U.S. House Pursues Pro-Life Policies

Details: 25 February 2011

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) is a long-time pro-life leader in the U.S. House of Representatives. Recently, I heard him say that the current House has the most number of pro-life members he has seen in his 30 years as a Congressman.

Furthermore, Cong. Smith said that the House leadership, which determines the legislative agenda, is more committed to pursuing pro-life policies than any leadership he has experienced. Coming from Cong. Smith, this is certainly encouraging news.

What follows is a brief summary of some of the pro-life legislation that has been introduced so far this year in the House. Most of this information is provided by the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA), an excellent resource on federal pro-life legislation.

Protect Life Act (H.R. 358)

This bill would correct serious abortion-related flaws in the federal health care reform act (PPACA). First, it would apply the Hyde Amendment policy to the entire act ensuring that no funds pay for abortions (except in cases of rape/incest or to prevent the death of the mother) or subsidize health plans that cover abortions.

SSecond, H.R. 358 would uphold rights of conscience related to abortion. Third, the bill would close a loophole in PPACA’s non-preemption clause so that state laws restricting abortion can’t be preempted by PPACA and so that state laws can’t override pro-life provisions in PPACA. The bill was voted out of committee and awaits action by the full House.

Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations (H.R. 1) /p>

Since Congress has not produced a budget for fiscal year 2011, it is funding the federal government through temporary continuing resolutions (CR). The next CR, introduced by the House Republicans (H.R. 1), restores three pro-life policies removed by President Obama or the previous Congress.

First, the CR restores a ban on government funding of abortions in the District of Columbia. Second, it restores the Mexico City Policy which prohibits the use of taxpayer funds from going to groups that promote or perform abortions in other nations.

Third, the CR would remove funding for the United Nations Family Planning Agency. The UNFPA has promoted abortion globally and shown support for China’s one-child policy with forced abortions and sterilizations.

IIn addition, two pro-life amendments were offered to the CR. First, Congressman Mike Pence offered an amendment that would deny funds to Planned Parenthood. This amendment was adopted on a vote of 240 to 185. Second, Congressman John Fleming offered an amendment to help maintain conscience protection regulations put in place by the Bush administration for pro-life medical workers.

No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 3) /p>

TThis bill would place into permanent law the various appropriations policies that restrict the funding of abortion. For decades, these policies, such as the Hyde Amendment, had to be attached to annual appropriations bills. This bill would eliminate that annual process by enacting these policies, permanently, into law.

Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 361) /p>

A national campaign by abortion activists to force health care providers to participate in abortion threatens the civil rights of health care professionals and other health care entities. This bill would strengthen existing federal conscience protection laws and affirms the principle that no health care entity should be forced by government to perform or participate in abortions.

To follow the progress of these and other pro-life bills in Congress, and to see how our Congressmen vote, check out NCHLA’s excellent website at www.nchla.org. And please join me in praying, fasting and working so that much progress will be made in Congress to protect women and children from the violence of abortion.

You can contact Greg at The Nebraska Catholic Conference,
215 Centennial Mall South Suite 310, Lincoln, NE 68508; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.