{ "id": "R41772", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R41772", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 444846, "date": "2015-08-27", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T18:30:09.284735", "title": "District of Columbia: A Brief Review of Provisions in District of Columbia Appropriations Acts Restricting the Funding of Abortion Services", "summary": "Congressional Research Service\n7-5700\nwww.crs.gov\nR41772\nSummary\nThe public funding of abortion services for District of Columbia residents is a perennial issue debated by Congress during its annual deliberations on District of Columbia appropriations. District officials have cited the prohibition on the use of District funds as another example of congressional intrusion into local matters. Since 1979, with the passage of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act of 1980, P.L. 96-93 (93 Stat. 719), Congress has placed some limitation or prohibition on the use of public (federal or District) funds for abortion services for District residents. For instance, when Congress passed and the President signed the District of Columbia Appropriations Act of FY2010, the city was allowed to use its own funds, but not federal funds, for such services. \nSubsequently, in public laws appropriating funds for the District of Columbia for FY2011 and FY2012, Congress included provisions prohibiting the use of both District and federal funds for abortion services, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother was endangered. In an effort to reach final agreement on a FY2011 budget, in order to avert a government-wide shutdown, the Obama Administration and Senate and House leaders agreed to include a provision in H.R. 1473, a bill making full year appropriations for FY2011, prohibiting the District of Columbia from using federal and District raised funds for abortion services, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the woman\u2019s life was endangered. The inclusion of the provision generated protest by city officials on the grounds that the restriction on the use of city funds is a violation of home rule. The bill, including the abortion services provision, was signed into law on April 15, 2011, as P.L. 112-10. Congress continued this prohibition on the use of District and federal funds for abortion services with the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2012, P.L. 112-74, which was signed by the President on December 23, 2011. \nThe Obama Administration\u2019s FY2013 budget request included a provision that would have prohibited the use of federal funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest, or when the woman\u2019s life would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term, but did not include language restricting the use of District funds for abortion services. The Senate bill, S. 3301, supported the Administration position restricting the use of federal funds. The House bill, H.R. 6020, included language that would have restricted the use of both federal and District funds for abortion services, except in instances of rape, incest, or when the woman\u2019s life was endangered. P.L. 113-6, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, included language that prohibited the use of federal funds but continued to allow the District to use its own funds to provide abortion services, but only in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the pregnant woman was jeopardized. For FY2014, the Administration\u2019s budget request included a provision that would have restricted the use of federal, but not District, funds for abortion services. A similar provision was included in the Senate bill. On January 17, 2014, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2014, P.L. 113-76. The act included a provision, consistent with language in a House bill that restricted the use of both District and federal funds for abortion services to cases involving rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the pregnant woman. When passing FY2014 and FY2015 appropriations for the District, Congress reinstituted restrictions on the use of both District and federal funds for abortion services. For FY2016, the House Committee included a provision in H.R. 2995 that would continue to restrict the use of District and federal funds for abortion services while the Senate Appropriations Committee bill, S. 1910, would restrict the use of federal funds for abortion services to cases involving rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the woman if the pregnancy were carried to term. This report will be updated as events warrant.\nContents\nRecent Developments\t1\nCongressional Oversight of the District of Columbia\t1\nAppropriations Process and Components\t2\nAbortion Provision in Appropriations Acts\t2\nRestrictions on the Use of Federal Funds: 1979-1988\t2\nRestrictions on the Use of Federal and District Funds: 1989-1993\t3\nRestrictions on the Use of Federal Funds: 1994-1995\t3\nRestrictions on the Use of District and Federal Funds: 1996-2009\t3\nRestrictions on the Use of Federal Funds: 2010\t3\nRestrictions on the Use of Federal and District Funds: 2011 and 2012\t4\nStand-Alone Measures\t4\nRestrictions on the Use of Federal Funds: 2013 Appropriations\t5\nRestrictions on the Use of Federal and District Funds: 2014 and 2015\t5\nCurrent Congress\t6\nStand-Alone Measures\t7\n\nContacts\nAuthor Contact Information\t7\n\nRecent Developments\nThe public funding of abortion services for District of Columbia residents is a perennial issue debated by Congress during its annual deliberations on District of Columbia appropriations. Congress has exercised its constitutional prerogative with respect to this issue by including language in the general provisions of appropriations acts for the District of Columbia. Since 1979, with the passage of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act of 1980, P.L. 96-93 (93 Stat. 719), Congress has placed some limitation or prohibition on the use of public (federal or District) funds for abortion services for District residents. Since the passage of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act of FY2014, the city has been prohibited from using District and federal funds for abortion services, except in instances of rape, incest, or the life of the mother was threaten if the pregnancy was taken to term. \nThe Obama Administration\u2019s FY2016 budget request, released in February 2015, included a provision that would continue to prohibit the use of federal funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest, or when the woman\u2019s life would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term. The Administration budget does not include language that would restrict the use of District funds for abortion services. The House Appropriations Committee bill appropriating FY2016 funding for Financial Services and General Government, including the District of Columbia, H.R. 2995, contains a provision that would continue to prohibit the use of federal and District funds for abortion services, except in cases of rape or incest or when the life of the pregnant woman would be endangered if the fetus was carried to term. The Senate Appropriations Committee bill, S. 1910, consistent with language included in the Administration\u2019s budget request, would restrict the use of federal, but not District, funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the pregnant woman would be endangered if the fetus was carried to term.\nCongressional Oversight of the District of Columbia \nThe authority for congressional review and approval of the District of Columbia\u2019s budget is derived from the Constitution and the District of Columbia Self-Government and Government Reorganization Act of 1973 (Home Rule Act). The Constitution gives Congress the power to \u201cexercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever\u201d pertaining to the District of Columbia. In 1973, Congress granted the city limited home rule authority and empowered citizens of the District to elect a mayor and city council. However, Congress retained the authority to review and approve all District laws, including the District\u2019s annual budget. \nAppropriations Process and Components\nAs required by the Home Rule Act, the city council must approve a budget within 56 days after receiving a budget proposal from the mayor. The approved budget must then be transmitted to the President, who forwards it to Congress for its review, modification, and approval.\nDistrict of Columbia appropriations acts typically include the following three components: \nSpecial federal payments appropriated by Congress to be used to fund particular initiatives or activities of interest to Congress or the Administration. \nThe District\u2019s operating budget, which includes funds to cover the day-to-day functions, activities, and responsibilities of the government; enterprise funds that provide for the operation and maintenance of government facilities or services that are entirely or primarily supported by user-based fees; and long-term capital outlays such as road improvements. District operating budget expenditures are paid for by revenues generated through local taxes (sales and income), federal funds for which the District qualifies, fees, and other sources of funds.\nGeneral provisions are typically the third component of the District\u2019s budget reviewed and approved by Congress. These provisions can be grouped into several distinct but overlapping categories, with the most predominant being provisions relating to fiscal and budgetary directives and controls. Other provisions include administrative directives and controls; limitations on lobbying for statehood or congressional voting representation; congressional oversight; and congressionally imposed restrictions and prohibitions related to social policy, including abortion services, medical marijuana, needle exchange, and domestic partners. \nAbortion Provision in Appropriations Acts\nThe public funding of abortion services for District of Columbia residents is a perennial issue debated by Congress during its annual deliberations on District of Columbia appropriations. District officials have cited the prohibition on the use of District funds as another example of congressional intrusion into local matters. Since 1979, with the passage of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act of 1980, P.L. 96-93 (93 Stat. 719), Congress has placed some limitation or prohibition on the use of public (federal or District) funds for abortion services for District residents. \nRestrictions on the Use of Federal Funds: 1979-1988\nFrom 1979 to 1988, Congress restricted the use of federal funds for abortion services to cases where the mother\u2019s life was endangered or the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. The District was free to use District funds for abortion services. \nRestrictions on the Use of Federal and District Funds: 1989-1993\nWhen Congress passed the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY1989, P.L. 100-462 (102 Stat. 2269-9), it restricted the use of District and federal funds for abortion services to cases where the mother\u2019s life would be endangered if the pregnancy were taken to term. The inclusion of District funds, and the elimination of rape or incest as qualifying conditions for public funding of abortion services, was endorsed by President Reagan, who threatened to veto the District\u2019s appropriations act if the abortion provision was not modified. In 1989, President George H. W. Bush twice vetoed the District\u2019s FY1990 appropriations act over the abortion issue. He signed P.L. 101-168 (103 Stat. 1278) after insisting that Congress include language prohibiting the use of District revenues to pay for abortion services, except in cases where the mother\u2019s life was endangered. \nRestrictions on the Use of Federal Funds: 1994-1995\nThe District successfully sought the removal of the provision limiting District funding of abortion services when Congress considered and passed the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY1994, P.L. 103-127 (107 Stat. 1350). The FY1994 act also reinstated rape and incest as qualifying circumstances allowing for the public funding of abortion services. \nRestrictions on the Use of District and Federal Funds: 1996-2009\nThe District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY1996, P.L. 104-134 (110 Stat. 1321-91), and subsequent District of Columbia appropriations acts, limited the use of District and federal funds for abortion services to cases where the mother\u2019s life was endangered or cases where the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. \nRestrictions on the Use of Federal Funds: 2010\nP.L. 111-117, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2010, removed the prohibition on the use of District funds for abortion services, but maintained the restriction on the use of federal funds for such services except in cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother. This was consistent with provisions included in House and Senate measures (H.R. 3170 and S. 1432) appropriating funds for the District of Columbia for FY2010. As part of its budget submission for FY2010, the Obama Administration included in its budget appendix language that would have prohibited the use of federal funds for abortion services, including payment under any health insurance plan that may be funded in part with federal funds. However, this restriction would not have applied if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest, or the woman suffered from a disorder, injury, condition, or illness that endangered her life. The provision included a clarifying clause that noted that the restriction on the use of federal funds would not prohibit the use of District or private funds for abortion services, except the District\u2019s Medicaid matching fund contribution. \nRestrictions on the Use of Federal and District Funds: 2011 and 2012\nThe Obama Administration\u2019s FY2011 budget request included a provision that would have prohibited the use of federal funds for abortion services except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the mother would be endangered. The provision would have allowed the District to use locally raised funds for abortion services. During negotiations over the FY2011 budget, government funding of abortion services became a contentious issue. In an effort to reach final agreement on a FY2011 budget, in order to avert a government-wide shutdown, the Obama Administration and Senate and House leaders agreed to include a provision in H.R. 1473, a bill making full year appropriations for FY2011, prohibiting the District of Columbia from using federal and District of Columbia raised funds for abortion services, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother\u2019s life was endangered. The inclusion of the provision generated protest by city officials on the grounds that the restriction on the use of city funds is a violation of home rule. On April 11, 2011, Capitol Hill Police arrested 41 individuals, including the mayor of the District of Columbia, for unlawful assembly during a rally protesting the inclusion of the provision in H.R. 1473. On April 15, 2011, the President signed H.R. 1473 into law as P.L. 112-10. The law included the provision restricting the use of federal and District funds for abortion services, except in cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother.\nThe Obama Administration\u2019s FY2012 budget included language that would have prohibited the use of federal funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother\u2019s life would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term. The Administration did not include language prohibiting the use of District funds for abortion services. \nIn December 2011, the House and Senate approved a conference measure (H.R. 2055) that continued the restrictions on the use of both federal and District funds for abortion services, except in cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the mother. On December 23, 2011, the President signed the measure into law as P.L. 112-74. The restrictions on the public financing of abortion services in the District of Columbia included in the public law were consistent with language included in earlier versions of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of FY2012, H.R. 2434 and S. 1573, as reported by the their respective Appropriations Committees. \nStand-Alone Measures\nDuring the 112th Congress, two other bills advanced in the House that would have banned or restricted the provision of abortion services in the District of Columbia. On May 4, 2012, the House passed H.R. 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortions Act. The measure included a provision (Section 309) that would have permanently prohibited the use of federal and District funds for abortion services, except in instances of rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the woman. Similar measures (H.R. 7 and S. 496) were introduced during the 113th Congress with only the House bill reported (H. Rept. 113-332) by House Committee on the Judiciary on January 21, 2014.\nOn June 17, 2012, the House Judiciary Committee ordered reported H.R. 3803, the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The bill would have permanently banned doctors and health facilities from performing abortions in the District after the 20th week of pregnancy, except when the pregnancy would result in the woman suffering from a physical disorder, injury, or illness that endangered her life. It would have imposed fines and imprisonment on doctors who violated the act and would have allowed the pregnant woman, the father of the unborn child, or maternal grandparents of a pregnant minor to bring a civil action against any person who performed an abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy. The act would have required any physician that performs an abortion to report specific information to the relevant health agency in the District, including post-fertilization age of the fetus and the abortion method used. The District health agency would be required to compile such information and issued an annual report to the public. The District\u2019s delegate to Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, though not allowed to testify before the committee, spoke out against the measures as infringements on home rule.\nRestrictions on the Use of Federal Funds: 2013 Appropriations\nThe Obama Administration\u2019s FY2013 budget request included a provision that would have prohibited the use of federal funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother\u2019s life would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term. The request did not include language that would have restricted the use of District funds for abortion services. The Senate bill, S. 3301, supported the Administration position restricting the use of federal funds. The House bill, H.R. 6020, included language that would have restricted the use of both federal and District funds for abortion services, except in instances of rape, incest, or when the woman\u2019s life is endangered. P.L. 113-6, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, include a provision that allowed the District to use its own funds to provide abortion services, but only in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the pregnant women was jeopardized.\nRestrictions on the Use of Federal and District Funds: 2014 and 2015\nOn April 10, 2013, the Obama Administration released its detailed budget request for FY2014. The Administration\u2019s proposed budget request included a provision that would have prohibited the use of federal funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother\u2019s life would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term. The Administration\u2019s budget request did not include language that would have restricted the use of District funds for abortion services.\nOn July 25, 2013, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 1371, its version of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act for FY2014, with an accompanying report (S.Rept. 113-80). S. 1371, as reported, supported the Administration position restricting the use of federal funds for abortion services, except in instances of rape, incest, or when the woman\u2019s life is endangered. H.R. 2786, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act for FY2014, as reported by the House Appropriations Committee on July 17, 2013, included language that would have restricted the use of both federal and District funds for abortion services, except in instances of rape, incest, or when the woman\u2019s life is endangered. The Continuing Appropriations Act for FY2014, P.L. 113-46, which provided short-term appropriations through January 15, 2014, did not include language addressing the provision of abortion services in the District of Columbia. In mid-January, 2014, after months of negotiations, the House and Senate reached agreement and passed a consolidated appropriations measure, H.R. 3547, that provided funding for federal activities for the remainder of the 2014 fiscal year. That measure was signed into law by the President on January 17, 2014, as the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2014, P.L. 113-76. The act included a provision restricting the use of both District and federal funds for abortion services to cases involving rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the pregnant woman.\nOn March 4, 2014, the Obama Administration released its detailed budget request for FY2015. The Administration\u2019s proposed budget request included a provision that would have prohibited the use of federal, but not District, funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother\u2019s life would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term. On July 17, 2014, the House approved its version of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriation Act for FY2015, H.R. 5016. The bill, as passed by the House, would have prohibited the use of both District and federal funds for abortion services. On July 24, 2014, the Senate Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government reported to the full Appropriations Committee an unnumbered bill that included appropriations for the District of Columbia. The bill reported by the Senate subcommittee, but not considered by the full committee, included proposed changes in three provisions that city officials have sought to eliminate or modify. The bill would have allowed the District to use local funds for abortion services while continuing the prohibition against the use of federal funds to provide abortion services. \nOn September 19, 2014, the President signed the Continuing Appropriations Resolution for FY2015, a short-term funding measure, into law as P.L. 113-164. The act included a provision allowing the District to use locally raised revenues to fund District operations as outlined in Title IV of H.R. 5016 as passed by the House. The act did not include language addressing the provision of abortion services in the District of Columbia. \nOn December 16, 2014, the President signed into law P.L. 113-235, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, appropriating funds for the remainder of FY2015. The act included a provision that maintained the status quo restricting the use of both District and federal funds for abortion services to cases involving rape, incest, or a threat to the life of the pregnant woman.\nCurrent Congress\nThe Obama Administration\u2019s FY2016 request includes provision that would continue to prohibit the use of federal funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest, or when the woman\u2019s life would be endangered if the pregnancy were carried to term, but does not include language that would restrict the use of District funds for abortion services. The House Appropriations Committee bill, H.R. 2995, would continue to prohibit the use of federal and District funds for abortion services, except in cases rape or incest or when the life of the pregnant woman would be endangered if the fetus was carried to term while the Senate Appropriations Committee bill, S. 1910, would restrict the use of federal, but not District, funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the pregnant woman would be endangered if the fetus was carried to term.\nStand-Alone Measures \nDuring the 114th Congress, the House approved a measure, H.R. 7, No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2015, that would prohibit federal funds, including funds in the budget of the District of Columbia, from being used to fund abortion services or health coverage that include abortion services. Such services would only be eligible for federal funding in cases of rape or incest, or when the woman\u2019s life is endangered by the pregnancy. On January 22, 2015, the House passed H.R. 7 by a vote of 242-179. The bill was subsequently referred to the Senate. An identical measure, S. 582, was introduced in the Senate on February 26, 2015, and referred to the Senate Finance Committee, but no action has been taken on the measure. \n\n\nAuthor Contact Information\n\nEugene Boyd\nAnalyst in Federalism and Economic Development Policy\neboyd@crs.loc.gov, 7-8689", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41772", "sha1": "b26ab8bd69b24c79440046fc9fa35285fc6f96e1", "filename": "files/20150827_R41772_b26ab8bd69b24c79440046fc9fa35285fc6f96e1.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41772", "sha1": "d7f172978f67ad4717bfcfa1fb779117a16e54f4", "filename": "files/20150827_R41772_d7f172978f67ad4717bfcfa1fb779117a16e54f4.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2658, "name": "District of Columbia Oversight and Representation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc810292/", "id": "R41772_2014Jan24", "date": "2014-01-24", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "District of Columbia: A Brief Review of Provisions in District of Columbia Appropriations Acts Restricting the Funding of Abortion Services", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140124_R41772_d1f1af8382da9ab5980a8403b597e6825d2196b9.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140124_R41772_d1f1af8382da9ab5980a8403b597e6825d2196b9.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc821784/", "id": "R41772_2012Jul31", "date": "2012-07-31", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "District of Columbia: A Brief Review of Provisions in District of Columbia Appropriations Acts Restricting the Funding of Abortion Services", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120731_R41772_2833d77f600e6ab6aacdcbc6ec9f3958d332e66a.pdf" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc814945/", "id": "R41772_2011Apr14", "date": "2011-04-14", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "District of Columbia: A Brief Review of Provisions in District of Columbia Appropriations Acts Restricting the Funding of Abortion Services", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110414_R41772_881fcc87678c44d34be67b54c738676f2ae017ac.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110414_R41772_881fcc87678c44d34be67b54c738676f2ae017ac.html" } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Appropriations", "Constitutional Questions" ] }