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House committee approves budget that allows taxpayer funding of abortions

Thursday, Jul 15, 2021

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Denise Burke regarding the House Appropriations Committee’s decision Thursday to approve a budget without the Hyde Amendment and other similar provisions that protect against taxpayer funding of abortion:

“American taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to fund abortions or to subsidize the dangerous work of abortionists. Every innocent life deserves to be protected. Nearly 2.5 million lives have been saved by the Hyde Amendment since it went into effect 40 years ago. The majority of Americans support the Hyde Amendment and believe that the abortion industry should not be funded by taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. Government-compelled participation in abortion has no place in our country—an idea that has historically enjoyed bipartisan support. While we are disappointed by the bill the House Appropriations Committee approved today, we are grateful for the many members of the committee who voiced support for Hyde and outrage at its removal from the bill. ADF will continue to fight to ensure that these commonsense, bipartisan policies preventing federal funding of abortion remain in place.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

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ABOUT Denise Burke

Denise Burke serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where she is a member of the Center for Legislative Advocacy. In this role, her efforts are directed toward protecting life from conception to natural death and defending the conscience rights of health care professionals. Prior to joining ADF, Burke served as vice president of legal affairs for Americans United for Life. She began her career with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, United States Air Force, both on active duty and in the reserve. Rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel, she served as an instructor at the USAF JAG School and on the editorial board of the Air Force Law Review. In response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Burke volunteered to serve again on active duty. In recognition of her service, the Air Force awarded her the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. A member of the state bar of Texas, Burke is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and multiple federal district and appellate courts. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Maryland, followed by her Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University.