Trump CDC Nominee Sponsored Amendment Protecting Pro-Lifers

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention is the rationale the federal government doesn’t give cash to entities that discriminate towards pro-life well being care suppliers.

In 2005, then-Rep. David Weldon, R-Fla., first proposed the Weldon Modification, which prohibits Division of Well being and Human Companies funds from going to entities that discriminate towards suppliers that don’t pay for, present, cowl, or refer for abortions. The modification has been readopted in each HHS appropriations invoice since then.

“The Weldon Modification protects pro-life being pregnant facilities, church buildings, and pro-life organizations by prohibiting discrimination from authorities officers as a result of they don’t refer for abortion or present protection for it of their medical health insurance plans,” Kevin Theriot, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian authorized help group, advised The Every day Sign. “Authorities officers ought to by no means goal teams and people merely due to their pro-life beliefs.”

Weldon, a medical physician and Military veteran, represented Florida within the Home from 1995–2009. He ran in 2023 for a seat within the Florida Home, however misplaced the Republican main to Debbie Mayfield.

The textual content of the Weldon Modification says: “Not one of the funds made out there on this act could also be made out there to a federal company or program, or to a state or native authorities, if such company, program, or authorities topics any institutional or particular person well being care entity to discrimination on the premise that the well being care entity doesn’t present, pay for, present protection of, or refer for abortions.”

The modification defines the time period “well being care entity” to incorporate “a person doctor or different well being care skilled, a hospital, a provider-sponsored group, a well being upkeep group, a medical health insurance plan, or another form of well being care facility, group, or plan.”

Trump’s nominated Weldon on Friday night time to guide the CDC.

“As a father of two and a husband of 45 years, Dave understands American Household Values, and views Well being as one in every of utmost significance,” Trump stated in an emailed assertion. “Dave will prioritize Transparency, Competence, and Excessive Requirements at CDC. Dave will proudly restore the CDC to its true function, and can work to finish the Continual Illness Epidemic, and Make America Wholesome Once more!”

Weldon had a 100% pro-life voting file throughout his time as a Republican congressman.

After the Home handed the Partial-Beginning Abortion Ban Act in 2000, which he voted for, Weldon stated abortion will not be a non secular problem however a human one.

“The gap between life and demise for these infants is a mere three inches,” he stated. “Since Roe v. Wade, we have now seen 35 million abortions on this nation. The worth of human life has been debased in our civilization to the purpose the place animals have protecting rights the place people don’t. We’re knee-deep in a tradition of demise.”

Trump’s nomination of Weldon garnered reward from leaders of the pro-life motion, particularly after some pro-lifers raised considerations about pro-abortion nominees comparable to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who Trump tapped to direct the Division of Well being and Human Companies.

Steven Ertelt, founder and CEO of LifeNews, stated Trump “couldn’t have made a extra stable pro-life choice” than Weldon.

Jay Richards, director of The Heritage Basis’s DeVos Heart for Life, Faith, and Household, stated Weldon “has lengthy been a champion for the lives of the ‘least amongst us.’”

“David Weldon is a confirmed chief for all times, and we sit up for working with him,” Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Professional-Life America, advised The Every day Sign.