US Bishops : Urgent Action needed to prevent taxpayer funding for abortion in COVID Relief Bill – contact your Senators now.
Last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a new COVID relief bill, called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which addresses the needs of many vulnerable people related to the pandemic. Unfortunately, unlike previous COVID relief bills, this bill appropriates billions of taxpayer dollars that are not subject to longstanding, bi-partisan pro-life protections that are needed to prevent this funding from paying for abortions. The Senate is expected to vote this week.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to Congress to express its support for additional COVID-19 relief that prioritizes the poor and vulnerable and its strong opposition to any taxpayer dollars going to abortion as part of this legislation, saying that the Hyde Amendment policy must be included before this bill moves forward. Your voice is critically needed today to tell your senators to support amendments that prevent abortion funding, and to work for their inclusion in the final bill.
Take Action – this link provides an easy method to send an email.
Background: What is the Hyde Amendment and Why is it Important?
Currently, there is no US law that prohibits federal funding (i.e. your tax dollars) from being used to support abortion. To prohibit federal funding of abortion therefore, every financial appropriation of Congress must include a prohibition on funds for abortion – that is the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funding of domestic abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. The Hyde Amendment has been credited with saving nearly 2.5 million lives since its enactment in 1976. Until now, The Hyde amendment has enjoyed strong bipartisan support. On February 27, the US House of Representatives passed the $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan of 2021, without including the Hyde Amendment protections.