As last month’s Women’s March on Washington and the March for Life showed, Americans continue to have sharp differences over the abortion issue.

On different days, organizers estimated 1 million people gathered in Washington, D.C. and more than 5 million worldwide to support gender equity issues, including the right to an abortion, followed by tens of thousands of demonstrators who marched up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court for the anti-abortion political rally.

Bill expands abortion funding ban

HR 7, the No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2017 was approved by the U.S. House on a 238-183 vote, with 11 members not voting. It is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., and was  introduced Jan. 13. Colorado’s delegation voted along party lines, with Republican U.S. Reps. Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs, Ken Buck of Greeley, Mike Coffman of Aurora and Scott Tipton of Cortez casting “yes” votes and Democrat U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette of Denver, Ed Perlmutter of Golden and Jared Polis of Boulder voting no.

The bill permanently prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion or health coverage that includes abortion. The prohibitions do not apply to abortions in cases of rape or incest, or where a physical condition endangers a woman’s life unless an abortion is performed. It also bans abortions from being provided in a federal health care facility or by a federal employee. Currently, qualified health plans may cover abortion, but the part of the premium attributable to abortion coverage is not eligible for subsidies.

Liz Payne, communications director for Tipton, wrote in an email that “Currently, there are certain plans sold on the Affordable Care Act exchanges that are eligible for federal premium subsidies and small employer health insurance tax credits and also provide coverage for abortions. Because the people who are covered by these plans receive a federal subsidy in one way or another, it was important to make sure the Hyde Amendment was applied to the Affordable Care Act.”

Payne added Tipton supported HR 7 because he does not believe any federal funds should be used to perform abortions.

Lamborn’s Congressional Record transcript of his House floor comments:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give voice to the millions of lives that have been lost in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade. In the 44 years since that disgraceful decision, an unconscionable 58 million abortions have been performed. That represents 58 million children who will never grow up, never make their own decisions, and never influence the world around them, but whose lives are cut short.

“I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill that permanently prohibits taxpayers from funding abortion through the Hyde amendment. Since its original passage, this amendment has saved over 2 million babies. Congress must make permanent these protections to honor the conscience rights of a strong majority of Americans who do not want their taxpayer dollars paying for abortions.”

Some of DeGette’s floor speech, according to the Congressional Record transcript:

“… Under current law, under the Hyde Amendment-which I hate, which I will do everything to repeal-we have no taxpayer funding for abortion. Taxpayer funds are currently prohibited from use for abortions. Instead, what this bill does is it takes that concept and it uses it to far expand a restriction on a woman’s ability to get the full health care that she needs.

“It severely restricts abortion coverage in the (Affordable Care Act)’s exchanges by forbidding people who have plans where they get subsidies from paying for plans with their own money. This is a far expansion of a restriction on a woman’s right to get her own health insurance with her own money. It denies insurance-related tax credits to small businesses that choose plans that offer abortion services. It permanently bans abortion services for federal employees and it codifies a ban on abortion coverage for women in military services overseas. The fact that we are debating this today, just 1 day after President Trump issued an executive order reinstating the Global Gag Rule, is a slap in the face to the over 3 million women who marched (Jan. 21).”

Buck released a statement that said since 1976, majorities in Congress have supported adding the Hyde Amendment to federal funding bills.

“HR 7 permanently codifies this long-standing prohibition in statue,” Buck added. “The bill also finally pulls Obamacare into line with Hyde Amendment precedent, ensuring that federal subsidies are no longer used for Obamacare plans that cover abortions. No taxpayer should be forced, against their moral or religious conscience, to fund an abortion.”

Buck also stated a recent Knights of Columbus-Marist poll found 61 percent of Americans oppose using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortion.

Daniel Bucheli, communications director for Coffman, wrote in an email statement that Coffman voted for the bill “as he does not believe taxpayer funding should be used for abortions. This, of course, had exceptions in case of rape, incest or when it’s medically necessary to protect the life of the mother.”

Perlmutter said in a statement “I’m pro-choice. I voted against HR 7 because I believe government should not get in the way of healthcare decisions made between a woman and her doctor.”