A moment with the Congressman
Promoting a pro-life agenda
Jan. 22, 2017 marked the 44th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision, Roe v. Wade. In addition, this past Friday was also the annual March for Life in Washington. There was great turnout, and my staff enjoyed hearing from marchers who stopped by my office to discuss the importance of being pro-life and enacting legislation to protect the unborn.
Since the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, there have been almost 60 million abortions in the United States. I firmly believe in the sanctity of life and I am proud to have a 100 percent pro-life voting record since being elected to Congress.
The newly elected 115th Congress has already taken action to support the pro-life movement and President Donald Trump has made it clear that a pro-life agenda will be an important component of his presidency. Last week, I was pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which passed the House of Representatives with both Republicans and Democrats supporting the bill.
Under a current provision of federal law called the Hyde Amendment, taxpayer dollars are prohibited to pay for abortions – but it only applies to select government agencies and must be renewed on an annual basis. For example, a 2014 report from the Government Accountability Office found that over 1,000 health insurance plans offered on Obamacare exchanges use your hard-earned dollars to fund abortion. H.R. 7 would make permanent the Hyde Amendment and also would prohibit the use of tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies under the Affordable Care Act from being used for health plans that include abortion coverage. Finally, this legislation would require health plans to disclose which current plans include coverage of abortions. It is important to note that this legislation makes an exception if it is a case of rape, incest or if the health of the mother is in danger. The Hyde Amendment has saved over 2 million lives nationwide since its implementation, including 137,000 Ohioans. This bill is a life-saving and life-affirming act and permanently puts into law what many Americans and I already believe: your tax dollars should not be used to pay for abortion. In fact, 61 percent of Americans oppose the use of taxpayer dollars on funding abortion, including almost four in 10 voters who supported Hillary Clinton this past election.
I have also been proud to co-sponsor and support numerous pro-life bills that have been introduced this Congress. Specifically, I was pleased to join many of my Ohio colleagues in supporting the Protecting the Dignity of Unborn Children Act that would make it a federal crime to dispose of unborn children in landfills and waterways. An investigation in the state of Ohio found that abortion providers had disposed of fetal remains in landfills in both Ohio and Kentucky. This disgusting treatment of an unborn child is simply unacceptable and must be put to an end. Additionally, I was proud to co-sponsor the Conscience Protection Act this Congress which passed the House with my support in the 114th Congress. This important legislation will ensure that health care professionals, health care facilities and social services providers are not punished for refusing to provide coverage or for being involved in the performing of an abortion.
With the election of President Trump, we have the unique opportunity to bring awareness to the sanctity of life and pass legislation that reaffirms the value of life. I firmly believe that life is a precious gift and that we have a responsibility to protect all lives, especially the unborn. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and with the president to defend life and promote a pro-life agenda.
Since the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, there have been almost 60 million abortions in the United States. I firmly believe in the sanctity of life and I am proud to have a 100 percent pro-life voting record since being elected to Congress.
The newly elected 115th Congress has already taken action to support the pro-life movement and President Donald Trump has made it clear that a pro-life agenda will be an important component of his presidency. Last week, I was pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which passed the House of Representatives with both Republicans and Democrats supporting the bill.
Under a current provision of federal law called the Hyde Amendment, taxpayer dollars are prohibited to pay for abortions – but it only applies to select government agencies and must be renewed on an annual basis. For example, a 2014 report from the Government Accountability Office found that over 1,000 health insurance plans offered on Obamacare exchanges use your hard-earned dollars to fund abortion. H.R. 7 would make permanent the Hyde Amendment and also would prohibit the use of tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies under the Affordable Care Act from being used for health plans that include abortion coverage. Finally, this legislation would require health plans to disclose which current plans include coverage of abortions. It is important to note that this legislation makes an exception if it is a case of rape, incest or if the health of the mother is in danger. The Hyde Amendment has saved over 2 million lives nationwide since its implementation, including 137,000 Ohioans. This bill is a life-saving and life-affirming act and permanently puts into law what many Americans and I already believe: your tax dollars should not be used to pay for abortion. In fact, 61 percent of Americans oppose the use of taxpayer dollars on funding abortion, including almost four in 10 voters who supported Hillary Clinton this past election.
I have also been proud to co-sponsor and support numerous pro-life bills that have been introduced this Congress. Specifically, I was pleased to join many of my Ohio colleagues in supporting the Protecting the Dignity of Unborn Children Act that would make it a federal crime to dispose of unborn children in landfills and waterways. An investigation in the state of Ohio found that abortion providers had disposed of fetal remains in landfills in both Ohio and Kentucky. This disgusting treatment of an unborn child is simply unacceptable and must be put to an end. Additionally, I was proud to co-sponsor the Conscience Protection Act this Congress which passed the House with my support in the 114th Congress. This important legislation will ensure that health care professionals, health care facilities and social services providers are not punished for refusing to provide coverage or for being involved in the performing of an abortion.
With the election of President Trump, we have the unique opportunity to bring awareness to the sanctity of life and pass legislation that reaffirms the value of life. I firmly believe that life is a precious gift and that we have a responsibility to protect all lives, especially the unborn. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and with the president to defend life and promote a pro-life agenda.