Leading pro-life organizations are excited about today’s vote in the House of Representatives for the No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act. Below is a compilation of statements from top pro-life groups.
“There are over one million Americans who are alive today because of the Hyde Amendment policy – but President Obama, although he claims to seek abortion reduction, continues to work against that policy,” said National Right to Life Committee Legislative Director Douglas Johnson. “The White House veto threat demonstrates yet again that President Obama is determined to expand federal subsidies for abortion on demand – despite his verbal smokescreens. The 175 House Democrats who voted against the bill will be firmly marked as supporters of federal subsidies for elective abortion.”
Family Research Council president Tony Perkins: “We commend the bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives for finding common ground by permanently banning the flow of money between the federal government and the brutal procedure of abortion. Compelling American taxpayers to hand over their hard earned dollars to pay for abortions can’t be justified, especially at a time when our country is facing an economic meltdown brought on by a failure to stop the out-of-control spending in Washington. We call on Senate Majority Harry Reid to act on this commonsense legislation and protect American taxpayers who regardless of their views of abortion’s legality should not be forced to pay for or participate in this gruesome practice.”
Rev. Dean Nelson, Care Net’s Vice President of Underserved Outreach: “Care Net supports the ‘No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act’ because it seeks to protect women and children and reduce abortions in America. Many people who come to our pregnancy centers are in crisis because they think abortion is their only choice. A woman named Tia told one of our centers, ‘When I found out I was pregnant, I had no idea what I was going to do. I thought there was no way I could provide for a child and decided that abortion was my only option.’ When government funding for abortion is available, it reinforces this message. Sadly, as a result, abortions increase.”
Americans United for Life President Charmaine Yoest: “This historic vote is the first time the Hyde Amendment has been made a permanent protection of the American taxpayer. We hope the Senate will follow suit. The 251 to 175 bipartisan vote is evidence that the House is in tune with the majority of Americans who do not want to see their tax dollars go to the bloated, scandal-ridden abortion industry. Democrats and Republicans in the House have come together on these important matters. Passing a permanent, government-wide prohibition on the use of federal taxpayer funding for elective abortions and the subsidization of insurance coverage for elective abortions is a tremendous pro-life victory. Today’s vote marks a historic day to celebrate — the House has thwarted the abortion industry’s efforts to target vulnerable annual “riders” to appropriations bills and regulations that currently prohibit federal funding of abortion. Today’s key vote also protects our health care providers’ basic civil right to provide care without violating one’s conscience.”
Matt Smith of Catholic Advocate: “The House of Representatives has once again stood for the sanctity of life. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) needs to start listening to the majority of Americans who oppose our tax dollars funding abortion. It is time for the Senate to go on record for a consistent, government-wide approach to ending tax-payer funded abortion.”
Concerned Women for America CEO Penny Nance: “Taxpayers should never be forced to fund an abortion, the deliberate taking of innocent life. Voting for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 3) will ensure the permanency of amendments that prohibit taxpayer funds from paying for abortions and protect the conscience rights of medical professionals who choose not to participate in abortions and could lose their jobs without proper protections set forth in the law. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act is non-partisan. Nearly 70 percent of Americans, pro-life and pro-choice, don’t want their dollars going to pay for abortion. If President Obama vetoes this legislation, he will be stomping on the freedoms we hold dear in this country and making every one of us complicit in abortion, a moral abhorrence for over half of the population.”
Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfesler: “The American people gave this Congress marching orders to end taxpayer funding of abortion. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act aims to do just that, permanently prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortion across all federal programs. It ensures that federal subsidies do not go to health care plans that cover abortion and protects the consciences of health care workers. By bringing H.R. 3 to the floor, House Republican leadership is sending the American people the message that it is serious about protecting unborn children, women and taxpayers from the horror of abortion.”
