Aderholt Offers Motion To Prohibit Taxpayer Funded Abortions In Health Care Bill

Press Release

Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) today cosponsored a motion during the House Budget Committee markup that would prohibit federal funding of abortions in the latest health care bill.

In conjunction with Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Aderholt asked that the Bart Stupak pro-life amendment that passed the House on November 11, 2009 be applied to the Reconciliation Act of 2010 that will amend the Senate-passed health care bill, reportedly this week. The Stupak Amendment passed the House by a vote of 240 -- 194 back in November.

Today's amendment offered by Aderholt and Jordan was rejected by a vote of 17-19.

Of the 24 Democrats in attendance at today's Budget Committee markup, only 3 voted for the motion, Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR), and Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI). Notably, Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-SC) and Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC) both voted for the Stupak amendment in November but voted against the amendment in Committee today.

"The Democrat's latest health care bill would permit federal funds to subsidize plans covering abortion and it would permit a multi-state health plan to offer abortion coverage," said Congressman Aderholt. "The American people not only disagree with this health care plan, but they soundly reject that their hard earned tax dollars should pay for abortions. I disagree with the Obama Pelosi Reid Democrat-majority health care bill, but it also seems obvious to me that the pro-life Stupak Amendment should be included in the bill."

Also on Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she would not modify language addressing federal funding for abortion services under the Senate-passed version of health care overhaul (HR 3590).

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