March for Life

Hyde Amendment

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5 Facts to Know About the Life-Saving Hyde Amendment

When you fly on a plane, on average 1 or 2 of those lives have been saved by the Hyde Amendment, according to the research of the Charlotte Lozier Institute.

Because of Henry Hyde’s life-saving work, millions of babies can celebrate their birthday. The policy which shares his name has been referred to one of the most important public health initiatives in history, credited with saving literally millions of lives since its enactment. Sadly it is also under attack by pro-abortion forces and lawmakers who want abortion to be free for all women and paid for by taxpayers like yourself.

Here’s what you need to know about the Hyde Amendment:

1. The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal Medicaid dollars from paying for abortion.

2. The Hyde Amendment was first enacted by Congress in 1976 and has been passed each year since then with bipartisan support.

3. Most Americans oppose their tax dollars paying for abortion.

4. Publicly funded abortions were happening in the 1970s at a high rate. Since the passage of the Hyde Amendment, the abortion rate has dropped significantly.

5. Since its enactment, an estimated 2.13 million lives have been saved due to the Hyde Amendment. (Read more on this data from Dr. Michael New in his report for the Lozier Institute, “Hyde @ 40: Analyzing the Impact of the Hyde Amendment.”)

While we still have our work cut out for us to make abortion unthinkable in the United States, the Hyde Amendment has been a policy that has aided in building a culture of life, through education and literally saving over 2 million lives since 1976.

WATCH: March for Life President Jeanne Mancini and Charlotte Lozier Institute President Chuck Donovan discuss the cultural and policy factors contributing to “why life is winning” in America.

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Honoring the Life of a Pro-Life Hero: Mark Gallagher

 

“The Power of One” was the 2017 March for Life theme.  That theme was made manifest in a gentle man with a giant heart, who showered his gifts on the pro-life movement. Today I had the privilege of attending the funeral of Deacon Mark Gallagher, a man, who, in the words of Congressman Chris Smith, was a “pro-life unsung hero,” working tirelessly as a pro-life lobbyist for the United States Catholic Bishops for 33 years. (Click HERE or the Congressional Record image to read the full statement from Congressman Smith.)

He passed away last week at the age of 75. He was a beloved husband to Kathy and father to Mark, Kim, Andrew, Lillian, David, Judy, Charles, Kate, and John. He was selfless, a “rock”, and a font of wisdom, as described to the packed church, including dozens of priests and a bishop.

While his family and friends are painfully grieving Mark’s sudden loss, there was overwhelming peace during the mass and a profound sense of the fruitfulness of his life.

One of his most significant legislative accomplishments was contributing to the enactment of the Hyde Amendment in 1976, which prohibits taxpayer dollars paying for most abortions. The Hyde Amendment is undoubtedly the single most effective pro-life public policy in the history of the United States; a study published in 2016 by Dr. Michael New showed that the Hyde Amendment has saved at least two million lives in its time.

Such an impact on our culture often comes at personal cost. Mark had war wounds from striving daily to fight the culture of darkness with a culture of life, love, light. He loved the Lord and lived his life totally centered on Him. His life and his sufferings bore inestimable fruit, much like the grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies in order to bear fruit.

Mark Gallagher lived a beautiful life, centered on love. He perfectly embodied “the power of one.” May we all be inspired by his story to respond generously to God’s call and be the instrument that seeks the good of all.