Congress is working on spending bills, some of which include restrictions on funding for abortions.
One such bill before the Commerce, Justice and Science Committee (CJS) contains restrictions, called "riders," that stop the government from using tax dollars to provide abortions for federal prisoners. They also prohibit the patenting of human organisms and block funding for Legal Services Corporation firms engaged in abortion litigation.
The riders remain safe thanks to the efforts of pro-life Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.V., chairman of the CJS subcommittee. Mollohan has managed to retain all of the pro-life provisions in the 2010 budget, a feat not unnoticed by Ashley Horne, federal issues analyst for Focus on the Family Action.
"The pro-life funding protections are vital to protecting the preborn and must be reauthorized each year if we are going to promote a culture of life in this country," she said. "We expect that some riders will come under attack as we've seen in the past, but that's where constituents are vital -- tell your lawmakers that you want the government to do what it can to protect the most vulnerable among us."
Up next, lawmakers will debate similar pro-life provisions in an appropriations bill in the Health and Human Services Committee.
-- Kim Trobee
