January 27, 2014
The Honorable
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative,
On behalf of our 500,000 members nationwide, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) wishes to express our support for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 7).
This bill would prohibit public funding of abortion in all federal programs and ensure that no federal funds would be used for elective abortions. It would also codify the Hyde and Helms amendments, which currently must be renewed every year.
The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act also prohibits tax credits from being issued on behalf of any type of abortion and ensures that no federal funds placed into a trust would be used for health benefits coverage that includes abortions. These restrictions do not apply to abortions performed because of incest, rape, or to save the life of the mother.
The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act also protects taxpayers from assisting in paying for health care plans on the exchanges which could include abortion coverage. It ensures that the Affordable Care Act cannot circumvent the Hyde Amendment and directly appropriate federal funds to be used in the form of tax credits to directly subsidize health care plans which could include abortion coverage as part of the benefits package. In addition, it creates transparency to ensure that consumers are fully informed about abortion coverage and surcharges in plans sold on the exchanges.
When polled, a majority of Americans, whether referring to themselves as “pro-choice” or “pro-life,” said that they oppose federal funds going toward abortion. This legislation is a comprehensive approach that eliminates the patchwork of current policies. It simply ensures that Americans, many of them opposed on moral or religious grounds to abortion, are not forced to subsidize abortion with their tax dollars.
We strongly urge you to cosponsor and support H.R. 7. If this legislation is considered on the House floor, CWALAC will score in favor of it and will include it in our annual scorecard.
Sincerely,
Penny Nance
CEO and President
Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee