How They Voted
Tracking elected officials votes on
pro-life and pro-family bills.
“The teaching is clear. Abortion and support for abortion are wrong. No informed Catholic can claim that either action is free of moral implications, and certainly no one should be led to believe, because of someone else's voting record, that this teaching about abortion is uncertain.”
Archbishop of Washington Donald W.Wuerl - May 5, 2008
Most Recent Votes
from House and Senate
- Senate:Cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood (04/14/2011, Roll Call No. 60) 04/14/2011 --
H. Con. Res. 36 was a bill, supported by National Right to Life, to cut off all federal funds to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates, for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. PPFA is the nation's major provider of abortions, which account for over one-third of the income of PPFA-affiliated clinics. The bill failed, with 42 senators (all Republicans) voting in support (pro-life), and 58 (53 Democrats and five Republicans) voting against it. (60 votes were required for approval.) Roll call no. 60, April 14, 2011. - NRTL view Catholic senators votes
- House: Defunding Planned Parenthood: The Pence Amendment 62 Catholic Politicans Oppose Ending Planned Parenthood Funding
During consideration of an appropriations bill (H.R. 1) to fund all federal agencies through September 30, 2011, Rep. Mike Pence (R-In.) offered an amendment to prohibit any federal funds, from any program, from going to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) or its affiliates, which were listed by name in the text of the amendment. The Pence Amendment was adopted, 240 to 185, with one House member voting "present" and seven members not voting. NRTL
- DISCLOSE Act (restrictions on free speech about federal politicians) (06/24/2010, Roll Call No. 391) National Right to Life opposed this bill stating the following: " The overriding purpose of the legislation is "to discourage, as much as possible, disfavored groups (such as NRLC) from communicating about officeholders, by exposing citizens who support such efforts to harassment and intimidation, and by smothering organizations in layer on layer of record keeping and reporting requirements, all backed by the threat of civil and criminal sanctions." Nevertheless, the House passed the bill by a vote of 219 to 206. It was supported by 217 Democrats and two Republicans. It was opposed by 36 Democrats and 170 Republicans. "
- Stupak-Pitts Amendment (to prohibit federal funding of abortion and federal subsidies for insurance coverage of abortion) (11/08/2009, Roll Call No. 884) The Stupak-Pitts Amendment removed two major pro-abortion components from H.R. 3962. Specifically: (1) the amendment would permanently prohibit a proposed new federal government insurance program, the "public option," from paying for abortion, except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest; and (2) the amendment would permanently prohibit the use of proposed new federal premium subsidies ("affordability credits") to purchase private insurance plans that cover abortion (except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest). The Stupak-Pitts Amendment was approved, 240 to 194. The pro-life amendment was supported by 176 Republicans and 64 Democrats. It was opposed by 194 Democrats. One Republican withheld his support by voting "present." - NRTL
- Catholic Senators Vote to Advance Reid Healthcare Bill Allowing Federal Funding for Abortions The Senate voted for cloture 60-39, allowing Senator Reid's healthcare bill to begin debate with the full Senate when senators return to Washington following the Thanksgiving break. Prior to the vote three pro-life Republican Senators; Johanns, Brownback and Hatch urged pro-life Democrats to "stand for life" and vote "no" on cloture.
- 16 Catholic Senators Vote Against Restrictions on Abortion Funding Ten Catholic Senators Vote to Support Nelson-Hatch amendment - Sixteen Catholic Senators Vote to Table (Kill) pro-life amendment that would restrict federal funding of abortion in healthcare bill - All Senators voting against restrictions have received at least $60,000 from abortion lobby groups.
- Senators Vote to Include discounts to Planned Parenthood in Iraq Funding Bill The U.S. Senate voted on an amendment to the War Supplemental Appropriations Bill on May 22. Democrats, led by Sen. Barack Obama, had inserted language to help Planned Parenthood into the domestic-spending portion of this troop-funding bill. The Senate passed the amendment 75-22.
- Senate Appropriations Committee votes for Lautenberg amendment to make permanent Obama's repeal of the Mexico City Policy
Seven pro-abortion Catholic senators voted to support the funding of abortions abroad with federal taxpayer money, all Democrats: Mikulski (MD), Reed (RI), Leahy (VT), Harkin (IA), Murray (WA), Durbin (IL), and Landrieu (LA).
On Friday Sen. Lautenberg introduced an amendment to the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that would permanently repeal the Mexico City Policy which prohibits the federal funding of abortions through U.S. aid supplied to international clinics. President Obama signed an executive order shortly after taking office repealing this policy however to make it a permanent law it needs to be done legislatively by Congress. The Democrat majority committee voted 18-12 along party lines to support Lautenberg's amendment . If passed it would prevent a future pro-life president from reversing Obama's executive order.
- Pence Amendment to DeFund Planned Parenthood Fails 84 Catholic Members of Congress Oppose the Pence Amendment - Pence amendment to eliminate millions of dollars in federal funds for Planned Parenthood failed 247-183. The amendment was attached to an appropriations bill that funds the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS).
- Wicker Amendment: Funding of the United Nations Population Fund Prohibits funding appropriated for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) from being used by organizations which support coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. Fifteen Catholic Senators fail to protect the life of the unborn.
- Funding of overseas pro-abortion groups ("Mexico City Policy") (01/28/2009, Roll Call No. 19)
Senator Mel Martinez (R-Fl.) offered an amendment to an unrelated bill (H.R. 2), to deny U.S. "population assistance" or "family planning" funds to nongovernmental organization that "performs or actively promotes abortion as a method of birth control" overseas. This amendment, if enacted, would have restored the pro-life "Mexico City Policy," which was applied by President George W. Bush from 2001-2008, but overturned by President Barack Obama on January 23, 2009. NRTL
- Health coverage for "unborn child" (SCHIP) (01/29/2009, Roll Call No. 26)
The State Children's Health Insurance (SCHIP) program is a federal program that provides funds to states primarily to provide health services to children of low-income families. Under a regulation issued by the Bush Administration in 2002, states have the option of covering unborn children under the program, a policy known as the "unborn child rule." However, since this is an administrative rule, it could be changed by a different administration. Therefore, during consideration of legislation to reauthorize and expand the SCHIP program (H.R. 2), Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) offered an NRLC-backed amendment to codify the "unborn child rule." NRTL
- War Supplemental Appropriations Bill
Senators Vote to Include discounts to Planned Parenthood in Iraq Funding Bill
- 17 Catholic Senators Vote Against Pro-Life Amendments
- HR 3043 Pence Amendment: To prohibit use of funds in the bill for Planned Parenthood. Failed by recorded vote: 189 - 231 (Roll no. 684).
- HR 2764 Smith Amendment: To maintain the Mexico City Policy which prevents overseas funding of abortion. Amendment Failed 205 - 218
- HR2764 Pitts of Pennsylvania Amendment: An amendment sponsored by Representative Joe Pitts (R-Penn.) that would have protected designated funds for abstinence programs in combating AIDS worldwide. Failed 200 - 226
U.S. Senate
Voting results from the United States Senate
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U.S. House of Representatives
Voting results from the United States House of Representatives
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Liberal and special-interest PAC donations to elected officials