Pro-Life implications of Financial Services appropriations bill

This afternoon the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Act for FY 2020 by a vote of 224-196. The vote fell primarily along party lines with five Democrats voting in opposition: Reps. Gonzalez (TX), Vela, McAdams, Peterson, and Lipinski.

H.R. 3351 undermines the DC Hyde (Dornan) Amendment, which states that DC may not use any funding (neither federal nor local) to pay for abortions. H.R. 3351 limits the abortion funding prohibition to “federal” funds, allowing DC to use locally-generated funds to pay for abortions on demand.

RFRA Hearing: Disagreement is not discrimination

Yesterday, the House Education & Labor Committee held a hearing entitled “Do No Harm: Examining the Misapplication of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.”

During the first panel, Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-MA) testified in support of his bill, H.R. 1450, which amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) to limit its application. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) testified in opposition to the bill, stating it would “eviscerate one of the most important and widely-regarded laws that’s ever been passed by the Congress.” No questions were asked of the first panel.

During the second panel, Matt Sharp, Senior Counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), testified as the sole minority witness. A full list of witnesses can be viewed here.

The following exchanges took place between witnesses and pro-life Members: