CV NEWS FEED // CatholicVote’s efforts to keep taxpayer-funded abortion out of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) paid off in the House on Thursday, when Congress added an amendment preventing federal funding for abortion travel.
Politico reported:
In a 221-213 vote, lawmakers adopted an amendment to the annual NDAA to undo the Pentagon’s policy of reimbursing service members who travel to receive abortions.
“We would not have gotten this amendment without the Freedom Caucus,” said CatholicVote Director of Government Affairs Tom McClusky. “We are proud to stand with these Congressmen and women as they demand the American armed forces respect federal law and stop using our taxes to fund abortions.”
Supporters of the proposed amendment point out that the DOD’s current practice of using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions violates the 1976 Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from being used to pay for abortions.
The NDAA is an annually-passed legislation governing the policies, funding, and organization of the United States defense agencies. In this year’s most recent version, pro-life lobbyists, including CatholicVote, had three main goals:
- Disallow coverage of abortion-related travel expenses.
- Disallow abortions and abortion referrals at VA medical facilities.
- Prevent Department of Defense (DOD) resources from paying for abortion and sexual-orientation and gender-identity treatments.
Thanks to the work of the Freedom Caucus, a congressional caucus consisting of conservative Republicans, two Amendments — Numbers 5 and 10 — have been added to the NDAA that will save the lives of unborn children and prevent the bodily mutilation of service members and their dependents.
Pro-Life Amendment
Amendment 5 was proposed by Congressman Jackson, R-TX, and “prohibits the Secretary of Defense from paying for or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services.”
Multiple members of the Freedom Caucus, including Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, R-FL:
Amendment 10
Amendment 10, which also passed, was proposed by Congressmen Matthew Rosendale, R-MT, ends taxpayer coverage of “trans” surgeries and chemical hormone “treatments” on servicemembers and their family.
Senate Efforts
In the other chamber of Congress, it has been Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-AL, holding the line in Congress in holding the military accountable to federal law.
As CatholicVote reported, “[Tuberville] used his position on the Senate Armed Services Committee to block about 250 appointments since March” until the DOD ends its promotion of abortion. Due to his efforts, the U.S. Marine corps is unable to appoint a new Commandant, their usual highest-ranking officer.
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