Support of Pro-Life Riders

Floor Speech

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Mr. HARRIS. Madam Speaker, today the House majority will likely pass the faulty Health Appropriations bill, which eliminates the protection of the Hyde and Weldon amendments. This will happen despite polling that consistently shows nearly 60 percent of Americans oppose the use of hard-earned taxpayer dollars for abortion. And even more compelling, more than 75 percent of Americans oppose the use of their tax dollars to pay for abortions overseas.

As we all know, the Hyde amendment prevents the use of Federal tax dollars for abortions. This policy rider has withstood the test of time and enjoyed bipartisan support for 45 years, including from Senator Joe Biden.

But just as important to me, as a physician, is the Weldon amendment, which prevents healthcare providers from being compelled to participate in a medical procedure to which they hold religious or moral objections, namely abortion. Removing this protection would result in gross violations of the Constitutional rights of Americans.

Madam Speaker, the Hyde and Weldon amendments are just two examples of commonsense measures we have enacted over the years to protect life. I urge my colleagues in the majority to reconsider dismantling these important protections of the right to life.

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