The following is from Michael McGonagle urging pro-lifers to rally to save the Hyde Amendment.
The most important and urgent challenge for the pro-life movement at the national, state, and local levels is to save the Hyde Amendment. Thus, I appeal for your participation in efforts to save the Hyde Amendment by sending correspondence to Pa.’s U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. and participating in a Rally in Northeast Philadelphia on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon at U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle’s office at 8572 Bustleton Avenue, which is in a shopping center at Placid Street that has ample parking.
The Importance of the Hyde Amendment
Since 1976, the Hyde Amendment greatly restricts federal funding of Medicaid abortions, then numbering about 300,000 per year. Studies (conducted by pro-abortion organizations) have indicated that at least 1/3 of Medicaid-funded abortions do not occur if this funding is removed.
Our experience in Pa. with Medicaid-funded abortions is similar. Before our state restrictions took effect in 1985, the Pa. Medicaid program was funding about 13,000 abortions per year. After these restrictions took effect, the Pa. government-funded less than 100 per year, and abortions in Pa. declined by 5,000 per year.
Thus, the Hyde Amendment has saved millions of children and mothers from abortion.
The Status of the Hyde Amendment
On July 22, 2021, at the urging of the Biden Administration, the U.S. House passed a 2022 Health and Human Services Budget Bill (due to take effect on October 1, 2022) without the Hyde Amendment. As I will soon explain, this vote is not likely to be the final action by the U.S. House on this issue.
Hope in the U.S. Senate
The good news is that the U.S. Senate is not likely to pass a Budget without the Hyde Amendment because of the position of the 50 Republican Senators and West Virginia Democrat U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin. We need to urge Sen. Casey (who says he supports the Hyde Amendment) not to support a 2022 Budget without the Hyde Amendment. Sen. Casey’s contact information is 215-405-9660; 2000 Market Street – Suite 610, Philadelphia, PA 19103-3209; www.casey.senate.gov/contact.
In recent years, Congress has funded the federal government by passing Continuing Resolutions (CRs) and not by Budget Bills because of the extensive disagreements over the 13 Budget Bills that fund the federal government. This reality can help to save the Hyde Amendment.
If the U.S. Senate passes a CR for the 2022 Fiscal Year, any funding restrictions are usually maintained as in the prior CR. This practice would mean that the Hyde Amendment would remain in the 2022 CR.
Thus, we also need to urge Sen. Casey not to support any 2022 CR without the Hyde Amendment.
Pa.’s U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey has already committed not to support any 2022 Budget or CR without the Hyde Amendment.
The U.S. House is Very Likely to Vote Again on this Issue
If the U.S. Senate passes the 2022 Budget or CR with the Hyde Amendment, the U.S. House will need to concur in such a Budget or CR. Pro-abortion forces will be urging a no vote on such a 2022 Budget or CR. Thus, our efforts to save the Hyde Amendment can help to persuade the Democrat U.S. House Majority not to defund the federal government because the Hyde Amendment is maintained.
Save Hyde Rally at U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle’s Office on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, from 11:00 AM-12:00 Noon at 8572 Bustleton Avenue (at Placid Street) in Northeast Philadelphia
All nine Pa. Democrat U.S. House Members have opposed the Hyde Amendment (and all nine Pa. Republican U.S. House Members have supported the Hyde Amendment). Nevertheless, we are focusing our Save Hyde public square efforts on Northeast Philadelphia’s Democrat U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle.
Boyle served as the President of Democrats for Life at Notre Dame University (Class of 1999), a Youth Group Leader at St. Anselm Parish, and was elected in 2008 to the Pa. House with a strongly pro-life position. However, he switched to the pro-abortion side to, in his view, ensure his victory in a Democrat Primary for the U.S. House. Since this switch, he has declined to meet with pro-life constituents.
So, it is reasonably possible that this Rally, with extensive contact from the laity and clergy in his District, can persuade Rep. Boyle to support the Hyde Amendment. In addition, this Rally has national significance because it can generate much-needed debate and attention on the fate of the Hyde Amendment, which is not likely to be finally determined until mid-late September 2021.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading this correspondence. Please send the requested correspondence and I look forward to seeing you on August 11, 2021!
Voices for Life 