House Bills Target D.C. Abortion Funding, Call for Additional Restrictions

June 6, 2012 — Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday released a 2013 District of Columbia spending bill that would maintain a ban on public funding of abortion care in the district, the Washington Post reports.

The provision bars D.C. from using its own tax dollars to fund abortion care for low-income women. The ban has been in place every year that Republicans have controlled the House since 1994.

The abortion provision is a regular source of tension with D.C. leaders, who oppose it. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) said she and a coalition of outside groups "will fight back against that rider" (Pershing, Washington Post, 6/5).

More than 100 organizations, including the NAACP and American Civil Liberties Union, on Tuesday sent a letter to Congress criticizing the provision. "Congress does not impose its views on any other local jurisdiction in the [U.S.]," the letter said, adding, "We expect Congress to be consistent by letting Washingtonians manage their own affairs without interference or meddling."

Rep. Amash To Introduce Bill

In related news, Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) last week announced plans to introduce a separate bill to restrict abortion rights in D.C.

The legislation would require parental consent before a minor may obtain abortion care, expand "conscience protection" for individuals and health care facilities that refuse to provide abortion care, and stipulate that only physicians may provide the procedure, according to Amash (Siegelbaum, The Hill, 6/6).