WASHINGTON (OSV News) – The Biden administration has issued new regulations that protect the medical records of women who cross state lines to seek abortions in areas where it is legal from criminal investigation.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has indicated his intention to debate former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, during the general election period, and a bill introduced in the House of Representatives will be proposed by a prominent Hong Kong Catholic, philanthropist and media mogul. Jimmy Lai will be honored. Democracy advocates around the world said the trial contained false charges. The incident is seen as a test of Hong Kong's freedom within the People's Republic of China.
Biden administration issues new HIPAA regulations
The regulation is intended to protect women who cross state lines to obtain an abortion from possible prosecution if they live in a state where abortion is restricted.
The new regulations, finalized under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), prohibit health care providers from divulging private medical information about patients. Previous rules gave health care providers and insurance companies more permission to disclose some medical information in certain cases, such as criminal investigations.
“Many Americans fear that their personal health information will be shared, misused, and disclosed without their permission,” Health Department Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. This has a chilling effect on women who visit doctors, pick up prescriptions at pharmacies, and take other necessary actions to stay healthy. ”
“With reproductive health under attack from some members of Congress, these protections are more important than ever,” he said.
Becerra acknowledged in comments to The Associated Press that the regulation would likely face legal challenges.
“Until there is a national law that reinstates Roe v. Wade, there will be problems,” Becerra told The Associated Press. “But that doesn’t stop us from doing everything we can to protect the right of all Americans to the care they need.”
“The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists is proud to be a leader in this field,” Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said in a statement. However, HIPAA already provided robust privacy protections before this new rule was added. ”
“Although the rule is clearly intended to prevent enforcement of pro-life laws, it is written in vague and confusing language and could potentially impact investigations into crimes such as sexual abuse and human trafficking. Yes,” Francis said. “This rule protects the abortion industry and criminals, not patients.”
Biden hints at debate with Trump
Mr. Biden announced on April 26 that he would debate Mr. Trump ahead of the expected November 5 presidential election rematch.
“I'm out there somewhere,” Biden told radio host Howard Stern. “I don't know when that will be. I'm happy to discuss him.”
Mr. Biden has not ruled out a debate with Mr. Trump, but previously said in March that “it depends on what he does.” Since then, Trump and his campaign have been pressuring Biden to participate in the debate.
One of the scheduled debates between Biden and Trump in 2020 was canceled after Trump tested positive for the coronavirus at the height of the pandemic and instead declined to participate virtually.
The ambiguity surrounding the televised general election debate runs counter to modern American political norms. Major news organizations recently sent an unusual letter to the Biden and Trump campaigns urging a debate.
Bipartisan bill honoring Jimmy Lai
A bipartisan bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Chris Smith (RN.J.) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (DN.Y.) would honor the defenders of democracy in Hong Kong in Washington. The address of the Economic and Trade Bureau will be renamed to “1 Jimmy Lai Way.” He has been a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party, and lawmakers said he remains unjustly imprisoned by Hong Kong authorities.
Lai, 76, has been imprisoned since December 2020 on charges under a controversial new national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the Chinese government. His supporters say the charges against Hong Kong's Catholics are fabricated and politically motivated.
“Jimmy Lai was a man of faith and conviction who fervently believed that Hong Kong's prosperity and vitality was built on the rights promised to its people,” said Congress Executive Committee on China. said Mr. Smith, chairman of the committee. He nominated Lai for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. “He is being arbitrarily detained for peacefully acting on this belief.”
“We continue to call for the unconditional release of Jimmy Lai and raise the diplomatic and reputational costs around the world for the Hong Kong government and Chinese Communist Party leaders who have violently destroyed Hong Kong's democratic freedoms and the rule of law. We'll find a way.” Mr. Smith added.
“The free world must continue to call attention to the Chinese Communist Party's crimes in Xinjiang, the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong, and its use of force against Taiwan,” Suozhi said.
He said renaming a street in Washington “Lijiji” would “show the whole world that the United States stands in solidarity with those who oppose the tyranny and oppression of the Chinese government.”
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said on its website that Lai's imprisonment “impedes the defense of religious freedom.”
Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @kgscanlon.
