FRC Praises House Judiciary Committee for Passing the 'No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act'

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Mar 03, 2011, 05:57 ET

Perkins Also Comments on Vinson Stay Decision

WASHINGTON, March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Research Council praised the House Judiciary Committee for approving H.R. 3, "The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act."

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Federal Judge Roger Vinson also granted a stay today on his decision in January declaring President Obama's 2010 healthcare law unconstitutional. Family Research Council filed the only amicus brief in that case that dealt exclusively with the law's lack of a severability clause, and Vinson noted his heavy reliance on FRC's brief in his written opinion.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins responded with the following comments about the approval of H.R. 3:

"We applaud Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Subcommittee Chairman Trent Franks (R-AZ) for successfully moving 'The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act' through the committee process to restore government neutrality on the question of taxpayer funding for abortion.

"Most Americans, regardless of their view on the legality of abortion-on-demand, oppose government funding for abortion. The 'No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act' will make sure that this principle applies across the government, including correcting the abortion funding provisions in President Obama's health care law and for the District of Columbia, where tax dollars are already being used to kill unborn children.

"Despite misleading comments by abortion proponents in the committee, the bill explicitly ensures that Americans who want health care insurance with abortion coverage or supplemental abortion coverage can purchase it. They just may not do so with federal dollars.

"The bill also provides conscience protections for health care workers who oppose abortion, something that is being undermined by the government and pro-abortion forces. Congress must act quickly to restore government neutrality to abortion."

Of Judge Vinson's stay, Perkins said:

"Today's stay, while a routine move by lower courts when they know that a decision likely will be considered by a higher court, in no way lessens the spectacular victory that freedom and American families achieved in the Florida district court.

"We continue to hope that the Constitution and rule of law ultimately will prevail as this case moves upward on appeal, and that the abortion-funding provisions of this terrible law will be struck down along with its unconstitutional individual mandate."

SOURCE Family Research Council