Lawmakers Ask Trump to Veto Anti-Life Bills Ahead of March for Life

By | January 17, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC January 18 (C-Fam) As hundreds of thousands converge on Washington DC for the annual March for Life this week, lawmakers in both the U.S. House and Senate asked President Trump not to barter away pro-life policy to end the government shutdown.

“The pro-life majority in the United States Senate stands with you in protecting the sanctity of every human life,” reads a letter signed by 49 Republican Senators and lead by Montana Senator Steve Daines.

The letter is in response to a government funding bill passed by the new Democrat-controlled House of Representatives that strips the Trump administration’s expanded Mexico City Policy from the State and Foreign Operations funding bill—one of seven appropriation bills needed to reopen the federal agencies impacted by the partial government shutdown.

The commitment by so many lawmakers guarantees a presidential veto won’t be overturned.

The letter states, “As the Democrat House attempts to weaken existing pro-life policies or forge new ground by eliminating long-standing Hyde protections, we urge you in joining us to tell the House and Senate Democrats that bills to weaken or eliminate pro-life policies will be soundly and unequivocally rejected both in the Senate and the White House.”

Lawmakers praised President Trump for the executive and administrative action taken to respect life both in domestic and international policy.

“In just two years, your Administration has become one of the most pro-life Administrations in our nation’s history,” the letter reads.

“We applaud your fight to ensure the conscience rights of health care professionals are protected, prevent taxpayer funding under Title X from going to facilities to perform or refer for abortion, and prevent taxpayer dollars from funding foreign abortion providers overseas through your Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance program.”

Pro-life members in the House of Representatives sent a similar request to the President with 169 signing on. The companion letter originated in the Congressional pro-life caucus chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ).

“We ask President Donald Trump to continue his work in defense of life.  My colleagues and I are also committed to protecting both unborn children and their mothers from the violence of abortion,” said Rep. Smith.

Prior to the Democrat-controlled House bill passing in early January, the White House released a statement outlining the problematic provisions of the bill which included renewed funding for the United Nations Population Fund and the repeal of the administration’s expanded Mexico City Policy.

Pro-life lawmakers expect the anti-life efforts in the Democrat-controlled House to continue long after the government funding impasse is resolved. This week abortion rights Congressional Members announced their intentions to lift bans on federal funds for abortion. Legislative efforts are already underway to permanently repeal the Hyde Amendment and the Mexico City Policy though this is unlikely while Republicans control the Senate.

Nonetheless the co-chairs of the House Pro-Choice Caucus, Congresswomen Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) and the Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee Nita Lowey (D-NY) in a showing of solidarity joined Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen in making these anti-life commitments.

The statement was timed to coincide with the 46th-annual March for Life tomorrow in Washington, DC. The March for Life is held each year as a peaceful protest against the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which imposed legal abortion on all 50 U.S. states on January 22, 1973.

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