Did You Expect the Stimulus Package to Include Pro-Life Components? Here They Are

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

Abortion-rights supporters stand on both sides of a street near the Gateway Arch as they take part in a protest in favor of reproductive rights Thursday, May 30, 2019, in St. Louis. A St. Louis judge heard an hour of arguments Thursday on Planned Parenthood’s request for a temporary restraining order that would prohibit the state from allowing the license for Missouri’s only abortion clinic to lapse at midnight Friday. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Advertisement

 

 

On Friday, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed a $2 trillion emergency stimulus package.

It made its way through the lower chamber after passing in the Senate to the triumphant tune of 96-0 Wednesday night.

As pointed out by the President — who signed the bill into law Friday afternoon — the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) is by far the largest economic relief in the history of the country:

“I just signed the CARES Act, the single biggest economic relief package in American History – twice as large as any relief bill ever enacted. At $2.2 Trillion Dollars, this bill will deliver urgently-needed relief for our nation’s families, workers, and businesses.”

So what’s in the pudding? Well, perhaps surprisingly, there are some pro-life protections.

As reported by The Daily Caller, part of the package guarantees that funds won’t be employed to pay for abortion.

The bill disqualifies Planned Parenthood from getting aid; it ensures healthcare appropriation is covered by the Hyde Amendment (barring the use of federal money for abortion except in cases to save the life of the mother).

Advertisement

From the bill, as provided by LifeNews:

  • Supplemental appropriations: The bill applies the pro-life protections (including the Hyde Amendment) in the most recently passed LHHS appropriations bill to the new supplemental discretionary health funding in Division B of H.R. 478. This includes the $100 billion appropriated to the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to reimburse eligible health care providers for health care related expenses or lost revenues attributable to coronavirus.
  • SEC. 23003. Unless otherwise provided for by this Act, the additional amounts appropriated by this Act to appropriations accounts shall be available under the authorities and conditions applicable to such appropriations accounts for fiscal year 2020. (pg. 878)

Additionally, CARES extends the Sexual Risk and Education Program.

From the SREP’s official website:

The purpose of the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) Program is to fund projects to implement sexual risk avoidance education that teaches participants how to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity. SRAE Programs also teach the benefits associated with:

  • self-regulation
  • success sequencing for poverty prevention
  • healthy relationships
  • goal setting
  • resisting sexual coercion
  • avoiding dating violence
  • resisting youth risk behaviors such as:
  • underage drinking
  • illicit drug use

Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton told the Caller it was a victory for the pro-life cause:

Advertisement

“Republicans won critical pro-life protections in this relief package, despite a last-minute attempt by Democrats to make Planned Parenthood eligible for disaster-relief funding.”

The Susan B. Anthony List – a pro-life organization seeking to “end abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders” — praised the inclusion:

“We are thankful to President Trump and our pro-life Congressional leaders for ensuring the CARES Act includes vital pro-life protections to ensure that these massive funding streams cannot be used as slush funds for the big abortion industry led by Planned Parenthood.”

Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood’s fighting the restrictions of our current state of shutdown — as I covered Thursday, the group is suing the state of Texas for banning services after declaring abortion “non-essential.”

See much more on that here.

SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser had thoughts on that:

“[The abortion industry] refuses to stop its abortion enterprise, using up precious personal protective equipment on elective abortions and unashamedly promoting dangerous surgical and chemical abortions.”

“We thank elected officials across the country,” she said, “who refuse to give them a free pass and are holding them accountable. Their shameful actions demonstrate why they don’t deserve a dime in the CARES Act, given that they truly don’t care.”

Advertisement

-ALEX

 

Relevant RedState links in this article: here.

See 3 more pieces from me:

Holy Moly: James Woods Grills Pelosi Like a Burger at a Wuhan Coronavirus Cookout

Not a Lick of Sense: Social Media ‘Influencer’ Who Tongued a Toilet Seat Now Claims to Have Caught the Virus

Terrence K. Williams Posts a Hilarious Response to Madonna’s Wuhan Bathtub Broadcast

Find all my RedState work here.

And please follow Alex Parker on Twitter and Facebook.

Thank you for reading! Please sound off in the Comments section below. 

Recommended

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Trending on RedState Videos