The FY23 budget covers government services beginning October 1st this year through the last day of September 2023. Carol Tobias of the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) says one glaring omission from the proposal is the Hyde Amendment, which forbids use of federal funds for abortions.
"For more than 50 years, Congress has included the Hyde Amendment in budget and all appropriations bills so that our tax dollars did not pay for abortions," she tells American Family News. "And now, in his second year, President Biden has removed that amendment."
He attempted to leave the Hyde Amendment out last year as well, but Republican pro-life senators and Democrat Joe Manchin (WV) pushed for and secured its restoration. With that in mind, NRLC will be working with members of both congressional bodies to get the Hyde Amendment included in the budget. Tobias expects it to be another tough year for that effort.
"Our hope is that next year we have several new pro-life senators and we can stop it in both the House and the Senate, and we will maintain the Hyde Amendment language and other amendments that protect unborn children," she shares.
With a pro-life majority in both houses perhaps, the Hyde Amendment could be codified into permanent law. The voting public will make those choices in the November elections.
