Washington D.C., Mar 12, 2022 / 04:00 am
While the new $1.5 trillion spending bill for the federal government promises to place millions into the pockets of Planned Parenthood, pro-life leaders are still celebrating it as a victory. That is because it includes the Hyde Amendment.
First introduced in 1976, the once-bipartisan Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funding — taxpayers’ dollars — from going toward abortion, with the exceptions of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. The budget provision or rider, approved annually by Congress, largely impacts Medicaid recipients.
“March for Life applauds the pro-life Senators who successfully fought and voted to maintain all legacy pro-life riders, including the Hyde amendment, in the $1.5 trillion government spending bill,” Jeanne Mancini, the president of the pro-life group, responded in a statement.
A growing number of Democrats, including President Joe Biden, have called for an end to the Hyde Amendment. After decades of backing Hyde, Biden switched his position while running for president. More recently, he made headlines in May after eliminating the provision from his final budget request to Congress for the 2022 fiscal year.