U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) offered an amendment to the budget reconciliation package that would have added pro-life Hyde protections to ensure taxpayer dollars do not subsidize abortion. Ways and Means Committee Democrats rejected the amendment on a party line vote.
“A majority of Americans — nearly 60 percent — agree that tax dollars should not be used to fund elective abortions,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “The Hyde Amendment has been in place for nearly half a century with bipartisan agreement, saving the lives of more than 2 million innocent babies and protecting Americans’ conscience rights. My amendment will preserve this important pro-life safeguard.”
The $1.9 trillion COVID relief package under consideration through the budget reconciliation process would subsidize COBRA health insurance premiums for unemployed workers. Walorski’s amendment would have protected life and defended the conscience rights of Americans by adding longstanding Hyde protections to these provisions, ensuring taxpayer-subsidized COBRA plans would not be used to pay for abortions.
