I voted No on H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.

It is clear to me that the majority of taxpayers in my district do not want their hard-earned tax dollars sent to Washington and spent on abortion.   I agree.  I have always supported and will continue to support the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits spending federal dollars on elective abortion through appropriations bills.

H.R. 7 would prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for abortion or health insurance coverage for abortion, similar to the Hyde Amendment.  It would also prohibit individuals and small businesses from utilizing tax credits to purchase health care plans that cover abortion.  Exceptions are provided for abortions in cases of rape and incest and for procedures intended to save the life of the mother. 

The legislation includes miscellaneous other abortion-related provisions, including disallowing multi-state qualified health plans offered in an exchange from providing abortion coverage, as well as a new requirement that health plans which provide abortion coverage “prominently” display that information in marketing or advertising materials, comparison tools and benefit summaries. 

I have  been a consistent supporter of women’s rights and healthcare organizations in upstate New York that aid women, especially those most vulnerable in our community.  While I personally oppose abortion, individuals should be free to make that very difficult and personal decision without heavy-handed government involvement. 

This legislation goes beyond the Hyde Amendment to create financial penalties, red tape and paperwork requirements.  These are new government barriers for small businesses and individuals who would choose to provide their employees or themselves with health plans that include abortion coverage.  I continue to oppose spending federal tax dollars on abortion, but this legislation goes too far in finding new ways to insert government influence into personal and employer health care decisions best left to families and consumers.

The bill was approved by a vote of 227 – 188 – 1.