US House passes appropriations bill without protections against taxpayer funding of abortions
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Denise Burke regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval Thursday of appropriations legislation that lacks the usual Hyde Amendment and other similar provisions that protect against taxpayer funding of abortion:
“Government-compelled participation in abortion has no place in our country. The Hyde Amendment has been included in the budget every year since it first went into effect in 1976, with the support of representatives from both sides of the aisle. The majority of Americans oppose having their tax dollars pay for abortions, but President Biden and congressional Democrats insist on catering to the abortion industry instead of listening to the American people. In addition to removing the Hyde Amendment from the 2022 appropriations bill, House Democrats have ignored repeated calls for a vote on H.R. 18, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, during the ‘Eighteen Days for H.R. 18’ initiative. This legislation would enshrine the Hyde Amendment into law, ensuring that American taxpayers are not forced to fund abortions. While it is disappointing to see such brazen attempts to wipe out bipartisan policies that support women and protect innocent life, we are grateful for the many House members who have taken a public stand in favor of the Hyde Amendment and H.R. 18. We will continue to fight alongside them 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 Public Policy. 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.