On January 3, 2017, H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. This important pro-life legislation will place in permanent law a consistent federal policy restricting the funding and promotion of abortion.

Since 1976 federal restrictions on abortion funding has enjoyed bi-partisan support and has been embodied in the Hyde Amendment and other policies governing funding. However, there are inconsistencies in its application, and most of these policies including the Hyde Amendment must be renewed every year. H.R. 7 will correct these inadequacies.

On January 20, 2017, Cardinal Dolan, Chairman of the USCCB Committee for Pro-Life Activities, released a statement urging lawmakers to support this legislation. He reminded legislators that “the American people oppose taxpayer-funding of abortion and want that opposition reflected in our law once and for all.” According to a new Marist Poll sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, more than six in 10 Americans (61 percent) oppose the use of tax dollars to fund abortions in the United States.

Please act today and urge your U.S. Representative to support H.R. 7. The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has prepared a message for you to send here.