FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Two lawmakers are working with the Trump administration to roll back a Biden-era regulation forcing taxpayers to pay for unaccompanied illegal alien children in the U.S. to travel to get abortions.

Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., and Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., are leading a group of lawmakers in introducing a bill to prevent federal funds from being used to assist an illegal alien getting an abortion.

“No American should ever have their tax dollars used to shuttle illegal aliens across state lines for abortions,” Harris told The Daily Signal. “That’s why we’re fighting to stop these outrageous Biden-era policies that turned federal programs into a taxpayer-funded Uber for abortions. We’re going to end it.”

The legislation will codify the Trump administration’s effort to walk back the Biden rule, which was first reported by The Daily Signal.

“[Former President] Joe Biden turned federal agencies into abortion traffickers by directing the Office of Refugee Resettlement to arrange and finance abortion travel for illegal alien minors,” Miller said. “President [Donald] Trump’s administration is rightfully moving to reverse this shocking abuse of taxpayer dollars, and I’m proud to partner with Congressman Mark Harris on legislation that permanently ends it.”

Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services is cleaning up the Biden administration regulation so that it is in compliance with the Hyde Amendment, a 1976 law that prohibits taxpayer funding for abortions, HHS officials told The Daily Signal. 

“HHS is reviewing the relevant regulations and guidance to ensure they align with all applicable laws, including the Hyde Amendment,” an HHS official told The Daily Signal in a statement.

Harris and Miller’s bill prohibits taxpayer funding for travel, lodging, meals, child care, translation services, doula care, and patient education and information services that are aimed toward helping an illegal alien get an abortion.

On Nov. 10, 2022, the Biden administration proposed the “Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule,” which required the Office of Refugee Resettlement to “ensure unaccompanied children have access to medical care, including transportation across state lines and associated ancillary services if necessary to access appropriate medical services, including access to medical specialists, family planning services, and medical services requiring heightened ORR involvement.”

The requirement applies “regardless of whether federal appropriations law prevents ORR from paying for the medical care itself,” says the guidance, which became a final rule in April 2024. 

This formed the basis for the office to provide transportation for a number of minors to receive abortions. This includes out-of-state travel for minors in states where abortion is banned. 

Trump’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a July memorandum of opinion saying the Biden rule violates the Hyde Amendment.

“This Office concluded in 2022 that the Hyde Amendment does not bar the Department of Health and Human Services from expending covered funds to provide transportation for women seeking abortions,” the opinion says. “Having been asked to reconsider, we now conclude that the Hyde Amendment prohibits the use of federal funds to provide ancillary services necessary to receive an abortion.”

As a result, Office of Legal Counsel determined the appropriate response is to withdraw its prior contrary opinion. 

As HHS undergoes the task of challenging Biden’s final rule, the agency has found many partners in Congress.

Co-sponsors of the Harris and Miller bill include: Reps. John Rose of Tennessee, Barry Moore of Alabama, Eli Crane of Arizona, August Pfluger of Texas, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Robert Aderholt of Alabama, Randy Weber of Texas, Randy Fine of Texas, Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, Chip Roy of Texas, Keith Self of Texas, Eric Burlison of Missouri, Jefferson Shreve of Indiana, Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, John McGuire of Virginia, Andy Harris of Maryland, Daniel Webster of Florida, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin, Byron Donalds of Florida, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Jim Baird of Indiana, Doug LaMalfa of California, Brian Babin of Texas, Tim Moore of North Carolina, and Bob Onder of Missouri.

Pro-life organizations Family Research Council, March for Life Action, Students for Life Action, CatholicVote, and the Center for Urban Renewal and Education all support the bill.

The post EXCLUSIVE: GOP Lawmakers Move to Help Trump Walk Back Rule Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Illegal Alien Kids’ Abortions appeared first on The Daily Signal.