House Republican leaders are rallying around two anti-abortion bills ahead of the annual March for Life, but neither would restrict abortions nationally and would focus on unwanted pregnancies and pregnancy centers. is placed.
The bills passed by the House on Thursday fit with the theme of this year's event, but also highlight Republican leaders' desire to avoid a vote on controversial messaging bills that would impose strict restrictions on abortion. There is.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Pro-Life Caucus Chairman Chris Smith (R.N.J.) are both scheduled to speak Friday at the March for Life, the nation's largest anti-abortion event. is. Johnson's appointment was welcomed by social conservatives, who saw him as an ally willing to bring anti-abortion and anti-transgender policies to a vote.
Mr. Johnson is one of the most culturally conservative members of Congress elected to the House of Commons in recent years, and he is unashamed of his faith-based approach to politics.
But in the face of a narrow majority and a conference divided between hardliners and vulnerable swing district members, votes on social issues such as abortion are unlikely to be at the top of House Republicans' agenda. he said.
There is no indication that Republicans will introduce a federal abortion ban this Congress, bucking the trend of passing 20-week abortion bans three times in the past when Republicans held the House majority. That's what you do.
At a press conference earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson cited the march as a catalyst for a vote on the bill, which he characterized as pro-family rather than anti-abortion.
“As we do every year, this week we want to remember the value of each human life,” Johnson said. “We believe in being there for families during unplanned pregnancies. We want to make it easier for working mothers and mothers and fathers to start families and raise children.”
Thursday's bill has support from anti-abortion groups and gives Republicans an opportunity to tout their anti-abortion credentials without handing votes on abortion restrictions directly to moderates. The White House threatened to veto both measures.
One bill aims to address what supporters say is pressure on college students with unplanned pregnancies to have abortions to avoid academic failure.
The bill would require universities to provide information about the existing rights of pregnant students and ensure that the list of resources available to pregnant students includes pregnancy centers that do not provide abortions. Schools will be required to do so.
Another bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to fund crisis pregnancy centers. Under the Biden administration's policy, pregnancy centers are excluded from receiving Temporary Assistance funds for needy families.
Pregnancy centers are typically faith-based organizations that attempt to dissuade women from abortion. They are often not staffed by licensed medical professionals and cannot provide women with any type of medical care, such as contraception or prenatal care.
“Thank you to all the pro-life members of Congress who stood up to the pro-abortion Biden administration and fought on behalf of women experiencing unplanned pregnancies in pregnancy centers and college campuses across the country.” Marjorie・Chairman Dannenfelser said. SBA Pro-Life America said in a statement.
This year's March for Life theme, “With Every Woman, For Every Child,” focuses on promoting crisis pregnancy centers and birthing centers, which provide support to women who typically experience homelessness during pregnancy. and provide resources and a place to live during the postpartum period.
Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, said pregnancy centers and birthing clinics are “the heart of the pro-life movement.”
But House Republicans are still grappling internally over how to address abortion ahead of the 2024 election.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said he's not concerned about needing more anti-abortion votes.
“Roe v. Wade has already been overturned, and it's up to the states. So I think we're moving in the right direction,” Burchett said, adding that there are still about He added that it has only been three months. “He hasn't been here 20 years like his predecessors, so it gives him a little bit of a reprieve. I know he's pro-life.”
Prior to last year's March for Our Lives, House Republicans refused to vote on a bill that would permanently codify and expand the Hyde Amendment, a provision that prohibits the use of certain federal funds for abortion procedures.
Instead, they passed a resolution condemning attacks on anti-abortion centers and churches and a bill mandating care for infants who survive abortion procedures. Democrats say this measure not only makes it highly unlikely that the baby will survive to birth, but because there are already laws in place that protect infants in such situations.
Democrats cited both bills as examples of the Republican Party's anti-abortion agenda and signaled that they would not leave vulnerable Republicans alone.
“Unfortunately, we are wasting another week of extreme MAGA culture wars,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), ranking member of the House Rules Committee. “This is part of the promotion.” Ban abortion nationwide. ”
“House Republicans are constantly reminding voters of our movement toward a nationwide abortion ban,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Neveyat Betle said in a statement. “As long as House Republicans continue to pursue women's constitutional freedoms, House Democrats will fight tooth and nail to protect our rights.”
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