Congressman Hank Johnson's statement on H.R. 3, No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act

Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) offered two amendments the Republicans’ H.R. 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act in Judiciary Committee. The amendments would prevent the bill from taking effect until the Attorney General submitted a report to Congress outlining the effect of the bill on women’s access to abortion and health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. It also would prevent tax increases for individuals who would be subject to such increases pursuant to Section 303(1) of the bill. Both amendments failed mostly along party lines.

“This is not about funding abortions,” said Johnson. “We already have the Hyde Amendment that prohibits federal funding of abortions. This is about taking away a woman’s right to choose. I am especially concerned about how this Republican bill will affect the most vulnerable women in our society. Restricting public funding for abortion will especially hurt low-income women. Low-income women may have to sacrifice basic needs and might force them to resort to self-inducing abortions or to the back-alleys of untrained, unlicensed practitioners.

“I find it ironic that Republicans would interfere in such a private matter. They have always prided themselves that the government should not interfere in the personal lives of Americans – and all of this during Women’s History Month. Nice. I am baffled by the fact that Republicans would push a bill that would directly interfere with a woman’s private choice.”

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