Reps Rene Ellmers (4.N.C.) left and Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) right had initially backed the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act but withdrew their support and called for a weaker bill.
The US House of Representatives passed the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” on the 42 anniversary of Roe v. Wade, hours after the March for Life in the U.S. capital. Federal taxpayer funding of abortion is already banned in most circumstances and technically the bill restricts private insurance companies that offer coverage through the new Affordable Care Act Marketplace (Obamacare) from offering plans that would include coverage for abortion services. The bill also has no health exceptions.
The bill passed 242-179, with just three Democrats voting for it. One Republican voted against it in the House. In 2014 and 2011 the House of Representatives also passed similar bills, but the Democratic-controlled Senate refused to take up the issue. Senator Tim Scott (R, S.C.) told the March for Life that if the House passed it again, the Senate would support them now that the Republicans took control of that half of Congress in the 2014 midterm elections.
Tom Price (R, Michigan) said, “this legislation prohibits taxpayer funding of elective abortions, no matter where in the federal system that might occur. This is a position supported by the majority of Americans in a bipartisan manner. We have a responsibility, through our government, to protect the most vulnerable among us, not the least of whom are the unborn. This bill is an important step in the right direction.”
Another abortion-related matter was scheduled for a vote that day, but after two female Republican Congressmen rescinded their support, the House leadership pulled the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” which would have banned abortions after 20 weeks under the guise that the preborn child can feel pain at that point.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, said in a statement, “while we are disappointed that the House will not be voting on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act today, we are pleased that the House is moving forward to stop taxpayer funding of abortion.”
The White House released a statement opposing the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” and President Barack Obama is expected to veto the bill if it passes the Senate.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Congress will still consider the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” at some point later this year.
