Federal Abortion Bill Introduced

Special Report - August 2, 2010
Six members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation have co-sponsored a bill that would prohibit any entity that receives federal funding, any federally owned healthcare providing institution, or any federal employee from performing abortions. H.R. 5939–No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act was introduced for the earliest phases of the legislative process on July 29 by rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and currently has 156 co-sponsors. North Carolina’s six co-sponsoring representatives are Howard Coble (R–6), Virginia Foxx (R–5), Walter B. Jones (R–3), Patrick McHenry (R–10), Mike McIntyre (D–7), and Sue Myrick (R–9).

The bill would also prohibit the federal government from depriving hospitals, clinics, and individual physicians of federal funding merely because those organizations and individuals refuse to refer for or perform abortions. Under the proposed measure, individuals whose conscience protection rights are violated would have the option of seeking redress from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the law. Abortions would not be considered a tax-deductible health expense, nor would federal government-provided healthcare insurance cover them.

House Speaker, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D–CA), has referred the bill to the House Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means committees before it is heard by the full chamber.

Related article:
Locals Limit Taxpayer Funded Abortion - February 18, 2010

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