WASHINGTON, DC -- Nearly half a century has passed since the United States Supreme Court effectively legalized abortion through the historic decision of Roe v. Wade on January 22, 1973, leading to more than 60 million abortions nationwide. Taking action to protect the sanctity of life, Congressman Hal Rogers has consistently and effectively supported pro-life legislation during his time in Washington. As the 117th Congress begins, ten of the first bills that Congressman Rogers is cosponsoring in the U.S. House of Representatives will continue the fight to protect the lives of the unborn. 

"The anniversary of Roe v. Wade is a reminder that one person can impact the world and it is my goal to continue giving a voice to the innocent unborn babies in America," said Congressman Rogers. "House Democrats have stopped several of these bills before, and with liberal pro-choice leaders now controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to stand up for the right to life, even when the odds are against these innocent children."

The recent comprehensive federal appropriations bill that was passed into law for fiscal year 2021 also maintained long-standing pro-life provisions, including the Hyde Amendment which prohibits taxpayer funding for abortions. It also banned FDA approval for the creation or genetic modification of human embryos, among other pro-life protections. 

Congressman Rogers is cosponsoring the following pro-life legislation: 

1. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act: The bill prohibits any person from performing an abortion on an unborn child who is 20 weeks or older. According to medical research, an unborn child can feel pain at this post-fertilization age. 

2. Life at Conception Act: The bill declares that life begins at the moment of conception and seeks to entitle the unborn to legal protection under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. 

3. Defund Planned Parenthood Act: While Planned Parenthood cannot access federal funding for abortions, this act would also ensure that neither the parent company, its affiliates nor associated clinics, will be able to apply for or be reimbursed federal dollars for any other medical services, unless they certify that they will not perform abortions at any of their facilities. The legislation authorizes $235 million to be reallocated to the thousands of comprehensive community health centers which do not perform abortions.

4. Born-Alive Abortion Survivor Protection Act: The legislation requires appropriate medical care for infants who survive abortion procedures and imposes strong criminal penalties for failure to provide such care. It also protects their mothers from prosecution. 

5. Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act: The act prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from providing federal family planning grants and funds for any other services to entities that perform abortions. 

6. Protecting Life in Crisis Act: The bill prohibits any funds that are authorized or appropriated for the purposes of preventing, preparing for, or responding to the COVID–19 pandemic, domestically and internationally, from being used for abortions or abortion insurance coverage. In addition, this bill addresses any attempts to use refundable tax credits to purchase insurance coverage on the exchanges or for COBRA continuation coverage. 

7. Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act: The legislation prohibits taxpayer funded research using fetal tissue obtained from an elective abortion while holding individuals or groups who seek to profit from the sale of fetal tissue accountable.

8. Women’s Public Health and Safety Act: The bill amends Section 1902 of the Social Security Act to clarify that states have the ability to deny funding to abortion providers through state Medicaid programs.

9. Protecting the Dignity of Unborn Children Act: In an effort to bring dignity to the handling of aborted fetuses, this legislation would make it a federal crime to dispose of aborted babies in landfills or any navigable waters.

10. National Sanctity of Life Day Resolution: Recognizes January 22, 2021, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, as ‘National Sanctity of Life Day’ and reaffirms the House’s commitment to morally object to the legalization of abortion and recognizes the work of faith-based health and family planning centers.

For more information about Congressman Rogers' work in Washington and Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District, visit halrogers.house.gov.