The Hyde Amendment, signed into law in 1976, prohibits federal funds from going towards elective abortions. Passed by a bipartisan vote in Congress in which more Democrats voted for it than Republicans, the law has pretty much held to its intent for nearly 50 years.

As Democrats’ attitudes over the past half century devolved from pro-life to pro-abortion, and from “safe, legal, and rare” to “shout my abortion,” their collective attitudes toward the Hyde Amendment have followed in the same vein. Attempts to weaken it or, as Hillary Clinton pledged to do in her failed 2016 run for the White House – do away with it all together, have increasingly been the game plan of the Left.

Earlier this month, the Left had a victory when 17 Republicans joined all the House Democrats to extend Obamacare subsidies without language that guaranteed the continuance of the Hyde Amendment. Alaska’s lone representative, Nick Begich, proved his pro-life stance and did not join his 17 party colleagues.

Now, the legislation is going to the U.S. Senate for a vote. Alaska Family Council’s attempts to get a commitment from Senator Sullivan’s office met with a statement that he is the most pro-life Senator in Alaska’s history, but no pledge to uphold the Hyde Amendment when it comes to a Senate vote.

Calls to the Anchorage and Washington D.C. offices of Lisa Murkowski were not answered, and messages asking for her position on the legislation were not returned as of the time of this writing. The senior senator is generally a reliable pro-abortion vote, but her support for upholding the Hyde Amendment is needed in the evenly divided upper chamber.

Earlier this week, a nationwide movement called “Hands Off Hyde” brought together pro-life organizations and Family Policy Alliance affiliates (of which Alaska Family Council is one) to rally anti-abortion supporters to call their two U.S. senators and encourage them to not vote for these Obamacare extensions that do not explicitly uphold Hyde.

We are asking our supporters and all pro-life Alaskans to let Senators Sullivan and Murkowski know that Hyde Amendment provisions must be included.

TAKING ACTION

— Senator Sullivan is up for re-election in 2026, and this is a chance for him to demonstrate a clear difference from his opponent, the rabidly pro-abortion Mary Peltola. Senator Sullivan’s Washington DC office number is 202-224-3004, and his number in Anchorage is (907) 271-5915. Contact Senator Sullivan via email with this link.

— Senator Murkowski’s DC office number is (202)-224-6665, while her Anchorage number is (907) 271-3735. Contact Senator Murkowski via email with this link.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

Click here to support the Alaska Watchman.