2022 Appropriations Bills
Congress is discussing appropriations bills to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2022. With these debates comes a fight to preserve the Hyde Amendment to stop tax dollars from funding abortion. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 4502 at the end of July, which includes spending for the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services. That bill does not include the Hyde amendment.
House appropriations bills are also missing the Weldon Amendment, which protects the conscience rights of medical providers. This protects medical professionals from being forced to participate in abortion.
$3.5 Trillion Dollar Reconciliation Social Spending Bill
A $3.5 trillion dollar social spending plan is being worked on by Congress. Notably, this process only has to reach a threshold of 51 votes in the Senate, because it is not subject to the filibuster. To start this process, the House and Senate must agree on a resolution that includes "reconciliation directives" for specific committees. While the Senate did pass a budget resolution to apply Hyde and Weldon Amendment language, that agreement is non-binding.
