A bipartisan group of House members is pushing for language to prevent any federal funds in a healthcare reform bill from being used for abortions.

The members say healthcare reform must include an explicit ban on the use of taxpayer money for abortions to prevent them from increasing as a result of the legislation. Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) said he will press for such language during a markup of healthcare reform in the House Energy and Commerce Committee this week.

Pitts is likely to have  the support of at least three Democrats who sit on that panel, but other Democrats oppose any language explicitly banning the use of funds for abortions. Interest groups on both sides of the issue are already lobbying, meaning this abortion debate will play out as members take on...