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Saturday, October 5, 2024 - 10:37 PM

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

First Published in 1994

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Eagle Forum Supports Four Pro-Life Bills

Eagle Forum applauds the introduction of four pro-life bills sponsored by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT). As our nation remains divided in the post-Roe era, we believe that most Americans can agree that the federal government should not be involved in funding or promoting abortion in any area of federal law. These bills seek to ensure that our tax dollars are not used to subsidize abortion by the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as via the tax code, healthcare system, and foreign aid programs.

Eagle Forum President Kris Ullman expressed her support for all four bills stating: 

Recent polls show that a majority of Americans do not want the government to subsidize abortion.  However, there are many places in law where abortion funding is permitted. We are grateful to Senator Lee and the co-sponsors of these bills for defending the rights of taxpayers to not have their hard-earned money go to promoting or performing abortions. These commonsense measures should be enacted by Congress as soon as possible to ensure that taxpayers are not underwriting the abortion industry at home or abroad.

Despite the illogical rhetoric of the abortion lobby, abortion is not health care. It is a medical procedure that ends a human life. Sen. Lee’s Abortion is Not Healthcare Act (S. 3607) clarifies that elective abortions cannot be designated as “medical expenses” through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in order to receive a tax break. Similarly, the Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act (S. 3608) ensures that tax-advantaged funds in medical savings accounts cannot be used for abortion expenses.

The Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act (S. 3624) would prevent federal money from funding or promoting abortions overseas. This legislation reverses the Biden administration’s decision to repeal the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (PLGHA) policy, first instituted by President Reagan as the Mexico City policy and recently renamed by President Trump. The PLGHA prohibits U.S. foreign aid from being used to promote or perform abortions overseas. When we send aid abroad, it should not be used by non-governmental organizations, non-profits, or multi-lateral groups to harm, not help, those who need our assistance.

Finally, the Guaranteeing the Unborn Access to Respect and Dignity “GUARD” Act (S. 3619), makes sure that the Coast Guard is held to the same standard as the other branches of the armed services when it comes to funding abortion. Because the Coast Guard is under the Department of Homeland Security and not the Department of Defense, current law that prohibits the other branches from paying for abortions does not apply. This bill closes that loophole and makes clear that the proscription applies to any abortion travel expenses as well.