House Committee on Ways and Means, Johnson Amendment and Cantor Amendment Votes

Description

On July 17, 2009, the House Committee on Ways and Means approved the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200). During committee markup, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) offered an amendment to exclude an abortion mandate. The Johnson Amendment provided that no part of the bill would impose any requirement to cover or provide access to abortion or permit such a mandate by the Health Benefits Advisory Committee, the Secretary of HHS, the Health Choices Commissioner, or other governmental entity, except to save the mother’s life or in cases of rape or incest. Vote 1: The Johnson Amendment was defeated, 18-yes, 23-no. “Yes” was a pro-life vote. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) offered an amendment to ensure that no public funds would go to plans that pay for abortion. Vote 2: The Cantor Amendment was defeated, 19-yes, 22-no. “Yes” was a pro-life vote.