The 112th Congress, which takes office in January, will bring with it more than 50 new pro-life representatives. Three from Virginia. One from New York. At least four from Ohio. Another five from Pennsylvania.
Leaders in the pro-life movement will be looking for them to get right to work.
"We made major pro-life gains last month, but they mean absolutely nothing if we do not turn them into serious legislative gains for the unborn," Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, wrote recently.
Republicans took back the majority in the House in November, claiming 242 seats, which will provide opportunities to pass pro-life amendments and stop taxpayer funding of abortion. Democrats, who typically support abortion, maintain control of the Senate.
In addition to pro-life amendments being added to budget bills, two bills will be introduced to block federal funding of abortion throughout the government, as promised by House Republican leadership before the election.
Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., will co-sponsor the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which would install a government-wide prohibition on such funding, including a repeal of abortion funding in ObamaCare. And Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., will sponsor the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, to ensure that Title X family planning programs do not send tax dollars to abortion organizations like Planned Parenthood.
Leading the House will be four pro-lifers: Rep. John Boehner (Ohio), as speaker; Rep. Eric Cantor (Virginia), as majority leader; Rep. Kevin McCarthy (California), as majority whip; and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Texas), as chairman of the House Conference.
Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life, applauded the GOP for its choice of leadership.
"Speaker Boehner has told me he wants to be the most pro-life speaker ever," she said recently. "We look forward to working with Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and these new pro-life leaders of the House of Representatives."
Pro-life advances in the next two years would lay the groundwork for even greater progress if life advocates can add to their number of Senate allies in 2012 and elect a pro-life president.
"The leaders of both parties have been reminded that pro-life voters count," Dannenfelser said. "We remember. And our convictions about life are not 'also-rans' to any political party's priorities."
Source: CitizenLink
Publish Date: December 21, 2010
