WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines has helped introduce legislation to protect women’s access to health services and defund Planned Parenthood. This legislation, S.1881, follows the release of gruesome footage showcasing Planned Parenthood’s role in the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies.
The Senate is expected to vote on this legislation in the next week.
The bill is sponsored by Senator Joni Ernst (IA) and cosponsored by Senators Mitch McConnell (KY), John Barrasso (WY), Roy Blunt (MO), John Boozman (AR), Richard Burr (NC) Dan Coats (IN), Tom Cotton (AR) John Cornyn (TX), Ted Cruz (TX), Mike Enzi (WY), Deb Fischer (NE), James Inhofe (OK), Johnny Isakson (GA), Ron Johnson (WI), James Lankford (OK), John McCain (AZ), Jerry Moran (KS), Rand Paul (KY), David Perdue (GA), Pat Roberts (KS), Ben Sasse (NE), Tim Scott (SC), and John Thune (SD).
In addition to defunding Planned Parenthood, this legislation ensures the preservation of federal funding for women’s health services, including relevant diagnostic laboratory and radiology services, well-child care, prenatal and postpartum care, immunization, family planning services including contraception, sexually transmitted disease testing, cervical and breast cancer screenings, and referrals.
Funds no longer available to Planned Parenthood will continue to be offered to other eligible entities to provide women’s health care services.
“The alarming footage in the Planned Parenthood videos depicts inexcusable, unconscionable behavior,” Daines stated. “These videos depict a disturbing practice as voiced by calloused Planned Parenthood executives, where the goal is protecting tissue over life and the harvesting of organs is the path to a new car. Federal taxpayer dollars should not go to an organization with these appalling practices.”
“The horrendous videos of senior executives from Planned Parenthood discussing in callous tones and shocking detail their role in a national scandal requires a congressional response,” Leader McConnell stated. “Our constituents demand it; the unborn deserve it. This legislation would ensure taxpayer dollars for women’s health are actually spent on women’s health—not a scandal-plagued political lobbying giant.”
“As a mother and grandmother, I find this footage of Planned Parenthood’s role in the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies morally reprehensible and vile,” Ernst stated. “The American people are horrified by these videos as well. Simply put, this legislation ensures that funding for women’s health is protected and that taxpayer dollars will not go to Planned Parenthood.”
About the legislation:
- Prohibits federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America or any of its affiliate organizations.
- Protects federal funding for health services for women, including diagnostic laboratory and radiology services, well-child care, prenatal and postnatal care, immunizations, cervical and breast cancer screenings and more.
- Ensures there is no reduction in overall federal funding available to support women’s health.
Click here to read the text of the S.1881.
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