true.”

“Anti-reform activists know this, yet they insist on perpetuating the abortion funding myth in order to tarnish Congressman Perriello's record. The people of Virginia's Fifth Congressional District deserve more than dirty and divisive politics. We deserve an honest conversation about how best to address the challenges of our day: a struggling economy, job losses, expanding health care, curbing Wall Street abuses, and ending dependence on foreign oil. Congressman Perriello has proven himself a tireless leader on these important issues, and for that, we thank him.”