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Pro-Life
As a member of the House of Representatives Pro-Life Caucus, I believe that we have a responsibility to ensure that the federal government protects and defends an individual’s right to life, especially for those who cannot defend themselves, including the unborn, terminally ill and elderly. Below, you will find information about some pro-life issues that have come up in the 111th Congress.
Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)
The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was introduced in the 110th Congress by Representative Jerrold Nadler [NY-08]. The bill declares that it is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to: (1) bear a child, (2) terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability, or (3) terminate a pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to protect her life or her health. Although the bill has not yet been reintroduced in the 111th Congress, President Barack Obama made a campaign pledge to sign FOCA into law as one of the first acts of his new Administration. I recently joined over one hundred of my Republican colleagues in writing a letter to the President asking him to withdraw this pledge. Read the letter here.
Pro-Life Appropriations Riders
As you may know, Congress has the responsibility of controlling the federal budget and does so annually through a number of bills that fund the various branches and agencies of the federal government. Several of the bills traditionally include Pro-Life “riders” that prohibit federal funds from being used to promote or perform abortions and other related activities. These include most notably the Mexico City Policy and the Hyde amendment, among others.
I joined many of my Pro-Life colleagues in signing a letter organized by Representatives Jim Jordan and Heath Schuler to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey and Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter. The letter asked them to maintain these traditional Pro-Life policies in all appropriations bills reported out of committee and, at a minimum, to allow full debate and an up-or-down vote on the House floor on amendments to restore any provisions removed in committee.
Over the next few months, the Appropriations Committee and then the House will consider the twelve annual appropriations bills. Rest assured I am closely monitoring the status of this issue as the bills are considered.
Pro-Life Legislative Initiatives in the 111th Congress
Since the 111th Congress convened, I have co-sponsored the following bills in line with my Pro-Life position:
- H.R. 213, the Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act, would exempt provisions expanding the adoption tax credit and adoption assistance programs enacted by the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 from the general terminating (sunset) provisions of that Act.
- H.R. 614, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, would prohibit federal family planning grants from being awarded to any organization that performs abortions, including Planned Parenthood.
- H.R. 634, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, would prohibit transporting a minor across a State line to obtain an abortion in order to circumvent parental notification laws in the minor’s home State.
- H.R. 708 would restrict assistance to foreign organizations that perform or actively promote abortions.
- H.R. 881, the Right to Life Act, would define “human being” to encompass all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization or cloning, and would guarantee all human beings the right to life.
- H.R. 1050, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act, would prohibit any public or private person or entity from performing or attempting to perform human cloning, participating in an attempt to perform human cloning, or shipping, receiving, or importing the product of human cloning for any purpose.
- H.J.Res.42, a House Joint Resolution that proposes a new amendment to the U.S. Constitution that declares that the liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right.
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