Bill would prohibit federal taxpayer dollars from flowing to plans that cover elective abortion and dramatically reduce taxpayer dollars to nation’s abortion giant
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the American Health Care Act of 2017 (H.R. 1628), 217-213. Seven long years after President Obama signed the sweeping abortion-expanding “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (PPACA), the House has taken this critical first step towards protecting life by, among other things, restoring the longstanding principles of the Hyde Amendment with respect to federally funded health coverage, and blocking, for one year, most federal payments to affiliates of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).
In advance of the vote, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of state right-to-life organizations, advised House members that the roll call on passage of the bill will be included in NRLC’s scorecard of key right-to-life votes. The NRLC letter states: “As enacted, the PPACA contains multiple provisions authorizing federal subsidies for abortion, and abortion-expanding regulatory mandates. A 2014 GAO report revealed that over 1,000 federally subsidized plans nationwide were covering elective abortion. The American Health Care Act would repeal the provisions of law that created this system, and prohibit any future federal tax credits from subsidizing the purchase of plans that cover elective abortion, thereby restoring the longstanding principles of the Hyde Amendment with respect to federally funded health coverage.”
“National Right to Life praises the Republican leadership for putting this bill together and making sure the most vulnerable members of our society are protected,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Over two million Americans are alive today because of the Hyde Amendment. This new health care bill ensures that we are one step closer to getting the federal government entirely out of the business of subsidizing abortion.”
NRLC strongly supports the language in the bill that would block, for one year, most federal payments to affiliates of Planned Parenthood. It would close the largest pipeline for federal funding of Planned Parenthood, Medicaid, and apply as well to the CHIP and the Title V and Title XX block grant programs, thus covering roughly 89% of all federal funds to Planned Parenthood. The amounts denied to Planned Parenthood in effect are reallocated to community health centers. Over one-third of all abortions in the U.S. are performed at PPFA-affiliated facilities. For additional up-to-date information on the extent of Planned Parenthood’s involvement in abortion, see here.
In addition, the American Health Care Act retains employer-paid health insurance as a fully untaxed benefit. The American Health Care Act postpones the “Cadillac tax” which is designed to create a tax disincentive to suppress private, nongovernmental health care spending beyond a governmentally imposed limit. It is critical that Americans have access to quality life-saving healthcare to preserve their lives, care that will not be rationed more each year.
H.R. 1628 is a special type of legislation called a “reconciliation bill.” This means that it cannot be blocked in the Senate by filibuster. Nevertheless, the bill may face formidable obstacles in the Senate. The NRLC endorsement applies only to the current House language. If the bill is altered in a way adverse to pro-life interests, the position will be reevaluated.