The Hyde Amendment is designed to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding abortion, and the Weldon amendment protects pro-life organizations from being punished for not funding abortion. Both amendments have been bipartisan additions to every spending bill passed for decades. This year, however, it is uncertain whether the pro-life provision will make the cut.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy introduced the spending bill Monday.
Notably, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) is reportedly threatening to leave the Democratic Party over issues such as this. He says that he won't support any legislative package that does not contain the Hyde Amendment, and he also takes issue with the amount of spending Democratic leaders are proposing.