July 30, 2020
July is Appropriations Season on Capitol Hill and when Congress will determine federal spending budgets for 2021. With a Democrat majority in the House and a Republican majority in the Senate, abortion funding is always a factor in these Appropriations bills.
The FY 21 Minibus #2, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2021, to be considered on the House floor this Thursday, combines the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) Appropriations with other spending bills, including the spending for Financial Services and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.
The Labor HHS appropriations bill currently repeals important pro-life protections. If passed as written, the Trump Title X Protect Life Rule, also known by the abortion lobby as the Gag Order, would be overturned, and Planned Parenthood would once again receive significant government funding.
This appropriations bill also repeals the Trump Conscience Protection Rule. If passed with this language, medical providers would be forced to provide information about abortion to those seeking pregnancy and family planning services.
The FY2021 State and Foreign Operations Bill also rolls back important pro-life protections. This bill currently includes the Global HER Act and repeals the Mexico City Policy. As a result, this bill would permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule, and allow the United States to fund abortion services worldwide.
The Financial Services and General Government portion of the minibus modifies the Dornan Amendment, also known as the D.C. Hyde Amendment. Under this spending bill, the city of Washington, D.C. may not use federal funds towards abortions but can use local taxpayer dollars for such.
These bills currently include some important pro-life protections; however, House Democrats have submitted amendments to strike these measures.
Students for Life Action recently sent a legislative alert to Capitol Hill staff warning Members of Congress about current proposed amendments to the minibus. These amendments include striking the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funds from being used to pay for abortions. Democrats have also introduced amendments that would withhold funds used to implement religious exceptions to the Affordable Care Act, which would force religious hospitals to provide controversial services, including prescribing contraception.
The abortion lobby will not hold anything back when promoting their agenda. Planned Parenthood may receive billions of dollars in donations and profits from their “services,” but they continue to advocate that they deserve federal taxpayer dollars. It is crucial that we remind our Members of Congress to defend life on the House Floor.
Urge your Member of Congress to defend pro-life protections here.