House Votes to Stop Tax Dollars from Funding Abortion

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Martha Roby (R-Ala.) today praised House passage of H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017, saying the bill’s passage is a victory for American taxpayers and the pro-life community.

“Since the infamous Roe v. Wade decision 44 years ago, nearly 60 million unborn children in this country have had their lives ended by abortion,” Roby said. “I believe in order to build a culture that truly values life, we must assign better, stronger protections for unborn children under the law.

“The majority of Americans believe that tax dollars should not subsidize abortion, and H.R. 7 rightfully prohibits this practice and places some necessary restrictions on abortion. House passage of this legislation is a victory for American taxpayers and the pro-life community.

“I am unapologetically pro-life, and it is my enduring responsibility to defend the unborn. We have a special opportunity to advance protections for life under a unified Republican government, and H.R. 7 is a great first step.”

H.R. 7 reduces on-demand abortions by implementing these restriction measures:

• Makes permanent and government-wide the Hyde Amendment and other current abortion funding prohibitions. The Hyde Amendment protects taxpayer dollars from being used to fund most abortions and abortion coverage through Affordable Care Act insurance plans and government programs like Medicaid;

• Ensures that the Affordable Care Act faithfully conforms to the Hyde Amendment while Congress works to repeal and replace the law;

• Until a new plan year begins, the bill ensures full disclosure, transparency, and the prominent display of the extent to which any health insurance plan on the exchange funds abortion.

H.R. 7 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 238-183. It now awaits further action by the Senate.