No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3, the so-called No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. But don't be confused. H.R. 3 goes far beyond current law which is already highly restrictive and, frankly, which I oppose.

The Hyde amendment already prohibits women enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare, Federal employees, women serving in the military, women in Federal prisons, Peace Corps volunteers, and women seeking care under the Indian Health Services Act from getting the care they need. In other words, there is no Federal funding for abortion. But actually what it does do, among other things, is attack small businesses.

Let's hear the words of Frank Knapp, Jr., president and CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce with 5,000 members. Here is what he says:

H.R. 3 is an attempt to roll back the historic small business health insurance tax credit created by the Affordable Care Act. When the House voted to eliminate and defeat the entire Affordable Care Act, we--he means small businesses--could rationalize that this great benefit for small businesses was just collateral damage. My own Congressman told me he would support the small business health insurance tax credits in the Affordable Care Act replacement legislation. But small businesses can no longer think of themselves as collateral damage.

Mr. Knapp says: Let me make this very clear. A vote for H.R. 3 is a direct attack on small business. Every Representative who loudly proclaims their love for small businesses because they are the backbone of the economy now can put their vote where their mouth is. Their true support for small business will be judged by their ``no'' vote on H.R. 3.

I urge all my colleagues not to let this phony use of the Tax Code to take away the rights of small businesses that get tax credits or individuals to pay for abortions with their own money.

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