Over 100 pro-life groups urge Republican lawmakers not to cave to Democrat demands on abortion

A coalition of over 100 pro-life groups sent a letter Wednesday to Republican members of Congress, praising them for not agreeing to Democrat demands to include an extension of healthcare subsidies as a condition for reopening the government.  

The groups argue that Obamacare subsidies, which have been front and center for Democrats in the government funding fight, have circumvented the 1976 Hyde Amendment that banned federal funding from being used on elective abortions.

The letter claimed that any funding for Obamacare is "forced taxpayer funding of abortion," unless specified that it excludes elective abortions. 

The letter also argued that the abortion section of the Affordable Care Act, which is hundreds of pages long, says funding is appropriated by the Treasury Department instead of through the Labor, Health and Human Services spending bill, thereby circumventing the Hyde Amendment, which is renewed each year as an attachment to the spending bill.

Just The News has reached out to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's office for comment, but did not hear back by press time. Senate Democrats have demanded an extension of the subsidies, which expire at year's end, in exchange for voting for a spending measure to reopen the government. 

The federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1, after the Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded through Nov. 21. The House passed its version of the resolution last month.

The coalition urged lawmakers to continue standing firm in their opposition to extending Obamacare subsidies, which were expanded by the Biden administration's COVID-19 policies.

"We are grateful that Republicans continue to stand strong against Democrats’ demands for massive spending on a continuing resolution—specifically, funding for Obamacare subsidies that cover abortion plans," the group wrote in a letter first shared with Just The News. 

"As pro-life leaders, we urge you to raise your voice to unequivocally oppose any consideration of extending the COVID-era subsidies without Hyde protections," they concluded. "The pro-life Congress must not be a party to Obama’s abortion funding scheme."

The letter was signed by a total of 105 groups, including the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Advancing American Freedom and the Faith & Freedom Coalition.

“Democrats are keeping the government shut down to protect the largest expansion of taxpayer-funded abortion since Roe v. Wade – Obamacare," SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement shared with Just The News. “The more Washington funds abortion, the more unborn children lose their lives and the more moms are hurt. This pro-life Congress must not extend the Obama-Biden legacy of taxpayer-funded abortion that ends the lives of countless innocent babies.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.