Rep. Messer's Effort to Overturn Obama Rule Forcing States to Fund Abortion Providers Becomes Law

Press Release

Today President Donald Trump signed into law a legislative effort championed by Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) that overturns an Obama regulation forcing states to distribute public tax dollars to abortion providers.

The Department of Health and Human Services rule, finalized just weeks before the end of former President Obama's term, prevented states from withholding Title X "family planning" grants to facilities that provide abortion, like Planned Parenthood.

Messer co-sponsored H.J. Res 43, which reverses the rule and allows states, like Indiana, to make the judgement call not to direct public tax dollars to the abortion industry. Messer led this effort, authoring H.J. Res 39 -- an identical bill -- in January.

"Today is at victory for pro-life policy and for the majority of Americans who agree tax dollars should not fund abortions," Messer said. "I commend President Trump for standing with Congress and states, and signing H.J. Res 43 into law. I will always fight for policies that defend life."

Messer was a leader in the effort to repeal this rule, calling on Congress to make this a priority back in December 2016. He garnered broad support for the effort, including nearly 140 members of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as advocacy groups like March for Life, National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List, Alliance Defending Freedom, Focus on the Family and Indiana Right to Life.

"No state should be coerced into supporting the abortion industry. We applaud Rep. Messer's efforts to stop the flow of our tax dollars to Planned Parenthood and any organization that profits from the destruction of innocent, human life," said Mike Fichter, President and CEO of Indiana Right to Life.

H.J. Res 43 is now law.

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