Senator Mike Lee Demands End of Taxpayer-Funded Abortions for Congressional Staff

U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led a bicameral letter today with Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and a large coalition from both the House and Senate urging the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to stop administering taxpayer-funded health care plans that include elective abortion coverage for members of Congress and their staff.

Legislation passed in 1984 makes subsidizing elective abortions with federal funds illegal. In violation of this law, nearly every health plan offered for Congressional employees includes coverage for elective abortions. The letter demands that health care options for Congress are brought into alignment with the law.

The letter reads as follows:

“We urge you to stop the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from administering government contributions for Members of Congress and Congressional staff in connection with health insurance plans that cover elective abortion, in violation of the longstanding Smith (NJ) Amendment. ---More...