Washington, June 14, 2018 - Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee passed the fiscal year 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill, which includes numerous provisions protecting life. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) wrote the annual funding bill as chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee.

“This might be the most pro-life financial services appropriations bill ever,” said Rep. Graves. “I’m proud of my Republican colleagues for sticking together and fighting off multiple attempts to strip these important pro-life provisions from the bill. I look forward to continuing the fight for life when this bill reaches the House Floor.”   

Specifically, the legislation includes the following pro-life provisions:

• Prohibits federal and local funds from being used for abortion;
• Prohibits funds for enforcement of DC Reproductive Non-Discrimination Act, which could force religious groups or non-profits to make hiring decisions that conflict with their sincerely held beliefs;
• Prohibits funds for DC’s law legalizing physician-assisted suicide in the District;
• Prohibits the use of funds in the Federal Employee Health Benefits program for abortion.

The defeated Democrat efforts include amendments that would:

• Allow DC to spend local taxpayer funds on abortion;
• Allow the Federal Employee Health Benefits program to fund abortion;
• Allow DC to use local funds to carry out the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act.
  
  

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