Highlights:
Hurd: “I’m Pro-Life, I Believe Life Begins At Conception, And I’m Going To Vote That Way In Congress.” According to YouTube “HURD: I’m pro-life, I believe life begins at conception, and I’m going to vote that way in Congress.” [YouTube, 4/11/10]
Hurd: “If Congress Put A 15-Week Ban On My Desk, I Would Sign It.” According to NPR, “Will Hurd, who served in the CIA for a decade and as a member of the House of Representatives from Texas for six years, said that he was running for president because he believes the country is facing generational challenges — including artificial intelligence, competition with China, a struggling education system and precarious civic health. […] ‘If Congress put a 15-week ban on my desk, I would sign it.’” [NPR, 7/31/23]
2017: Hurd Voted For The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, Which Banned Abortion After 20-Weeks. In October 2017, Hurd voted for legislation banning abortion after the fetus is 20-weeks old. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Passage of the bill that would prohibit abortions in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later and would impose criminal penalties on doctors who violate the ban. It would provide exceptions for cases in which the woman’s life is in danger as well as for pregnancies that are a result of rape for pregnancies that are a result of rape against an adult woman, if the woman received counseling or medical treatment for the rape at least 48 hours prior to the abortion. An exception would be provided for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest against a minor if the rape or incest had been previously reported to law enforcement or another government agency authorized to act on reports of child abuse. The bill would require a second doctor trained in neonatal resuscitation to be present for abortions where the fetus has the ‘potential’ to survive outside the womb.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 237 to 189. [House Vote 549, 10/3/17; Congressional Quarterly, 10/3/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 36]
2015: Hurd Voted For A Bill That Would Prohibit Abortions After 20-Weeks Gestation. In May 2015, Hurd voted for a bill that would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks of gestation and would impose criminal penalties on doctors that violated the ban. According to Congressional Quarterly, the amendment would, “prohibit abortions in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later and would impose criminal penalties on doctors who violate the ban. It would provide exceptions for cases in which the woman’s life is in danger as well as for pregnancies that are a result of rape if, as amended, for pregnancies that are a result of rape against an adult woman, the woman received counseling or medical treatment for the rape at least 48 hours prior to the abortion. An exception would be provided for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest against a minor if the rape or incest had been previously reported to law enforcement or another government agency authorized to act on reports of child abuse. As amended, the bill would require a second doctor trained in neonatal resuscitation to be present for abortions where the fetus has the ‘potential’ to survive outside the womb, and, if the fetus is born alive, the bill would require that the infant be provided medical care and immediately be transported and admitted to a hospital. As amended, women wishing to have abortions under the bill’s exceptions would need to sign (along with the doctor and a witness) an informed consent authorization form detailing the age of the fetus and stating that, if born alive, would be given medical assistance and transported to a hospital.” The vote was on passage and the House passed the bill 242 to 184. Cloture on the motion to proceed on the bill was blocked in the Senate. [House Vote 223, 5/13/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/13/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/12/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 36]
HURD EFFECTIVELY VOTED AGAINST ALLOWING EXCEPTIONS TO ABORTION BANS IF THE HEALTH OF THE WOMAN WAS IN DANGER
2017: Hurd Effectively Voted Against Allowing An Exception For The Health Of The Mother From A 20-Week Abortion Ban. In October 2017, Hurd effectively voted against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “add[ed] an exception to the 20-week abortion ban for abortions necessary to save the health of the pregnant woman.” The underlying legislation was a 20-week abortion ban. The House rejected the motion to recommit by a vote of 187 to 238. [House Vote 548, 10/3/17; Congressional Quarterly, 10/3/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 36]
2015: Hurd Effectively Voted Against Allowing An Exception To A 20-Week Abortion Ban If The Health Of The Woman Was In Danger. In May 2015, Hurd effectively voted against an exception to a 20-week abortion ban for when the life of the pregnant woman was at risk. According to the Congressional Quarterly, the legislation was a motion to “recommit the bill to the House Judiciary Committee with instructions to report back immediately with an amendment that would add an exception to the 20-week abortion ban for abortions necessary to save the health of the pregnant woman.” The larger legislation was HR 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would have prohibited “an abortion from being performed if the probably post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater” except where it is necessary to save the life of the mother, or in the case of rape or incest if the woman had had counseling and had reported the incident. The vote was on a motion to recommit with instructions and the House rejected the motion 181 to 246. H.R. 36 passed the House on May 13, 2015 in a vote 242 to 184. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 222, 5/13/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/13/15; Congress.gov, 5/13/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 36]
2018: Hurd Voted For The So-Called “Born-Alive” Abortion Survivors Protection Act Which Required Health Care Workers Care For An Infant Born Instead Of Aborted Resultant From A Failed Abortion. In January 2018, Hurd voted for legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “require[d] health care practitioners to provide care to an infant born alive during a failed abortion that is equivalent to the care they would provide to any other infant born at the same gestational age. It would [have] impose[d] criminal fines, and penalties of up to five years in prison, for failure to do so, and would provide for a patient in such circumstances to file a lawsuit against the health care provider for certain monetary and punitive damages. The bill would [have] require[d] hospital and clinic practitioners and employees to report any knowledge of failures to provide such care to the appropriate state or federal law enforcement agency, and would [have] permit[ted] prosecution of individuals who fail to do so.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 241 to 183. [House Vote 36, 1/19/18; Congressional Quarterly, 1/19/18; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4712]
2015: Hurd Voted For The So-Called “Born-Alive” Abortion Survivors Protection Act. In September 2015, Hurd voted for a bill that would have imposed criminal penalties on doctors who do not give appropriate care to an infant born during an abortion. According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have “require[d] health care practitioners to give the same level of care to an infant born alive during a failed abortion as they would give to any other infant born at the same gestational age. The bill also would [have] require[d] health care practitioners to ensure that these infants are immediately sent to a hospital. Health care practitioners and hospital and abortion clinic employees who know about a violation would be required to report the failure to comply with these requirements to law enforcement. People who violate these requirements regarding level of care and reporting violations would be subject to criminal fines or up to five years in prison, or both. The bill would prohibit the prosecution of mothers of born-alive infants for either conspiracy to violate born-alive protections or as accessory to the crime. The bill also would allow mothers to file lawsuits against health care providers who fail to appropriately care for born-alive infants from failed abortions.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the legislation by a vote of 248 to 177. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 506, 9/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 9/18/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3504]
2019: Hurd Voted For An Amendment To The FY 2020 Minibus That Would Allow The Department Of Health And Human Services To Enforce Conscientious Objections Protections Related To Abortion. In June 2019, Hurd voted for a bill that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, “strike from the bill a provision prohibiting funds authorized by the bill to be used to enforce a May 2019 Health and Human Services Department rule regarding enforcement of conscientious objection protections related to abortion and other health provisions under HHS programs.” The vote was on adoption of the amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 192-230. [House Vote 266, 6/12/19; Congressional Quarterly, 6/12/19; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 267; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2740]
2016: Hurd Voted To Bar Governments From Discriminating Against A Health Care Provider Because They Do Not Cover Abortion. In July 2016, Hurd voted for a bill related to the so-called “Conscience Clause,” often related to abortion coverage. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Passage of the bill, as amended, that would prohibit federal, state, and local governments that receive federal financial assistance from discriminating against a health care provider because the provider does not provide or sponsor abortion coverage, and would provide a complaint process and civil actions for violations through the Health and Human Services and Justice departments.” The vote was on passage. The House adopted the bill by a vote of 245 to 182. The bill was earlier passed by the House, but with different legislative text related to motor vehicle safety whistleblowers; the Senate took no substantive action on the new legislation. [House Vote 443, 7/13/16; Congressional Quarterly, 7/13/16; Congressional Actions, S. 304]
2017: Hurd Voted Against D.C.’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act. In September 2017, Hurd voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “prohibit[ed] any funds appropriated by the bill from being used to implement the District of Columbia’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act.” The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 214 to 194. The House later passed the underlying legislation. [House Vote 518, 9/14/17; Congressional Quarterly, 9/14/17; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 432; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3354]
2016: Hurd Voted To Prohibit Funding From Being Used To Implement Washington, D.C.’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act. In July 2016, Hurd voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “prohibit[ed] funds from being used to implement the District of Columbia’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act.” The underlying legislation was an FY 2017 financial services appropriations bill. The vote was on the amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 223 to 192. The House later passed the underlying bill, but the Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 390, 7/7/16; Congressional Quarterly, 7/7/16; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 1259; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5485]
2015: Hurd Voted To Disapprove Washington D.C.’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act Of 2014, Which Prohibited Employers From Discriminating Based On Individual’s Reproductive Health Decisions. In April 2015, Hurd voted for a joint resolution that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “provide[d] for disapproval and repeal of the District of Columbia’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014, which prohibits employers from discriminating based on an individual’s reproductive health decisions.” The vote was on the joint resolution. The House passed the joint resolution by a vote of 228 to 192. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation, which because of a 30 day deadline Congress has to overturn D.C. Council-passed bills, renders the legislation moot. [House Vote 194, 4/30/15; Congressional Quarterly, 4/30/15; Congressional Quarterly, 4/30/15; Congressional Actions, H. J. Res. 43]
2017: Hurd Voted To Permanently Ban Federal Funding For Abortion Services. In January 2017, Hurd voted for codifying the Hyde Amendment. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Passage of the bill that would permanently prohibit federal funds from being used to pay for abortion services or health insurance plans that include abortion coverage. It also would prohibit the District of Columbia from using its own local funds to provide or pay for abortions. Individuals and small businesses also could not receive tax credits under the 2010 health care law related to purchases of health insurance plans that include abortion coverage. The bill would require the Office of Personnel Management to ensure that, starting in 2018, no multistate qualified health plan offered in a state insurance exchange provides coverage that includes abortion. The provisions would not apply to pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, or to situations where the woman would die unless an abortion is performed.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 238 to 183. The Senate has not yet acted on the legislation. [House Vote 65, 1/24/17; Congressional Quarterly, 1/24/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7]
2015: Hurd Voted For Permanently Banning Federal Funds To Pay For Abortion Or Abortion Coverage, Forcing Insurance Companies To Display Prominently When They Cover Abortion And Provide Exception For Rape, Incest, Or To Save Mother’s Life. In January 2015, Hurd voted for permanently banning federal funds for abortion, abortion coverage and provide exceptions for rape, incest and the mother’s health in life threatening situations. According to Congressional Quarterly, “This bill permanently prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for abortion or abortion coverage, prohibits federal medical facilities and health professionals from providing abortion services, and prohibits individuals and small businesses from receiving federal subsidies and tax credits under the 2010 health care overhaul to purchase health care plans that cover abortions. The measure provides an exception for abortions in cases of rape or incest and for saving the life of the mother. It also requires all qualified health plans that provide abortion coverage to prominently disclose that fact to enrollees at the time of enrollment, as well as to prominently display such information in any marketing or advertising materials, plan comparison tools or summaries of benefits and coverage.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill 242 to 179. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 45, 1/22/15; Congressional Quarterly, 1/24/15; Congressional Quarterly, Accessed 10/1/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 7]
2016: Hurd Effectively Voted Against Allowing Federal Employees’ Health Plans To Cover Any Aspect Of Abortion. In July 2016, Hurd voted against an amendment that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, “strike[n] a section of the bill that would [have] prohibit[ed] funds from being used to pay for an abortion or administrative expenses in connection with any health plan under the federal employees health benefits program which provides benefits or coverage for abortions.” The underlying legislation was an FY 2017 financial services appropriations bill. The vote was on the amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 177 to 245. The House later passed the underlying bill, but the Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 364, 7/6/16; Congressional Quarterly, 7/6/16; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 1233; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5485]
2015: Hurd Effectively Voted Against Allowing The NIH To Use Funds On Abortion Related Experiments. In July 2015, Hurd voted against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “strike[n] language that applies any policy riders included in annual Labor-HHS-Education and Agriculture appropriations bills to National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) funds provided by the bill.” The underlying legislation was the 21st Century Cures Act. The vote was on the amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 176 to 245. [House Vote 432, 7/10/15; Congressional Quarterly, 7/10/15; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 658; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6]
2019: Hurd Voted To Block Funding For Family Planning And Reproductive Health Through The USAID. In June 2019, Hurd voted for an amendment to the FY 2020 minibus that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, “strike from the bill a provision allocating $750 million for family planning and reproductive health programs, including in areas where population growth threatens biodiversity, from funding provided by the bill for U.S. Agency for International Development global health programs.” The vote was on adoption of the amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 188-225. [House Vote 324, 6/18/19; Congressional Quarterly, 6/18/19; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 340; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2740]
2019: Hurd Voted For The FY 2020 Minibus Appropriations Bill, Which Continued The Mexico City Restrictions On International Family-Planning Funding. In December 2019, Hurd voted for the FY 2020 minibus spending bill, which represented 8 of the 12 appropriations bills. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Within the total for global health programs, the agreement provides the FY 2019 level of $575 million for family planning and reproductive health programs. The measure does not take any actions with regard to the Mexico City restrictions on international family-planning funding that were reinstated by President Trump in January 2017, and it is silent on the May 2017 expansion of the policy, effectively leaving in place current restrictions.” The vote was a motion to concur in the Senate amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 297-120. The Senate later passed the bill and the President signed the bill into law. [House Vote 689, 12/17/19; Congressional Quarterly, 12/17/19; Congressional Actions, H.R.1865]
2015: Hurd Effectively Voted To Bar Funding For School Districts If Their Health-Centers Provide, Counsel Or Refer For Abortion Care. In February 2015, Hurd voted for a House rule on an education reform bill with self-executing language on the ‘Gag Rule’ for school based health centers. According to NARAL, the resolution would have “provide[ed] for House consideration of the legislation” for the Student Success Act. Also according to NARAL, “The self-executing rule added language denying funding for school districts unless their school-based health centers agree not to provide, counsel, or refer for abortion care.” The vote was on the resolution. The House adopted the resolution by a vote of 234 to 184. The House later passed the underlying legislation, but the final version which became law, which was different legislation, did not include the policy. [House Vote 93, 2/26/15; NARAL, 12/30/15; Congress.gov, H.R. 5; Congress.gov, H. Rept. 114-354; Public Law, 114-95; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5; Congressional Actions, H. Res. 125]
HURD VOTED FOR A TAX PLAN THAT INCLUDED SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR FETUSES, ESSENTIALLY ESTABLISHING FETAL PERSONHOOD
2017: Hurd Voted For The House GOP’s 2017 Tax Reform Plan Which Significantly Cut Taxes For The Rich And Corporations And Allowed Parents To Set Up Education Savings Accounts For A Fetus. In November 2017, Hurd voted for reconciliation legislation which significantly altered the federal tax code. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The bill substantially restructures the U.S. tax code to simplify the code and reduce taxes on individuals, corporations and small businesses. For individuals, it consolidates the current seven tax brackets down to four and eliminates or restricts many tax credits and deductions, including by eliminating the deduction for state and local income taxes and limiting the deduction for property taxes to $10,000 and the interest deduction for a home mortgage to the first $500,000 worth of a loan. […] On the business side, it reduces the corporate tax from 35% to 20% and establishes a ‘territorial’ tax system that would exempt most income derived overseas from U.S. corporate taxation. It allows businesses to immediately expense 100% of the cost of assets acquired and placed into service, and for small businesses it raises the Section 179 expensing limit to $5 million for five years. It also establishes a 25% rate for a portion of pass-through business income that would otherwise have to be paid at the ordinary individual tax level, and for small businesses where an individual would receive less than $150,000 in pass-through income it taxes the first $75,000 of that income at a 9% rate.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 227 to 205. President Trump later signed an amended version of the bill into law. [House Vote 637, 11/16/17; Congressional Quarterly, 11/15/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
2019: Hurd Voted For An Amendment To The FY 2020 Minibus That Would Make It More Difficult For Federally Funded Facilities To Provide Abortion Services. In June 2019, Hurd voted for a bill that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, “strike from the bill a provision requiring the Health and Human Services Department to administer certain family planning program grants under statutory frameworks in effect as of January 18, 2017. The provision that would be struck down would effectively block implementation of a March 2019 HHS rule related to grants for facilities providing abortions.” The vote was on adoption of the amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 191-231. [House Vote 267, 6/12/19; Congressional Quarterly, 6/12/19; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 275; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2740]
HURD VOTED TO FUND A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO PLANNED PARENTHOOD
2016: Hurd Voted To Authorize An Additional $800,000 To The Congressional Committee Investigating Planned Parenthood. In December 2016, Hurd voted for a resolution that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “allow[ed] the House Energy and Commerce Committee to spend an additional $800,000 during the remainder of the 114th Congress.” Also according to Congressional Quarterly, the resolution specifically “provide[d] more money to the panel investigating the alleged sale of fetal tissue.” The vote was on the resolution. The House agreed to the resolution by a vote of 234 to 181. [House Vote 595, 12/1/16; Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/16; Congressional Quarterly, 12/1/16; Congressional Actions, H. Res. 933]
2015: Hurd Voted To Create A Congressional Subcommittee To Investigative Issues Related To Fetal Tissue Donation. In October 2015, Hurd voted to create a Congressional subcommittee to investigate issues related to fetal tissue donation. According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have “establish[ed] a select investigative subcommittee under the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The panel would be responsible for investigating and reporting on issues related to fetal tissue donation, fetal tissue procurement, federal funding for abortion services, and late-term abortions. The panel would be composed, as amended, of 15 members selected by the speaker and minority leader, with no more than six Democrats.” The vote was on the legislation. The House passed the bill by a vote of 242 to 184. The legislation, not needing Senate approval or a presidential signature, created the committee. [House Vote 538, 10/7/15; Congressional Quarterly, 10/7/15; The Hill, 10/7/15; Congressional Actions, H. Res. 461]
2015: Hurd Voted To Defund Planned Parenthood For One Year And To Repeal Portions Of The Affordable Care Act. In October 2015, Hurd voted to defund Planned Parenthood through a reconciliation bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, the reconciliation bill would have “block[ed], for one year, federal funding for Planned Parenthood and would increase funding for community health centers by $235 million in both fiscal 2016 and 2017.” In addition, according to Congressional Quarterly, the measure would have “repeal[ed] portions of the 2010 health care law, including: the requirements for most individuals to have health insurance and employers with more than 50 employees to offer it or face penalties, the 2.3 percent tax on the sale of medical devices, the tax on certain high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans, and the Prevention and Public Health Fund.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 240 to 189. The Senate later passed a different version of the legislation, which the president vetoed, which failed to be overridden in the House. [House Vote 568, 10/23/15; Congressional Quarterly, 10/23/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3762]
2015: Hurd Voted To Allow States To Exclude Abortion Providers, Including Planned Parenthood, From Medicaid Reimbursements. In September 2015, Hurd voted for a bill that would allow states to exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid reimbursements. According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have “amend[ed] title XIX of the Social Security act to allow states to exclude medical providers who perform abortions from the state's Medicaid contracts. The bill would [have] expand[ed] the exceptions for which a state is not required to provide Medicaid reimbursements, allowing states to deny non-abortion health care reimbursements to medical providers such as Planned Parenthood.” The vote was on the bill. The House passed the bill by a vote of 236 to 193. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 524, 9/29/15; Congressional Quarterly, 9/29/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3495]
2015: Hurd Voted To Defund Planned Parenthood For One Year Unless It Ceased Offering Abortion Services. In September 2015, Hurd voted for defunding Planned Parenthood for one year. According to Congressional Quarterly, the bill would have “bar[red], for one year, federal funding for Planned Parenthood and its affiliates unless they certify that, during that period, they will not perform abortions or provide funds to other entities that perform abortions. The prohibition would apply to all federal funds, including Medicaid. The bill would provide exceptions for abortions provided in the case of rape, incest, or threat to the life of the mother. As amended, the bill would effectively redirect funds from Planned Parenthood to the community health center program; specifically, it would appropriate $235 million for community health centers, in addition to any other funds available to the program.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 241 to 187. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 505, 9/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 9/18/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3134]
2015: Hurd Voted To Withhold Funding From Planned Parenthood For One Year Unless They Certify Not To Perform Any Elective Abortions. According to a press release from the Office of Representative Will Hurd, “Today, U.S. Representative Will Hurd (R-TX) voted with 240 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives to withhold funding from Planned Parenthood for a one-year period unless they certify not to perform any elective abortions, with exceptions based on saving the life of the mother, rape, and incest. The organization has been under fire recently for the allegedly unlawful sales of fetal tissue, launching several Congressional investigations into their operation. ‘I believe that every human life is sacred, including both the mother and the child,’ says Hurd, who sits on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, one of the House Committees currently investigating Planned Parenthood. ‘No matter where you stand on the issue, these outrageous videos show an organization with a callous approach to life that taxpayers should not be forced to fund.’” [Office of Representative Will Hurd Press Release, 9/18/15]
2015: Hurd Voted To Defund Planned Parenthood As Part Of A Continuing Resolution. In September 2015, Hurd voted for defunding Planned Parenthood. According to Congressional Quarterly, the vote was on “Adoption of the concurrent resolution (H Con Res 79) that would require the House enrolling clerk to add language to the CR defunding Planned Parenthood before it is sent to the president.” The vote was on agreeing to the resolution. The House agreed to the resolution by a vote of 241 to 185. A Continuing Resolution that did not defund Planned Parenthood was signed into law. [House Vote 527, 9/30/15; Congressional Quarterly, 9/30/15; Congressional Quarterly, 9/30/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 719]
2015: Hurd Voted Against Defunding Planned Parenthood As Part Of The FY 2016 Republican Study Committee Budget Resolution. In March 2015, Hurd voted against defunding Planned Parenthood. According to the Republican Study Committee, the budget would “ensures[ed] that no taxpayer dollars flow to entities that provide abortions.” The underlying budget resolution would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “provide[d] for $2.804 trillion in new budget authority in fiscal 2016, not including off-budget accounts. The substitute would call for reducing spending by $7.1 trillion over 10 years compared to the Congressional Budget Office baseline.” The vote was on the substitute amendment to a Budget Resolution. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 132 to 294. [House Vote 138, 3/25/15; Republican Study Committee, FY 2016 Budget; Congressional Quarterly, 3/25/15; Congress.gov, H. Amdt. 83; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 27]
2016: Hurd Voted To Override President Obama’s Veto Of A Bill That Defunded Planned Parenthood. In February 2015, Hurd voted to override President Obama’s veto of a bill that according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “scrap[ed] in 2018 the law's Medicaid expansion, as well as subsidies to help individuals buy coverage through the insurance exchanges.” Additionally, according to Congressional Quarterly the bill would have “repeal[ed] portions of the 2010 health care law and block[ed] federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. As amended, the bill would zero-out the law’s penalties for noncompliance with the law’s requirements for most individuals to obtain health coverage and employers to offer health insurance.” The vote was on a veto override, which required a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House, which was 285 in the House. The House rejected the veto override by a vote of 241 to 186. [House Vote 53, 2/2/16; Congressional Quarterly, 12/3/15; Real Clear Politics, 12/4/15; Congressional Quarterly, 2/2/16; NBC News, 1/8/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3762]
2016: Hurd Voted For A Bill That Defunded Planned Parenthood. In January 2016, Hurd voted for a bill that according to Congressional Quarterly, would have “scrap[ed] in 2018 the law's Medicaid expansion, as well as subsidies to help individuals buy coverage through the insurance exchanges.” Additionally, according to Congressional Quarterly the bill would have “repeal[ed] portions of the 2010 health care law and block[ed] federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. As amended, the bill would zero-out the law’s penalties for noncompliance with the law’s requirements for most individuals to obtain health coverage and employers to offer health insurance.” The vote was on a motion to concur with the Senate amendment, which indicated final passage. The House approved the bill by a vote of 240 to 181. The Senate had already passed the measure. President Obama vetoed the legislation, which the House failed to override. [House Vote 6, 1/8/16; Congressional Quarterly, 12/3/15; Real Clear Politics, 12/4/15; NBC News, 1/8/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3762]
2017: Hurd Voted For The House GOP’s FY 2018 Omnibus That Defunded Planned Parenthood. In September 2017, Hurd voted for an FY 2018 Omnibus appropriations bill that according to The Hill, “The House on Thursday completed its work on the annual appropriations bills for 2018, ahead of expected negotiations at the end of this year to keep the government funded. By a vote of 211-198, the House passed a $1.2 trillion package of spending bills to fund wide swaths of the federal government, ranging from the Department of Homeland Security to the Environmental Protection Agency. […] The package included eight new bills, plus four previously passed appropriations bills that advanced through the House in July. Regular order for appropriations typically involved passing each of the bills individually, not in groups of 4 or 8. […] Together, the bills appropriate $621.5 billion for defense spending and $511 billion for nondefense discretionary spending. It also devotes another $87 billion in Overseas Contingency Operation (OCO) funding, which does not count toward budget cuts. Of that, $75 billion went to defense, $12 billion to nondefense.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 211 to 198. The Senate took no substantive action on the overall legislation. [House Vote 528, 9/14/17; The Hill, 9/14/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3354]
2017: Hurd Voted To Disapprove A Rule That Would Have Effectively Withheld Title X Funds To States That Restrict Title X Funds To Planned Parenthood. In February 2017, Hurd voted for disapproving the HHS rule related to Title X funding compliance via the Congressional Review Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, “This resolution disapproves the rule issued by the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) on Dec. 19, 2016, that modifies eligibility requirements for Title X grants for family planning services to specify that states and other entities awarding funds cannot prohibit a health care provider from participating for reasons other than its ability to provide Title X services (which effectively threatens to withhold Title X money from states that restrict participation by Planned Parenthood). The measure provides that the rule (formally titled Compliance With Title X Requirements by Project Recipients in Selecting Subrecipients) would have no force or effect.” The vote was on the resolution. The House adopted the legislation by a vote of 230 to 188. The legislation later became law. [House Vote 99, 2/16/17; Congressional Quarterly, 2/10/17; Congressional Actions, H. J. Res. 43]
HURD VOTED FOR A ZIKA FUNDING BILL THAT EXPLICITLY EXCLUDED FUNDING FOR ABORTION
2016: Hurd Voted For An FY 2017 Military Construction And Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill Which Also Provided $1.1 Billion In Zika Funding And Stipulated That No Funding Could Be Used To Pay For Abortions. In June 2016, Hurd voted for an FY 2017 military construction and veterans affairs conference report which would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “provide[d] $82.5 billion in fiscal 2017 appropriations for the Veterans Affairs Department, military construction and military housing and would provide $1.1 billion in funding to combat the Zika virus with about $750 million in offsets.” The vote was on the conference report. The House agreed to the legislation by a vote of 239 to 171. The Senate later failed to invoke cloture on the conference report. [House Vote 342, 6/23/16; Congressional Quarterly, 6/28/16; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2577]
2015: Hurd Effectively Voted Against Guaranteeing Women’s Medical Privacy In A Bill Banning Federal Funds To Pay For Abortions. In January 2015, Hurd effectively voted against guaranteeing women’s medical privacy in a bill banning federal funds to pay for abortions. According to Congressional Quarterly, the motion to recommit would have “clarif[ied[ that nothing in the bill could be construed to authorize any party from violating the medical privacy of women, including the victims of rape or incest, with respect to their choice or use of health insurance.” The underlying measure would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “permanently prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for abortion or abortion coverage, prohibits federal medical facilities and health professionals from providing abortion services, and prohibits individuals and small businesses from receiving federal subsidies and tax credits under the 2010 health care overhaul to purchase health care plans that cover abortions. The measure provides an exception for abortions in cases of rape or incest and for saving the life of the mother. It also requires all qualified health plans that provide abortion coverage to prominently disclose that fact to enrollees at the time of enrollment, as well as to prominently display such information in any marketing or advertising materials, plan comparison tools or summaries of benefits and coverage.” The vote was on the motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 177 to 240. [House Vote 44, 1/22/15; Congressional Quarterly, 1/22/15; Congressional Quarterly, 1/24/15]
HURD VOTED AGAINST PROVIDING FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES FOR SERVICE MEMBERS
2019: Hurd Voted Against Providing Family Planning Services For Members Of The Armed Forces. In July 2019, Hurd voted against an amendment to the House FY 2020 NDAA that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, “require the Defense Department, in consultation with the Coast Guard, to establish a uniform standard curriculum to be used in education programs on family planning for all members of the Armed Forces.” The vote was on adoption. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 231-199. [House Vote 440, 7/11/19; Congressional Quarterly, 7/11/19; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.510; Congressional Actions, H.R.2500]