Congressman Aderholt Introduces Bill to Protect States’ Rights in Federal Leasing

WASHINGTON—Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) introduced a bill today aimed at prohibiting the Administrator of General Services from constructing or acquiring building or entering into leases based on the legality or availability of abortions in the respective state.

“The Biden Administration continues to inject abortion politics into otherwise non-partisan areas of the federal government, such as locations of federal offices. This blatantly partisan practice threatens, and insults, states’ rights in protecting the unborn. That is not a precedent I want to see set in this country,” said Rep. Aderholt.

“President Biden cannot be permitted to punish states for enacting laws the Supreme Court has clearly ruled are within the rights of the states.”

The bill has so far garnered the support of 14 original cosponsors.

“I am proud to join Congressman Aderholt’s bill preventing the Biden Administration from punishing states that do not adhere to its radical abortion agenda. Abortion politics should play no role in the placement of federal buildings across the country,” said Rep. Jerry Carl (AL-01).

“Decisions like this have historically been non-partisan and should have nothing to do with laws that states legally decide to enact,” said Rep. Barry Moore (AL-02). “The Biden Administration’s dangerous partisanship has been clear as they work to deny Space Command to the state that came in first place during a rigorous, merit-based process. I thank Rep. Aderholt for his work on legislation to ensure attacks on states’ rights such as this one cannot happen again.”

“Threats from the Biden Administration to punish states who protect life create an incredibly dangerous precedent. I am proud to co-sponsor this bill, which sends a clear message to the Biden administration: the protection of unborn life is not up for negotiation in states like Alabama,” said Rep. Dale Strong (AL-05).

“The Biden Administration is undermining the rule of law by doing an end-run of the SCOTUS ruling that empowers states to make their own laws surrounding abortion policy. This political gamesmanship has no place in strategic military decisions, including attempts to hold up SPACECOM’s relocation to Alabama,” said House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19).

“The Supreme Court ruled that abortion is a state issue. President Biden is wrong to try and arbitrarily punish states that don’t surrender to his policy wishes. These kinds of polarizing issues should not be decided by executive fiat at the national level. Let the individual states in the Union chart their own courses and decide their own abortion laws with the input of their voters. That’s how federalism works,” said Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01).

“The Biden Administration has continuously proven that it will put its radical agenda above states’ rights, the rule of law, and our Constitution. I’m proud to join Congressman Aderholt on his bill that would prevent the federal government from using a state’s pro-life laws against them when executing leases,” said Rep. Debbie Lesko (AZ-08).

The General Services Administration (GSA) is the executive agency responsible for real estate and facility procurement, leasing, and development for the federal government.

Since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision last year, the Biden Administration has prioritized the federalization of abortion access, as well as penalized states that have enacted laws to protect the unborn.

Recently, it was reported that the Biden Administration intends to halt plans to move the U.S. Space Command headquarters to Alabama due to “the state’s restrictive abortion laws.” The report follows a Washington Postarticle outlining the White House’s intention to reverse the relocation plan to Huntsville based on national security concerns.

The Alabama Delegation has since been assured that there are no national security concerns in relocating the headquarters to the preferred location of Huntsville, Alabama.

The bill’s intent is consistent with a Senate companion bill introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS).

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