Washington D.C., Dec 18, 2007 / 09:36 am
Pro-life stipulations have been preserved in the latest congressional omnibus appropriations bill, which approves the budget for the U.S. federal government.
The bill continues the Hyde Amendment’s prohibition against the use of federal funds for most abortions. Other rules forbid funding for embryo-destroying research and organizations involved in coercive abortion programs.
The new bill also protects the consciences of health care providers or entities that do not want to provide, pay, or refer for abortions. Furthermore, any family planning organizations that receive federal grants must comply with state reporting laws on child abuse, child molestation, sexual abuse, rape, or incest.
In another victory, legal attempts to weaken the Mexico City policy, which forbids U.S. funding for organizations that promote or commit abortions, were removed from the bill.
"While this bill has problems, we are glad that it would neither force Americans to subsidize abortions nor provide federal funding to force people to participate in abortion, an abhorrent elective procedure that kills babies and harms women" said Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America. "We are thankful to the Members of Congress who fought for these pro-life measures and the thousands of Americans who urged their elected officials to uphold these moral provisions that ensure our tax dollars do not encourage abortion."