1999 Pro-Life Scorecard: U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1.  Chemically Induced Abortion (RU-486):  On  June 8, the House voted 217-214 to prohibit the Food and Drug Administration from testing, developing, or approving drugs for chemically induced abortion (such as RU-486).

2.  Abortion on Military Bases:  On June 9, an attempt to repeal a pro-life law that prohibits U.S. military medical facilities from performing abortions, except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape incest, failed 203-225.

3-4.  Child Custody Protection Act:  Vote 3: The House voted 164-268 against an attempt to gut a bill that would make it a federal crime to transport a minor across a state line for an abortion, if this circumvents a state law requiring parental or judicial involvement in the minor’s abortion decision.    Vote 4:  The House passed the Child Custody Protection Act, 270-159.

5.  Abortion Insurance for Federal Employees:  On July 15, an attempt to remove a provision prohibiting abortion coverage for federal employees’ health benefits (except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest), failed 188-230.

6.  United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):  On July 20, the House voted 221-198 to give up to $25 million to UNFPA.  The UNFPA participates in China’s coercive population-control program and promotes abortion in various ways.

7.  Foreign Aid for Abortion Promoting Organizations:  On July 29, the House voted, 228-200, to cut off U.S. population-control assistance to any private organization that works to weaken foreign abortion laws.

8.  Funding of Abortion by Bureau of Prisons:  On August 4, the House rejected, 160-268, an  attempt to remove a pro-life provision prohibiting the federal Bureau of Prisons from paying for abortions, except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape.

9.  Campaign Finance Reform:  On Sept. 14, the House voted for the Shays-Meehan Campaign Reform bill, 252-177.  This bill will restrict the right of citizen groups to freely criticize or praise the positions or voting records of members of Congress or other federal politicians in communications to the public.

10-11. Unborn Victims of Violence Act:  The Unborn Victims of Violence Act would establish punishments for those who injure or kill an unborn child while committing a federal crime.  On Sept. 30, opponents to the bill offered an amendment that would not recognize the unborn child as a victim of the crime which failed, 201-224 (vote 10).  The House then passed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, 254-172 (vote 11).

12-13.  Pain Relief Promotion Act:  This bill would prevent the prescription of federally controlled drugs for assisted suicide or euthanasia, while fostering their use to alleviate pain.  On Oct. 27, a “killer substitute” amendment which would have removed the provisions to prevent prescriptions for euthanasia failed, 188-239.  The Pain Relief Promotion Act then passed, 271-156.

*Co-sponsor of pro-life Partial-Birth Abortion Ban