Washington, DC - Today some of the largest multiracial, multiethnic, and multigenerational faith-based and policy organizations in the country, representing more than 30 million people, gathered in the Nation's capital to discuss healthcare reform and to mobilize their constituents regarding this national debate.

We believe social justice includes healthcare reform that lowers the cost, increases quality, and expands choice at the greatest convenience, without moving private health decisions from the doctor's office to Washington bureaucrats. Individual liberties trump government-imposed obligations. We believe that individuals, communities, and doctors in the free market make better health decisions than government mandates. We believe in incentives, not coercion.

We oppose funding for abortion. Abortion is not healthcare. We support the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. Life, no matter how young, is not expendable and, no matter how ill or aged, is not to be weighed on a cost-benefit scale. We support conscience laws protecting hospitals and healthcare providers from coerced participation in abortion. We oppose government policies pressuring people to forgo or limit treatment because of age or illness. We oppose rationed healthcare due to age, illness or based on a government agency's determination of "quality" or "value" of life. President Obama said, "under our plan no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place." However, the House has repeatedly rejected amendments denying funding to abortion. We will hold Congress accountable to the principle of the sanctity of human life and to the President's assurance that no public funds will fund abortion and that conscience laws will remain in place.

We support health insurance that is affordable and portable. We support legal reform to stop frivolous lawsuits that drive up healthcare costs, while affording the injured appropriate compensation. We support portability, allowing people to take their healthcare with them so it is not tied to employment. We support options to purchase health insurance across state lines. We support competition; coverage of pre-existing conditions; wellness care and prevention incentives; tax relief that provides a dollar-for-dollar deduction for every dollar spent on premiums or other medical or prescription costs; and a dollar-for-dollar tax deduction with no limit from gross income for every dollar contributed to nonprofit organizations providing healthcare for free or at reduced cost to the needy.

We support freedom and the dignity of the individual, and thus we oppose federalization of the healthcare industry that would create a maze of bureaucracy which will impede and delay critical care and decrease the quality of healthcare. We oppose a single-payer, government-run insurance program or the so-called public option. It is time to start over with a truly nonpartisan approach to healthcare.

The following is a list of organizations supporting these principles:

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez

President

National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Tim Clinton

President

American Association of Christian Counselors

Dr. Che Ahn

President

Harvest International Ministries

Bishop Harry Jackson

Chairman & Founder

High Impact Leadership Coalition

Lou Engle

Co-Founder

The Call to Action

Hon. Kenneth Blackwell

The Conservative Action Project

Tim Wildmon

President

American Family Association

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson

Founder & President

Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (BOND) Action Inc.

Gary Bauer

President

American Values

Deacon Keith Fournier

Editor-in-Chief

Catholic Online

Mat Staver

Founder & Chairman

Liberty Counsel

Dean

Liberty University School of Law

Steve Strang

President & CEO

Charisma Magazine/Strang Communications

Wendy Wright

President

Concerned Women for America

Julie Clinton

Founder & President

Extraordinary Women

Tony Perkins

President

Family Research Council Action

Phyllis Schlafly

President

Eagle Forum

Dr. Cindy Jacobs

Co-Founder

Generals International

Ron Luce

President & Founder

Teen Mania

Dr. Richard Land

President

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

Southern Baptist Convention

Deryl Edwards

President

Liberty Alliance Action 

Johnnie Moore

Director of Spiritual Programs, Campus Pastor

Liberty University

Johnny Hunter

Director & Founder

Life Education and Resource Network (LEARN)

Rick Joyner

Founder

MorningStar Ministries

Rev. Rob Schenck

President

National Clergy Council

Rick Tyler

Founding Director

Renewing American Leadership

Tim Echols

Founder & President

TeenPact

Lou Sheldon

Founder & Chairman

Traditional Values Coalition

Andrea Lafferty

Executive Director

Traditional Values Coalition

Rick Scarborough

Founder & President

Vision America

Dick Bott

President & CEO

Bott Radio Network

Rich Bott

Exec. VP & COO

Bott Radio Network