This week, the House Committee on Appropriations will mark-up the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) and State, Foreign Operations (SFOPs) appropriations bills which currently exclude longstanding bipartisan policies that prevent taxpayer dollars from being spent on elective abortions. Three decades-old provisions which were eliminated from these appropriations bills prevent taxpayer funds from being used to pay for abortions in the District of Columbia, through foreign assistance, and for federal employee health plans that cover abortions.
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Bishop David J. Malloy, chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued a statement expressing deep concerns, saying:
“The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations should not eliminate the long-standing, bipartisan provisions that prevent taxpayer funding of abortions… I call on the Appropriations Committee and all members of Congress to protect taxpayers from having to pay for the evil of abortion, and to instead use our tax dollars for the common good and welfare of all.”
The full statement can be read here.
Over the next few weeks, the House Appropriations Committee will be voting on several other appropriations bills, including the Labor/Health and Human Services bill that is expected to eliminate the Hyde Amendment. Without the Hyde Amendment and Hyde-related policies, billions of taxpayer dollars could be used to pay for abortion in the United States and throughout the world.
Congress needs to hear from you: tell Congress to keep the Hyde Amendment and Hyde-related policies in the appropriations bills, and to oppose any bill that expands taxpayer funding of abortion.
To learn more, click here and here.
