On the recordJuly 27, 2021
I am proud to stand for the sanctity of life and believe strongly in our responsibility to protect the unborn. While I understand that the issue of abortion is one that divides many here in Congress, H.R. 18 does not universally ban all abortions. It would simply reinstate and make permanent the bipartisan Hyde amendment on a government-wide basis, which only prevents taxpayers from paying for the killing of unborn children. It is what the majority of Americans want. In fact, a recent Marist Poll found that nearly 60 percent of Americans oppose taxpayer funded abortion. It is shocking and heartbreaking the Democrats would remove this critical protection from law after supporting it for over 40 years. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 18, and I ask for its immediate consideration in the House. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under guidelines consistently issued by successive Speakers, as recorded in section 956 of the House Rules and Manual, the Chair is constrained not to entertain the request unless it has been cleared by the bipartisan floor and committee leaderships. ____________________
