Lankford Criticizes Biden’s Move to Force Taxpayers to Pay for Abortion Overseas

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued a statement after President Joe Biden’s Administration signed a Presidential Memorandum to repeal the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy (PLGHA), often referred to as the expanded “Mexico City Policy,” that banned US taxpayer dollars from supporting international organizations that promote or perform abortion, as well as organizations that support other organizations that promote or perform abortion:

“The day before virtual marchers come together to stand for life, President Biden chose to ignore the voices of millions of Americans who believe life begins at conception. They do not want their federal tax dollars used to promote or provide abortion in foreign countries. I am disappointed that President Biden has backtracked on an issue that was once supposedly important to him at the expense of taxpayer dollars and unborn children. We should at least agree that no taxpayer should be forced to subsidize the abortion industry through their tax dollars, especially in other countries where culture, religious beliefs, and laws often respect unborn life. Repealing the Mexico City Policy allows US tax dollars to fund international organizations that promote and perform an abortion. This is not a step to unify a deeply divided nation.” 

Lankford applauded President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum in 2017 to reinstate the Mexico City Policy as well as Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s decision to further expand it. He has also consistently supported the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” which would establish a permanent, government-wide prohibition of taxpayer funding for abortion. Similar policies, such as the Hyde Amendment, currently require annual passage and do not apply to Obamacare. He has also cosponsored the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Act, which would make PLGHA permanent. 

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