House Passes Bill to Prohibit Federal Funding for Elective Abortions

Statement

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, by a vote of 227-188. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act was introduced by Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and reported favorably from the Judiciary Committee on January 15, 2014.

For over 35 years, a patchwork of policies has regulated federal funding for abortion. Amendments have been added to various appropriations bills to prohibit the federal funding of abortions through the programs funded by those appropriations bills. H.R. 7, with the exception of a few narrow categories accepted for many years, provides that the federal government should not make taxpayers pay for abortions or insurance coverage that includes abortion.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte praised today's vote by the House of Representatives:

"Today, the House of Representatives acted as the voice of the People and passed a bill that has been estimated to save hundreds of thousands of lives each year. The House passage of H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, codified the most bipartisan, longstanding pro-life proposal, the Hyde Amendment. The bill effectively frees taxpayers from subsidizing the egregious practice of abortion and insurance coverage that includes abortion.

"The successful passage of H.R. 7 helps protect those who cannot speak for themselves -- the most defenseless in our society, the unborn. As a country, we must speak for the defenseless and allow them the fundamental human right to be born into this world."

The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act 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; and

* Other policies such as the restrictions on elective abortion funding through the Peace Corps and Federal prisons.

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