(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Alan Nunnelee (R-Miss) made the following statement on the House floor in support of H.R. 358, the Protect Life Act, which would prohibit federal funding of abortions and abortion coverage under the recently enacted health care law.
“Today, I rise in support of H.R.358, the Protect Life Act, which would prohibit the federal funding for abortion and would end abortion coverage under President Obama’s health care law.
As a member of the Mississippi State Senate, I introduced similar legislation that would prevent hard-earned tax dollars of Mississippians from paying for abortions under Obamacare.
That legislation specifically allows Mississippi to opt out of using state tax money to pay for abortions in state health care exchanges.
And I’m proud to say that in May of 2010, our Governor Haley Barbour signed that legislation into law, and Mississippi became the third state in the nation to approve abortion subsidy opt-out.
For 16 years, it was my privilege to stand up for life on the floor of the Mississippi Senate. And I’m proud to say that as a result of that effort, Mississippi is now one of the safest states in the nation for unborn children and one of the strongest pro-life states in the nation.
Today, I’m proud to take that voice to the floor of the House of Representatives in our nation’s capital.
Obamacare should not have served as a vehicle for abandoning or weakening federal policies on abortion funding. Health care is about saving and nurturing, not about taking human life.
Even though President Obama signed an executive order to address abortion-funding concerns in the health care bill, an executive order is not law. The Protect Life Act would strengthen longstanding federal policies on abortion, and more importantly it would codify the principles of the President’s executive order.
As I stand here today, I have the privilege of serving the first district of Mississippi in the United States House of Representatives, and I will continue to fight to protect the lives of the innocent and to serve as a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Americans recognize the value of life. As a co-sponsor of this legislation, I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to support this bill as we work to defend the morals of our taxpayers and give the needed protections to the unborn.”
Congressman Alan Nunnelee represents Mississippi’s First Congressional District and serves on the House Appropriations Committee. This is his first term.
# # #
Magnolia Tribune
