National Right to Life Commends Reopening of Government, Urges Congress to Stand Firm on Protecting Taxpayers from Abortion Funding

WASHINGTON — The federal government has reopened following President Trump’s signing of a bipartisan spending package passed by Congress. The action ends the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

Last night, the House of Representatives voted 222 to 209 to give final approval to the funding measure. The Senate began clearing the way on Monday, when eight Senate Democrats crossed party lines in a vote that opened the door for the government to resume operations. Their votes came with a promise from Senate leadership to allow a future vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies—which currently reimburse insurance plans that include elective abortion.

“For weeks, a majority of Democratic lawmakers were willing to keep the federal government closed in order to protect federal funding streams that benefit abortionists,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “During that time, federal employees went without pay, SNAP benefits were halted, and essential services were disrupted.”

Tobias continued, “The vast majority of Americans oppose having their tax dollars used to pay for abortions. Yet many Democrats were willing to disrupt our economy, keep food from families, and leave our transportation system uncertain—all to prioritize the interests of the abortion industry over the needs of the American people.”

Last week, National Right to Life sent a letter to every member of Congress reiterating strong opposition to any extension of ACA subsidies unless Hyde-like protections are restored. Unlike longstanding federal healthcare programs, the ACA was structured to circumvent the traditional Hyde Amendment protections that prevent taxpayer funds from subsidizing abortion. For more than four decades, Hyde protections have represented a durable, bipartisan agreement: taxpayer dollars should not be used to pay for or promote elective abortion.