House Vote Expected Today to Protect States Which Defund Planned Parenthood

A House vote is expected today on an important effort to support those states which choose to deny Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood or other abortion providers. 

The “Women’s Public Health and Safety Act” (H.R. 3495), introduced by Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI), would make it clear that federal law does not prevent a state from, at its option, excluding organizations that provide elective abortions from the Medicaid program. 

According to a Government Accountability Office report released March 20, 2015, PPFA received $344.5 million in federal funds over three fiscal years (2010-2012), and another $1.2 billion in funding from Medicaid (a combination of state and federal funds), for a three-year total of $1.5 billion from federal programs.

In the wake of the release of undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood’s willingness to perform late-term abortions and traffic in fetal organs, several states opted to reallocate Medicaid funds away from Planned Parenthood – only to be told by the Obama administration it sees their action as violating federal law.  H.R. 3495 addresses this problem by enhancing “State flexibility” with respect to funding providers involved in abortions through Medicaid. 

Please contact your Representative immediately to urge support for H.R. 3495!

Image By Ipankonin [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons