In a show of pro-life solidarity, 47 Republican U.S. senators are re-introducing a bill that would establish a permanent prohibition on federal funding for abortion, replacing the current restrictions with a single, government-wide standard.
The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, the lawmakers say, attempts to clean up inconsistent and haphazard policies that have regulated federal funding for abortion. The measure, which has little chance of moving in a Democrat-controlled Senate, would make permanent the restrictions on funding for elective abortion and elective abortion coverage. That includes the protections of the Hyde Amendment, which currently relies on yearly approval.
“Most Americans do not want their hard-earned tax dollars being used for abortion-on-demand, but our current patchwork of regulations has brought years of uncertainty,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS.). “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would simplify federal rules, ensuring that American tax dollars are never used for the destruction of innocent, unborn life.”
Wicker and his pro-life colleagues have been down this road multiple times. The bill has failed to move through the Senate even with Republican control.
In 2019, with 53 Republicans in the Senate, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act died when only 48 senators, including two Democrats, voted in favor of bringing the bill forward. Pro-abortion Republicans, Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), voted against the measure.
Proponents say nothing should be controversial about prohibiting federal taxpayer funding for abortions.
“We must close loopholes that allow for abortion giants like Planned Parenthood to receive federal funding,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in introducing the bill.
Blackburn also has joined Republican colleagues in introducing the No Taxpayer Funds for Illegal Alien Abortions Act, which would bar federal funds from being used to provide abortions for illegal immigrants. U.S. border agents encountered 2.76 million illegal immigrants in fiscal year 2022, up from the record 1.7 million-plus crossing at the border the year before, according to U.S. Customs and Border data.
“Joe Biden’s taxpayer-funded welcome package already includes a free phone, free plane ticket, and free baby formula – this legislation will stop the administration from adding free abortions to the list,” Blackburn said in introducing the bill.
The massive federal pandemic aid to states — more than $800 billion — has raised further concerns about tax dollars going to Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion organizations.
More than three dozen Planned Parenthood affiliates received $80 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers handed out at least $2.4 million in federal pandemic aid to Planned Parenthood offices. The grants appeared to run afoul of state law prohibiting federal funds passing through the state treasury from being awarded to pregnancy programs that provide abortion, promote abortion, or make abortion referrals. Evers and Planned Parenthood said the money was not used for those purposes, but funding is fungible.
Earlier this year, U.S. Sen. Johnson (R-WI) joined his colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) pledging to block any legislation that would undermine existing pro-life protections or weaken the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding for abortion.
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M.D. Kittle is the National Political Editor for The Star News Network.
