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HYDE-SMITH JOINS AMICUS BRIEF CHALLENGING EXTREME HHS ABORTION AGENDA
Miss. Senator Supports Lankford Brief Challenging Suspension HHS Grant Funding for Not Promoting Abortions
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) is among four fellow Senators who have signed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court led by U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) that supports a challenge to the Biden administration’s decision to withhold health care funding from Oklahoma unless the state refers women for abortions.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2023 suspended Title X Family Planning grant funding to the Oklahoma State Department of Health because of that agency’s refusal to refer for abortions. This action violates the long-standing Weldon Amendment, which like the Hyde Amendment, bars HHS from using federal funding to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.
“The Biden administration’s decision to withhold crucial healthcare funding unless Oklahoma capitulates to its extreme abortion agenda is not just wrong, it sets a dangerous and coercive precedent. Access to essential healthcare should not be held hostage to advance a political agenda,” said Hyde-Smith, Senate Pro-Life Caucus chair. “I’m proud to join Senator Lankford in this amicus brief to defend Oklahoma’s right to protect life and prevent the weaponization of federal funds.”
“President Biden is obsessed with abortion on demand. Oklahomans should not have to miss out on funding for critical health services for women, including AIDS testing and cancer screenings, because of the administration’s extreme abortion agenda. I am proud to lead my colleagues on this brief that puts actual health care ahead of abortion,” said Lankford.
The Lankford-led friend of the court brief was also signed by U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.). U.S. Congressman Michael Guest (R-Miss.) is among 13 members of the House of Representatives who also signed the brief.
The amicus brief, which was filed last week by Americans United for Life on behalf of the lawmakers, argues:
- The Weldon amendment robustly protects the conscientious objections of health care institutions, such as the Oklahoma Department of Health.
- The Weldon Amendment protects all health care objectors regardless of the reason for the objection.
- Caselaw views conscientious objections from the perspective of the objector.
