By Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Editor’s note. Late last night, two pro-life amendments to H.R. 2740, the House Appropriations bill, were defeated by nearly uniform opposition from pro-abortion Democrats. The amendments were on pro-life policies related to conscience rights of healthcare providers and taxpayer dollars going to facilities that provide abortion. More votes are expected, and National Right to Life strongly opposes final passage of H.R. 2740. A current scorecard of pro-life votes can be viewed here. The following is excerpted from remarks delivered Wednesday on the House Floor regarding HR 2740.
Mr. Speaker, the bill under consideration today reverses several—at least nine—life affirming pro-life policies including conscience protection, Title X reform, the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance and more.
This is pro-abortion legislation on steroids.
But passage won’t be the last word.
President Trump made it clear last January—in writing—that he will veto any piece of legislation that undermines, weakens, or nullifies any pro-life policy, regulation or rule.
The June 11th statement of administration policy on H.R. 2740 unequivocally reiterates that promise even if even one of the pro-abortion policies embedded in this bill is sent to the White House.
The House will sustain that veto.
No one—including doctors, nurses and LPNs and no entity like a hospital or health insurance plan—should be ever be compelled against their will into performing, facilitating, or subsidizing abortion. The Administration’s Conscience Protection Final Rule provides meaningful enforcement of conscience but would be eviscerated by H.R. 2740.
In late February, HHS [Health and Human Services] promulgated the Protect Life Rule to reassert portions of President Ronald Reagan’s Title X regulation including ending collocation and a requirement of financial separation of abortion clinics with Title X family planning clinics.
Among its provisions, according to HHS, the Protect Life Rule prohibits Title X funds to perform, promote, refer for or support abortion as a method of family planning and includes a stronger focus on protecting women and children from being victimized by child abuse, child molestation, sexual abuse, rape, incest, intimate partner violence and trafficking.
H.R. 2740 repeals the Protect Life Rule.
And H.R. 2740 repeals the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance—a significant reiteration and expansion of President Reagan’s Mexico City Policy—a policy designed to ensure that U.S. taxpayer funds are not given to foreign non-government organizations that perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning.
Why is this so important? Because women and children deserve better than the violence of abortion.
The shocking number of unborn children killed in America is unconscionable—approximately 61 million dead babies since 1973—a death toll that equates with the entire population of Italy.
All this as our knowledge concerning the breathtaking miracle of life before birth is unparalleled and when science has made it absolutely clear that birth is an important event in the life of a child—but only an event not its beginning.
Doctors today routinely diagnose and treat a myriad of conditions, illnesses and diseases suffered by society’s littlest patients—unborn babies—significantly enhancing their health and chances to survive and thrive.
Even first baby pictures proudly shared and displayed are most often ultrasound photos showing the baby alive and maturing in the womb.
The humanity of the unborn child is beyond debate.
Yet, the pro-abortion movement—like a modern-day flat earth society—continues to cling to outdated indefensible arguments cloaked in euphemism.
Even the seemingly benign word “choice” withers under scrutiny.
Choice to do what? Dismember a baby? Take pills to starve a child to death and then forcibly expel her or him from the womb? Inject chemical poison?
Protect the weakest and most vulnerable from the violence of abortion. Vote no on H.R. 2740.