Elise Stefanik
As U.N. Ambassador, Stefanik will act as the nation’s official spokesperson to the U.N. General Assembly and participate in deliberations, negotiations, and votes on Resolutions in the Security Council, which then become binding law if passed. The U.N. Ambassador also heads the United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) and provides policy advice and information about U.N. activity to the President, Secretary of State, and other key stakeholders. Notably, the U.N. Ambassador has significant influence on global norms and processes related to sexual and reproductive health and rights and represents the U.S. before international human rights and gender equality bodies.
Top Red Flags
- Believes in restricting abortion access with limited exceptions, and weaponizes her own experience with motherhood.
- Connected to several organizations and individuals that oppose abortion, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, The Faith and Freedom Coalition, and The National Right to Life Committee.
- Sponsored numerous anti-abortion bills and consistently voted for legislation that would restrict access to abortion as a U.S. Representative.
Litigation
Stefanik joined various amicus briefs supporting litigation efforts to restrict access to abortion care, including the below.
- Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA: encouraging the Supreme Court to reinstate restrictions on medication abortion and that the “FDA’s lawless deregulation of mifepristone subverts patient safeguards and contravenes federal laws.”
- Moyle v. United States: arguing that the “Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (“EMTALA”) […] does not authorize elective induced abortion” and that the Biden administration’s “EMTALA abortion mandate […] contravenes Congress’ pro-life policy stance.”
- Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization: urging the Supreme Court to overturn the constitutional right to abortion cemented in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey and to “affirm the constitutional authority of the federal and state governments to safeguard the lives and health of their citizens, born and not yet born.”
Legislation
Stefanik was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014, serving New York’s 21st district. During the most recent 118th Congress, she sponsored the below pieces of anti-abortion legislation and consistently voted in favor of bills that would restrict access to abortion, though none have been enacted.
- No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act (H.R. 7)
- Prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions, except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.
- Prohibits health plans that receive federal subsidies from covering abortions, unless the abortion falls under the exceptions.
- Requires disclosure of any abortion coverage and related surcharges in health plans offered through the Affordable Care Act.
- Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 26)
- Implements vague requirements as to how abortion providers are to perform their jobs—mandating that they “provide the same degree of care to an infant born alive after an abortion or attempted abortion as they would to any other newborn”—coupled with criminal penalties of up to five years in prison for failing to comply.
- The real purpose of the bill is clear: to shame and scare both providers and patients seeking safe, quality abortion care.
- Support and Value Expectant (SAVE) Moms and Babies Act of 2023 (H.R. 427)
- Prohibits the approval of new abortion drugs, bans investigational use exemptions for abortion drugs, and imposes additional regulatory requirements on previously approved abortion drugs.
- Requires in-person administration of medication abortion by certified health care practitioners and mandates reporting of adverse events.
- Allows federal or state governments to impose “further requirements on abortion drugs, beyond what is specified in the bill.”
- Stefanik also cosponsored resolutions “Expressing the sense of Congress condemning the recent attacks on pro-life facilities, groups, and churches” (H.Con.Res. 3) and “Celebrating the historic anniversary of the June 24, 2022, decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization” (H.Res. 546).
Statements
Used false and inflammatory rhetoric on abortion, such as:
- “Under the leadership of House Republicans, we passed the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and a resolution condemning attacks on these pro-life facilities, groups, and churches following the Dobbs decision […] We will continue to fight every day to ensure every baby has the sacred opportunity of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, life is under constant attack by [the] radical far left.” From YouTube.
- “As one of the newest moms in Congress, I know how important it is to stand up for life. I am honored to be awarded for my record to protect the lives of the unborn. They are truly the most vulnerable among us, which is why I have been proud to put an end to the radical, taxpayer funded, abortion-on-demand until the moment of birth… and send the resounding message that this new majority defends life.” From official press release.
- “A majority of Americans are UNITED on the need to protect LIFE. The overwhelming majority of Americans: OPPOSE late term abortions[;] OPPOSE tax-payer funded abortions[;] OPPOSE medical professionals being forced to perform abortions.” From X.
- “For more than 40 years, the Hyde Amendment has ensured that Americans are not forced to pay for abortion-on-demand with their tax dollars. Now President Biden is trying to destroy a policy that has saved nearly 2.5MILLION lives. #HydeSavesLives” From X.
- In a speech for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Stefanik discussed her view that the landmark Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was critical to protecting “the sanctity of life” and that the overturning of Roe v. Wade paved the way to conservative “common-sense policies,” such as parental consent laws, limits on abortion later in pregnancy, and informed consent provisions.
- In a House Republican Conference news conference, Stefanik signaled that Republicans were beginning the process of introducing a 15-week federal abortion ban, noting that the federal government does “have a role [in] building consensus” at the national level concerning abortion legislation and specifically mentioning the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act.
- “As a new mom, the fight to defend life has never been more important to me. I am proud to support measures to stop the taxpayer funding of abortion.” From Facebook.
Extremist Connections
- According to Stefanik’s campaign website, she was endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an anti-abortion non-profit organization, which seeks to “end abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.”
- Received an endorsement from the New York State Right to Life, another anti-abortion organization.
- Received The Ronald Reagan Defender of Freedom Award from the Faith and Freedom Coalition, an organization that believes “[a]bortion stops a beating heart and ends an innocent human life” and works “diligently to protect life by working with elected leaders in Washington, DC and in State Capitols throughout the country to enact pro-life laws and executive action.”