WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Congressman Steve Austria (R – Beavercreek), a member of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, voted in support of the Protect Life Act (H.R. 358) to prohibit federally funded abortions. Specifically, this bill ensures that the longstanding Hyde Amendment applies to all health care reform spending, that no health insurance plan uses federal funds to provide abortion coverage, and that medical providers are not discriminated against for refusing to perform abortions.

“We heard during the healthcare reform debate that tax dollars would not be used to fund abortions,” Congressman Austria said. “However, this important language was stripped from the final bill and replaced with accounting gimmicks and an executive order that can be reversed at anytime by the president. This opens the door for federally funded abortions in the future and goes against the majority of Americans who believe that their hard-earned taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund abortions.”

Earlier today, Congressman Austria, who is an original co-sponsor of the Protect Life Act, took to the House floor to urge his colleagues to join him in voting for the bill to fully ensure that no health care reform dollars are used to fund abortions. Video of the speech can be found on Austria’s YouTube page here: www.youtube.com/CongressmanAustria. The full text of Congressman Austria’s remarks are below.

Additionally, the following key organizations support this legislation:
• U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Susan B. Anthony List
• National Right to Life Committee
• Christian Medical Association
• Family Research Council
• Concerned Women for America
• Heritage Action

-30-