On March 24, 2010, President Obama signed an executive order to ensure that no federal funding is used to pay for abortions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper was present for the signing of the executive order which she helped negotiate with the other members of the Democratic Pro-Life Caucus.

The executive order maintains the longstanding precent of the Hyde Amendment and guarantees that no taxpayer dollars will pay for abortions under the new health care reform legislation.

Watch Congresswoman Dahlkemper speak about the executive order:

Please scroll to 8:40 in the video above to see Congresswoman Dahlkemper's statement.

CONGRESSWOMAN KATHY DAHLKEMPER:

I just want to reiterate what has been said. First of all, I do want to thank Congressman Stupak who really was our leader in this effort and all of my other colleagues behind me and even those who couldn't be with us right at this moment. I also want to thank the president of the United States who listened to us, who heard our concerns, and helped us to find a way through this executive order to make sure that this legislation is a whole life piece of legislation.

When I ran for congress just a couple years ago, I called myself a whole-life candidate. I believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, and that also includes health care and education and having a good job opportunity for people.

So this legislation is, I consider, a whole life piece of legislation, because we're not only worried about abortion and making sure that there's no federal funds for abortion, but we're also extremely concerned about young women who may find themselves in tough situations. College students, young teenagers, women from abusive families, will actually be included in a $250 million piece of this legislation that's going to go out to support them as they struggle through this very difficult time in their lives.

And I say this as a person who was there. I was 20 years old and in college when I found myself pregnant with my oldest son. He's now 30 and actually made me a grandmother just a year ago. My granddaughter will be one at the end of this month. So I say this as a person who's been there, who understands the issues. And I'm just very, very proud today to be here and to support this whole life piece of legislation that's going to do wonderful things for the people of this country. Thank you.