Senate Finance Committee Votes to Uphold Abstinence Funding, Votes Down Ban on Abortion Funds
by Staff
October 2, 2009
WASHINGTON, (christiansunite.com) -- The Senate Finance Committee voted this week on an amendment to Sen. Baucus' health care bill to uphold abstinence education funding, but also voted down an amendment to restrict federal funding for abortions. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) offered the amendment that would reinstate funding for abstinence education through Title V state block grant programs. The funds include $50 million a year in abstinence funding that President Obama zeroed out in his budget proposal to Congress. At a vote of 12-11, this was a positive bipartisan effort to promote the teaching of values and morality to America's young people.On the other hand, the committee also voted down Sen. Hatch's other amendment to reinforce laws that prohibit abortion funds in the Baucus Bill. This amendment was defeated by a vote of 10-13.
Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America, said "The results of the committee's votes are bittersweet. We commend Senator Hatch for introducing amendments that promote morality to our youth and protect the sanctity of human life. We are thankful to the senators who boldly take a stand to promote abstinence education, but are saddened that innocent unborn babies will not be protected more explicitly in the Baucus bill."
Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.
