Lankford Supports the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act

Press Release

Washington, D.C. -- Congressman James Lankford (R-OK) delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.R. 3 -- No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. The bill passed in a vote of 251-175.

"Abortion is one of the most divisive issues in America. One side sees the child in the womb as nothing but "tissue,' like a skin mole. No one should tell a woman when and if she can have an unnecessary and inconvenient "tissue' removed from her body. The other side looks at that "tissue' in the womb and sees it sucking its thumb, reacting to her mother singing, and possessing unique DNA and asks the question, "How can it not be a child?'

"The debate about life will not be resolved today. Though, for the sake of millions of children who will die in the womb in abortion clinics, I wish it could have been resolved yesterday.

"H.R. 3, that we'll be discussing all day today, asks the question, "Should the federal government ever use taxpayer dollars to pay for or supplement abortions?' When the nation is so divided over this issue, isn't it common sense not to force a person who is passionately opposed to the death of the unborn to assist in paying for the procedure?

"H.R. 3 also protects the conscience of healthcare providers to not be forced to perform a procedure that they believe violates their most basic oath, "Do no harm.'

"Each year, Congress votes to prohibit abortion funding through our appropriations process; it is time that we settle this issue permanently and clearly. No taxpayer funding, support, or tax incentives of abortion in any way for this year or in any future year. In a day of skyrocketing debt, how can we justify supplementing abortion and saying that it is a necessary and essential element of government?

"I think we cannot. This is the time we resolve this issue. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 3 today in that vote."

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