Beaver State News

SBA Pro-Life America (SBA) criticized U.S. Rep. Lori Chávez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) for her opposition to HR7, a bill the organization said would "permanently stop taxpayer funding of abortion across the federal government."

“As a candidate, Lori Chávez-DeRemer decried taxpayer funding of abortion as ‘extreme’ and pledged to ‘always be on the side of life in Congress,'" said SABA in a press release. "Now Chávez-DeRemer is doing the opposite, blocking a bill that would permanently stop taxpayer funding of abortion across the federal government."

"This betrayal is exactly why so many voters – especially the GOP base – distrust politicians in Washington," said SBA. "Opposition to taxpayer-funded abortions has been a mainstay GOP position for decades and reflects the consensus of 60% of Americans. Because of the Hyde Amendment, approximately 2.5 million Americans are alive today who otherwise would have been aborted with taxpayer dollars."

HR7 was introduced by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) on January 9th and would prohibit federal taxpayer funding for abortions or health coverage that includes abortions. Additionally, the bill would prevent the procedures from being performed in federal healthcare facilities or by federal employees. The bill has currently been referred to several committees for consideration.

On June 10, Townhall.com reported that Chávez-DeRemer opposed the legislation. 

"I will not support federal action on limiting taxpayer funding for abortion and will continue pushing back against efforts to bring a proposal to the House floor," Chávez-DeRemer told Townhall.com. "The Dobbs decision made clear that it's an issue that should be decided at the state level, and Oregonians recently rejected efforts to limit taxpayer-funded abortion overwhelmingly," 

A recent poll conducted by Marist found that 60% of Americans opposed using taxpayer funds for abortions domestically and 78% opposed US tax dollars funding abortions abroad.

On May 3, 2022, Chávez-DeRemer told the Statesman-Journal, "As a mother of beautiful twin daughters, I know how precious life can be. I will always be on the side of life in Congress."

Chávez-DeRemer, 55, was first elected to represent Oregon's 5th Congressional District in November 2022. She defeated Jamie McLeod-Skinner (D / Independent Party / Working Families Party), winning 51 percent to McLeod-Skinner's 41 percent.

A native of Hanford, Calif., Chávez-DeRemer attended Hanford High School and California State University-Fresno. 

She previously was a member of the Happy Valley (Ore.) parks committee and the Happy Valley City Council before serving as mayor of Happy Valley from 2010 to 2018.

Oregon's 5th Congressional District spans from Portland's southeast suburbs to the eastern half of the Willamette Valley. It includes poritions of Multnomah, Claskamas, Linn, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties. .