Granger: Targeting Pro-Life Protections is a Waste of Time

Press Release

Today, the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee and the Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee considered their appropriations bills for fiscal year 2023. The measures were reported out to the full committee with concerns raised by Republicans.

Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-TX), the lead Republican for the Appropriations Committee, said of the measures, "Let me be clear: Republicans will not support bills that repeal or weaken pro-life protections. For years, Democrats have targeted pro-life provisions in both of these bills, with no success in the final package. It's a waste of time to attack provisions so strongly supported by our side of the aisle if our votes will eventually be needed to get bills to the president's desk.

"As we've said throughout our markups, we want language carried in the past to be retained and new controversial policies to be dropped. With that framework in place, I am confident we can get our work done in a timely manner."

Problematic Funding Levels and Provisions:

State and Foreign Operations

Provides a 15% increase ($8.48 billion).
Includes $1.6 billion for the Green Climate Fund.
Drops or weakens long-standing pro-life language:
Removes the "Helms Amendment," which prohibits foreign aid from being used for abortion;
Weakens the "Kemp-Kasten" provision on coercive abortion; and
Also includes a permanent prohibition on the Mexico City policy, which prohibits federal funding from going to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion services.
Unwisely supports United Nations (UN) activities:
Increases funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); and
Drops long-standing conditions on the UN Human Rights Council to address bias against Israel and removes oversight requirements for the UN Relief and Works Agency.

Commerce, Justice, and Science

Provides a 12.9% increase ($9.8 billion).
Omits a longstanding pro-life rider that prohibits the Justice Department from paying for abortions.
Needlessly drops four long-standing, bipartisan 2nd Amendment-related provisions.
Incentivizes states to implement controversial red flag laws, which would allow courts to order removal of firearms from persons deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.
Directs the Government Accountability Office to report on how best to implement universal background checks on all ammunition sales.
Removes restrictions on transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to U.S. prisons.

Source