U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, delivered the following remarks today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of an amendment offered by Representatives Joseph Pitts (R-PA) and Bart Stupak (D-MI), an amendment that would prohibit federal funding of abortions under the Pelosi health care plan:

“I rise in support of the amendment offered by my colleagues, Mr. Pitts of Pennsylvania and Mr. Stupak of Michigan, and commend them for their work on this issue. While my support of this amendment will not change my opposition to the Pelosi health care bill, I do believe it represents an important part of this debate. 

“An overwhelming majority of Americans, including many who advocate for abortion, oppose using federal dollars to fund abortions. Doing so violates the deeply held beliefs of millions of Americans who believe abortion is morally wrong.  The right to life is a not a political issue, but a moral one.  As members of Congress we have a responsibility to respect the moral beliefs of a vast majority of the American people.

“How the federal government spends taxpayer dollars says a great deal about who we are as a nation.  That is why I urge my colleagues to prevent federal dollars from funding abortions. Let us stand for life and stand for freedom.  Support the Pitts/Stupak amendment and vote ‘no’ on the Pelosi health care bill.”