Senate passes nonbinding budget amendment restoring Hyde and conscience protections… but the fight isn’t over
District of Columbia, Oklahoma | August 16, 2021
A Senate budget amendment to preserve the Hyde Amendment and also protect conscience rights for health care providers narrowly passed the Senate by a margin of 50 to 49 late Wednesday.
The amendment to the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget resolution proposed by Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) includes the Hyde Amendment’s prohibition on federal funding for abortion on demand. Senator Lankford’s amendment also includes conscience protections for health care providers and insurance companies who refuse to commit or fund abortions, protected since 2004 under the Weldon Amendment. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) broke with his party to act as the decisive vote in favor of Lankford’s amendment.
“We thank the pro-life champions in the Senate for their tireless work to protect unborn children and their mothers,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, according to a press release…. (Excerpts from LIVE ACTION)