by Evan Stambaugh
U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota introduced two pro-life bills in the U.S. House of Representatives this month.
The Republican congresswoman’s proposed pieces of legislation include the Defund Planned Parenthood Act (H.R. 371) and the Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act (H.R. 372), according to a press release.
Although text of the bills were not yet available online as of Jan. 27, the press release states that H.R. 371 would prohibit Planned Parenthood from “accessing any federal mandatory or discretionary funds.”
H.R. 372, moreover, would mandate “all federally funded entities to certify that they will not perform abortions or provide funds to any other entity that performs an abortion, with exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother.”
Even if the bills passed the Republican-controlled House, they would likely die in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Nevertheless, Rep. Fischbach (R-MN-07) hopes to reignite the conversation about why taxpayers are currently forced to fund abortion.
“Organizations like Planned Parenthood receive millions of hard earned taxpayer dollars every year to provide abortions on demand,” she said in a statement. “Americans across the country value the lives of precious unborn babies and it is wrong to force them to spend their tax dollars on something that goes against their closest held values. I am honored to introduce these pieces of legislation that helps protect the unborn, women, and taxpayers.”
Fischbach introduced her pro-life bills in the U.S. House on the same day the Minnesota House narrowly passed a pro-abortion bill considered to be one of the most radical in the nation. It then passed the Minnesota Senate early Saturday.
If signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz, the “Protect Reproductive Options Act” would guarantee Minnesotans a “fundamental right” to abortion, regardless of age, reason, or stage of pregnancy.
The bill would also protect access to “reproductive health care” more broadly, which includes contraception and sterilization, even for minors. All Republican-backed amendments to the bill were rejected by the Democratic majority.
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Evan Stambaugh is a freelance writer who had previously been a sports blogger. He has a BA in theology and an MA in philosophy.
Photo “Michelle Fischbach” by United States Congress. Background Photo “Planned Parenthood in St. Paul” by Fibonacci Blue. CC BY 2.0.
