House Appropriations Bill Passes House by 226-203

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the House Appropriations bill, H.R. 2740, by a vote of 226-203.

 

“Pro-abortion Democrats are using H.R. 2740 in an attempt to strike down popular pro-life policies,” said National Right to Life President Carol Tobias. “These policies were established to protect the conscience rights of healthcare providers and prevent taxpayer dollars going to facilities that provide abortion.”

 

H.R. 2740 would block implementation and enforcement of the recent rule, Protecting Statutory Conscience Rights in Health Care, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services. The rule would enforce key longstanding statutory civil rights provisions that protect health care providers from suffering discrimination if they do not participate in abortion, sterilization, or assisted suicide.

 

H.R. 2740 also contains language that would effectively overturn the current pro-life Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance program—also referred to as Mexico City Policy—and further, it would create a statutory prohibition against a future Administration ever issuing a similar pro-life policy again.

 

First established by President Reagan, in order to be eligible for U.S. “population assistance” funding, a private organization must sign a contract promising not to perform abortions (except to save the mother’s life or in cases of rape or incest), lobby to change the abortion laws of host countries, or otherwise “actively promote abortion as a method of family planning.” H.R. 2740 would have the effect of nullifying this policy.

 

“We are grateful for President Trump and his administration,” said Tobias. “The White House has made clear that it opposes H.R. 2740 as passed.”

 

In addition, H.R. 2740 would block the Administration’s final rule related to pro-life changes to the Title X family planning program. Under the rule, abortion facilities may not be in the same location where family-planning services are delivered. The rule also states that Title X grantees may not refer for elective abortion. The rule does not cut one dime of funding for family planning, but ensures that funding goes to health facilities that do not perform or promote abortion as family planning. Under the Obama Administration policy (which H.R. 2740 would restore), Title X consistently funded family planning through organizations that promoted and provided abortions.

 

National Right to Life has included this vote in its scorecard, which can be found here.