As Congress returns from the 4th of July recess, we have an exceedingly busy week ahead related to pro-life issues. Below you find some top-line items of interest, including upcoming votes in the House. As always, please see
the current scorecard of Congressional votes here:https://cqrcengage.com/nrlc/scorecards
Votes (expected Friday) on Several Pro-Abortion Pieces of Legislation
Hearings on Abortion in House and Senate
On-going Negotiations on NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act)
Biden Executive Order and Further Potential Action
The House is expected to vote on H.R. 8296 this coming Friday. The current 117th Congress has voted three times this Congress on some form of this legislation which they claim will codify Roe v. Wade. However, the so-called “Women’s Health Protection Act,” would go far beyond codifying Roe, enshrining abortion on demand in all 50 states. This version includes some updated language from
the Dobbs case.
The May Senate vote failed by a vote of 49 to 51. Nearly identical legislation was voted down by the Senate in March as well. Neither a single Republican nor Sen. Joe Manchin (D-Wv.) supports the legislation. Seeherefor scorecard votes.
218 Democrat House members voted for the measure the last time it was considered (seehere).
The so-called “Women’s Health Protection Act” would enshrine into law abortion-on-demand and would overturn existing pro-life laws and prevent new protective laws from being enacted at the state and federal levels. This bill seeks to strip away from elected lawmakers the ability to provide even the most minimal protections for unborn children, at any stage of their pre-natal development. Further, it would invalidate most previously enacted federal limits on abortion,
including federal conscience protection laws and most, if not all, limits on government funding of abortion.
H.R. 8297 is primarily aimed at ensuring the proliferation of chemical abortion. It purports to subvert enforcement of State laws which prohibit telemedicine abortions or prohibit mailing of DIY abortion drugs into their state. H.R. 8297 would also make it nearly impossible to sue doctors who harm an out of state patient. Also, this bill would protect anyone transporting or trafficking women or girls across state lines, including potential
abusers.
2.
Hearings on Abortion in House and Senate
Four hearings are expected this week in response to the Dobbs decision:
Wednesday, July 13, 2022: House Oversight: “The Impact of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs Decision on Abortion Rights and Access Across the United States”
3. On-going Negotiations on NDAA (National Defense Authorization
Act)
This week, the House of Representatives is expected to considerHR 7900, the National Defense Authorization
Act. 1,192 amendments were submitted - with a number containing abortion-expanding provisions. The Rules committee will meet this week to decide which, if any of these amendments receive votes. NRLC will continue to monitor this situation as it moves towards a House vote and Senate negotiations.
4.
Biden Executive Order and Further Potential Action
On Friday, July 8th, President Biden delivered public remarks and signed an executive order related to abortion which will, in part, instruct Health and Human Services to explore options (to be reported back in 30 days) related to expanding access to chemical abortions, and to amass an army of lawyers to defend those violating the law. In addition, the White House is looking at options to use EMTALA (the federal law related to hospitals treating patients in
emergencies) to potentially expand the definition of what an emergency is.
Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia and more than 3,000 local chapters, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. Recognized as the flagship of the pro-life movement,
National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Share:
Saving babies’ lives in South Carolina’s most notorious former abortion facility. Street address: 1411 Barnwell St. Suite 3, Columbia SC 29201
