SLC Times

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced four critical pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the unborn. The bills include the Abortion is not Health Care Act, the Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act, the Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act, and the Guaranteeing the Unborn Access to Respect and Dignity (GUARD) Act.

The Abortion is not Health Care Act would end the tax deductibility of abortions and clarify that abortion is not considered health care. Sen. Lee explains, "Our laws and use of taxpayer money should reflect the truth that each human life, born and unborn, has immeasurable dignity and worth." The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit elective abortion expenses from being considered eligible for a medical expense deduction. Several senators, including Sens. Hagerty, Braun, Thune, Rubio, Daines, Cramer, Blackburn, Hawley, and Hyde-Smith, have cosponsored the bill.

The Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act aims to end the preferential tax treatment of abortion in health savings accounts. Currently, individuals can use tax-advantaged funds from various health accounts for abortion expenses. This legislation would explicitly prevent abortions from receiving special tax advantages through the use of these accounts. Sens. Hagerty, Braun, Rubio, Cramer, Blackburn, and Hyde-Smith are among the cosponsors of the bill.

The Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act seeks to ensure that foreign aid does not fund or promote abortions overseas. The bill would permanently codify the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance (PLGHA) policy, which was implemented by the Trump Administration. This policy prohibits family planning foreign assistance funds from going to organizations that provide or promote abortions or advocate for changes in abortion laws. With President Biden rescinding the policy in 2021, Sen. Lee emphasizes the need for Congress to reaffirm the dignity of unborn human lives and save countless lives across the globe. Several senators, including Sens. Marshall, Blackburn, Hyde-Smith, Lankford, Rubio, Tim Scott, Budd, Braun, Cramer, Kennedy, Hagerty, Johnson, Young, Daines, Cotton, Fischer, Thune, Ricketts, Rounds, Hawley, and Paul, have cosponsored the bill. Supporting groups include CatholicVote and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

The GUARD Act aims to ensure that the United States Coast Guard is held to the same standards as other branches of the military regarding the prohibition of using federal funds for abortions. Currently, the Coast Guard, operating under the Department of Homeland Security, can use taxpayer dollars for abortion-related activities, unlike other military branches. The GUARD Act seeks to close this loophole by explicitly prohibiting the use of federal funds for abortions and related travel expenses within the Coast Guard. Sen. Thune, a cosponsor of the bill, states, "Preventing taxpayer dollars from being used to fund abortions shouldn't be controversial." Heritage Action is among the supporting groups for this bill.

These four bills introduced by Sen. Mike Lee aim to protect the unborn and ensure that taxpayer money is not used to fund or promote abortions. With several cosponsors and support from various organizations, these bills reflect the shared commitment to the dignity and worth of every human life, born and unborn.