House Passes Bill That Would Block Federal Funding of Planned Parenthood

Democrats accused Republicans of engaging in baseless attacks against Planned Parenthood, with the larger goal of trying to limit women’s abortion rights, according to the New York Times.

The bill, which is not expected to clear the Senate, passed in a 241-187 vote, with almost all the votes for the bill coming from Republicans and almost all the votes against it coming from Democrats.

The congressman said the proposed resolution would “restore trust for American taxpayers” and provide additional funding for federally qualified health care centers by eliminating federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

Rubio said, “on the issue of Planned Parenthood, the work should have begun weeks ago laying the groundwork for this debate“.

Enough is enough. Congress must pass and the president must sign a budget bill that will keep the government functioning past September 30.

Ferrero called the bills “a callous attempt to insert politics into women’s health“, adding that millions of women in the USA rely on Planned Parenthood for birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, and other critical preventive care.

House GOP leaders hope the legislation will help avert a government shutdown by appeasing the dozens of conservatives who have pledged to defund Planned Parenthood at all costs. The measures may, however, increase the likelihood of a second government shutdown, which conservative lawmakers have threatened over the abortion issue.

Jennifer Aulwes, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota said the measure and its approval in the House are “outrageous”. Planned Parenthood doe these services, and no federal funds are spent on abortion services that Planned Parenthood does provide. There are over 13,500 comprehensive health care facilities across the nation – which could receive funding instead of Planned Parenthood (and would under this bill) – as opposed to 665 Planned Parenthood locations.

“Millions of taxpayer dollars have supported the horrific practice of allowing babies to be taken apart, dismantled and sold piece by piece”, Moolenaar said. It would stipulate that, in the event a baby survives an attempted abortion, the attending healthcare professionals must perform life-saving care just as they would for a newborn delivered under any other circumstance.

That bill has been sent to the Senate.

While GOP leadership in Congress is trying to avoid another shutdown, fringe Republicans are wanting to hold the government hostage once again, this time over Planned Parenthood.