November 30, 2023

US House Bill Would Defund Planned Parenthood

US Rep Roy Aderholt (R-AL)
A spending bill for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education is moving through the House of Representatives. Among other things, the bill would eliminate Title X grants to abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood.

House Resolution 5894, which passed out of committee earlier this month, would also prohibit taxpayer dollars from funding post-graduation medical training unless the program made abortion training "opt-in" rather than "opt-out."

“The bill maintains the longstanding Hyde amendment to ensure that taxpayer funds are not used for abortion-on-demand, and that no one is forced to participate in an abortion or refer for one under federal programs,” said US Rep Roy Aderholt (R-AL), chief sponsor of the legislation. “The bill also makes sure that taxpayer funds are not used to circumvent state laws restricting access to abortion and ensures that federal research funds are not used on human fetal tissue obtained from an elective abortion.”

Many pro-lifers are considering this to be a major test of Speaker Mike Johnson's ability to pass pro-life bills. He recently replaced former speaker Kevin McCarthy after he was ousted from the position.

If HR 5894 passes, legislators will need to reconcile it with Senate spending bills that don't include protections for the unborn.