Secular Pro-Life Stands Behind the Hyde Amendment
Last week, nearly 80 pro-life organizations joined a coalition letter demanding Hyde Amendment protections. Secular Pro-Life is proud to be among them.
The Hyde Amendment was first enacted in 1976 to prevent federal Medicaid funds from subsidizing elective abortions. “Hyde” has since become a shorthand for various budget riders that limit taxpayer funding of abortion over a range of programs.
The letter, addressed to President Trump, Vice President Vance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, focuses on taxpayer funding of abortion through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). This is a critical issue as Congress addresses expiring subsidies for marketplace plans. As the letter notes: “If even one taxpayer dollar flows to abortion, it forces every American to be complicit in harming women and ending preborn life in the womb.”
Citing research from the Lozier Institute, the letter points out that over 2.64 million American lives have been saved thanks to the Hyde Amendment. (Fun fact: the Lozier Institute began tracking data on lives saved by Hyde at the request of Secular Pro-Life, when we organized a celebration of Hyde’s 40th anniversary in 2016, and has regularly updated its report since.) Those Americans, and their loved ones, vote.
The signatories affirm that “America can and should build a better healthcare system” – one in which “life is systematically protected, not wantonly taken.” The letter concludes: “America’s women and children are not chips to be bargained with in the halls of our nation’s capitol.” You can read the full text of the letter here.
