Biden budget aims to help vulnerable but excludes unborn

Biden budget aims to help vulnerable but excludes unborn Archbishop Naumann Photo: Catholic Herald

The chairman of the US bishops’ pro-life committee Archbishop Joseph Naumann called on Congress May 28 to preserve the Hyde Amendment in any federal budget proposal and “to work toward a budget that truly builds up the common good of all”.

The head of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, Mercy Sister Mary Haddad, likewise called on Congress to support “the long-standing prohibition of federal funding for abortion and maintain the Hyde Amendment”.

Earlier the same day, President Joe Biden unveiled his proposed budget of $6 trillion for fiscal year 2022 that would include spending to improve and modernise the nation’s infrastructure, provide free pre-schooling and community college, and increase domestic programs.

His plan does not include the Hyde Amendment, which has been included in spending bills since 1976 to prohibit federal tax dollars from directly funding abortion except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the woman would be endangered.