Contact: Matthew Faraci, Americans United for Life, 202-556-1994, press@aul.org

WASHINGTON, July 7 /Christian Newswire/ -- Yesterday, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed H.B. 1247, the "Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act", a bill that was crafted with the help of Americans United for Life. A similar bill is awaiting the Governor's consideration in Missouri.

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, President and CEO, Americans United for Life, had the following reaction:

"We applaud Governor Jindal and our allies in the state legislature for making Louisiana the fourth state to opt out of taxpayer-funded abortion. Louisiana is America's number one pro-life state due to the extraordinary leadership of its elected officials who are clearly committed to protecting innocent life."

To learn more about AUL's "Abortion Mandate Opt Out Act" model legislation, click here.

Americans United for Life (AUL) is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization whose vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971.

AUL's legal team has been involved in every pro-life case before the U.S. Supreme Court including the successful defense of the Hyde Amendment. AUL also publishes Defending Life, the most comprehensive state-by-state legal guide of its kind, which is distributed annually to legislators across the nation.

Recently, Americans United for Life detailed the facts on taxpayer-funding of abortion during the debate over federal health care legislation, provided legal assistance to states working to opt out of abortion provisions created by federal health care law, and has played a major role in educating policymakers on the record of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.