The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation today by Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa., that would limit federal funding on abortions, by a 33-19 vote.
The legislation would restrict federal funding for abortions in any of the programs enacted as part of the health care reform law. It would also allow hospitals to refuse to perform abortions without the fear of losing federal funding. The bill would allow doctors to refuse abortion services even if the pregnancy threatens the woman’s health, a component that abortion supporters say puts women’s health at risk.
According to Pitts, his bill is a mirror of the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds on abortions but has to be reauthorized each year by Congress.
“The health reform law contains a definition of services that hinges on the Hyde Amendment being retained each year through the appropriations process,” Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., said in remarks preceding the markup. “This leaves the door open for the Hyde limitations to be dropped by a determined majority in one chamber of Congress or by presidential veto. The 'Protect Life Act' provides greater certainty.”
However, abortion rights supporters said the legislation not only tampers unnecessarily with the health law, but also jeopardizes a woman's ability to receive some health care.
“It threatens women’s ability to use their own money to purchase private health insurance that includes abortion coverage and broadly expands the ability of health care providers to refuse women essential health care services,” National Women’s Law Center co-president Marcia Greenberger said. “When the state health insurance exchanges come into effect, this bill would stop anyone from buying a plan that includes abortion coverage with their own money, no matter how small the federal subsidy they receive.”
The bill is expected to head to the House floor for a vote soon.
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