WASHINGTON DC - Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14) voted to pass H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, a bill he co-sponsored which codifies the patchwork of federal provisions that ensure no taxpayer dollars fund abortions except in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at stake.
“It’s rare Congress to come to an agreement on the issue of abortion, but ensuring no taxpayer dollars go to fund abortions has enjoyed bipartisan support ever since the Honorable Henry Hyde introduced his amendment. Vast majorities of Americans oppose using taxpayer funds to pay for abortion, and this bill ensures this policy becomes permanent and government-wide, including in the President’s health care law,” said Rep. Hultgren. “All life should be protected, from conception to natural death, and forcing someone to pay for a procedure they oppose on moral grounds violates their freedom of conscience. Regardless of your views on the issue, everyone can agree that no one should be forced to pay for someone else’s abortion, including the American taxpayer.”
H.R. 7 would make permanent the policies previously passed on a case-by-case basis, including:
- The Hyde amendment, which prohibits funding for elective abortion coverage through any program funded through the annual Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Act.
- The Smith FEHBP amendment, which prohibits funding for health plans that include elective abortion coverage for federal employees.
- The Dornan amendment, which prohibits use of congressionally appropriated funds for abortions in the District of Columbia.
- Other policies such as the restrictions on elective abortion funding through the Peace Corps and Federal prisons.
