Report: The Hyde Amendment has saved 2.13 million lives

Cross-posted from the #HelloHyde campaign.

In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment this Friday, the Charlotte Lozier Institute has released a new analysis of its life-saving impact.

The Hyde Amendment is a federal budget rider that restricts taxpayer funding of abortion through the Medicaid program. It was first passed on September 30, 1976. Since then, it has prevented 2.13 million abortions, according to the report. That’s approximately one out of every 200 Americans, or the equivalent of the entire population of New Mexico.

Charlotte Lozier Institute president Chuck Donovan praised the report, saying:

Two million lives saved is reason to celebrate. The Hyde Amendment is popular not just with pro-lifers, but with a majority of Americans – people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs who all agree that forcing taxpayers to fund abortion is wrong. But 2 million deaths averted is bad news to the abortion industry and its allies, and the Hyde Amendment is under unprecedented assault as its 40th anniversary approaches. Now is the time to redouble the nation’s commitment to one of our most effective tools for protecting unborn children and the freedom of conscience.

For years, advocates both for and against the Hyde Amendment have operated under the assumption that the Hyde Amendment has prevented “over a million” abortions. That rough estimate came from a 2010 report by the Center for Reproductive Rights, and is now out of date. The Hyde Amendment has saved twice as many lives than previously thought.

The Charlotte Lozier Institute report contains a state-by-state analysis of the number of individuals alive today because of the Hyde Amendment, accounting for variations in state law over time. In a handful of abortion-friendly states, activist judges have undercut the Hyde Amendment by requiring state (rather than federal) funding of abortion for women on Medicaid.

We are pleased to provide social media memes highlighting the key findings from the Charlotte Lozier Institute report. We encourage supporters of the Hyde Amendment to share them widely, especially on September 30, and to use the hashtag #HelloHyde.