Pro-life groups had expressed concern to CNA earlier this month that COVID relief could open up new federal funding of health care without pro-life protections. On Wednesday, the pro-life group March for Life Action tweeted its concern that the bill could include abortion funding.
The bishops on Wednesday reiterated their stance against abortion funding in the relief bill.
"Any public option for health care, or similar efforts to increase access to health care, must include protections against using taxpayer dollars for elective abortions," the bishops said.
The bishops asked members to maintain increases to food stamp benefits, fund emergency rental assistance, provide for "testing, vaccination, and treatment for COVID-19 for all," increase Medicaid resources for states, and provide for protective equipment and paid leave for essential workers.
In addition, they advocated for "equitable access" to emergency aid for non-public schools, "legal status and a pathway to citizenship" for essential workers, Dreamers, and TPS recipients and their families, and an expansion of the above-the-line charitable tax deduction.
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House Republican Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has criticized the use of reconciliation to pass the relief measure, saying that it included a $15-an-hour minimum wage among other policies that Republicans are objecting to.