Pro-Life Advancements in House Committee
Preserving and advancing pro-life policy in the U.S. House
Department of Homeland Security
Wednesday, 6/21/2023, the House Appropriations Committee held a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The bill included a provision that would prevent Department of Homeland Security funding from being used to pay for or facilitate abortion (Title II, Administrative Provisions, Sec. 222).
Department of Defense
Thursday, 6/22/2023, the House Appropriations Committee held a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill included a provision (Sec. 8146 of Title VIII) to strike funding to implement a memorandum, issued by the Secretary of Defense on October 20, 2022, directing the Department of Defense (DOD) to pay the travel and transportation costs for military members and dependents to obtain elective abortions.
Department of State
Wednesday, 7/12/2023, the House Appropriations Committee held a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) Appropriations bill. The bill contained all longstanding pro-life provisions, including the Helms Amendment preventing foreign aid from funding abortion. In addition, it contained the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance provision, making foreign NGOs that perform and promote abortion overseas ineligible for US funds. It also eliminated funding for the Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund, which has been highlighted as part of the Biden Administration’s agenda for promoting abortion and has been used to fund pro-abortion organizations.
Financial Services and General Government
Thursday, 7/13/2023, the House Appropriations Committee held a full committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill. The bill contained all longstanding pro-life provisions, including the Dornan Amendment preventing federal and DC revenues from paying for abortion in the District of Columbia (DC) and the Smith Amendment preventing the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program from funding elective abortions. The bill also contained new pro-life provisions.
The FSGG bill text contains the following longstanding pro-life language:
Dornan Amendment: DC Hyde Funding Ban – Provision preventing Federal and D.C. revenues from paying for abortion in the District of Columbia (Enacted in FYs 1989-93; 1996-2009; 2011-2022) Page 203: Title VIII, General Provisions-District of Columbia, Sec. 808
Smith Amendment: Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan – Limitation on funding of abortions through the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program, except in the instances of rape, incest or life of the mother. (Enacted in FYs 1984-1994, 1996-2023) Page 136: Title VI, General Provisions, Sec. 613-614
Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan Conscience Protection – Conscience protections for health care personnel and providers that were expanded in FY 2000 and retained since. (Enacted FYs 2000-FY23) Page 169: Title VII, General Provisions Government-Wide, Sec. 726
DC Conscience Intent of Congress – Clause stating intent of Congress that any DC-imposed contraceptive mandate should include a conscience clause. Page 202: Title VIII, General Provisions-District of Columbia, Sec. 808
The FSGG bill text contains pro-life language not yet signed into law:
Repeal DC Legalization of Physician Assisted Suicide – Nullify the 2016 DC law authorizing an adult resident who has been diagnosed as terminally ill to request and receive a prescription for lethal drugs. Page 209: Title VIII, General Provisions-District of Columbia, Sec. 820
Prevent Implementation of the D.C. Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act (RHNDA) – Nullify the 2014 DC law that could be used to force employers to make personnel decisions that are inconsistent with their beliefs about the sanctity of life. Page 208: Title VIII, General Provisions-District of Columbia, Sec. 819
Oversight on DC Enforcement of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act – Following allegations that preborn babies may have been killed using illegal partial birth abortion at the Washington Surgi-Clinic in Washington D.C., this language requires a report regarding the District of Columbia’s enforcement of the Partial Birth Enforcement Ban Act (18 U.S. Code § 1531). Page 209: Title VIII, General Provisions-District of Columbia, Sec. 821
Maternal Care Access in the District of Columbia – Requires a report from the District of Columbia on maternal care access following research showing disparities. Page 211: Title VIII, General Provisions-District of Columbia, Sec. 822