<<<Back to News Center 2010

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Pierluisi Breaks Rank with Democrats on Abortion Vote

Votes to Deny Federal Support for Abortions Except in the Case of Rape, Incest or Where Necessary to Protect the Health of the Mother

Washington, DC-- The Resident Commissioner, Pedro Pierluisi, today supported in the Judiciary Committee legislation offered by the Republican majority that extends the current prohibition on the use of federal funds for elective abortions, defined as those abortions that are not necessary to protect the health of the mother or where the pregnancy is not the result of rape or incest.

Specifically, the bill, H.R. 3, known as the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” codifies the so-called Hyde Amendment, which has prohibited the use of Medicaid funds to subsidize elective abortions since the Amendment was first adopted in 1977. In addition, the bill seeks more broadly to ensure that no federal agency or department provides funding to subsidize or facilitate elective abortions, a prohibition that currently applies only to programs administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and certain other federal agencies.

“Although the Supreme Court held in the 1973 case of Roe v. Wade and subsequent cases that the U.S. Constitution protects a woman’s decision whether to terminate her pregnancy under certain circumstances, I do not believe it is appropriate for the federal government to pay for, subsidize or otherwise facilitate an abortion, except in very limited cases where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest or where an abortion is necessary to protect the health of the mother. I therefore support the Hyde Amendment and other congressional efforts that aim to make certain that the federal government is not subsidizing or facilitating elective abortion procedures,” said the Resident Commissioner.

H.R. 3 would also ensure that individuals do not receive federal tax deductions or credits in connection with elective abortion procedures. “Because I believe that federal tax deductions, credits and exemptions constitute a form of federal support, I cannot identify any principled basis to oppose this provision,” explained Pierluisi.

“It is one thing to recognize and respect the constitutional right of a woman to terminate her pregnancy under certain circumstances. It is another thing to promote or subsidize abortion. I support this legislation because I do not believe the federal government should encourage elective abortions in any way, whether through the expenditure of federal funds or the extension of favorable tax treatment. And I am confident that the great majority of my constituents share my beliefs on this issue,” the Resident Commissioner said.

Today’s debate on H.R. 3 occurred at a lengthy markup in the Judiciary Committee, during which the Resident Commissioner distanced himself from the position taken by his Democratic colleagues on the Committee. Following the markup, Pierluisi was approached by representatives from the National Right to Life Committee and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, who thanked him for his vote. The Resident Commissioner was the only Democrat on the Committee to vote in favor of the legislation.