Marking anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Republicans plan to take up defunding of abortion

Following an hour of speeches in which House Democrats expressed their discontent with the passage of a bill that would repeal last year's healthcare legislation, Republicans took up the topic of abortion on the House floor, relating it to the upcoming anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme court decision in Roe v. Wade.

On Thursday morning, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) plan to hold a joint press conference to discuss the introduction of legislation that would would "codify the Hyde Amendment by permanently prohibiting taxpayer funding of abortion in every federal program." 

According to a press statement from Republican leadership, the bill will be called the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.” 

The anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision is on Jan. 22.