Jim Sensenbrenner: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, today we are presented with an opportunity to take a giant step…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, today we are presented with an opportunity to take a giant step toward protecting the unborn. For almost 35 years, restrictions on the use of Federal funds for abortion have been enacted separately and have been contained in annually renewed congressional temporary funding restrictions, regulations and Executive orders. Such policies have sought to ensure that the American taxpayer does not fund the destruction of innocent human life through abortion. The legislation on the floor today will end the need for numerous separate abortion funding policies, and will finally put into place a permanent ban on any U.S. Government financial support for abortion. Each year, the abortion industry is allocated millions of tax dollars to advance its agenda. Last year alone, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America collected more than 360 million taxpayer-funded dollars. Because all money is fungible, when taxpayers pay an organization like Planned Parenthood millions of dollars, we cannot help but empower and promote all of that organization's activities. Taxpaying Americans are fed up. They are tired of their hard-earned money being spent on supporting and promoting the abortion industry. Under H.R. 3, Federal funds will be prohibited for elective abortion coverage through any program in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The legislation prevents the funding for abortion as a method of family planning overseas.…”