On March 10, the United States House of Representatives voted to pass two large omnibus appropriations bills. The first package contained critical funds for national security, but the second bill, containing the rest of the budget, should be greatly concerning for the Pro-Life movement.
While Democrats feigned defeat that historic common sense Pro-Life protections were included in the bill, these measures seem symbolic next to the hundreds of millions of dollars allocated for pro-abortion organizations and programs.
Federal budget bills are massive, usually thousands of pages long, containing everything the government is seeking to fund. Many of the items in these budgets are good and beneficial for the public. Some of them are even time-sensitive, encouraging legislators to pass these massive bills through as quickly as possible.
However, few elected officials will take the time to read through bills like this, if they are even given the opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, this particular budget is nearly 3,000 pages long, was released only hours before being voted on, and appropriated a whopping $1.5 trillion.
Anti-Life politicians took advantage of this opportunity by sneaking their own budget items in between the rest of the necessary funding. This devious tactic allows them to secure money to further their agenda while “caving” to Republicans demands for a few key Pro-Life provisions. Even some politicians who claim to be Pro-Life remain quiet on the bill as a whole, not want to draw criticism for voting against the good parts of the budget.
The bill does contain three important, bipartisan, Pro-Life amendments which have been included in all federal spending bills for decades. The Hyde amendment ensures that federal funds cannot be used to pay for an abortion, unless the abortion is done to save the life of the mother, or if the pregnancy arises from incest or rape. The Helms amendment limits the use of US foreign assistance for abortion. Finally, the Weldon amendment prohibits government entities from discriminating against health care entities that do not commit or refer abortion.
However, despite the inclusion of these amendments, anti-Life groups and pro-abortion programs are still receiving an unconscionable amount of money from the federal government.
This year’s budget contains funding for Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business, although they cannot spend that money to directly fund abortion. The budget also provides $32.5 million for the pro-abortion U.N. Population Fund, as well as $200 million for a brand new “Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund.”
Even if Planned Parenthood cannot use those dollars to directly pay for abortions, they can still use the money to grow their organization and promote their core mission; elective abortion. Plus, using the money from the government to cover other costs means that they can devote more of their donations and other income to pay for the abortion side of their business.
The U.N. Population Fund and the Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund can use their money from the United States government to promote and encourage abortion worldwide. Even if the money does not pay for abortions, the funds sustain the abortion industry by upholding and furthering the culture of death across the globe. D.C. politicians got their Pro-Life talking points by including Hyde, Helms, and Weldon, but the bill they passed reveals that they are either just posturing or not paying enough attention to see what this budget really is: a pro-abortion Trojan Horse.
We need to elect courageous representatives who will vote against sending ANY money to promote, benefit, or sustain the abortion industry.