It reinforces a commitment to preservation of the Hyde Amendment's policy restricting federal funds for abortion within the context of recent health care legislation.
[1][2] The order was signed after an agreement with anti-abortion Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak, who had said he and several other anti-abortion Democrats in the House of Representatives would not support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act unless the Bill's language prohibiting federal funding of abortions was strengthened.
[8] They also said the fact that an executive order was needed proves that the health care law did fund abortion.
[8] The National Right to Life Committee said the executive order did not correct seven provisions in the law they identified as objectionable.
[5] The National Organization for Women,[5] Planned Parenthood,[11] NARAL Pro-Choice America,[12] and EMILY's List[13] were among pro-abortion rights groups opposing the executive order.