Bringing back social issues as they usually always do and will, Republicans in congress decided to try to include an amendment to the Public Health Service Act under the guise of helping to reduce the budget and under the threat of government shutdown.
H.R. 217 – Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act would have prevented Planned Parenthood from receiving $300 million in federal funding… but not for abortions. Under the Hyde Amendment, which is a “rider” amendment that has been attached to all budget appropriation bills (where applicable) since 1976, no federal funds can be used for abortions.
Despite this fact, Rep. Mike Pence (and the Federalist Society, the National Right to Life Committee, and the American Christian Lobbyist Association) decided it was a great idea to attempt to pass an amendment that would defund Planned Parenthood simply because they provide abortions, and prevent them from receiving federal money to provide well woman exams, birth control, doctor’s visits and other non-abortion public health services. In fact, only 3% of what Planned Parenthood provides for people is abortion services.
Official Summary of H.R. 217:
1/7/2011 – Introduced. Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act – Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from providing any federal family planning assistance to an entity unless the entity certifies that, during the period of such assistance, the entity will not perform, and will not provide any funds to any other entity that performs, an abortion. Requires the Secretary to annually provide Congress:
(1) Information on grantees who performed abortions under the exceptions; and
(2) A list of entities to which grant funds are made available
Sources: stltoday.com, washingtonpost.com, opencongress.org, wikipedia.org
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