Sen. Kennedy pushes bill to end abortion funding overseas

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KTAL/KMSS) – Louisiana Senator John Kennedy introduces a bill to permanently stop funding for abortions overseas.

Senator Kennedy joined fellow Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah to introduce the “Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act.”

The bill would forbid funding for foreign non-governmental organizations that perform or promote abortions. It would codify a previous policy formerly known as the “Mexico City Policy” now referred to as the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy that was first instituted by President Ronald Reagan and has been rescinded and reinstated by various administrations. President Donald Trump expanded this policy to close previously existing loopholes and renamed it the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy.

“America shouldn’t fund abortions in foreign countries—no matter which party holds the White House. It’s time for Congress to show some moral clarity on this issue once and for all by passing this bill,” Senator Kennedy said.

“In our quest to build a society where every precious human life is protected, we cannot allow the tax dollars of American families to be used against the most vulnerable people in our country and across the world: the unborn,” said Lee.

Sens. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) cosponsored the legislation.