[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 23, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H3015]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PRESERVE HYDE AMENDMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Mooney) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MOONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss our most fundamental 
God-given right, our right to life.
  Enshrined in our Declaration of Independence is life, liberty, and 
the pursuit of happiness. Our government should reflect this commitment 
to life, but the continued practice of abortion-on-demand across the 
country runs contrary to this commitment. Abortion deprives innocent, 
defenseless, unborn babies of their right to life.
  Thankfully, there are certain legal protections, like the Hyde 
amendment, in place to safeguard hardworking Americans' tax dollars and 
save lives. The Hyde amendment simply prevents the taxpayer funding of 
abortions. Since 1976, the Hyde amendment has saved 2.5 million lives.
  According to a Marist poll taken this year, the vast majority of 
Republicans and Independents, and nearly a third of Democrats, believe 
that tax dollars should not be used to pay for abortions.
  Since 1976, Republican and Democrat Members of Congress have found 
agreement in keeping the Hyde amendment. President Biden himself 
publicly supported the Hyde amendment for decades. In a 1977 letter to 
constituents, which I have right here, Senator Biden wrote that voting 
to support the Hyde amendment ``is the position which I have 
consistently supported.''
  He goes on to say: ``The Senate, however, passed a broader definition 
of the circumstances under which Medicaid funds could be used to pay 
for an abortion. I did not support this version.'' Those are Senator 
Biden's words.
  Furthermore, in 1994, in another letter to a constituent at the time, 
Senator Biden upheld his support of Hyde protections, saying: ``Those 
of us who are opposed to abortion should not be compelled to pay for 
them.''
  But today, President Biden has kowtowed to the radical left and has 
removed Hyde protections from his budget proposal. President Biden is 
turning his back on innocent life in their mother's womb.
  The Hyde amendment has saved millions of lives and has stopped 
Americans who are morally opposed to abortion from being forced to pay 
for it.
  I call on President Biden to return to his previous position, which 
opposed the taxpayer funding of abortion, abide by the teaching of his 
own self-professed Catholic faith, and follow the lead of his 
predecessors from both sides of the aisle who preserved the Hyde 
amendment in their Presidential budget proposals.

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