In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in June 2022, many pro-life activists turned their attention to the states. This is because, for the first time in nearly 50 years, courts would likely uphold state laws granting legal protection to preborn children. Furthermore, there was the political will in many conservative states to enact strong pro-life laws. One year after the Dobbs decision, 14 states have laws in place protecting preborn children, and four other states are protecting preborn children after a certain gestational age. Good news.
However, the federal government continues to play a key role in abortion policy. In particular, it is important for pro-lifers to continue to defend the federal Hyde amendment. Since 1976, the Hyde amendment has been passed annually as a rider to the appropriations bill that funds the Department of Health and Human Services. It prevents federal tax dollars from paying for elective abortions through the Medicaid program. There is a very broad consensus among researchers that the Hyde amendment lowers abortion rates. This week, the Charlotte Lozier Institute published my revised estimates of the number of lives saved by Hyde. I found that as of May 31, 2023, it has saved 2,566,968 lives.
The SBA Pro-Life America National Pro-life Scorecard is a tool that helps hold members of Congress accountable for their legislative records on life and that highlights leadership in the fight to serve women and save babies.
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