Major Pro-Life Bills Introduced in Congress
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Just days before the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, lawmakers have introduced two new pro-life bills that will permanently prohibit taxpayer funding in all federal programs.
The "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act," introduced yesterday by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Dan Lapinski (D-IL) will make the Hyde Amendment permanent law. This amendment, which now has to be approved annually, forbids the use of taxpayer money for abortion in federal programs, the city of Washington DC, and overseas.
Also introduced yesterday by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) was the "The Protect Life Act" which will specifically cut all abortion funding from ObamaCare. This bill would rewrite multiple provisions of the health care law in order to prohibit federal subsidies for abortion, and federal regulations that could expand abortion in various ways.
Pro abortion groups responded harshly to the news.
“These anti-choice politicians are out of touch with Americans’ values and priorities,” said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “These same lawmakers voted to repeal a health-care law that provides prenatal care and the promise of no-cost birth control to women. Now, they want to make it even harder for women to purchase private health insurance that includes abortion coverage with their own money. Their hypocrisy is astounding. It seems that they’re fine with government intrusion, as long as it involves interfering in women’s personal, private decisions.”
On the other hand, pro-life leaders are lining up to praise the bills. "As the numbers of abortions plateau after years of decrease, reports have surfaced that Planned Parenthood is instituting quotas, requiring their affiliates to do more abortions to increase their profits," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America. "If politicians want to make abortion rare, they must stop government funding of abortion."
“Public opinion is strongly against federal subsidies for abortion, and any member of Congress who is truly opposed to federal funding of abortion will vote for both of these bills,” said National Right to Life Committee Legislative Director Douglas Johnson. “If President Obama seeks to obstruct these bills, that will provide additional glaring evidence that his professions of opposition to public funding of abortion are phony.”
Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, is applauding this aggressive move so early in the life of the 112th Congress.
"We tip our hats to these leaders for making life a top priority in the 112th Congress," Perkins said. "The country is cheering you on!"
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