For immediate release: January 16, 2019
For more information: NRLC Communications
Office: 202.626.8825 Cell: 202.642.1675 mediarelations@nrlc.org
WASHINGTON – In an effort led by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), today 169 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 49 members of the U.S. Senate sent the President letters urging him to veto bills that weaken existing pro-life policies, and indicating that they will vote to sustain such
vetoes. Those numbers exceed the number required to sustain a veto in either house.
Jennifer Popik, J.D., legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), commented, “We appreciate that the Congress is drawing a bright line — that they would vote to sustain a veto on any appropriations bill, or any other bill, that would weaken existing laws
against federal funding of abortion or weaken other pro-life policies.”
The letters come as congressional appropriators continue to work on funding bills to reopen the government. Many important pro-life policies are kept in place by provisions of such appropriations bills, sometimes called “riders.” This includes the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortion (except to save the life
of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest).
Pro-abortion advocacy groups have been pressuring Democratic congressional leadership to attack these pro-life riders. Yesterday, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) announced reintroduction of the EACH Woman Act, a bill she called “the boldest pro-choice legislation in history,” adding, “We’re going to end the Hyde amendment.”
Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates 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, NRLC works through legislation and education to protect
innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide and euthanasia.
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